The Science

What The Science does

8th Element is a private, multi-disciplinary sports injury and performance clinic founded in 2011 and headquartered in Medway, Kent, with a secondary Garden Clinic site in Strood opened in 2025. The clinic operates as a "hub" model under which sports therapists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, a sports podiatrist, an advanced clinical massage therapist with NHS orthopaedic experience, and a GP with a specialist interest in sports medicine work out of shared facilities. Service lines span sports injury analysis, osteopathy, physiotherapy, sports medicine podiatry, sports massage, chronic pain management, ultrasound-guided cortisone injection therapy, private GP services, athlete body composition assessment, and treatment room hire. The practice's technology base combines the Mar-Labs 3D markerless motion capture system with a SPRINTEX slat-belt treadmill and AM Cubes dynamic pressure plate for the Run Lab gait analysis service (described as one of only a handful in the UK), plus Sonosite HD ultrasound for diagnostics and injections, radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), and Edsers 3D CAD custom orthotic manufacturing.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining pay-as-you-go individual treatment sessions (prices ranging from £20 for a 20-minute virtual podiatry consultation to £445 for a five-session shockwave-plus-physio course, with premium services such as ultrasound-guided cortisone injection priced at £295) and 12-month subscription memberships at £80, £90, and £95 per month for the Fitness, Competition, and Pain Management tiers respectively. Distribution mixes direct-to-consumer in-clinic appointments booked through Jane App, virtual consultations via the Physiapp-integrated Virtual Injury Clinic, mobile on-site event and corporate wellness services, and approved-provider referrals from six major UK health insurers (AXA, BUPA, Cigna, Vitality, WPA, Simply Health). The customer base is predominantly individual athletes, sportspeople, and chronic-pain patients within a 30-mile radius of Medway, supplemented by event organisers and employers engaging the mobile clinic service.

The company operates as 8th Element Ltd, a privately held UK limited company with no external institutional funding disclosed, ~11 total employees, and seven named specialist practitioners. Geographic reach is concentrated in South East England, with the Virtual Injury Clinic extending effective reach nationally and internationally.

Name

The Science

Legal name

8th Element ltd

Website

https://8th-element.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

8th Element is a Medway, Kent-based private sports injury and performance clinic operating a multi-disciplinary hub of therapists, physiotherapists, osteopaths, a podiatrist, and a sports medicine GP, serving athletes, chronic pain patients, and corporate clients via in-clinic sessions, telehealth, and mobile event services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAKALAB

Sports Medicine

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Specialist Medical Practice/Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

SECONDARYHLAFAFAI

Orthopedic & Sports Rehabilitation Centers

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Post-Acute Care & Rehabilitation Facilities

SECONDARYHLALAGAO

Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Telemedicine Platforms

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Telehealth Platforms/Specialty Telemedicine Platforms (e.g., dermatology, cardiology, neurology)

SECONDARYHLAKALAM

Pain Management (Spine & Musculoskeletal)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Specialist Medical Practice/Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Keywords

• Sports injury treatment
• Sports medicine clinic
• Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
• Gait analysis services
• Chronic pain management

Headquarters

HQ city

Medway City Estate

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Treatment Sessions: One-time treatment sessions for various services including sports massage, osteopathy, physiotherapy, podiatry, shockwave therapy, and injury assessments. Patients book individual appointments at varying price points.
2. Membership Subscriptions: 12-month subscription plans offering 2 treatments per month from specific service categories. Plans include Fitness (£80/mo), Competition (£90/mo), and Pain Management (£95/mo). Includes 5% off additional treatments and 10% off products.
3. Medical Imaging Referrals: Private medical imagery referrals providing patients with faster access to imaging services through private healthcare providers.
4. Treatment Room Hire: Rental of treatment rooms and conference facilities to other practitioners and businesses. Includes use of equipment, reception services, and online booking systems.
5. Mobile Event Services: On-site sports event services including injury management, sports massage, and ice bath facilities. Pricing quoted as 'POA' (price on application) based on event requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Science (operating as 8th Element) is a multi-disciplinary sports injury and performance clinic delivering in-person assessments, treatments, and rehabilitation across sports therapy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, sports podiatry, GP services, and chronic pain management. The clinic supplements core treatments with specialised modalities such as 3D markerless Run Lab gait analysis, shockwave therapy, ultrasound-guided injection therapy, and Anatomy in Motion, and reaches remote clients through the Virtual Injury Clinic and mobile event services.

