Ella has always been interested in the human body and the biomechanics of movement. “I thoroughly enjoy physical activity and sports and wanted to be able to help others recover from injury or pain so that they could return to doing what they love.”

Ella has a keen interest in sports injuries, neurological conditions such as stroke and post-surgery rehabilitation. Prior to joining CSSM, she worked in an acute hospital in Sydney where she further developed her interest in neurological physiotherapy. “I am fascinated by the nervous system and how it interacts with the musculoskeletal system and the entire body. It’s an area I would like to specialise in.”

Tailoring exercise and rehabilitation programs to suit each client and their goals is central to Ella’s approach to physiotherapy.  She believes in educating clients to help them understand their condition and encourage them to take an active role in their treatment and prevent further injuries. “I love working with people who are motivated to return to sport or a certain activity.”

Working with such a close team of practitioners at CSSM, Ella says the team consults and learns from each other to provide the most appropriate care for patients.

Away from the clinic, Ella enjoys playing netball, basketball and tennis, running, getting out of the city and catching up with friends and family.

An enthusiastic sportsperson, she played soccer for 16years at premier league division as a goal keeper but has now traded in her gloves for her love of Pilates. As a nationally qualified Myotherapist, Remedial Massage Therapist and Pilates instructor; Monique understands the importance of both injury prevention and rehabilitation from a practitioner and patient point of view. Combining assessment with evidence based treatment plans to strengthen the body using exercises, Monique is able to formulate the right approach to overcome a range of ailments including acute injuries, chronic pain management and general maintenance.

Monique also understands that treatment doesn’t have to be about ‘no pain no gain’; massage doesn’t have to be painful to work well, therefore she also uses other methods including cupping, dry needling and mobilisations to help get her clients to where they need to be.

Monique has a special interest in the management and rehabilitation of hypermobility, chronic pain and pelvic dysfunctions. She enjoys treating clients of all ages and athletic ability and loves elite athletes, weekend warriors and kids who are honing their skills on the way to elite level performance.

Clinical Pilates is one of Monique secret weapons to help all her clients return to their activities of daily living and return to sport.

She is also passionate about furthering her studies, and is currently undertaking her bachelor in exercise sports science at Deakin so as to be able to continue to help people no matter what their ailment, injury or stress.

When not working, Monique likes to hone her Pilates skills, spend time with her long fur child Hugo (the dachshund) and continues to work with a Premier league men’s soccer team as a sports trainer and strength and conditioning coach.

Myotherapist & Remedial Massage

After growing up in France, it wasn’t until Julien moved to Australia that he discovered myotherapy. He was drawn to myotherapy for its hands-on approach to the treatment of muscular conditions and its focus on injury prevention. “I felt it was a great way to help people to get better, to return to the lifestyle they want.”

Julien sees many different types of injuries ranging from neck and lower back pain to chronic conditions and acute injuries. He focuses on working together to find techniques specific for each individual to maintain positive habits and feel in control of their bodies once more.

“I’m particularly interested in the relationship between posture and neck conditions leading to headaches. I also like working on the hip. The kicking motion involving the hip flexors particularly intrigues me.”

Despite having worked with elite athletes such as the Melbourne United Basketball Team, Julien’s interests go beyond the sporting field. He is interested in promoting the sensible ergonomic and postural habits that affect our everyday activities. “I hope to continue and find new ways to make a difference to my patients’ lives.”

When he’s not at work, Julien enjoys watching movies, going to concerts with his partner and long walks with his Scottish terrier Aunt Agatha. “After living most of my life in Paris, I love how much space we have here!”

He also enjoys playing soccer and follows Paris Saint Germaine. The CSSM team is doing their best to influence Julien’s AFL team selection!

Alicia graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Health Science and Masters of Podiatric Practice. These qualifications, together with an extensive history in sporting footwear retail, underpin Alicia’s comprehensive knowledge of feet and footwear. This has given her a broad experience in determining the best footwear choices for each patient.

