PhysioWorksNI Team Bios

Physio Works NI Team

All the staff at PhysioWorksNI are professional and highly qualified and we pride ourselves in the high standard of treatment that we offer.

These are the staff and their qualifications: -

Debbie Matchett MCSP BCPA

Chartered Physiotherapist and Body Control Pilates Instructor

Specialising in: Sports Injuries and rehabilitation, Pilates and Myofascial Release

Debbie has more than 20 years experience at the highest level in Physiotherapy and more than 8 years as a Body Control Pilates Instructor. She opened PhysioWorksNI in 2002, since then the clinic has continued to grow in size and reputation with Debbie now being the proud leader of an excellent team of Physiotherapists, Pilates Instructors, Massage Therpists, a Podiatrist and a Practice Manager.

Qualified from UUJ in 1989 with a degree in Physiotherapy. Following this she worked within the NHS for 7 years and in a local Sports Injury Clinic for a further 4 years. Debbie's career has also involved acting as physio for various rugby teams including the Irish Under 21's along with the Ireland A and Ulster Senior rugby teams.

Debbie is a keen runner and a member of North Down Athletic Club and is pasionate about health and fitness.

Jo-Ann Ferguson MCSP

Chartered Physiotherapist

Specialising in: Back/Neck Pain, Sports Injuries & Rehabilitation, Pilates, Deep Tissue Massage, Acupuncture and Kinesiology Taping

Jo-Ann qualified in 2002 from Teeside University with a degree in physiotherapy. She then worked for the following three years with the NHS in England. After moving home she has worked within the private and public sector and joined the PhysioWorksNI team full time in November 2007.

Lesley Burton MCSP

Chartered Physiotherapist

Specialising in: Women's Health and Paediatrics

Qualified in 1989 with a degree in Physiotherapy. Lesley worked in the Ulster Hospital for 6 years then moved to Fleming Fulton School to follow her desire to specialise in paediatrics. Within 2 years she took up a senior position in community paediatrics based in South East Belfast at Holywood Arches Health Centre; she worked here from 1996 - 2007.

From 2004 - 2007 Lesley decided to increase her knowledge of women's health and joined the Physio team in Royal Jubilee Maternity hospital, she also joined a paediatric team working in schools around Belfast, specialising mainly with children presenting with balance and coordination difficulties. She joined PhysioWorksNI in January 2007.

Alan Thomson MCSP

Chartered Physiotherapist

Specialising in: Back/Neck Pain, Sports Injuries & Rehabilitation, Acupuncture and Kinesiology Taping

Alan qualified as a physiotherapist in 2005 from Leeds Metropolitan University with First class honours, having previously gained a degree in Sport and Exercise Science.

He has worked in both NHS and private practice since qualifying. He has gained experience in musculoskeletal condition s working in Belfast City Hospital and more recently as a Senior Physiotherapist in the Ulster Hospital. He has also worked with the Sports Institute Northern Ireland.

Alan has a keen interest in sport and works as lead Physiotherapist for Methodist College Rugby and recently for Northern Ireland Netball U17 during the 2010 European Championships. He has also worked with other sports including Hockey, GAA and tennis.

Leighton Bradgate MACP

Chartered Physiotherapist

Leighton graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia in 2004 with a BSc Degree in Physiotherapy. Before emigrating to Northern Ireland he worked as a physiotherapist for 2 years in both the New South Wales private and public health sectors. Additionally he worked with a number of Sydney sports teams within rugby league, rugby union, cricket, swimming and athletics. Through his experience to date he has developed an extensive knowledge and skills base in the management of a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. He is MACP and Acupuncture trained and use a variety of different treatment techniques including soft tissue and sports massage, joint mobilisation and manipulation, muscle energy techniques, acupuncture, taping and functional rehabilitation.

Leighton is HPC registered, a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) and affiliated with the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) and Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine (ACPSM) clinical interest groups.

Petra Erving MHFST IIST

Sports Massage, Postoperative Scar and Lymph Drainage Therapist

Petra Erving, initially qualified as a Sports Massage Therapist in 2002 and has treated various patients from the elite athlete to those simply wanting to relax. To further her skills and growing interest in Soft Tissue modalities she completed post graduate training in Advanced Deep Tissue techniques and Myofascial Release techiques in England. Having treated a few patients who were experiencing pain after surgery and seeing the positive impact that even basic massage techniques had in relieving pain and discomfort, swelling and the appearance of scars, she decided to specialise in the treatment of problematic post operative scar tissue. In 2006 Petra travelled to Toronto, Canada and Ann Arbor in Michigan USA to train with one of America's leading postoperative scar massage therapists to learn Postoperative Scar Therapy and Lymph Drainage Therapy. She is currently the only therapist in Ireland specialising in these two treatment techniques.

Catherine Hunter

Practice Manager

Catherine has been with the practice since January 2009 and she took on the role of Practice Manager six months later. Other roles that Catherine fulfils within PhysioworksNI include: Web Master, Marketing and Advertising Manager, Business Development Manager, Bookkeeper (including Purchase Ledger Clerk, Sales Ledger Clerk and Management Accountant), Events Coordinator, Senior Buyer, IT Support Manager, Personal Assistant, Photographer, Designer, Pilates Coordinator, Receptionist, Cleaner and Tea Lady.

She is a valued member of the PhysioworksNI team and everything would grind to a halt without her.