Who will I see?

Our team are at the core of Boathouse Physiotherapy, offering the highest level of diagnosis, treatment and care.

Katherine Sanders

BSc(Hons) MCSP Chartered Physiotherapist

Katherine set up Boathouse Physiotherapy in 2014.  It is now a successful Private business with a NHS contract.  The clinic is set up to provide expert assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to the local residential and business community and to meet the ever increasing demand for fast access to high quality physiotherapy.  

Katherine's approach involves hands on treatment to joints, nerves and muscles. The majority of her treatments are focused on giving specific education and exercise to address your needs and your goals by avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach.  Katherine enjoys educating her patients in their condition and rehabilitation.  

Katherine qualified from University West of England, Bristol in 2000.  In 2006 Katherine took up a post at the Spire Hospital, Bristol where she was employed as Physiotherapy Manager. In this role she worked closely with lead orthopaedic consultants to set up and develop the outpatient department.  She especially enjoyed working with the shoulder specialist and now has a special interest in this area.

Alongside this she worked independently in other private practices, for the South West of England Girls hockey team and a South West division 1 rugby team. At the same time she developed her interest in Pilates and Acupuncture.

Since moving back to Reading in 2011 Katherine worked at the Spire Dunedin Healthcare. Here she worked with the local orthopaedic consultants.

Outside of work she enjoys pilates, running and spending time with her husband and two girls.

Katherine is currently working at both Boathouse Physiotherapy and Back In Line chiropractic clinic.

Shaun Rouse

BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy

Shaun graduated from Stellenbosch University, South Africa with a degree in Sports Science in 2007. He moved to the UK to study Physiotherapy and qualified from the University of Hertfordshire in 2011. Since then he has been specialising in musculoskeletal physiotherapy treating all age groups. Shaun has also achieved Quality Assured Practitioner (QAP) status in 2020 developed by Physio First in association with the University of Brighton. This recognises one's commitment to the quality of patient care and outcomes.

Shaun has worked with elite athletes and developed experience in biomechanics and performance in runners and cyclists.  Shaun has extensive training in bike fitting and cycling related injuries. He previously worked in a clinic in London delivering bike fitting services for injury prevention and for performance. Shaun can apply his biomechanics and physio head to help both amateurs and elite athletes alike.

Over the years he has qualified in acupuncture, pilates, personal training, taping and sports massage and has recently started using ultrasound as part of his assessment process. Shaun also has specialist training in children and adolescent injuries and treatment.

Shaun has been working locally in the Chilterns for the last five years and has developed close working relationships with consultants and GPs. Shaun believes working within a multidisciplinary team to achieve the best outcomes for his patients. Clinically, Shaun's interest are in active treatment approaches and lower limb pathologies.

Outside of work Shaun is married and has two young boys which keep him very busy. However, Shaun still manages to cycle or run on a daily basis.

Helen Wilkins

BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy HCPC, AACP

Helen graduated in 2003 with Bsc Hons in Physiotherapy from the University of Wales College of Medicine in Cardiff. She has worked in large teaching hospitals in Cardiff and London where she gained a wealth of experience in a range of physiotherapy before specialising in community and musculoskeletal settings.

Helen has over 20 years of experience working in both private and NHS sectors. Her experience enables her to effectively treat a wide range of acute and chronic musculoskeletal problems, including spines, joint, muscle and nerve related pain. She utilises a range of manual techniques including joint mobilisations, manipulations, soft tissue release, acupuncture, Pilates, exercise therapy and taping. She also successfully helps women with pregnancy and post-natal related pain, strengthening and symptom relief with hands on treatment and taping techniques.

Helen provides holistic and individual care for each of her patients, ensuring the very best outcomes for therapy.

Outside of Physiotherapy, she is also a qualified Hypnotherapist, a busy mother of three and enjoys keeping fit running regularly and playing tennis.

Claire Stevens

BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy
Qualified Mummy MOT Practitioner

Claire is a musculoskeletal and women’s health specialist Physiotherapist who qualified from one of London’s major teaching hospitals St Georges University in 2010. Claire started her Physiotherapy career at Guys and St Thomas NHS trust and then moved into the private sector. 

Claire has worked privately and in the NHS during her career and works as an advanced musculoskeletal practice physiotherapist specialising in musculoskeletal injuries with a special interest in back pain and Women’s Health. She is extremely passionate about women’s health in sport and is the women’s health Physiotherapist for GB rowing.  

