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Why Choose Us?

We employ Physiotherapists who have completed a BSc or MSc in Physiotherapy and are eligible to become Chartered Physiotherapists. We currently have 5 on staff.

We also employ athletic therapist and sports therapists who have a degree in athletic therapy or sports medicine and have received further training from Theresa McGinn, the owner of the clinic, who is a highly trained Chartered Physiotherapist.

We offer an in-depth Assessment and accurate Diagnosis to provide the right care for you.

We develop an effective treatment plan & home Exercise Programme so you need less sessions.

We offer long term advice and exercise regimes to help prevent injury recurrence.

Finally, We Genuinely Care about our patients.

About the clinic

Kilkenny Physiotherapy Clinic was established in 1994 and is currently the longest established independent physiotherapy clinic in Co. Kilkenny.

We employ Physiotherapists who have completed a BSc or MSc in Physiotherapy and so are eligible to become Chartered Physiotherapists.

We have clinics and pilates studios in both Kilkenny and Freshford area.

ABOUT US

We offer a wide range of specialities for all ages, and while physiotherapists may join and leave our team, the ethos remains consistent: To get to the root of your problem, alleviate your symptoms and address the underlying causes of your pain or dysfunction.

To this end, ongoing education is an integral part of our daily obligations, and Theresa constantly educates her staff, teaching them to think, see and feel as she does.

All our staff continually attend courses, listen to podcasts and keep abreast of research and developments in the field of medicine and sport.

ABOUT Theresa

Theresa qualified from University of Ulster with a BSc Honours degree in Physiotherapy in 1986. She worked in hospitals in Galway, Tyrone, Cork, Kilkenny and Carlow. Whilst working in the public system she also worked in private clinics in Cork and Derry. In Cork Theresa specialised in Neurology and Neurosurgery which gave her an excellent background into movement analysis; and created in her an acute awareness of abnormal movement patterns and how to approach them, this is an excellent basis for treating all sports injuries and musculo-skeletal proble

On arrival in Kilkenny in February 1994, Theresa commenced work in the O’Neill centre (Enable Ireland) but was only in the city 2 months when the, Co. GAA approached her to work with the County hurling and Football teams; and hence was born Kilkenny Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic.

The clinic grew rapidly and in November 1996 Theresa reluctantly had to leave the O’Neill centre and work full-time in the clinic.

Theresa remained as sole physiotherapist in charge of all the Kilkenny County teams until 2000 when family commitments overtook her and she reluctantly gave up the Senior team.

Theresa kept on all other teams until 2005. Theresa now looks after all the underage development squads, the Minor Hurling and Football teams, the Intermediate Hurling panels and our football teams.

Theresa has undergone intensive post-graduate training in many areas, and continues to update her skills and knowledge, keeping abreast of modern research and treatment approaches, whilst still retaining her past skills and utilising her previous experience to provide the best all round patient care for all her clients.

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Theresa loves all areas of physiotherapy but has drifted towards injury prevention through bio-mechanical assessments and analysis of movement, enabling her to accurately determine the root of the problem and treat accordingly.

Theresa especially enjoys treating children and teenagers with a view to injury prevention.

Theresa is also a Stott qualified Pilates Instructor and uses this approach to treatment in a lot of cases, as well as giving physical classes in the Core Clinic, Clontubrid near Freshford in North Kilkenny and in her pilates studio in Kilkenny City. SInce the arrival of the Covid Pandemic she has moved her pilates classes online.

Our Valuable Team

Theresa McGinn

Chartered Physiotherapist & Certified Pilates Instructor

Theresa McGinn comes from Co. Tyrone. She qualified from University of Ulster with a BSc Honours degree in Physiotherapy in 1986. She worked in hospitals in Galway, Tyrone, Cork, Kilkenny and Carlow. Whilst working in the public system she also worked in private clinics in Cork and Derry.

In Cork Theresa specialised in Neurology and Neurosurgery which gave her an excellent background into movement analysis; and created in her an acute awareness of abnormal movement patterns and how to approach them, this is an excellent basis for treating all sports injuries and musculo-skeletal problems.

