Fiona Taylor, MSC. ACPAT CAT A, has joined the Lumbry Park team to launch Physiotherapy for Lumbry Park.

Fiona graduated in 1995 with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy and started her career at as a junior physiotherapist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust, London. Here, Fiona developed a keen interest in musculoskeletal / orthopaedic physiotherapy whilst gaining experience in many other areas of medicine including respiratory care, amputees, rheumatology and neurology. Fiona subsequently moved abroad with her family, settling in the US and then Switzerland where she set up small human physiotherapy clinics working mainly in musculoskeletal private practice. On her return to the UK in 2013, she undertook an MSc in Veterinary physiotherapy, becoming an ACPAT Cat A Physiotherapist, and setting up private practice treating humans and animals. More recently she was part of a team of specialist physiotherapists working in neurological and orthopaedic rehabilitation at a large referral veterinary practice . Fiona has a professional yet relaxed approach to physiotherapy which is both evidence based and holistic with the patients’ welfare foremost.

• Neuro rehabilitation : to help restore movement, to strengthen and ultimately return to normal function
• Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: post-operative rehabilitation. E.g CCL, fracture repairs
• General MSK: tendon injuries, back pain, soft tissue injuries, OA as part of a multimodal approach, the ageing dog, the active dog

Treatments

• Soft tissue techniques
• Manual therapy including joint mobilisations
• Strengthening programs
• Electrotherapy – Laser for pain / soft tissue and wound healing, muscle stimulation for muscle activation
• Splinting: fitting off the shelf splints eg carpal and tarsal, bespoke custom splints working with external suppliers, or thermoplastic splints
• Advice for owners on managing dogs with difficulties : adapting the home, looking after your own back etc

Ultimately if the goals of management are to manage pain, strengthen, improve joint motion, improve function, address secondary soft tissue adaptations, prevent future problems and improve quality of life then physio has a role to play.