HELEN NICHOLSON:
This page will be divided into three sections:
1. Who is Helen Nicholson?
2. What are her qualifications?
3. What is her experience?
Please feel welcome to contact Helen directly if you'd like any more information. Helen has pets in her own family, so she understands how important it is to you that you find out everything you need to know to feel comfortable with your pet's care.
Who is Helen Nicholson?
I am a qualified Animal Physiotherapist who lives in the lower Blue Mountains (west of Sydney) with my husband, three kids, three dogs and, to be honest, a variable number of chickens... (All egg recipes gratefully received!) I was recently advised that my PhD in dog physiotherapy has been approved subject to minor changes.
The following photos show me performing a practical demonstration in Japan; lecturing in Japan; and demonstrating a practical technique in England.
I am very proud that my hard
work obtaining my unique combination of clinical experience and
qualifications makes me the most experiencd and most highly
qualified small animal physiotherapist in Australia. I am honoured that
so many veterinarians and owners trust me with their pets' care and
invite you to read on about my qualifications and experience.
What are her qualifications?
My interest in muscles, movement analysis and improving movement patterns began at the age of 16, when I trained as a gymnastics coach and later a gymnastics judge.
My gymnastics career had to make way for my physiotherapy career, however, when I graduated from the University of Queensland in 1996 with a four-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree and moved interstate to work with humans with a variety of muscular, orthopaedic, airways and neurological conditions.
My fascination with applying my human skills to animals had already begun, however, as whilst at university I had worked with our local vet to keep our old Labrador (Holly) in one piece. After seeing a picture of a snake receiving physiotherapy in a textbook, I decided to take Holly regularly to the vet, who would explain what Holly's problem was, ask what I would do for a human with the same problem, and together we would work out how to perform that kind of treatment on Holly. It worked well, with Holly managing to last until the week before my final university exam, dying at the ripe old age of 15. She was a good old dog and still missed to this day, as you'll surely understand.
So with Holly as my inspiration, I enrolled in the first course in canine physiotherapy in Australia in 1999, and went on to undertake practical study under British-trained and Canadian-trained physiotherapists and theoretical study via a correspondence course from the American Physical Therapy Association until the Australian Masters program got underway in 2003.
The Masters in Animal Studies (Animal Physiotherapy) program was only the second degree of its type in the world, and I was part of the first graduating class in 2004, working as a peer tutor for the canine practical elements during the two-year degree. My Masters research project was on the use of goniometry (a plastic measuring device a bit like a protractor) for hip, stifle (knee) and hock (ankle) passive range of motion assessment in racing Greyhounds.
Upon finishing my Masters, I became the first student in Australia (and indeed that I know of in the world) to enroll in a PhD in Small Animal Physiotherapy. My PhD thesis is on the use of human-standard physiotherapy for dogs in veterinary intensive care units and I hope to receive my certificate by the end of 2009.
During the course of my PhD, I also became the first Australian Physiotherapy Association member to earn the title of "Animal Physiotherapist".
What is her experience?
Clinical experience: I started ANIMAL Physiotherapy Services in June 1999 (it was then called Canine Physiotherapy Services) and I now work at a variety of specialist and general veterinary practices in the Sydney region. Although I have a small amount of experience with working with horses, I prefer small animals and have had referred for physiotherapy: dogs; cats; bats; a kangaroo; a wombat; rabbits; and, amongst other interesting species, a goat and a blue-tongue lizard!
Teaching experience: I have taught overseas in Italy, the UK, the USA and Japan and have several more invitations to work in other countries after finishing my PhD. I have also taught Vets, Physios and Vet Nurses in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, including as a peer tutor for the Masters degree in Queensland in 2003 and 2004. I was thrilled to be Keynote Speaker at the ACPAT Spring Seminar in the UK in 2006 and will return to teach in Japan in August 2009 and Italy in 2010.
Publishing experience: I have published in a variety of forums: I have had several articles published in dog magazines of various descriptions; have contributed to a textbook published by Blackwell; and have had 2 articles printed in the Australian Veterinary Journal. I also recently wrote a textbook for Animal Health Technicians which was published in Japanese.
The first textbook is: McGowan, Goff and Stubbs (eds) 2007. Animal Physiotherapy: Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Animals. Blackwell, UK. ISBN-10 1405131950; ISBN-13978-1405131957.
The articles are:
Nicholson, Osmotherly, Smith, McGowan (2007). Determinants of passive hip range of motion in adult Greyhounds. Australian Veterinary Journal 85:(6)217-221.
