Meet Katie
Katie is a holistic, evidence-based physio who has completed both a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and a Masters of Sports Physiotherapy at La Trobe University. Katie is the National Youth Climbing Team Physiotherapist with Sport Climbing Australia, and is undertaking research in injury surveillance in Australian National Climbing teams. She is committed to educating fellow health professionals about the unique demands of climbing, and was founder and chairperson of Adaptive Climbing Victoria. Katie works as an amputee rehabilitation physiotherapist, including prosthetic mobility training and return to activities like running and sports. Her passion for movement on the rock has led to the development of physio-led clinics and workshops, as well as collaboration with coaches and other professionals in order to help her clients achieve the very best physical condition they can. Katie has conducted injury epidemiology research in Australian National level climbers, and presented this research at the 2020 Sports Medicine Australia conference.
Katie's experience
Katie has been working with Sport Climbing Australia as a physiotherapist for
the Australian Youth, Open and Para teams since 2019. Katie has worked with a wide range of non-climbing teams and athletes, including the Tiwi Bombers (NTFL), swimming, hockey, gymnastics, archery, wheelchair sports and athletics. She has worked with climbers as long as she has been practicing, and works with recreational, sub-elite and elite climbers across all disciplines.
Since moving back to Melbourne in 2014, Katie has worked in the private sector, including in her current role as a senior outpatient multitrauma/amputee rehabilitation physiotherapist with one of Melbourne's leading private rehabilitation organisations. This has included as the senior Complex Hip program and musculoskeletal / neck Concussion Clinic physio. She has worked in sports private practice since 2012, and is currently working at Body Lab Physiotherapy and Pilates with colleagues who are leading and experienced Gymnastics and Dance physiotherapists.
Katie has been a keen climber for well over a decade, and enjoys a combination of trad, sport and bouldering. Her personal sporting experience includes competitive swimming, hiking/trekking, surfing, sailing, open water swimming, and trail running. Katie understands through personal
experience how hard it can be to take time off from your favourite
sport, and as such does her best to assist her clients to get back on
the wall and maximise their performance.
Katie's interests
Conditions of particular interest to Katie include shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand rehabilitation (yes, including fingers and splinting!),
tendinopathies, and the complex movement patterns involved in climbing. She has undertaken professional development and mentoring in hand therapy with some of Melbourne's leading hand therapists and hand surgeons. Other areas of interest include working with people in Disability Sport, sports injury management and reduction of injury risk, persistent pain, and trunk and lower limb contributions to climbing performance. She attends regular professional development courses, and describes herself as an eternal learning enthusiast. She prefers to treat the person, not the injury, and takes a multidisciplinary approach - including coaches, other allied health professionals and medical professionals as required - to help you achieve your goals.