The clinic grew rapidly and in November 1996 Theresa reluctantly had to leave the O’Neill centre and work full-time in the clinic.

Theresa remained as sole physiotherapist in charge of all the Kilkenny County teams until 2000 when family commitments overtook her and she reluctantly gave up the Senior team.

Theresa kept on all other teams until 2005. Theresa and her dedicated team now looks after all the underage development squads, the Minor Hurling and Football teams, the Intermediate Hurling panels and our football teams.

Theresa especially enjoys treating children and teenagers with a view to injury prevention.

Her latestnew skill is the Schroth Method of treating Scoliosis in children and teenagers.

Theresa is also a Stott qualified Pilates Instructor and uses this approach to treatment in a lot of cases, as well as giving physical classes in the Core Clinic, Clontubrid near Freshford in North Kilkenny and in her pilates studio in Kilkenny City. Since the arrival of the Covid Pandemic she has moved her pilates classes online.

Currently Theresa spends a lot of her time up-skilling her staff. She has always loved teaching and feels passionately that it would be a shame to retire or leave the profession without handing on all her knowledge and skills. SO Theresa holds weekly inservice training sessions to Upskill all her staff and encourage them to think like she does.

Mille Lindemann

Chartered Physiotherapist & Pilates Instructor & Women’s Health Therapist

Originally from South Africa, Millé and her family have been living in Ireland since the beginning of 2020. She completed her Bachelors Degree in Physiotherapy at the University of the Free State in 2010 and worked for a year in the biggest public hospital in the region, the Pelonomi Regional Hospital. Here she gained experience in Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Neurology, ICU, Paediatrics ,and Musculoskeletal conditions.

IN 2012 Millé moved to the private sector where she treated neurosurgical, orthopaedic and paediatric patients in Mediclinic Private Hospital.

In these early years Millé completed three different Dry Needling Courses, An internationally accredited diploma in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy and a Principles of Pain Course. These courses enabled her to start her own clinic in 2012 where she gained huge experience with all musculoskeletal conditions.

For the next 7 years, as Private Practice owner Millé worked in Life Rosepark Hospital in the NICU, PICU and paediatric wards on pulmonary, orthopaedic, surgery and with developmental conditions for infants and children. In her clinic Millé’s areas of expertise included musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, pre and postnatal patients and autoimmune syndromes.

As if all this wasn’t enough, during this time Millé served on the OMPTG committee as course coordinator and chairperson arranging musculoskeletal courses for the region. She also served as junior lecturer in 2014 when the OMT course was presented in Bloemftontein.

Millé’s busy schedule included starting her own little family and continued for 7 years until the big move to Ireland in 2020 which unfortunately coincided with the covid pandemic.

During covid Millé obtained her CORU recognition and became a member of the ISCP. She kept busy doing C.P.D courses including completing her APPI Pilates Instructor Certification in Matwork, Reformer and Pre/Postnatal Pilates as well as many other online lectures.

In 2021, when the country began to open up again Millé started working for a Private Clinic in Naas and began attending face to face courses again including a refreshers course in Deep Dry Needling ensuring she maintain the highest quality of skills.

Form paediatrics to geriatrics, Millé has a passion to help all her clients achieve their goals from physiotherapy, no matter which level of sport or phase of life they are in. She is proving to be a huge asset to Kilkenny Physiotherapy Clinic as she immediately slotted into the role of educator assisting Theresa with upskilling all junior staff members.

Mille’s experience also means that we can open our Women’s health facility again and she has developed our Post natal care package.

Millé not only enjoys working with pain and injured patients, but as she was involved with tennis and swimming clubs at school level she has a keen interest in the developing child. As our clinic has an excellent reputation in helping with the biomechanical development of children and teens, Millé’s experience here will be invaluable.

Millé loves to run in her free time and recently completed a biomechanical assessment course and prescription of insoles with PPL which aligns well with her passion to treat and rehabilitate lower limb injuries and runners.

