Meet the Therapists
Claire Tanner - Therapy Manager
I started my career in Sports Rehabilitation with a Sports Science degree in 1995 from the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education. I then went on to qualify as a physiotherapist in 1999 at Huddersfield University. At the time I was a competitive Sports Acrobat and Trampolinist and qualified to coach both sports. I then worked through my Junior and Senior Rotations at Yeovil District Hospital and then registered to work as a physiotherapist in New Zealand. I worked in a Head Injury unit initially in North Island then moved to South Island to a fracture clinic seeing lots of rugby and other sporting injuries. I continued Sports Rehabilitation on returning to the UK where I worked in various clinics around the UK whilst I continued to travel. I was lucky enough to spend a year working at Sandhurst with the Army Officer Cadets there which was an incredibly fast paced and challenging job with sports injuries like none I’d ever seen.
I joined LBhealthcare a year ago as Sports Scientist and Senior Physiotherapist and was recently promoted to Therapy Manager. I am still actively involved with gymnastics and trampolining although I have retired from competition now and have swapped to Salsa dancing and Tango. As Therapy Manager I ensure that all of our therapists keep up-to-date with the latest techniques and research, take part in regular in service training and make sure that we have a broad skill base to cover every therapeutic requirement.
Helen Pound - Neuro Physiotherapist
I qualified as a physiotherapist in 1986 from Manchester School of Physiotherapy. I then worked as a physiotherapist in Portsmouth before travelling ‘around the world’ for a year in 1989 - 1990. On my return I joined the inpatient physiotherapy teams at local hospitals and had the opportunity to work with patients who had suffered from neurological conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, head injury and Parkinson’s Disease. From there I developed my clinical skills by working within a specialist rehabilitation team where we supported patients with long term neurological conditions as well as providing skilled treatment for newly diagnosed conditions. I left the NHS in November 2005 to join LBhealthcare to set up a neuro-physiotherapy clinic to treat stroke victims, MS and Parkinson’s sufferers. At LBhealthcare I have developed a hydrotherapy service for Parkinson’s Disease sufferers and work closely with the local Fareham and District Branch of the Parkinson’s Disease Society.
I have 2 young children which keep me ‘on my toes’ and have always enjoyed taking part in sporting activities. I enjoy most water sports and am a keen scuba diver and sailor. I am a regular attendee of the gym to keep myself fit and active.
I am a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP) and the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology (ACPIN).
Laura Panaech - Senior Physiotherapist
I knew from the age of fourteen that I wanted to be a physiotherapist. I realised my goal when I graduated from Southampton University in 1996 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy. I then spent two years consolidating my skills at Guy’s & St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, London where I worked my way through all the different areas of physiotherapy practice. After this I spent some time travelling around Australia and worked in a private practice in Sydney. I then settled in Singapore for 4 years working in both a large teaching government-run hospital and a private hospital. By this time I knew that I was passionate about musculoskeletal therapy and focused on Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Outpatients. At the same time I completed my Masters degree in Musculoskeletal studies (Manual Therapy) from the University of Western Australia, Perth.
Since my return to the UK I have continued working in the private sector. I gained my Acupuncture registration in 2003 and became a fully qualified Pilates Instructor in 2006 after training with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute. I joined LBhealthcare three years ago and enjoy treating a variety of aches and pains with a particular emphasis on the back and neck. The Pilates classes run to date have shown an average 67% improvement in back function by the end of the first 10 weeks.
Sacha Pennington-Ellis - Senior Physiotherapist
Kathryn Williams - Sports Therapist
I graduated from Chichester University in 2005 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Sports Therapy. Since then I have gained 3 years experience working within the Sports Therapy field in both a clinic-based environment and by working with sports teams in and around the local community.
I have been working for LBhealthcare as the Sports Therapist for 2 years and specialise in injury rehabilitation/prevention and Sports Massage. My postgraduate studies include GP exercise referral and Cardiac Rehabilitation. I am also a full member of the Society of Sports Therapists. I am extremely interested in sports and exercise and am passionate about helping individuals return to their full fitness regardless of age or ability.
Cora Jezard - Podiatrist
I graduated from University of Southampton in 2001 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Podiatry. Since then I have worked both for the NHS and in private practice.
I provide routine Podiatry care, much of which is with patients who have diabetes or other health problems which affect their health or their feet. For the last 4 years I have specialised in Podiatric Biomechanics and sports injuries. I am currently lead clinician for Biomechanics for a local NHS Trust and am the Podiatry team member for the Orthopaedic Lower Limb Triage Clinic. I also have an interest in Podopaedicatrics which is the area of Podiatry dealing with children’s foot problems. I joined LBhealthcare in April 2007 and have regular clinics both in Whiteley and Gosport.
I am a member of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and registered with the HPC (Health Professions Council).
Dawn Tomlin - Sonographer
Jennifer Harris - Fitness Instructor
I started out in the fitness industry in 2003 working part-time at my local gym whilst studying at college doing a BTEC National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Sciences. Alongside this I also spent my time training to become a level 1 circuit training instructor and then onto a Level 2 gym instructor. During my time at college I also went on to train up as a pool lifeguard and Trampolining coach.
On leaving college in 2004 I started work as a full time gym instructor and gained a few more qualifications whilst I was there, including first aid at work and NSCR Spin Instructor. I wanted to move up in the fitness industry and so trained to become a Level 3 Personal Trainer and advanced instructor and soon became a self-employed personal trainer. During this time I did another course called RMT to broaden my knowledge as a personal trainer. This course enabled me to learn about posture and correction exercises as well as functional training whereby I can prescribe exercises to clients which relate to their day to day movements.
After a year I left the gym I was working at and set up on my own as a freelance personal trainer and joined LBhealthcare in 2007. I decided I wanted to be able to teach aerobics so I did my Exercise to Music qualification. I have since set up teaching Legs, Bums and Tums here at LBhealthcare. This class is great fun and hard work at the same time and I pride myself on making the class enjoyable and welcoming.
Darren Worsfold - Massage Therapist
I trained as a Sports Massage therapist in 2003 and have gained my ITEC level 3 qualification; I am also registered with the Sports Massage Association level 3. As a High Performance tumbling coach I have tumblers in the National Squad due to the benefits they had from sports massage. I felt it was a natural adjunct to my gymnastics coaching. During my career I have won medals at all levels from regional to national and have competed in international competitions representing Great Britain. As a Gymnast I used to have regular massage treatments and it enabled me to have a relatively injury free career: any niggles I had were sorted out straight away.
I joined LBhealthcare in April 2007 and specialise in deep soft tissue work which gets right to the source of the problem. This may be slightly uncomfortable at the time but it works wonders and will have you back to your training regime in no time. A regular sports massage will sort out any minor problems which if left might lead to an injury occurring. Even if your aches and pains are not due to sports-specific injuries, for example you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk and your muscles are working hard to maintain that posture, a sports massage could also benefit you. At LBhealthcare I work closely with all the therapists to provide you with the best possible treatment to promote your overall wellbeing.