Global Spa Founder brings the holistic approach to knee osteoarthritis recovery
Sue Harmsworth MBE is undoubtably something of a legend in the world of wellness, having worked in the industry all her life, establishing a global network of over 500 spas across 55 countries. She started her career as feature editor of Vogue in the 70s and went on to set up what would now be known as a day spa in Toronto in her early twenties. Sue, now 80 years old, founded one of the most recognisable names in the spa world – ESPA – an incredibly successful luxury spa company designing and managing spas, delivering a global post-graduate training programme, as well as being the first company in the UK to manufacture and distribute an iconic natural product range. Sue remains active in the industry as Founder of the Standards for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) and Board Advisor Member of the Global Wellness Institute (GWI).
I’m now nearly 9 months out since treatment with Arthrosamid® and I have absolutely no pain in my knees now. I’ve really had a brilliant outcome. I’m telling everyone about it – all my friends, colleagues and people in the world of wellness! I think so many people could benefit from this treatment. As we age, we want to avoid surgeries as it gets harder to recover. And, it’s so important to keep moving. I’m able to enjoy all that life has to offer both professionally, pursing projects I’m passionate about including improving access to touch therapies for cancer patients,and personally spending time with my children and grandchildren.
Sue credits her knowledge and networks in the health and wellness industry as one of the reasons for her continued good health and youthful exuberance. Another is her disciplined approach to exercise, maintaining a varied fitness regime on a daily basis.
However, one issue that has blighted her health is a series of problems with her joints, leading to a hip resurfacing procedure in her mid-50s, followed by joint replacement surgery in both shoulders five years ago requiring a lengthy recovery period. And then, in 2023, in her late seventies, Sue began experiencing pain and discomfort in her knees. Following treatment with Arthrosamid® in April 2025, Sue rediscovered her “wow factor” – back to feeling her best.
Sue explains; “I’d been experiencing joint problems for many years, but when my knees started bothering me, I felt really panicked. I’ve followed a wide-ranging exercise regime my whole life and suddenly I wasn’t able to lift weights to support my muscle strength or do my daily exercises in the swimming pool. Actually, I was struggling to even get up from a chair. It all happened very suddenly and as I was approaching 80, for the first time ever, I started to wonder how I was going to do everything. Could I really live independently in my own home and manage the stairs? Knee pain really hit home for me.”
With a lifetime of professional experience in the industry, Sue was in a good position to look into options for treatment. She says, “I’m passionate about people taking ownership of their health and so I relish the challenge of researching the right treatment pathway. I had an initial consultation with George Bownes, renowned Consultant in Musculoskeletal, Sports and Exercise Medicine at the Fortius Clinic and following an MRI to assess both knees, he suggested that I would be a good candidate for Arthrosamid®. As I had found it such an ordeal to recover from the shoulder surgery with months “out of action”, I was really keen to avoid surgery with my knees, but I still wanted a treatment that could offer me long lasting positive results. With a background in natural health, I didn’t want to try steroid injections, so I was delighted to know that there was a single hydrogel injection supported by clinical evidence showing improvements in pain up to 5 years.”
“I had the injection in both knees in April 2025 – I actually could have driven home that day, but one of my sons kindly drove me home. I’m a stickler for following the advice of health care professionals, so I adhered to the guidance to rest completely for two weeks post-injection. At that point, the pain had quite quickly decreased and I began a more structured approach to recovery, following a rehabilitation programme devised by the wonderful physiotherapist Anna Poyser, former Head Physio at the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association). We started with three sessions of gentle rehab per week for a month, followed by two sessions for a further month. Then, I was able to return to my beloved pool routine – I have a 40-minute plan I follow every day with the water supporting my joints as I work through a range of movements incorporating weights. On land, I also work with a PT once a week in the gym including 10kg kettlebell workouts. In June last year, I also spent a week at the world renowned and Original Mayr Clinic in Austria for a medical detox to lose weight and reduce inflammation.
“I do think that exercise is a massive part of the reason I feel so good at my age – if I don’t do something active every day, then that’s when I feel an ache or pain.”
“I’m now nearly 9 months out since treatment with Arthrosamid® and I have absolutely no pain in my knees now. I’ve really had a brilliant outcome. I’m telling everyone about it – all my friends, colleagues and people in the world of wellness! I think so many people could benefit from this treatment. As we age, we want to avoid surgeries as it gets harder to recover. And, it’s so important to keep moving. I’m able to enjoy all that life has to offer both professionally, pursing projects I’m passionate about including improving access to touch therapies for cancer patients,and personally spending time with my children and grandchildren.”
Having travelled the world corporately for over 30 years, Sue now splits her time between her homes in Farnham, Surrey and Tenerife.