Millé and her family relocated to Kilkenny in July 2023 where they hope to stay indefinitely. We are very happy to have her join our team, and she has added the big rugby interest as South Africa work their way through the world cup series.

Emmanuel Okonkwo

Chartered Physiotherapist

Emmanuel is a qualified chartered physiotherapist who graduated from the University of Nigeria, after completing a 5 years degree in Medical rehabilitation and physiotherapy, qualifying him for membership of the ISCP and CORU certification.

After he graduated, he completed an internship program at the university of Calabar teaching hospital and a year national service corps program at the federal capital territory administration under the department of health and human service secretariat.

Before moving to Ireland in 2021 he worked at Cedarcrest hospitals with a post surgical rehabilitation team overseeing the post-Op rehab of surgical joint replacements and truama cases, including a wild range of musculoskeletal and sports injuries.

His time there also included working with expert neurosurgeons rehabilitating post surgical cases of musculoskeletal deformities in pediatrics including congenital spinal and limb deformities.

His client base ranged from paediatrics all the way to Geriatrics, and under the FCTA, He pioneered the development and implementation of effective pain management and mobility improvement plans for geriatric patients.

Emmanuel also worked closely with occupational therapists, speech therapists, hydrotherapists, neurologists, psychologists e.t.c to meet the individual needs of special needs pediatrics and elderly patients with coexisting neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. These skills are proving very beneficial in our clinic where we see a large number of elderly, neurological and paediatric clients with additional needs.

During his national youth service corps program back in Nigeria, Emmanuel engaged in several volunteer outreach exercise programmes, creating awareness on various health conditions and injury/illness prevention under a community development scheme.

Since arriving in ireland, Emmanuel has established himself as a valued member of our team and has been actively contributing his clinical skills in the clinic. He continues to upskill, and has completed his Deep Dry Needling and Orthotic assessment with biomechanical assessment courses.

He has travelled to England to specialise in Vertigo treatment, and plans to develop this service within the clinic.

Emmanuel has fitted well into Kilkenny, and covers many of our Hurling and Football matches and training sessions. He is enjoying the Irish sporting life playing 5 aside Soccer and socialising in vibrant Kilkenny.

settles and we get back to normal sport again.

Tom strives to upskill at all times and has recently completed his deep dry needling course here in Ireland.

Dr. Afeefa Ashraf

Chartered Physiotherapist, Pilates Instructor & Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist

Chartered Physiotherapist Dr. Afeefa Ashraf joined our team in 2021. She trained in The University of Faisalabad in Pakistan. This undergraduate course is a 5 year degree course which receives a doctorate on graduation

. Since Afeefa joined us she has worked closely with senior staff members to enhance her assessment and treatment skills, and adapt approaches which we have spent years developing in our clinic.

At the end of her 5 years in college, Afeefa completed an internship in the NACE Centre of Enablement in Pakistan, where she gained huge experience in all aspects of physiotherapy.

Afeefa then travelled to the UK where she joined a research team in Oxford researching stroke rehabilitation and Cardiac Rehabilitation

Since Arriving in Ireland Afeefa has worked in neurology and with the elderly and she currently provides physiotherapy for the residents in local nursing homes, including running exercise classes for the elderly..

During lockdowns Afeefa made good use of the time continuing her education online in all areas of musculo-skeletal physiotherapy. She has also gained national qualifications in neuromuscular therapy and sports and orthopaedic massage.

Since joining our team Afeefa has updated her Deep Dry Needling training and is now also using this technique for our clients.

Afeefa also completed her Orthotic and Biomechanical Assessment course and she has become skilled in assessing for and fitting orthotics.

As Afeefa has a huge amount of experience with babies and children she has worked closely with Theresa since started working in the clinic and is now seeing many of the babies and children who attend our clinic for developmental issues.

Afeefa continues to upskill and completing a Manual Lymphatic Drainage Course has opened our clinic to a whole new type of client.

Although Afeefa would be a cricket fan at heart we are gradually converting her to the ways of hurling, and no doubt very shortly she will be an avid fan.

