PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
THYS FOURIE & KAREN GIBBS
Our Therapists
All of the therapists in our practice have their own areas of special interest and patients often benefit from not just the knowledge of one, but 5 therapists, as there is a constant flow of information between the therapists regarding patients’ treatments. Therapists are also constantly updating their knowledge base so that we can offer patients care based on the most recent scientific research.
Thys Fourie (‘Big Chief in Charge’)
Over the last 20 years, Thys’ name has become synonymous with an outstanding level of diagnostic skill and an impressive knowledge base of sports and orthopaedic conditions.
After qualifying from the University of Pretoria in 1995, he has spent his time exclusively in private practice, building a very large patient base in the east of Pretoria.
He has accumulated a wealth of experience in the sporting field as the head physio for the Bulls Superrugby team, as well as providing physiotherapeutic services to, amongst others, the Fedcup Tennis team and the French National Rugby side, before returning to focus on his passion, private practice.
Thys is the all-rounder in the practice. Whether you are struggling with a chronic neck/back or joint problem, an acute or chronic sporting injury or if you have been undergoing treatment for some time with no results, he is your man. With his keen interest in diagnostics, he will dig until he finds the root of the problem.
Karen Gibbs (‘Little Chief in Charge’)
Karen qualified from the University of Pretoria in 2001 and after working in various private practices in Pretoria for a year, she headed over the United Kingdom. Two years abroad turned into 10, as she worked her way up in the National Health Service to amongst others, Head of Trauma and Orthopaedics at an NHS Trust in Buckinghamshire.
After moving to Germany in 2006, she worked for the British Armed Forces before heading back into private practice in Munich.
On returning to South Africa in 2010, Karen refocused on her main passion, sports physiotherapy. She has built an impressive client base consisting of Springboks, Superrugby players from various unions, professional tennis players, international and Olympic athletes, and high-level recreational athletes, all who believe in her brand of prehabilitation – preventing injuries before they occur.
She also has a special interest in injuries affecting the younger athlete, and is busy gathering and conducting research into the treatment of juvenile growth-plate injuries such as Sever’s and Osgood Schlatter’s disease)
Gerhard Shaw (‘The Back Man’)
Gerhard joined us in 2013 after a move to Pretoria. After completing his studies at the University of the Free State in 2002, he……… wag nog vir info
Gerhard is a Member of the MacKenzie Institute and is a huge fan of this particular method of treating acute and chronic back and neck problems. And when we say huge fan, we mean that he becomes almost giddy with excitement when patients walk/stumble/crawl in with acute and chronic problems in these areas.
His success rate is such that several spinal surgeons in the area now refer patients to him directly for treatment in an attempt to avoid surgery.
At home, he is an animal nut and every stray or unwanted pooch in Garsfontein somehow ends up adopted into the Shaw household.
Karien Steynberg (‘Actual Chief in Charge’)
Since joining us in 2013 as Practice Manager and Receptionist, Karien has become the backbone of the practice. She is the friendly face you see when you come in for your appointment and the friendly voice you hear when you make one.
Ruthlessly efficient at managing the diaries and probably the person with the sunniest disposition in the practice, she is a superactive mother-of-two and on most weekends you will find her hurtling herself down some mountainbiking track. So feel free to chat bikes and bibs while you wait for your appointment.
Jaco Neethling (‘The Man In Charge of The Money’)
We are very happy to welcome Jaco as our new Accounts Manager as of July 2015. He will be in charge of all account related queries at the practice, so if you have any problems in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact him.
A word of warning though, he has a razor sharp sense of humour and a fantastic poker face, so do not be surprised if his request for payment includes a request for the Lotto numbers. Or chocolate.