Ticehurst, Zaki, Hunt, Macpherson, Nicholson (2008). Use of continuous positive airway pressure in the acute management of laryngeal paralysis in a cat. Australian Veterinary Journal 86:(10)395-7.
The second textbook is: Nicholson (2009). Canine Rehabilitation: Text for the animal health technician - basic level. Yamazaki College of Animal Health Technology, Japan.
What are her qualifications?
My interest in muscles, movement analysis and improving movement patterns began at the age of 16, when I trained as a gymnastics coach and later a gymnastics judge.
My gymnastics career had to make way for my physiotherapy career, however, when I graduated from the University of Queensland in 1996 with a four-year Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree and moved interstate to work with humans with a variety of muscular, orthopaedic, airways and neurological conditions.
My fascination with applying my human skills to animals had already begun, however, as whilst at university I had worked with our local vet to keep our old Labrador (Holly) in one piece. After seeing a picture of a snake receiving physiotherapy in a textbook, I decided to take Holly regularly to the vet, who would explain what Holly's problem was, ask what I would do for a human with the same problem, and together we would work out how to perform that kind of treatment on Holly. It worked well, with Holly managing to last until the week before my final university exam, dying at the ripe old age of 15. She was a good old dog and still missed to this day, as you'll surely understand.
So with Holly as my inspiration, I enrolled in the first course in canine physiotherapy in Australia in 1999, and went on to undertake practical study under British-trained and Canadian-trained physiotherapists and theoretical study via a correspondence course from the American Physical Therapy Association until the Australian Masters program got underway in 2003.
The Masters in Animal Studies (Animal Physiotherapy) program was only the second degree of its type in the world, and I was part of the first graduating class in 2004, working as a peer tutor for the canine practical elements during the two-year degree. My Masters research project was on the use of goniometry (a plastic measuring device a bit like a protractor) for hip, stifle (knee) and hock (ankle) passive range of motion assessment in racing Greyhounds.
Upon finishing my Masters, I became the first student in Australia (and indeed that I know of in the world) to enroll in a PhD in Small Animal Physiotherapy. My PhD thesis is on the use of human-standard physiotherapy for dogs in veterinary intensive care units and I hope to receive my certificate by the end of 2009.
During the course of my PhD, I also became the first Australian Physiotherapy Association member to earn the title of "Animal Physiotherapist".
What is her experience?
Clinical experience: I started ANIMAL Physiotherapy Services in June 1999 (it was then called Canine Physiotherapy Services) and I now work at a variety of specialist and general veterinary practices in the Sydney region. Although I have a small amount of experience with working with horses, I prefer small animals and have had referred for physiotherapy: dogs; cats; bats; a kangaroo; a wombat; rabbits; and, amongst other interesting species, a goat and a blue-tongue lizard!
Teaching experience: I have taught overseas in Italy, the UK, the USA and Japan and have several more invitations to work in other countries after finishing my PhD. I have also taught Vets, Physios and Vet Nurses in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, including as a peer tutor for the Masters degree in Queensland in 2003 and 2004. I was thrilled to be Keynote Speaker at the ACPAT Spring Seminar in the UK in 2006 and will return to teach in Japan in August 2009 and Italy in 2010.
Publishing experience: I have published in a variety of forums: I have had several articles published in dog magazines of various descriptions; have contributed to a textbook published by Blackwell; and have had 2 articles printed in the Australian Veterinary Journal. I also recently wrote a textbook for Animal Health Technicians which was published in Japanese.
The first textbook is: McGowan, Goff and Stubbs (eds) 2007. Animal Physiotherapy: Assessment, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Animals. Blackwell, UK. ISBN-10 1405131950; ISBN-13978-1405131957.
The articles are:
Nicholson, Osmotherly, Smith, McGowan (2007). Determinants of passive hip range of motion in adult Greyhounds. Australian Veterinary Journal 85:(6)217-221.
Ticehurst, Zaki, Hunt, Macpherson, Nicholson (2008). Use of continuous positive airway pressure in the acute management of laryngeal paralysis in a cat. Australian Veterinary Journal 86:(10)395-7.
The second textbook is: Nicholson (2009). Canine Rehabilitation: Text for the animal health technician - basic level. Yamazaki College of Animal Health Technology, Japan.
EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES:
- If you'd like to learn more about small animal physiotherapy, Helen can help in several ways:
- one-on-one workshops - accompany Helen to observe the treatment of real cases and develop practical skills tailored to your past experience and clinical interests
- practical courses - attend as one of a small group to learn about neurological, orthopaedic, muscular or respiratory physiotherapy for small animals
- Please enquire with Helen on info@k9physio.com for details of upcoming dates for both workshops and practical courses.