Afeefa married in summer of 2023 and continues working with some clients in our clinic.

nouman abid

Chartered Physiotherapist with a Doctorate in Physiotherapy, Sports Scientist and Fitness Instructor

We are delighted to welcome our newest addition to the team and to Ireland. Dr. Nouman Abid is a highly qualified healthcare professional. He holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, which he earned through a rigorous five-year program at the University of Lahore, Pakistan. He completed this in early 2018, affording him the esteemed “Dr.” title.

Driven by a passion for sports and exercise medicine, he pursued an MSc in that field while studying in the University of Ulster in Jordanstown, unfortunately at this time covid forced his return to Pakistan in 2020.

For five years, from 2018 to 2023, Dr Nouman successfully operated two fully-equipped private clinics in Lahore, he managed to continue to operate this facility remotely, while studying abroad, a no mean feat!

When retruned to his homeland, Pakistan, in 2020 he continued to develop his professional training and skills completing numerous online courses throughout the pandemic and resuming physical courses when restrictions lifted.

His commitment to excellence is evident through his affiliations with the Asian Football Confederation and the Pakistan Physical Therapy Association.

Further study gained him a certification from sports medicine Australia as a sports trainer level-1.

He completed a two-month fellowship in dry needling which will be an extremely useful technique in KPC,

Dr. Nouman’s expertise is comprehensive and well-rounded. He has substantial experience in working with a diverse range of patients, including those with musculoskeletal, neurological, and geriatric conditions, as well as pre and post-operative care. His dedication to patient care and well-being is unwavering.

In our clinic we are delighted to see that he has a great way and manner with children and we feel he will be a huge asset to our paediatric team as many of our clients are babies and young chidren.

Dr Abid plans to bring his family over and to settle in Kilkenny where we hope he will remain with our team for many years to come.

He himself is a keen sportsman and has immediately taking a keen interest in our national sport having started doing pitchside at hurling and football matches from his first week here.

Nouman is also a very talented Badminton player and loves his gym. Hopefully when he settles in a bit we’ll find him a few clubs to join.

caitriona cody

Physiotherapist & Stott trained Pilates Instructor currently working as a Physiotherapy Assistant

Liam dunphy

Chartered Physiotherapist, Sport Scientist & Stott trained Pilates Instructor

Liam Dunphy has a long standing relationship with Kilkenny Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic.

He is originally from Kilkenny but spent his university years in the University of Ulster in Jordanstown.

He initially completed a BSc degree in Sports and Exercise Medicine which was a great basis for his further BSc Degree in Physiotherapy at the same university. He choose a second degree rather than a Masters as he felt it would provide him with better physical skills.

During his degree course he advanced his skills completing a Sports massage course and his Stott Pilates Instructor Course.

On qualifying he returned to Kilkenny, and unfortunately, due to the gruelling process of having a degree obtained outside of the Rebublic of Ireland recognised by CORU, he was unable to work as a physiotherapist in our clinic.

So he commenced working with us as a Massage therapist and Pilates Instructor.

In a bid to develop his physiotherapy skills he left us to return to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he spent time on the acute wards updating his physiotherapy skills in the areas of neurology, respiratory, geriatric and orthoapedics.

Liam’s degree has now been recognised and he has now returned to the clinic as a Chartered Physiotherapist and is CORU registered.

Since returning to us Liam has become involved in developing the many services we offer in the clinic as well as carrying a client base of varied musculo-skeletal, sports injured, post-operative and paediatric clients.

Liam is co-ordinating a group within the clinic to utilise our own gym more and is planning to set up classes for various client groups such as Post ACL surgery or ankle sprains. He is also helping set up gym classes to help our clients learn how to use the gym safely and effectively.

He is involved in running our Kids coreagility and speed classes and our Sports Pilates classes.

Liam has introduced an extension to our previous paediatric service where we treat children with running difficulties. We now offer Running Technique training and this has enhanced our services enormously, as we can now help children who are slow runners as well as those with “funny runs”.

Liam is very popular with our Pilates clients and takes many of the classes within the clinic.

