Meet the team

Dr Steve SaundersFounder / Director / Physiotherapist

Steve is a renowned Physiotherapist with over 30 years experience in the treatment and management of musculoskeletal injury and dysfunction. He is recognised internationally as a leading Clinician and High Performance Manager. Steve currently consults to numerous elite sporting teams around the world, reviewing complex athletic cases, educating staff and shaping athlete management systems / protocols. Steve is currently the Science and Medical Coordinator for the Adelaide Football Club, chief scientific officer and Director of KangaTech and Director of Saunders Physiotherapy.

Steve recently returned to Adelaide after 7 years as High Performance Manager (Director of Sports Science and Medical Services) at the North Melbourne Football Club. He is now reviewing patients at Saunders Physiotherapy, consulting to multiple AFL, NBA, English Soccer and Elite athletes, while undertaking research projects with the University of SA, Flinders University and the University of Victoria.

Steve completed his PhD in 2007 at the University of Queensland investigating the motor control mechanisms underlying control of the lumbo-pelvic region during human locomotion in normal and low back pain subjects. He has published works in internationally peer-reviewed journals and continues to develop management strategies based on scientific evidence-based practice.

Steve’s combined background in scientific research and elite athlete/patient care has facilitated the development of KangaTech, a world leading injury prevention and performance system. KangaTech technology is now being utilised in the AFL, NBA, English Soccer (EPL and CL), NHL, Australian Cricket, extreme sports and research institutions.

Craig FountainPhysiotherapist

Craig Fountain - Physiotherapist

Craig Foundtain

Craig has been a Physiotherapist at Saunders Physiotherapy since 2002 having graduated at the University of South Australia in 2000. His friendly and caring nature has been an integral part of the clinic during this time. Craig is available to treat patients ranging from children to the elderly and enjoys treating both sporting and non-sporting injuries.

Craig’s interest in Physiotherapy is the diagnosis and management of sporting and musculoskeletal injuries. He focuses on determining cause and effect with regards to biomechanical reasons responsible for injury. This is specifically applied to dysfunctions of the spine, pelvis, and hip with associated injuries of the lower limb such as hamstrings, knees, calves, achilles, and groins. Craig is also interested in postural issues that may lead to neck dysfunction, headaches, jaw problems, and shoulder injuries.

Craig has developed a strong hands-on approach using a number of manual therapy techniques such as deep tissue massage, joint mobilisation and manipulation, dry needling, craniosacral therapy, and visceral manipulation. He also utilises technology such as KangaTech, real time ultrasound, and shockwave therapy. Exercise therapy is a major component of Craig’s approach that assists with injury management and improving biomechanical dysfunctions.

Craig has worked with organisations such as Athletics Australia, Athletics South Australia, and the North Adelaide Football Club. He has previously been team Physiotherapist for a number of athletics teams touring nationally and abroad such as the Australian Youth Olympic and World Championship teams as well as South Australian state teams. Craig has also presented lectures to a number of groups on varying Physiotherapy topics and has assisted Dr Steve Saunders in running workshops on the lumbopelvic area and running injuries.

Craig’s sporting background is in Athletics where he competed in 200m and 400m sprinting, high jump, and long jump. He continues to have a passion for treating and managing running injuries at the elite and recreational level. These days, Craig remains fit and active playing golf and tennis as well as attending the gym.

Alan ObstPhysiotherapist

Alan Obst - Physiotherapist

Alan completed his double degree in Human Movement and Masters of Physiotherapy Practice at the University of South Australia in 2013. He has a special interest in sporting injury management and prevention having played football with North Melbourne Kangaroos in the AFL and more recently for North Adelaide in the SANFL and the Darwin Buffaloes in the Northern Territory Football League. Alan is currently Player / Coach for the Barossa District Football Club.

Alan has a strong focus with hands-on manual therapy combined with Exercise and Pilates based Rehabilitation. He has a holistic approach when treating chronic pain and utilises the latest in scientific evidence based practice to treat all types of musculoskeletal conditions.

Alex McVeighAPA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Alex McVeigh – APA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Alex graduated from the University of South Australia in 2013 and returned to complete a Masters of Advanced Clinical Physiotherapy (Sports) in 2018.