Product overview

The Science is a multi-disciplinary sports injury and performance clinic offering a comprehensive suite of services under one roof. The core offering includes sports injury analysis, osteopathy, physiotherapy, sports medicine podiatry, and chronic pain management, supported by specialized diagnostic services like Run Lab 3D gait analysis and Athlete Body Stats assessments. Additional treatment modalities include sports massage, shockwave therapy, Anatomy in Motion, and injection therapies. The clinic provides both in-person services at its clinic locations and a Virtual Injury Clinic for remote consultations, along with mobile services for sporting events. The company operates on a per-session and membership subscription model with three tiers (Fitness & Health, Competition & Performance, and Pain & Injury Management).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sports Injury Analysis Comprehensive sports injury assessment and diagnosis service for athletes and active individuals presenting with acute or chronic injuries.
• Sports Medicine Podiatry

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of patients report reduction of pain after 3-5 shockwave treatments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SISU FitnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResults-driven personal training and group training studio offering high-level service with experienced coaches and trainers. Adjacent fitness facility with exclusive membership to fully equipped facilities. Co-located at Medway City Estate.
• Invicta East Kent Athletic ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletics club welcoming all abilities and ages from 7 to 107 years. Caters for sprinters to marathon runners on 6-lane tartan track with field disciplines. Mutual referral relationship.
• The Centre PACminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPerforming Arts College offering professional training for learners serious about working in the industry with a personal approach.
• The Placenta ProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlacenta encapsulation service run by qualified midwife for postnatal health support.
• Melford PTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPersonal trainer working with clients of all fitness levels using innovative and functional exercise forms.
• Amazon24 Fitness and Athlete Performance CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate personal training, strength & conditioning and group fitness studio based in Gillingham, Kent.
• AXA InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK health insurer providing approved provider status for sports injury and treatment services.
• BUPA InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK health insurer providing approved provider status for sports injury and treatment services.
• Cigna Health InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK health insurer providing approved provider status for sports injury and treatment services.
• Vitality Health InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor UK health insurer providing approved provider status for sports injury and treatment services.
• WPA Health InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK health insurer providing approved provider status for sports injury and treatment services.
• Simply HealthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK health insurer providing approved provider status for sports injury and treatment services.
• PhysiappcoreTechnology or IntegrationRehabilitation application used for virtual injury clinic to deliver home exercise programs, track patient progress, and enable communication between practitioners and patients.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nuffield Health: Large UK healthcare charity operating fitness clubs, hospitals, and physiotherapy services including sports injury and rehabilitation; overlapping with 8th Element's rehabilitation, sports therapy, and gym-on-site offerings.
• Ascenti Physiotherapy: One of the largest UK physiotherapy and MSK provider networks offering both insured and self-pay treatment; comparable through its physiotherapy-first sports/MSK focus and insurance partnerships.

Direct peers

• Pure Sports Medicine: London-based multi-disciplinary sports injury and performance clinic offering physiotherapy, osteopathy, podiatry, sports massage, and injection therapies under a similar 'one-roof' practitioner model directly comparable to 8th Element.
• Total Therapy: London-based multi-disciplinary sports injury clinic combining physiotherapy, osteopathy, sports massage, biomechanics, and injection therapy, closely mirroring 8th Element's integrated practitioner model.
• Isokinetic: International sports medicine and rehabilitation clinic group with a FIFA-accredited medical centre of excellence; comparable through elite-athlete focus, multi-disciplinary team, and advanced rehabilitation modalities.
• Six Physio: UK multi-site physiotherapy and sports-injury chain offering MSK physiotherapy, sports massage, and rehabilitation services to athletes and chronic-pain patients on a per-session basis.
• The Sports Physio (formerly NSPC): Established UK sports-injury clinic offering physiotherapy, biomechanics, gait analysis, and rehabilitation services to amateur and elite athletes; comparable through assessment-and-treatment service mix.
• Bodyset: UK sports physiotherapy and MSK clinic group providing injury treatment, rehabilitation, and performance services with multiple practitioners per site, comparable in service mix to 8th Element.

Others

• PhysiApp (Physitrack): Provider of the rehabilitation and home-exercise app already used by 8th Element's Virtual Injury Clinic; an enabling technology partner rather than a competitor, listed because its roadmap materially affects the VIC product.
• SISU Fitness: Personal-training and group-fitness studio co-located at the new 8th Element HQ inside SISU; an ecosystem partner providing PT, gym access, and a mutual-referral pipeline for 8th Element services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@8thElement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Science