Liam is developing our “Athelytics” business which will be extremely helpful for our clients providing objective muscle strength testing for our clients.

Needless to say, being a Kilkenny man, Liam is a keen hurler and played for underage Kilkenny County Teams. He also played for Co Tyrone Inter County hurling team while he lived in Belfast.

We are very happy to have Liam back on our team and hope he will be with us for many years to come.

Colm Hayde

Sports Therapist and Stott trained Pilates Instructor

In November 2022 we employed our first Sports Therapist, Colm Hayde. He had completed his BSc degree in Sports Therapy from London Metropolitan University qualifying in June 2022.

He began his career with Drom & Inch GAA Club in Tipperary where he looked after all teams from u17 up to Senior hurling.

Colm was lucky to have the opportunity to work with both the South African and Australian National Rugby teams.

This experience enabled Colm to slot seemlessly into KPC clinic life and immediately began covering matches and training sessions for the many teams we look after in Kilkenny.

Colm took over the role of physiotherapist with the Kilkenny Minor hurling in 2023, while Theresa McGinn was out of action, and played an important part in them reaching an All-Ireland Semi Final.

When the County season ended he provided cover at trainings and matches for many other teams in Kilkenny including sole charge of
St. Martin’s GAA Club.

In the clinic, Colm quickly became involved in all aspects of clinic life providing high quality treatments to many musculo-skeletal clients.

He participates actively in our weekly In-service training sessions where we revise, teach and update all our therapist on latest physiotherapy developments, while gaining invaluable knowledge from the experience of other staff members.

Colm has continued his own professional development by attending many post-graduate courses

He has completed a Deep
Dry Needling course and a Post graduate Taping & Strapping course. As he does so much pitch-side work he also keeps his First Aid training up to date and stays abreast of latest developments in Concussion and the management of spinal injuries.

In 2023 Colm completed his Stott Pilates Training course and now teaches pilates in our Pilates studio. He has also taught some of our Sports Pilates Courses and children’s core-agility classes.

Colm has a particular interest in biomechanical assessments, sports injuries and post-operative rehabilitation, which is a huge part of the work we do in Kilkenny Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic. This prompted Colm to complete post graduate training in Biomechanics and he is now qualified to assess and fit Orthotics.

He has covered strength & conditioning in his training and offers many of his clients advice in the safe and effective use of our gym.

Colm plans to return to further studies in September 2024 when he hopes to complete a MSc in Physiotherapy.

Colm’s personal interests include pretty much any sport but he has a real love of the GAA. The fact that he comes from Tipperary adds a little friendly banter in the clinic, but we dont hold that agianst him. We do notice the odd Tipperary Crest appearing on the clinic laptops, but we’ll let that slide.

jacqueline scanlon

Physiotherapist

gonzalos martinez

Physiotherapist

maire mccarthy

Practice Receptionist / Administrator

Maire will most likely to be your first point of contact at the clinic.

The physiotherapists may make you better, but Maire runs the show. She’ll always greet you with a smile, and do everything she can to make you feel welcome in the clinic.

Maire is extremely helpful and will ensure that any queries you may have are adequately followed up (in other words she’ll keep after the rest of us until we do the job).

Maire has been with us for years and knows the clinic inside out, so feel free to call her up and ask her whatever you need to know. If she cant help you, she’ll find someone who can.

Since commencing work with us many years ago Maire upskilled to become a qualified medical secretary and is one of our most valued staff members of staff

emma conway

Practice Administrator / Accounts

Emma joined the staff in 2019. Her introduction to the clinic proved a rocky road as just as she was getting into the swing of things, the covid pandemic forced her to take time off. When she eventually returned it was to our new clinic with a whole new set of duties. She was just getting to grips with it all again when further restrictions forced her back home again. She’s now fully integrated and a valuable team member.

Emma lives in Kilkenny and like all our staff is heavily involved in sport and particularly the GAA. She comes from Conahy.

She looks after the accounts within the clinic and ensures that the bills are paid, so if you have any queries just give her a call.

Emma also covers the reception area and has many administrative and management duties within the clinic.