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‘It's our level of care that sets us apart’ - Lisa Thomson, Senior Partner
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Jaimi was drawn to osteopathy at a young age after experiencing first-hand how osteopathy helped treat the many sports injuries she endured growing up.
“As an osteopath I love educating people about their bodies. It helps show patients just how connected everything is and how closely structure and function are related.
If everything is working well in terms of structure and function the patient and their body will be at their best.
I love being a part of someone’s journey and helping them achieve their goals and get them back to the activities they loved doing the most.”
Jaimi enjoys treating a broad range of injuries, with a particular interest in headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders as well as vertigo and dizziness.
“There are so many factors that contribute to these conditions which can make the process of treating and managing them somewhat challenging. I find we can give patients quite a lot of relief and make a big difference in someone’s day to day life which is always rewarding to see.”
Away from the clinic Jaimi enjoys taking her dog on walks, being active with playing netball and going to the gym. During the summer time, she spends her free time down at the river with family and friends.
After 15 years of intensive dance training and working as on osteopath, Kim was looking for a pro-active way to help people manage their conditions. “Pilates was the perfect fit.”
Rather than “treat” conditions, Kim says Pilates improves movement and helps to relieve pain. “I work to help people overcome their back and neck pain, manage restrictions with arthritis, rehabilitate joint injuries, improve balance, build strength and increase bone mass in osteoporosis. I also love keeping people strong throughout their pregnancies and beyond.”
According to Kim, clients are surprised at how easily a problem area can be identified. “We have elite athletes coming in who are very strong and fit but have pain or an injury. We can find a muscle not doing its job properly and they are surprised at how quickly that muscle tires and how we can progress exercises to keep Pilates continually challenging.”
“I love that my clients are very pro-active leading to great, long term results. There is a huge variety in the people and conditions I see, keeping each class interesting. I also love getting to know people and hearing about their lives.”
Kim has first-hand knowledge in the role pilates can play in pre and post-natal health but also has extensive experience treating and rehabilitating AFL and dance injuries.
Away from the clinic, Kim enjoys spending time with her three boys and getting involved in sports, activities, camping, and bushwalking. She also loves walking her dogs.
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.
Nicole has a strong passion in working with both amateur and professional dancers. Nicole has over 15 years of classical ballet training, therefore has a deep understanding of the physiological demands, the common musculoskeletal injuries, and how to support and manage these injuries when they arise in dancers. Nicole is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science and is committed to keeping up to date with the latest research in dance injury and management. At CSSM, Nicole provides pre-pointe assessments for aspiring young dancers.
‘Our pre-pointe assessment determines whether a dancer is safe to commence dancing en pointe. We take the dancers training history into consideration, as well as a detailed postural and functional assessment of the foot/ankle, pelvis, core and spine’
Nicole’s osteopathic clinical areas of interest also include the cervical spine, TMJ dysfunction and headaches.
“These conditions can be extremely debilitating for patients and I find that osteopathic treatment and management is very beneficial in reducing pain, and improving quality of life.”
Nicole has also undertaken further training in treating lower back and pelvic pain in ante and post-natal patients. As a key driver of our Pilates classes at CSSM, Nicole often incorporates this expertise into the treatment and management of these patients.
“I love that as an Osteopath, I can help my patients overcome challenges, achieve their goals and return to the activities they enjoy doing the most. It is important to assist patients in understanding their pain through education, and empower them to take the necessary steps in becoming healthier and happier.”
Away from CSSM, Nicole enjoys spending time down at the beach with friends and family, going to the gym and participating in Pilates classes.
Senior physiotherapist Caroline Szafranski was drawn to physio during her four years spent living in the United States on a tennis scholarship at Arkansas State University. “I was training six days a week and spending a bit of time in the medical rooms!” She studied Exercise Science and then spent 6 months working in California.“I think my involvement in tennis and triathlons has helped me enormously with treating patients and understanding their emotional ride as well.”
After completing a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University back home, Caroline has worked with various sporting organisations including the AFL Umpires Association in addition to grass roots football clubs.
“I’ve also worked in various roles both in private practice and in a hospital environment, both in the UK and Australia, giving me extensive experience in treating patients with both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions,” she said.
Caroline has a special interest in biomechanics, rehabilitation and Clinical Pilates training having completed mat and equipment Level 1 Certificate in Pilates and Level 1 Dry Needling Certificate, and several other courses. “I treat all areas but but enjoy treating backs, neck and doing pilates, plus post surgery rehab especially total hip and knee replacements.”
Away from the clinic, Caroline continues to play tennis and still has that competitive nature participating in ironman triathlon and marathon running, competing in several races including the half ironman and long course world championships and completing two Melbourne marathons! “I’d like to say that my competitive spirit is a little more tame these days but I can’t help myself sometimes!”
Caroline is at CSSM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
After 15 years of international competitive Taekwondo, I sustained several injuries. “I was always so fascinated by how the human body functions and heals – seemingly myotherapy was the perfect fit. An enthusiast about health, fitness and being the best version of yourself is a key factor”.
Adele feels that analysing the main components of people’s everyday lifestyles and interests allows her to identify and provide specialised ways for a specific individual to help aid in strengthening, rehabilitating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Adele enjoys working with people “to help get them back to the activities they love”.
Adele executes this through a “hands-on approach”, which includes trigger point therapy, dry needling, cupping, myofascial release and treatment of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Adele is a firm believer on educating her clients about their condition and what their recovery process will entail to improve their ability to manage, maintain and overcome their injuries.
Adele has worked with NICA (National Institute of Circus Australia) and amateur basketball, netball and football leagues across Melbourne.
In Adele’s spare time, she loves to participate in pilates, rock climbing, hiking, baking and spending time with family and friends.
Hugh Feary has always been interested in how the body works, sport and strength training. Physio was the perfect fit.
“It’s also a great combination of problem solving and working with people.”
Hugh has previously worked in GP clinics and private practice as well as a variety of local sporting teams including the Fremantle Dockers in the AFLW.
“I love the challenge of appropriately reintegrating people back into sport as fast as possible while minimising the risk of re-injury.”
Spending a lot of time strength training in the gym, Hugh enjoys helping others who have any niggles or injuries to modify their program to keep them moving.
“I enjoy empowering people with the information and the tools they need to manage their own health and get back to the things they love to do.”
Away from the clinic, Hugh enjoys music – particularly cello, drums and guitar as well as reading and strength training.
Hugh is available at CSSM Monday to Thursday and alternate Friday’s and Saturday’s.
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!
Educated at the University of South Australia, Vaughan has gained a wide range of clinical experiences since completing his studies and moving to Melbourne in 1998. Sporting and family commitments helped to shape his core range of clinical interests. Originally drawn to Podiatry after having his own knee pain cured by orthotic management, Vaughan values how much more enjoyment can be gained from sports when you have no pain associated with playing them. Likewise through watching his three children’s development, Vaughan is determined to minimise any pain associated within childhood development.
Vaughan’s philosophy regarding treatment is to address the cause of the pain biomechanically, and instill a treatment plan that will enhance every patient’s enjoyment of life’s endeavours.
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