BSc Anatomy, BPhty (Credit), PGCert Sports Physiotherapy, Certified Mulligan Practitioner

Kirsten graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Anatomy before pursuing her Bachelor of Physiotherapy, completed in 2017. Subsequently she has completed her Post Graduate certificate in Sports Physiotherapy and is a certified Mulligan practitioner.

Kirsten is a senior musculoskeletal physiotherapist and has extensive experience in pre/post op physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, sports injuries, concussion headaches and TMJ. She has worked across a variety of sporting codes and has a keen interest in returning individuals to their sport after injury and limiting the risk of reinjury once they return. As a keen Kareteka herself, Kirsten has a special interest in martial arts injuries and when not at work you will find her in the Dojo where she has trained for the last decade or out mountain biking around Canterbury.

BSc Anatomy, Bphty, Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (endorsed in Clinical)

Lisa is an experienced musculoskeletal clinician. She has worked in the UK and Australia and in many different private practice clinics.

She is particularly interested in treating tricky shoulders, knee pain and musculoskeletal injuries. She enjoys treating people from all walks of life – anyone from the weekend warrior to the athlete.

Outside of work she has family, a rogue puppy and enjoys tramping.

Susan has been a physiotherapist for over 20 years and has studied and worked in New Zealand, Australia and the USA. She spent the early part of her career working in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and developed strong manual therapy skills. On moving to America, Susan studied for and gained a Certificate of Advanced Study in Physical Therapy (Orthopaedics) and a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in Boston.

Working largely with back and pelvic pain diagnoses, Susan felt there was a missing link in providing complete care for these patients, which lead to the development of a special interest in pelvic floor physiotherapy. Over the last few years Susan has completed extensive advanced training in Women’s and Men’s Pelvic Health, including obtaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Women’s Health and Continence from Curtin University in Perth, completing Functional Dry Needling Certification (Level 1, 2 and advanced) from KinetaCore in Colorado, and numerous continuing education courses. Utilizing these skills, she now proudly offers a truly comprehensive successful physiotherapy approach to pelvic health issues and pre and postnatal care.

Susan also has a passion for cancer rehabilitation and works with patients before, during and after medical cancer treatments, addressing treatment side effects like pain, fatigue, weakness and lymphoedema that may have affect patient’s physical and functional abilities. While she was based in Colorado, Susan completed training in the Pink Ribbon Program, the Strength After Breast Cancer Program and became a Certified Lymphoedema Therapist. She was part of the cancer rehabilitation team at Boulder Community Hospital, working in close association with the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centre. Since returning to New Zealand she has become a certified provider of the PINC and STEEL cancer rehabilitation programs, which are internationally known physiotherapy and exercise programs for women and men with cancer. In addition to providing individualized cancer rehabilitation, Susan runs a Next Steps cancer group exercise class at the Rangiora Fitness Centre.

Susan has returned to her hometown of Christchurch with her husband Keith, a Sommelier and is delighted to bring her unique skills and treatments to Active Health. Susan and Keith enjoy a well-balanced lifestyle including appreciation of good food and wine, travel, and many outdoor activities including hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing.

We are delighted to have Susan back on the Active Health team, after working with us back in 2012. Susan sees patients in our St Albans clinic and in Rangiora at both the Durham Health and the Rangiora Fitness Centre Active Health clinics.

Jo has been a physiotherapist for almost 20 years and has studied and worked in New Zealand and Nepal. She spent the early part of her career working in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and developed strong manual therapy skills. She then volunteered at a hospital in Nepal for two years working mostly in spinal cord rehabilitation including bowel and bladder complications.

On returning to New Zealand Jo had two beautiful children while still working in a musculoskeletal practice. However, she became frustrated at the lack of help for women with complications post birth or those who wanted a directed way back into sport and exercise, whether that was returning to the gym, high intensity or weightlifting training, or elite endurance sport.

This led to the development of a special interest in pelvic floor physiotherapy. Over the last six years Jo has completed extensive advanced training in women’s Pelvic Health, attending numerous continuing education courses. Utilizing these skills, she now proudly offers a truly comprehensive successful physiotherapy approach to pelvic health issues and pre and postnatal care.

Jo has successfully helped many post-natal mothers get back into sport including some who struggling to maintain continence with weightlifting, others who are competing at an elite level and others that just want to rejoin the gym again. She has helped spinal cord patients regain bowel and bladder control and is able to fit pessaries to those with prolapse or stress incontinence to help them return to sport.  Jo is delighted to bring her unique skills and treatments to Active Health.

Jo lives with her husband Mark and two children. Outside of work Jo will been seen trying to keep up with her family in the hills tramping, biking, kayaking, skiing or rogaining. She is also actively involved in her local Anglican Church.  Jo will be working out of both the Manchester Street and Jellie Park clinics.

Kath has a wide range of physiotherapy experience, having graduated from the University of Otago in 1994. She has worked in many areas of musculoskeletal physiotherapy in New Zealand, America and the UK. She enjoys treating a wide range of conditions and is dedicated to helping people recover from their injuries through comprehensive assessment, treatment and individualised rehabilitation programmes.

Kath worked for Active Health from 2005-2008 at the QEII location, and then re-joined the Active Health team in 2017 after relocating from Auckland.

Kath has a special interest in cancer rehabilitation, and works with patients before, during and after medical cancer treatments, addressing treatment side effects like pain, fatigue and weakness that may have affect patient’s physical and functional abilities. Kath is a certified provider of the PINC and STEEL cancer rehabilitation programs, which are internationally known physiotherapy and exercise programs for women and men with cancer.

In addition Kath also works on ACC Vocational Rehabilitation contracts, both as a lead provider for these contracts and also providing rehabilitation to help clients return to work as soon as possible after injury. Kath has completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Rehabilitation with a paper in Work Rehabilitation.

In her spare time, Kath enjoys hiking, skiing and mountain biking.

Dip Phys.

Cath brings to Active Health a wide range of experience. After graduating in 1991 she spent time working in the UK and the United States specialising in Orthopedics. After returning to New Zealand she worked for a number of years in a leading multi-disciplinary sports practice specializing in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. For the last three years Cath has worked in a Pain Management Practice managing chronic pain conditions and specialising in Vocational Health. Cath is currently completing post graduate studies in Vocational Health. In her spare time Cath enjoys running and has recently taken up mountain biking.

BPhty

Jess qualified as a Physiotherapist at AUT and has since worked in Cambridge. Moving to Christchurch just over a year ago, Jess has previous experience working as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist with a varied role including Aged Care (falls prevention and injury management), Management and Private Hospital work. Jess now primarily works in the Vocational Rehab space, assisting clients to return to their pre-injury roles. Jess provides care that is centred around the client. In her spare time, Jess enjoys picking up her camera, going to the gym, skiing, biking and hiking.

Lynley is a long-standing member of our reception team.  She likes keeping active running socially around home and in the hills. 

Now her two children have left home she spends more time walking the dogs and enjoys nothing more than curling up on the couch with a good book.

Abbey is a lover of all things health and fitness being a qualified personal trainer. She is always keen for getting out and about, including walks, playing and watching sports.

Her biggest passion would be health and fitness, along with travelling and spending time with family and friends.

Jess is a member of our friendly reception team. She studied at the University of Canterbury where she gained a Bachelor of Commerce.

In her spare time, Jess enjoys baking, going to the gym and spending time with friends and family.

About Me

About Me

About Me