Steve Bailey is joint proprietor of the Foot, Knee and Back Clinic with his wife, Clare Flintham, and is also the principal of Steve Bailey Acupuncture.
A former Armed Forces Physical Training Instructor, Steve has spent over 30 years helping people move better, recover faster, and return to sport with confidence. An active cyclist, runner and walker, he brings a practical, performance-led approach to everything he does, whether you’re aiming to get back to daily life pain-free or chasing your next personal best.
Steve holds an MSc in Lower Limb Biomechanics, an MSc in Acupuncture, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. He has practised both Western medical acupuncture and Traditional Chinese acupuncture for over 12 years, integrating acupuncture into evidence-informed rehabilitation to support pain relief, tissue healing, function, and performance.
He has treated, coached and supported athletes and teams up to national and international standard, including individuals associated with the British Judo Squad and professional football environments such as Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Sheffield United, and Sheffield Wednesday.
Alongside clinical work, Steve publishes and presents on lower limb biomechanics, sports footwear, and acupuncture. He is the director of the Steve Bailey Acupuncture Academy, delivering Foundation in Acupuncture and Dry Needling and Postgraduate Diplomas in Medical Acupuncture training for healthcare professionals. He wrote a book on the use of acupuncture in sport and musculoskeletal care.
How Steve can help:
- Sports injuries and overuse problems (running, cycling, field sports)
- Foot, ankle, knee, hip and back pain with a biomechanics-led assessment
- Tendinopathy, plantar heel pain, shin pain, and “training load” flare-ups
- Performance optimisation and return-to-sport planning
- Integrating acupuncture and exercise into a full rehab plan (not a “one-off” treatment)
If you’re ready to get out of pain and back to doing what you love, book in and we’ll build a plan around you.
Published papers:
- Bailey SD, The effect of acupuncture on plantar fasciitis symptomology. An evidence-based case series. Journal of the Acupuncture Association of Physiotherapists, Spring Edition 2025.
- Bailey SD (2022). Effect of Acupuncture in the Management of Competitive Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Sports Exerc Med 8:241. doi.org/10.23937/2469- 5718/1510241
- Bailey SD (2022). The Effect of Acupuncture on Reducing Pain and Stiffness of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) following Eccentric Loading Exercise. Int J Sports Exerc Med 8:239. doi. org/10.23937/2469-5718/1510239
- Bailey SD (2022). The Underlying Mechanism of Acupuncture on Enhancing Muscle Strength: A Review of Literature. Int J Sports Exerc Med 8:236. doi.org/10.23937/2469-5718/1510236
- Bailey SD. Effects of Acupuncture on Enhancing Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review, Int J Sports Exerc Med 2022, 8;3:221 DOI: 10.23937/2469-5718/1510221.
- Bailey SD, Liddington B. Effect of acupuncture on physiological response to exercise: A systematic review, Int J Sports Exerc Med 2021, 7:210 DOI:10.23937/2469-5718/1510210
- Bailey SD, Treatment of non-union fracture of the fifth metatarsal with electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture. Acupuncture in physiotherapy, 2019; 31(1)107-115.
- Bailey SD. Dry needling and traditional Chinese acupuncture. Manual of acupuncture points for the management of musculoskeletal and associated disorders. 2018; ISBN/EAN 1916430309 / 9781916430303.
- Payton S, Bailey SD. The effect of manual and electroacupuncture on lower limb muscle strength. J Acupunct Tuina Sci, 2017;15(1): 47-53.
- Bailey SD, Effective management of predislocation syndrome using a conservative multidiscipline approach. Podiatry Now Vol.16 No.9, September 2013 pp12-19.
- Bailey SD, Effects of acupuncture on human performance in sports: A systematic review. Journal of the Acupuncture Association of Physiotherapists, Autumn 2012; 23–42.
- Bailey SD, Acupuncture in the management of heel pain. Podiatry Now 2009.