After the birth of her daughter, she noticed a need for Women's Health Physiotherapists in the area and the limited provisions for women who need help and do not know where to turn. She was desperate to return to rugby following her C-section with very limited resources to facilitate this. Working alongside the local Gynecological consultants Claire trained in this field. Completing her post graduate certificate in Women’s Health she was welcomed as full member of the POGP (Pelvic, obstetric, and gynaecological Physiotherapists) and is a fully qualified Mummy MOT practitioner. Claire is also a member of the acupuncture association of chartered Physiotherapists. 

When not in clinic Claire is a Mum of two and loves sport. She is one of the founding members of Abbey Nuns rugby team, she enjoys playing for the club with County and Premiership caps(Wasps) to her name. When not playing you can usually find her covering the Physio on the pitches. 

Leo Cartwright

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) MCSP

Leo has recently moved to the UK from Australia, where he graduated with honours from the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

He has experience working with a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions in private practice, hospital, aged care, and sport settings. Leo has a particular interest and passion for working with athletes - whether competitive or social - during their recovery from sporting injuries.

Leo is a sports lover with a background in cricket, football, and athletics, all at a representative level. During his time at university, he volunteered as a sports trainer with the university’s Australian Rules football team, as well as several college football, cricket, hockey, and rugby teams.

Leo enjoys watching or playing sport and travelling as much as possible on the weekends.

Stevie Oldfield

Sports Therapist BSc (Hons)

Stevie graduated in 2009 in a degree in Sports Therapy at the University Of Birmingham.  Stevie sees general muscular conditions and joint pains as well as sports, Pre-Event / Post Event massage.  Stevie treats with sport and remedial massage, mobilisations and occasionally 'dry needling' acupuncture if needed.  Acupuncture can be used for pain relief, it can relieve tight muscle tissue, facia, ligament and tendons. It can improve wellbeing and relaxation and also encourage muscles to activate.

She is also a Pilates instructor and runs a Pilates class. Stevie is also qualified in pre and post natal exercise, which really helped when having her son.

Stevie has also participated in sports such as rowing at national level, hockey, rugby, running and general gym strengthening.

Outside of work Stevie loves to be outdoors and spending time with her family and adorable pets.

Alexa Duckworth-Briggs

Alexa qualified in Sports and Remedial Massage at the London School of Sports Massage in 2016. Alexa has worked in Reading based practices alongside the physiotherapy teams since then as well as running her own business from home. She looks after a whole range of people with massage, from those with stiffness and pain or those doing sports through to working alongside the physiotherapy team to help with rehabilitation.

Alexa is also a UK Athletics Running Coach, working with all levels of runner on their training programmes and ongoing coaching as well as technique analysis and face to face coaching sessions. She loves running, especially trail and longer distance events and is enjoying introducing her dog to all the trail routes in the area. She's lived in and around Reading with her husband for 9 years.

Alexa also gives nutrition advice and works as an Outdoor Leader, often alongside Duke of Edinburgh's Award groups in the summer.

Amber Clare

MSci (Hons) Sports Therapy

Amber received a Master of Science in Sports Therapy from the University of Chichester. Injuries resulting from sports and physical activity are the subject of the medical specialty known as "sports therapy". With a focus on musculoskeletal injuries, Amber can diagnose and treat conditions relating to the joints, muscle, ligaments, and nerves. Amber has been trained by her degree to identify both acute and long-term musculoskeletal injuries using clinical reasoning. For instance, an acute ankle sprain to chronic lower back pain. Sports Therapy also focuses on the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries. Due to her education and experience in this field, Amber is well-equipped to use a variety of manual therapy techniques and exercise-specific rehabilitation. This comprises:

1.    Joint Mobilisations

2.    Soft tissue release (sports massage).

3.    Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilisation.

4.    Athletic taping

5.    Injury prevention

6.    Exercise-related rehabilitation.

Amber has an expertise inworking with amateur and semi-professional athletes. She presently perform stailored rehabilitation programmes for a variety of upper and lower limb MSK injuries for Winchester Rugby Club to get athletes back on the field while maximising their performance. Due to Amber's LUBAS sports trauma management certification, she is qualified to offer both at-home and away matches' first aid care.

As part of her Master's degree programme in Sports Therapy, Amber completed a one-year full-time professional placement with the Surrey Scorchers men's basketball team -assessing, treating, and managing injuries from the acute stage to return to play.

Amber has a passion for team sports and currently plays for her local Women’s Basketball team in Basingstoke. She also competed competitively in athletics, representing her county at the English Schools Athletics Association the 400m final in 2018& 2019.  

Amber is excited to be working with the Boathouse Physiotherapy Team and the people involved in your treatment to keep you in your sport or returning you as soon as possible.

Diagnose. Treat. Recover.