About Us

We use functional, high–end rehabilitation techniques to treat musculoskeletal conditions from annoying aches and pains to acute injuries. We work with patients in our large gym and/or one of our 9 private treatment rooms to develop individually tailored, activity–specific treatments.

Priding ourselves on education as we go, we focus on teaching our clients WHY their injuries occur, what factors may have contributed to the incident and what we need to work on together to reduce their pain and dysfunction.

Where we feel we make the most difference is in identifying future goals and helping clients meet these through functional strength, bio-mechanical movement corrections, muscle balancing and activity-specific drills that help prepare and simulate the challenges that lie ahead for their injured tissues.

Our therapists have a wide variety of skills (acupuncture, Kinesio strapping, manipulative treatments, massage therapy/soft tissue mobilizations, neural mobilizations, etc.), which we share regularly through co-consultations, in-services, or clinical workshops.

Through this commitment to excellence we have managed to become an integral part in supporting and working within the professional sports scene – both within Nelson and for visiting sporting teams. We sponsor a number of different community teams and individual athletes, helping them to reach their full potential. You will see many of our physios out in the community competing or participating themselves. This gives them a first-hand knowledge on the biomechanics needed to get the best out of your body and how best to prevent or recover from injuries. It also means they appreciate how frustrating it is to be out of action for a while – and how important it is to get you better quickly!

Come and have a look! We would love to meet you.

The Team

Our Physiotherapists

Candace Donovan

Owner Operator, Practice Manager, Physiotherapist Advisor and Advanced Physiotherapist/Consultant

Candace is responsible for the overall running of the practice and thoroughly enjoys working alongside her wonderful team of administrators, physiotherapists, staff and patients. She has been involved as a physiotherapist in high end Sports Physiotherapy for 27 years having worked as an educator for World Rugby, as lead physio for the Tasman Mako (Rugby), Giants (Basketball) and Suburbs (soccer) and with various high level local athletes since moving here to Nelson. She now strives to pass on this knowledge and enthusiasm to her great team – working largely in a mentorship and advisory role to the Physiotherapy team while also supporting the Administrative needs through Practice Management.

Originally from Canada, Candace stays busy with her family when not in the clinic by working on their beef farm or at their upmarket B&B.

Candace loves spending time with her family, working with her dogs on the farm, as well as mountain biking, running and travelling in her “off” time.

“I love seeing people not only get back to what they love doing, but it’s even better if we can find that full potential!”

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Nicole van Vledder – Advanced Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS:

BSc Physiotherapy (1994, University of Stellenbosch)
Masters Clinical Physiotherapy (2015, University of Stellenbosch)
Dry Needling
ONERO Certified Clinician

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Osteoporosis rehabilitation and strengthening
Return to running post injury
Neck, shoulder, lower back
Hip, knee and ankle injuries
Hands on treatment and exercise guidance and prescription

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

I love to walk alongside clients to guide and support you after injury back to your personal goals.

Whether your goal is to be able to do your housework and garden again or get back to your competitive sport, I count it as a privilege to walk that path with you.

I am able to support you in the way you would prefer, be that more intensively working together or directing you more with a progressed program that you are able to work on yourself.

I have worked in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Dubai. I moved to Nelson in 2016 with my family.

I am grateful to live in beautiful Nelson with my hubby and young adult son.

In my free time, you find me on the trails tramping, running or biking, or on the couch reading!

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Eileen Koelble – Senior Classic Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor of Physiotherapy – University of Utrecht/Netherlands
McKenzie Technique – back pain
Myofascial Release techniques
K Strapping Techniques

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Kinesio Taping
Triggerpoint Therapy
Stabilisation Training
Post-operative rehabilitation
Myofascial release
Chronic pain, Postural and Work Injuries

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

I grew up in in the eastern part of Germany and became a physio after finishing school. I have worked in private clinics, in rehabilitation centres and a chronic pain clinic. My experiences are mainly in the orthopaedic field. After travelling twice to New Zealand, we fell in love with this beautiful country. So my husband and I decided this is where we wanted our kids to grow up.

I love to help patients achieve their goals. My experiences over the last 25 years showed me how important it is to not just see the injured body part but the whole person (all aspects and circumstances of life). I am very convinced that a mixture of hands on and off gives the best results for patients. I especially enjoy Work Injuries, K strapping and backs.

