We are a team of dedicated physiotherapists who pride ourselves on getting the right diagnosis every time. This enables our treatment techniques to be focused and specific to help get you ‘better faster’. We believe it is important to consider the biomechanics of the whole body to help gain complete recovery from injuries. We are all sports people ourselves and so understand the need to get back in action as quickly as possible.
What makes us different:
- We listen to what you say and what your body tells us
- We get to the origin of your problem, not just treating symptoms
- We understand you are busy and need to recover quickly
- We don’t want your injury to come back again either
- We work with you not for you, to achieve efficient recovery
- Small lifestyle changes can make a large effect on recovery
Leanna Veal – BPhty, PGDipSpMed, MNZSP
Physiotherapist
After qualifying I based myself in the UK for 8 years so I could travel far and wide. Here I worked in private practices, mostly with gyms attached to them. During this time I was exposed to a number of high profile athletes who required both efficient manual therapy treatments and tailored, sports specific rehabilitation programs right from initial injury to full return to competition. Here grew my interest in low back and pelvis injuries and the impact of different injuries on lower limb biomechanics and muscle function. I am still dedicated to ongoing professional development in these areas. I pride myself on taking the time to thoroughly assess each patient and work out a treatment plan ensuring the most efficient use of time in each session. My vision is to have a clinic with passionate physios who love what they do and strive to provide the best treatment for each and every person who comes through the door. I have played representative netball, have completed a marathon and did an iron man triathlon in Austria before returning home. Now my interests include running, biking, swimming, playing tennis, functional strength training and spending as much time as I can having fun with my husband and 4 little ratbags!!
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Sarah Walker – BPhty, PGCertAcu, MNZSP
Physiotherapist
Since graduating from Otago University in 2005 I initially worked in a central city gym in Wellington as a physiotherapist, personal trainer and massage therapist as well as working with a wide range of local, national and international athletes in a large variety of sports. I really enjoyed the challenge of learning the biomechanics of new sports and how injuries can affect results and started to progress my learning. I completed a post-graduate certificate in acupuncture and have since completed a post-graduate certificate in sports medicine. From there I moved to Ireland and travelled extensively through Europe, until I started working with Team Abu Dhabi in the Volvo Ocean Race for 2 years. This was a great opportunity to work with elite athletes and travel at the same time. I returned home in 2012 to join Leanna as a co-owner of Back In Action Physiotherapy and love implementing a type of physiotherapy that really gets to the cause of injuries and can ultimately make our patients better and faster plus better faster. I have a special interest in prehabilitation and preventing injuries via biomechanical screening. In my spare time I enjoy keeping active either on a sports field, mountain bike, running or with my growing family and friends. Check out by blog of a day in the life of a sports physio.
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Lindsay Workman – BSc Hons Physiotherapy, MCSP
Physiotherapist
Hi, I’m Lindsay, I’m from Northern Ireland but moved to Tauranga in 2015 with my Kiwi partner. Since graduating from the University of Ulster I have worked in both public and private healthcare settings and have experience in Paediatrics, Women’s Health, MSK and spinal injury, Pre and Post-Operative Rehabilitation. Back in NI I have worked with professional Rugby Union and Netball athletes: the Northern Ireland U21 Netball team to the World Youth Championships in 2013 and with Ulster Rugby developing skills in prehabilitation and strength & conditioning techniques. My special interest is with Sports Injury and Rehabilitation, especially Rugby and I thoroughly enjoy my time with both Greerton Marist and Rangataua Sports Clubs here in Tauranga. I am APPI Pilates trained and have a keen interest in complete body strength and core control and also use the Sarah Key Method along with myofascial release techniques to enhance your recovery to the best of my ability. Within my treatment sessions, I enjoy taking a full body approach and treating not only the painful area but ensuring a full recovery through injury prevention and prehabilitation techniques. Outside of work I have a passion for travel and love exploring the beautiful country I now live in but spend most of my free time ‘hanging out’ at antigravity yoga and trying to be a baking Queen! I look forward to meeting you!