Alicia firmly believes that healthy feet equal a healthy life. As a podiatrist, she has an understanding of the vast range of musculoskeletal injuries that occur in the foot and leg as well as the most appropriate and effective treatment approaches for each individual patient. By assessing the cause of pain and designing a treatment plan to prevent future problems, Alicia is motivated to improve every patients’ quality of life.

When not at CSSM, Alicia works in Monash Health, in an acute podiatry setting with a clinical focus on wound assessment and treatment as well as managing lower limb diabetic complications.

Whilst knowledgeable in all types of podiatric care, Alicia has a particular interest in sport related injuries and the relationship between foot mechanics and performance or injury.

An active sporting background developed a passion for biomechanics, giving Alicia the understanding of how injury can impact performance and the importance of an individualised treatment and rehabilitation program.

In her down time, Alicia can be found pounding the footpaths training for her next running adventure or playing Aussie Rules, netball or punching out a Pilates class with her friends.  You won’t find her standing still!

As a child, Lachlan was injury prone and saw many osteopaths and physiotherapists which sparked his interest in the industry.

“Osteopathy allows me to share knowledge about the body so people can understand themselves better.”

Lachlan has a particular interest in the neck and back and a growing interest in sport-related injuries. “I have grown up playing and watching sport my whole life. I feel as though I can identify with people who have sports injuries as I have had quite a few myself. Injuries can present significantly different from patient to patient which require lots of problem solving.”

In addition to manual therapy, Lachlan incorporates exercises as well as postural and lifestyle advice into his treatment sessions.

Lachlan has previously worked in London and learnt how osteopathy can be provided in a number of settings including hospitals, private practice, children’s clinics and expectant mothers clinics.

In the future, he would like to specialise in sports injuries and increase awareness and access to health care.

“CSSM is a one-stop musculoskeletal shop for people of all ages, backgrounds and injuries with a personalised and patient-focussed approach.”

Away from the clinic, Lachlan enjoys watching and playing sport, keeping fit and healthy, spending time with family and friends and exploring the world.

Senior Osteopath

Being an osteopath combines Caroline’s love of health and helping people.

“Osteopathy was a way in which I could combine my desire to help people and study human anatomy, physiology, pathology and biomechanics. I was especially drawn to osteopathy given the widespread application of treatments for all age groups and focusing on finding the root cause of someone’s pain rather than just treating the symptomatic area.”

Caroline particularly enjoys treating headaches and neck pain. “There are so many factors that contribute to headaches which makes the process of diagnosing, treating and managing them quite a challenge. Utilising a wide range of techniques such as soft tissue massage, joint articulation and joint manipulation, it’s always rewarding to see a change in these headaches knowing that you have made a difference to someone’s everyday life.”

Lower back and pelvic pain for patients going through pregnancy, in desk workers and trades people are also areas of interest. “In the future I would like to expand further development into complex pain conditions to better understand those living with chronic health conditions and the way it impacts musculoskeletal pain.”

Caroline also appreciates the influence of other lifestyle and environmental factors that can contribute to pain or discomfort. She utilises a team approach working alongside her patients to establish short and long-term goals both in and out of the treatment room.

The variation in presenting injuries from acute to chronic, from athletes to desk workers, means that no two days as a practitioner are the same.

On her days off, Caroline enjoys going for day hikes (a favourite being the You Yangs), playing mixed netball, cooking and spending time with friends and family.

As a physiotherapist, Peter relishes the opportunity to help his clients return to the things that mean the most to them, whether that’s sport, work or family. “A strong and healthy body maintains a healthy mind, which allows us to perform and work to the best of our ability.”

Peter is a strength and conditioning enthusiast with a unique understanding of the demands of high level competition and performance.  Having previously worked within the National Premier League Victoria (soccer) as well as part of the medical team for Futsal Victoria at their National Championships, he has a passion for treating all aspects of musculoskeletal or sporting pain with a particular interest in shoulders, hips, knees and ankles.

He is also a great advocate for the involvement of children and adolescents in sport, helping them develop healthy habits as they grow.

“It’s so important to stay at the forefront of the industry in terms of latest techniques, advancements, patient care and rehabilitation and use this information to continue to play a key role in patients’ recovery.”