My personal interests are gardening, crafts (like sewing), being in the kitchen, sustainability, yoga, tramping

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Will Simpson – Classic Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Otago – 2013)
NZMPA Cervical spine Certificate (2014)
NZMPA Lumbar spine Certificate (2014)
SSI Divemaster (2017)

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Manual Therapy ( joint mobs, biomech. corrections, Soft Tissue/Myofascial release)
Sports Injury and functional rehab
Running biomechanics and optimization
Cervical spine manual therapy and rehab

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

I was born in the Wairarapa and was heavily involved in track & field and football, leading me towards a career in physiotherapy. Studying at the University of Otago, I finished my physiotherapy degree in 2013. I have worked in private musculoskeletal physio practices in Wellington, Auckland and the UK before settling in Nelson in 2022.

I have worked with sports teams including Auckland Netball winning national silver medals in 2017 & 2019. As an athlete I competed at national level for 7 years which has helped me develop a specialization in running biomechanics.

I enjoy working with all types of people to help them achieve their goals and have a focus on patient education and biomechanical optimization.

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Tamsin du Preez – Classic Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS:

BSc. in Physiotherapy (2014)
Assessment of the Lumbar Spine using the CBI Method
McKenzie Part A: Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy of the Lumbar Spine
The Lower Limb Tendon Course by Professor Jill Cook
The Adult Hip by Glen Robbins & Benoy Mathews
Dry Needling Level 1
APPI Matwork Level 1

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Management of shoulder, lumbar spine and hip pain and pathology
Functional rehabilitation
Patient education
Trigger point dry needling

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

Kia ora! My name is Tammy and I am a physiotherapist from Cape Town, South Africa. I graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2014 and completed my Community Service at Tygerberg Hospital – the second largest hospital in South Africa. In 2016, I moved to the countryside town of Piketberg (130km outside of Cape Town) where I opened my private clinic. Here, I developed my love for musculoskeletal and sports injury management.

My husband and I decided to move to New Zealand’s North Island in 2021, where I soon joined the TBI Health Masterton team, before moving to the South Island and transferring to their Nelson branch. Working at TBI Health has been invaluable to my development as a clinician, as well as familiarising myself with the New Zealand health care system. However, after three years in corporate healthcare, I decided to return to a more intimate rehab setting and joined the team at Sports Therapy Nelson.

Outside of work, I enjoy mountain biking, reading, and having a backyard braai (BBQ) with family and friends.

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Kelly Mabbett – Senior Classic Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Health Science Physiotherapy
Dry needling foundation course
Certified Mulligan Practitioner
Bradcliff Breathing Practitioner

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

Spinal and lower limb injuries
Post-surgical rehabilitation
Manual Therapy
Sports injuries, particularly endurance athletes
Injury prevention

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

I studied BHSc Physiotherapy at Auckland University of Technology, graduating in 2012. Following this I worked in Christchruch before spending 2 years travelling and working as a physiotherapist in various UK hospitals. This gave me a deep understanding of the musckuloskeletal system and how to effectively treat a wide range of conditions and help patients to return to their optimal health and wellness. On returning to New Zealand, I fell in love with Nelson and the lifestyle and have been here since.

In my spare time you will often find me in the great outdoors running, kayaking and biking and looking after my young children.

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Kristie Hughes – Classic Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS:

Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Canine Rehabilitation Institute, 2018
Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine with Distinction, University of Otago, 2007
Certified Pilates Rehabilitation Practitioner, Polestar Pilates International, 2005
Registered Physiotherapy Acupuncturist, PAANZ, 2003
Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Credit, University of Otago, 2000

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

I grew up in Kurow, North Otago and studied Physiotherapy at the University of Otago graduating in 2000. After a year working in a private practice in Southland I moved to Wanaka where I worked in private practice for 11 years, owning my own clinic for 7 of those years.

During my time in Wanaka I became a provider for High Performance Sport New Zealand and treated International and New Zealand snow sport athletes. This also enabled me to travel to Europe and the USA as a physiotherapist for The New Zealand University Winter Games team and the New Zealand Ski and Snowboard team respectively. Along with treating these athletes and weekend warriors of the local ski fields I really enjoyed working with New Zealand’s Paralympic snow sport athletes, and developing sports specific Pilates based training programs for these athletes.