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Morven Smith – BSc Physiotherapy, MCSP
Physiotherapist
Hi my name is Morven and I moved to NZ with my kiwi husband and our two boys in 2018. Since qualifying in Glasgow in 1991 I have worked extensively in the Musculoskeletal field, primarily in the UK’s NHS and also privately in the USA for three years in a sports medicine team. I have a special interest in spinal pain and became a Credentialed McKenzie Therapist in 2002 whilst working as a clinical specialist in the spinal service in Glasgow. I have also trained in Pilates and Acupuncture which are both a great adjunct to physiotherapy. Over the last 10 years I was a clinical specialist in London and my role was to diagnose and manage patients with complex musculoskeletal conditions, including referring patients for MRI, CT scans and Nerve Conduction Studies and delivering cortisone steroid injections. In this role I worked closely with Orthopaedic and Rheumatology teams and in chronic pain management to help each patient achieve the best outcome. I pride myself in my holistic approach and I am passionate in helping patients to achieve their goals and improve their well-being. My interests include walking, swimming and yoga and I love spending time outdoors with my family exploring the beautiful Bay of Plenty.
Rachael Blackburn – BPhty Physiotherapy
Physiotherapist
Hi, I’m Rachael. I grew up here in the lovely Tauranga, then moved to Dunedin for university where I graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2018. I enjoy applying a whole-body approach to rehabilitation, as well as incorporating future injury prevention in my later treatment sessions. I find it rewarding to work in collaboration with individuals, helping them reach their goals of rehabilitation and getting them back to where they want to be. Outside of physio, I like to be active in the outdoors and play netball!
Pauline Guy-Taylor – BSc Physiotherapy, MNZSP
Physiotherapist
I grew up in Zimbabwe and trained as a physio at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. After working for a few years in Zimbabwe and in South Africa we moved to New Zealand in 1994. I have always liked to look at the body as a whole and have been passionate about good posture and movement patterns to reduce stress on joints and muscles. Recently I have been training in the Connect Therapy and Thoracic Ring Approaches which provide a framework for assessing the whole body to identify the biomechanical issues underlying the problem. Treatment can then be aimed at correcting these biomechanical issues and retraining optimal movement patterns. I am excited to be able to use this approach to assess and treat people with recurrent problems or problems that don’t respond to treatment as expected. I have done many courses over the years, on the spine, neck, shoulders, hips and ankles and on the treatment of breathing pattern disorders. Outside of work I spend time with my family, help on our orchard and enjoy tramping and yoga.
Claire Vanderpoel – BPhty Physiotherapy
Physiotherapist
After living and working in the UK for the past 3 years I have now returned to beautiful Tauranga and am easing back into the NZ lifestyle. The overseas opportunity gave me wide experience from acute injuries to long-term and multiple conditions.
I love using my knowledge and skills to not only treat a person and their injury but educate them to facilitate self-management and promote long-term health. I will ensure that advice and exercises are individualised and achievable in your daily schedule, and we can discuss other lifestyle factors that impact your symptoms and/or overall well-being.
I simply love to be outside and, of course, exercising – practice what you preach! So this summer I’m hoping to pick up surfing and get back into triathlons.
Emma Newell – BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
Physiotherapist
Hi, I’m Emma and I’m from England and moved to Tauranga in Dec 2019. I graduated from Cardiff University and worked in various regions around the UK in a wide variety of different specialities including: oncology and haematology, acute medicine, musculoskeletal, neuro-rehab, acute stoke and stroke rehab, hands and rheumatology, paediatrics, plastics, ITU and community rehabilitation, secondary and primary care musculoskeletal outpatients.
I have completed several additional courses in taping, foundation strength and conditioning and have been fortunate to have had work experience with the England Cricket Board U19 development team. I have a particular interest in sports injuries and rehabilitation and have extensive experience treating patients in all parts of the rehab pathway including prehab, post-op and rehab. These injuries could include complex polytraumas or individual isolated events.
I am a bit of a science geek and love learning new things and keeping up to date with clinical research. I love the clinical reasoning process of problem solving until we find the right the solution to the puzzle no matter how complex it is!
In my spare time I love being outdoors, surfing, swimming, kayaking and keeping fit! I’m really excited to join the team and can’t wait to get exploring around New Zealand!
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Kelly Waite
Office Manager
Hi my name is Kelly and I am the Receptionist and Administrator for Back in Action Physiotherapy. An experienced Office Manager with qualifications in medical administration, I am always on hand to help you find an appointment or answer any questions you may have.
In my down time I am an avid reader, enjoy the cinema, amateur photography and I love to travel. I lived in Ireland for six years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I explored a little bit of Europe while I was there but not nearly enough. When I was 16 I had a small accident that resulted in a shoulder stabilisation surgery at 17 and shoulder reconstruction surgery at 19. Following both procedures was lots of physiotherapy to regain my range of motion and strength, so I have had a bit of physiotherapy myself in my time! Read more about shoulder injuries here. I look forward to meeting you and aiding your recovery in any way I can to help you get Better – Faster.