What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a health care profession aimed at evaluating, restoring and maintaining optimum mobility and physical function.  Musculoskeletal physiotherapy is the term used to describe the field of physiotherapy which relates to disorders of the muscles, bones, spine, joints, nerves, tendons and ligaments.

Physiotherapists are university educated and trained to evaluate movement dysfunction, identify patient treatment goals, establish and implement individualized treatment programs and provide patient education. All our physiotherapists have postgraduate qualifications that provide them with advanced skills in assesment, diagnosis and management of injuires and conditions such as:

• Sports injuries
• Back and neck pain
• Sciatica
• Muscle, ligament and tendon problems
• Joint pain
• Headaches and Dizziness
• Postural problems
• Joint problems
• Arthritic conditions
• Post surgical rehabilitation
• Paediatric musculoskeletal conditions

Approaches to management in the field of musculoskeletal physiotherapy include manual therapy such as soft tissue and joint mobilisation, manipulation, specific therapeutic exercises, sports specific rehabilitation, electrotherapy, therapeutic ultra sound, taping and strapping, ergonomic assesment and advice, posture education and acupuncture.

Julia Powdrill 
Physiotherapist Bsc(hons).  Julia graduated from Kings College London in 1999 and prior to moving to Dubai worked in two London teaching Hospitals and a private Hospital where she gained valuable experience and specialised in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.  Julia has a particular interest in sports and worked as a youth team physiotherapist for Fulham Football Club in UK.
Julia joined Orthosports Medical Centre in 2004 and has continued her interest in sports injuries both here in the clinic and at major sporting events in Dubai such as the Rugby Sevens, the marathon and the 24 hr rally at the autodrome.
Julia has completed many postgraduate study including Acupuncture and shoulder, hip and knee diagnostic and management courses.  Her particular interest is in rehabilitation for sports.

Judith Kirkpatrick
S.R.P (UK) Middlesex Hospital, Lond. Qualified in 1974.  Prior to coming to Dubai she ran her own accredited private practice  which incorporated a small gym and a purpose built hydrotherapy pool in Amberley, New Zealand. The clinic saw  mainly patients with musculoskeletal problems and she worked closely with the Christchurch Orthopaedic surgeons in providing rehabilitation physiotherapy for a wide variety of post-operative elective  and traumatic conditions. Her special interest in hydrotherapy was particularly useful in this area. On arriving in Dubai in 2003 she was delighted to get a position at Orthosports Medical Center where she is able to continue working in the same field and where appropriate,  use her hydrotherapy skills in their heated pool. CME is important to Judith and she has attended numerous courses to maintain her clinical skills.

Alison Cripps
B. App. Sc. Physiotherapy gained her graduate and postgraduate qualifications (post grad. dipl. Physio (Neurology)) in Melbourne, Australia. She has extensive experience in a wide range of rehabilitation and physiotherapy services. In Australia, New Zealand and East Africa she served in multicultural communities in both private and public sectors.
Her special interests include orthopedics, neurology, hydrotherapy, manual handling skills and home based rehabilitation services. Her key belief is “move well, keep well”.

Daisy Gurney

Physiotherapist BSc (hons) is a Chartered Physiotherapist from the U.K. Before joining Orthosports Medical Center, she worked as a senior Musculoskeletal physiotherapist in the Outpatient Department of a large London NHS teaching-hospital. In the same hospital, she also treated paediatric, orthopedic and hydrotherapy patients.

Daisy then worked in the private sector: managing a sports injuries clinic in an exclusive members's-only gym in London. She was physiotherapist to a third division Rugby Club in London for two seasons and covered occasional tournaments at Richmond Rugby Ground. In more recent years, Daisy has treated a range of amateurs, up-to professional level rugby players, as part of the team of physiotherapists covering the annual Sevens Tournament in Dubai.

Daisy’s post-graduate studies include Acupuncture, Management of Pelvic and Sacro-iliac Dysfunction, Manipulations and Anterior Knee Pain. Her main areas of clinical interest are: pelvic pain, post-surgical ACL rehabilitation, spinal pain, the management of sports Injuries and acupuncture as a treatment for pain relief.

Beverley Strathearn
MCSP Grad. Dip. Physiotherapy
A member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine, she has extensive post graduate training in Orthopaedic medicine, sports rehabilitation and injection therapy. Beverley has a special interest in rehabilitation of knees and shoulders.
She graduated from the Leeds School of Physiotherapy in the UK and began her career at St James Teaching Hospital in Leeds specialising in Musculoskeletal and Orthopaedic medicine. As an Extended Scope Practitioner working for the UK NHS for 14 years, Beverley managed the Musculoskeletal outpatient department while working alongside Orthopaedic surgeons and GP’s.

Mattias Gothrick
PT, MPhysio, CSPT, Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapist.
Mattias has graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from Sweden and with a Master of Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal) from Australia. Mattias is a Certified Sports Physiotherapist and has a special interest in Golf, Football, Athletics and injury prevention. He has looked after the physiotherapy needs of athletic teams and individuals. 
Before coming to Dubai Mattias has worked in private practice in Sweden, treating patients and athletes with orthopaedic, musculoskeletal and sports related disorders. He has had the opportunity to get to know and work with some of the best and leading Golf Physiotherapists. He also has worked with the  Swedish Soccer Association and football teams in Australia. 
Mobilizations and manipulations are some of the treatments options that Mattias uses to treat low back pain, neck pain, joint and muscle problems.