I then moved to Dunedin and had the privilege of continuing to work in private practice with a variety of clients including national-level athletes and Paralympic athletes, mostly in the field of athletics. Within this role I spent a lot of time using core retraining principals in combination with real time ultrasound imaging to implement rehabilitation protocols for people with persistent low back pain.

In 2015 I moved to Nelson and have been working at Sports Therapy on and off since then, taking some time away to raise my son and gain further physiotherapy qualifications in animal rehabilitation.

I enjoy treating a variety of patients and helping them return to their desired activity whether it be hobbies, leisure activities or high-level competitive sport. In my years of work as a physiotherapist with both humans and animals I know not one-size fits all, so I aim to provide individualised treatment and rehabilitation plans with the goal of getting patients back to or even above their previous level of function.

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Laura Pensado Molins – Classic Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelors Degree in Physiotherapy – University of A Coruna, Spain
MAT Pilates Instructor – Spanish Federation of Pilates & IFPTF
Postgrad Osteopathic Manual Therapy – Spain
Postgrad Cert Acupuncture – Asociacion Argentina de Kinesiologia, Buenos Aires
Advanced Dry Needling Cert – Spain

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Manual therapy & myofascial release
TMJ, cervical and head disorders
Functional movement training, Pilates and strengthening
Sports injuries (dance/acrobatics/climbing/surfing/weightlifting)
Holistic approach

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

Kia Ora! I am Laura, I am a passionate physiotherapist and Pilates instructor. While completing my studies, I immersed myself in the world of weightlifting and strengthening for 4 years. Inspired by my need of exploration and my love for movement, I embarked on a journey of travel where I worked extensively in alternative body therapies and explored various movement practices in Australia, Canada and South America.

My interest in body awareness, breath work, and movement has led me to practice dance, Pilates and acrobatics. My true passion lies in supporting people in their healing processes. I believe in a holistic approach to health, where we not only manage physical symptoms but also address emotional and spiritual well-being. Outside of work you will find me in the ocean … swimming or surfing, or exploring the mountains of our beautiful Whakatū region.

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Debbie Street – Classic Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS:

BSc Physiotherapy (1994, University of Stellenbosch)
Diploma in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (South Africa)
Diploma in Acupuncture (Allied Health Professions of South Africa)
Cranial-sacral Therapy (Level 1)
Dry needling

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Neck, back and shoulders
Chronic pain management
Hands on treatment and exercise guidance

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

I qualified from the University of Stellenbosch in 1994 and, after a year working in private practice, I moved to the UK and worked in the NHS in a private practice for 4 years. I then returned to South Africa where I started my private practice in Hilton, where I met my husband and raised my family on a farm in the Natal Midlands.

I am committed to ongoing professional development and have completed advanced courses in lumbo-pelvic motor control, craniosacral therapy, cervical spine management, and Pilates-based rehabilitation. My passion is exploring how different disciplines such as acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy and physiotherapy can be woven together to create a unique approach to helping you on your recovery journey.

We have recently moved to Nelson and I can’t wait to explore all that Nelson has to offer. My family and I love outdoor activities like tennis, tramping, sailing, and cycling. It feels like we’ve discovered paradise!

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Arielle Mackie – Classic Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Science Physiotherapy – Otago 2024
PILATES training (In Process)

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Sports Related Injuries
Strength and Conditioning
Functional Rehabilitation
Post Surgical Care and rehabilitation

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

Born in Blenheim, I moved to Nelson to start my physiotherapy career after graduating from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2024. I have a love for the Tasman area and the opportunity it brings to spend time in the sunshine and outdoors. I enjoy walking, paddleboarding and dancing, I am also a big animal lover!

As a newly graduated physiotherapist I will work with you to help get you back to what you love doing. I love connecting with and helping people. I am passionate about physical activity the many benefits it can have to an individual’s life and wellbeing. My background in Ballet sparked my interest in sports rehabilitation and has lead me towards being trained in teaching Clinical Pilates.

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Angus Broatch – New Graduate Physiotherapist

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Physiotherapy, University of Otago (2025)
FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine (2025)
NZIHF Applied Personal Training Diploma (2024)

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Sports Rehabilitation
Strength & Conditioning
Injury Prevention
Manual Therapy & Myofascial Techniques

Living in Nelson I spend my spare time with friends and family enjoying the outdoors with particular interest in anything on the water and in the sunshine!