Peter has valuable experience in pre- and post-operative care and has developed expertise in using Clinical Pilates to facilitate optimal recovery and performance.

“The challenge of pre and post-surgery and the journey between physiotherapist and patient to integrate them back into daily activity or sport in an even better condition than before their injury is what drives me.”

Whether it’s an acute injury or simply wanting to optimise performance, Peter has the expertise to diagnose and prescribe a program to get you back on track to achieving your goals. His unique combination of physiotherapy and high level coaching skills is a valuable asset in both the prevention and rehabilitation of injury – particularly in the areas of sports performance in the younger athlete.

Away from CSSM, Peter has developed a keen interest in golf, enjoys attending sports events, training in the gym and keeping up with the latest research and advancements within the physiotherapy industry.

Myotherapist & Remedial Massage

17 years of dance training, 12 years of tennis and 7 years of competitive rock climbing fuelled Kelsey’s interest in sport and associated injuries. “I’d always been interested in health and fitness and Myotherapy was a great transition from Personal Training into the treatment and rehabilitation of a lot of the issues I saw in the gym. It came with a stronger understanding of the human body.”

While sport is her passion, Kelsey believes that creating solid foundations of strength and rehabilitation are key components in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, whether you work in an office or as an elite athlete. “Having participated in a fair few sports over the years it’s given me a better understanding of the demands the body can be put through, the movements required to succeed and the difficult task of taking time away from the sport you love when injured.”

Kelsey employs a hands-on approach when treating muscular pains and joint dysfunction, complementing treatment outcomes with modalities such as cupping, dry needling, trigger point therapy, and taping. “Shoulder joint issues really fascinate me because they can be unpredictable and complex. I really enjoy the process of breaking down why the injury has occurred in the first place and rehabilitating the joint structures.”

Kelsey believes we never stop learning and is currently studying physiotherapy. “I’m keen to incorporate my myotherapy knowledge into what I’m learning as a student physiotherapist. I don’t want to abandon my myotherapy roots, but use them to better my outlook and understanding of treatment and rehabilitation.”

Away from work, Kelsey is an avid participator in rock climbing and has competed in both state and national events. “I can also be a great couch potato when I need some down time and enjoy meeting up with friends.”

Senior Osteopath

Emily has always been interested in the human body and leading an active lifestyle. “In learning about the different types of manual therapy, I really liked the concept of treating the person as a whole through osteopathy and aiming to solve the cause of someone’s pain or problem rather than just offering short term, symptomatic relief.”

Patient education and advice, in addition to hands-on treatment, is key to Emily’s treatment approach.

Emily is particularly interested in treating headaches/migraines, neck pain and pre/post-natal care using dry needling, Pilates and pain management strategies.

“Headaches including migraines are such a common and often debilitating condition and I’ve always found treating these conditions particularly satisfying as patients have often tried many different approaches with limited success prior to seeing an osteopath. I find the holistic and multi-faceted approach of osteopathy really well suited to treating these complaints.”

Emily has undertaken extensive training in dry needling. “I find it to be a very effective technique particularly for more complex cases and when other treatment modalities have been unsuccessful. I use this in conjunction with other forms of manual therapy as part of a treatment and very rarely in isolation.”

Since becoming a mother, Emily’s interest in pre and post-natal care has increased. “I understand the importance of not just pain relief during pregnancy but in optimising health and wellbeing during pregnancy for the best chance of an optimal birth and recovery.”

Having worked alongside experienced practitioners of many modalities, Emily has a broad understanding of the limitations of manual therapy and when referral and co-management may be necessary in order to achieve the best patient outcomes. In addition to manual therapy, Emily incorporates exercise prescription, postural and lifestyle advice into her management strategies, having undertaken further studies in Clinical Pilates and Nutritional Medicine.

In the future, Emily hopes to undertake further study in pain management strategies. “There’s growing numbers of patients dealing with persistent pain. These complaints form a significant part of our patient load and it is an area of research that I believe warrants further understanding.”

Away from CSSM, Emily enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her young family, drinking coffee and most recently, baking cakes!