He has worked in sport for many years with state-level soccer and netball teams and is currently physiotherapist for the Adelaide Crows FC.

Alex has a special interest in hip and groin injuries having been involved in research studies in this area and his clinical practice. He also enjoys treating lumbo-pelvic disorders and lower limb injuries.

Consultations with Alex involve detailed assessment to find the cause of issues, a variety of pain-relieving hands-on techniques and quality exercise prescription to maximise long term recovery.

Lucy ThomasPhysiotherapist

Lucy Thomas - Physiotherapist

Lucy graduated from the University of South Australia in 2017 with First Class Honours in a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Lucy enjoys the broad spectrum of physiotherapy from sporting injuries through to workplace stress-induced injuries in people of all ages.

Lucy has enjoyed working with several sporting teams. She was the South Australian Team Physiotherapist for the Australian Junior Athletics Championships held in Sydney in 2018, and has worked extensively with the South Australian Cricket Association and the North Adelaide Football Club Women’s Team using KangaTech to screen and train players. Combining her love for travel and for physiotherapy, Lucy also spent a month volunteering in Paediatric physiotherapy at a hospital in Arequipa, Peru in 2017.

Lucy is strongly committed to evidence based learning, understanding patient values and on-going professional development. She utilises a combination of manual therapy, dry needling, exercise and education as part of her treatment philosophy.

Kym SiddonsAPA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Kym Siddons - APA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Kym Graduated from the University of QLD in 1996 with honours in Bachelor of Physiotherapy and returned to complete her Masters in Sports Physiotherapy in 2007.

Kym has worked in Private Practice for over 20 years, having directed Sports Physio clinics in Brisbane and worked with many elite sporting teams. Kym was the Head Physiotherapist for the Australian Women’s Cricket team and the Queensland Women’s Water polo team for many years. She worked as a Physiotherapist for the QLD Academy of Sport for Water polo and Soccer. She has enjoyed the challenge of assisting many elite squads and their athletes prepare for, and achieve, World Cup wins and Olympic/ Commonwealth Games medals.

Kym has a keen interest in the assessment and management of shoulder injuries, as well as lumbopelvic disorders and overuse/ biomechanical injuries. She particularly enjoys helping people learn more about their bodies, keeping themselves pain-free and regain their active lifestyle.

She is highly skilled and experienced in applying various hands-on techniques for pain relief and optimising biomechanics to improve function. Kym is committed to providing appropriate and progressive therapeutic exercise programs to best rehabilitate clients and lots of encouragement along their journey to recovery.

Since moving to Adelaide with her husband and family in 2015, Kym has gained certification and experience in Occupational Health Physiotherapy. She is passionate about empowering workers to better health and productivity through targeted exercises, posture & movement education and good ergonomics.

Jonathan EskeMassage/Sports Trainer

Jonathan Eske - Massage/Sports Trainer

Jonathan has completed his undergraduate Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of South Australia and is awaiting Physiotherapy registration. He has been working as a massage therapist for a number of years, has experience working as a sports trainer with men’s and women’s soccer teams in State League 1 and the Women’s National Premier League.

Jonathan’s background in massage, personal training, and fitness see him successfully work with people of all ages and across a wide range of fitness levels.

Jonathan uses a combination of soft tissue techniques, load management methodologies, exercise and education to treat and manage his clients. He is committed to evidence based practice and furthering his knowledge, particularly in sports and neurological physiotherapy.

Jonathon is trained in KangaTech musculoskeletal profiling and has used the tech to screen a variety of patients at Saunders Physiotherapy, from elite athletes to adolescents and elderly clients with osteoporosis arthritis.

We look forward to Jonathon working also as a physiotherapist at Saunders Physiotherapy in January 2019.

Lisa AttenboroughOffice Manager

Lisa Attenborough

Lisa has been the Practice Manager at Saunders Physiotherapy for over 20 years.

Lisa has a Diploma of Office Management and an Advanced Diploma of Accounting and uses these skills to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.

In her spare time she is involved in athletics as a coach and official with Athletics SA and SA Masters Athletics.

Staff

Meet the team