PERSONAL INTERESTS
Growing up across South East Asia, I came back to New Zealand for my university studies. I moved to Nelson to complete my training, and fell in love with the surrounding area and local sporting environment.
As a physiotherapist, I enjoy using a combination of treatment strategies to create the best results for the people I work with. I believe in using hands-on treatment to accelerate the rehabilitation timeline, and using exercise prescription to create long-term improvements and prevent future injuries.
I have experience working with multiple sports teams, and have covered multi-day tournaments for both basketball and rugby. This has given me the opportunity to work with a variety of youth and senior athletes with acute injuries, and support them throughout the rehabilitation process in their return to sport. This year I will be working with the Waimea Old Boys as the physiotherapist for the Women’s rugby team and Men’s Development team.
During my free time, I enjoy going on fun adventures with friends and family or relaxing at home in front of the TV.

Hazel Davidsen – Classic Physiotherapist (currently on maternity leave)

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor in Physiotherapy
Bachelor in Science majoring in Human Nutrition

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

Sports-related injuries
ACL rehabilitation
Post-surgical
Acute injury management
Manual therapy

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

Born and bred in Nelson, I carried out my study at Otago University where I completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Human Nutrition and then a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, graduating in 2018 I returned home to Nelson. I have since worked in private practice around the region and gained experience in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, pre/post surgical and biomechanical assessment. My work with both club and representative rugby teams over the last 4 years sparked my interest in sports-related rehabilitation and acute injury management. I enjoy working with people to achieve their goals and keep them moving!

Our Massage Therapists

Tonya Ball

Hot Stone | Indian Head Massage | Relaxation (Wed/Thur/Fri)

QUALIFICATIONS:

Sports Massage
Holistic Treatments
Certified yoga teacher

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Sports/deep tissue
Relaxation
Reflexology
Indian Head Massage
Stress relief
Pregnancy Massage
Hot Stones
Myofascial

PERSONAL INTERESTS:

Tonya is a qualified Sports Masseuse, Holistic therapist and Yoga Teacher. She has been working in the wellness industry for 25 years including time on National Geographic ships and resorts.

In her spare time Tonya enjoys the outdoors – paddle boarding, biking, walking, yoga and spending quality times with friends.

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Our Orthotist

Robin Mead – Motion Orthotics

QUALIFICATIONS

Orthotist MNZOPA

PROFESSIONAL LINKS

Cell: 027 322 8464
email: info@motionorthotics.co.nz
website: www.motionorthotics.co.nz

Motion Orthotics are passionate about helping clients improve their quality of life by providing the brace or support that works best for you & your lifestyle. This includes neck and back supports, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle supports, compression garments, right down to custom insoles & footwear modification and manufacture.

Motion Orthotics has the backing of well established suppliers & manufacturing centres in New Zealand and overseas.

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Our Administration Team

Candace Donovan

Owner Operator/Practice Manager/ Physiotherapist Mentor and Advanced Physiotherapist/Consultant

Candace supervises and manages the smooth running of the clinic in a support role. Overseeing contracts, networking and the financial duties as well as co-ordinating service delivery and future planning. Alongside Jemima, she is involved in the higher end administrative functions.

Originally from Canada, Candace stays busy with her family when not in the clinic by working on their Beef farm or at their upmarket B&B. Candace loves spending time with her family, working with her dogs on the farm, as well as mountain biking and travelling in her spare time.

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Jemima Jones

Lead Administrator

Our Sports Therapy Ray of Sunshine!! Jemima joined the Sports Therapy team in May 2024 and is the face and inner working of the admin team.

Originally from the UK, but definitely a local now, having lived in NZ for 20+ years, Jemima loves exploring the outdoors by tramping and camping around the Top of the South. Watch out also for her Grassroots Recycling … a personal passion started by Jemima and a tribute to all the love and care she puts into our community and everything she does.

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Deb Mahan

Front Desk – Reception

A valued member of the team since late December 2021, Deb returned to NZ and chose the lovely city of Nelson to call home. She is the greeting face on the front desk 3 days a week and is always happy to help.

“As a Kiwi most of my life has been in NZ working a variety of careers, however a passion for the sea led me to a 10 year stint as chef/first mate on luxury charter yachts in the Mediterranean, but predominantly in the Caribbean. From the Caribbean I moved to land – choosing Nelson.

My passion is still sailing or cruising but I also enjoy movies and books; cooking and wine; family; involvement with people of different cultures. Qualifications are diverse but include life skills and experiences”.