At SPEAR, we deliver the highest quality, hands-on Physiotherapy, so you know you are getting the best care tailored to your individual needs.
Our expert team specialise in injury rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, and performance profiling.
With 20 years’ experience, we are one of the leading providers of Physiotherapy in Scotland and our customers are at the heart of everything we do.
Lesley is one of Partners of the practice, co-founding the business in 2001. Lesley is Lead Neurological Physiotherapist in clinic, having developed the service to being one of the most highly regarded private neurological rehabilitation services in Scotland. Lesley co-founded the Different Strokes exercise group, a group enabling young stroke survivors to access health and fitness facilities safely. Lesley is also a key member of the charity exercise group “Step Ahead Aberdeen”.
Graduating from The Robert Gordon University in 1998 with a first class honours degree including a placement in Australia, Lesley worked for 12 years in the NHS as a highly specialised Neurological Physiotherapist. She has completed her full adult neurological Bobath course as well as numerous other advanced Bobath courses. Lesley has fostered links with the world-renowned Manchester Neurotherapy Centre and regularly visits them with her clients.
Lesley’s advanced skills in Neurological Physiotherapy mean she has a special interest in movement analysis and biomechanics. She has recently be using her personal interest in Yoga to compliment some of her sessions with fantastic results.
Karen is co-founder of SPEAR Physiotherapy. After graduating with a First-Class Honours degree in 1998 and following a short spell in the NHS, Karen set up the practice with Lesley in 2001.
Karen is a highly specialised Golf Physiotherapist and has worked with the Scottish National squads from 2002, where she was Lead Physiotherapist for Scottish Golf from 2005 until 2014. This role involved looking after the national men and ladies’ squads, profiling players and supporting winter training and competitions both home and abroad. In 2011 Karen was appointed Physiotherapist for the Walker Cup whilst at Royal Aberdeen. Due to family commitments Karen is now based mainly in Aberdeen, but continues to work with golfers of all levels, from European Tour players to weekend warriors, and loves keeping her golfers on the golf course. Karen also runs an online Golf Flexibility and Core Class to help golfers prevent injuries.
Out with Golf, Karen was Physiotherapy Co-ordinator for The Grampian Institute of Sport from 2008-2013, supporting elite level local athletes. In 2011, Karen was one of a 10 strong team to travel to Delhi as part of Team Scotland in the Commonwealth Games. This role involved supporting several athletes across a range of different sports. Karen has a particular interest in athletics and supports local athletes through the Aberdeen Athletics Academy.
When not in clinic, Karen enjoys running and cycling to keep herself fit and helps coach both her daughters’ football teams, completing her level 1 SFA coaching certificate last year. Coaching kids has been her biggest challenge to date!!
James graduated with an MSc in Physiotherapy in 2006, having previously completed a BSc (Hons) in Sports and Exercise Science. James is our clinical lead for our Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy service and is a highly experienced member of the team with over 16 years’ experience across a wide range of physiotherapy settings.
Beginning his career at NHS Grampian, he quickly found his niche in the musculoskeletal out-patient setting, working in Inverurie, Woodend and Woolmanhill Clinics, expanding his knowledge in chronic pain, acupuncture and exercise prescription skills. Upon leaving the NHS in 2012 to join SPEAR Physiotherapy, his passion for sport developed and has included providing Physiotherapy support to swimming, hockey, curling and squash at both national and international level.
In 2014, James was the lead physiotherapist for Tuvalu at The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and helped support the Scottish Woman’s Hockey and Scottish Swim teams in their preparation for the same games. Alongside his clinic work, James is the Scottish Institute for Sport Co-ordinator for Grampian, overseeing the health and rehabilitation for the area’s more talented athletes.
On the home front, James’s love for running helped create his own running assessment, which is now offered here at SPEAR. This service has helped recreational and international runners /tri-athletes achieve the capacity to continue their training programme to meet their specific goals. He is passionate in providing specific and individual rehabilitation to meet client and athlete needs. James has further investigated and researched the role of the foot in running and has been able to incorporate a wide variety of assessments and treatment plans for plantar fasciitis, achilles tendon and heel pain. James also has a successful programme ‘Unlace The Brace’ which is a 30 day strengthening plan which can be found here www.payhip.com/physiorun
A keen runner himself, James partakes in all distance events from 5km-ultra marathon and endurance distances. He shares his journey and reviews of all things running related at www.physiorun.net
SPECIALIST AREAS
Sarah graduated with a BSc in Physiotherapy from Edinburgh in 1989 and has since gone on to specialise in Neurological Physiotherapy. Sarah has gained widespread experience in a variety of acute and rehabilitation settings both within the UK and abroad. These roles have included Lead Clinician in the South Yorkshire Regional Head Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Sheffield and Lead Physiotherapist in the Stroke Rehabilitation Centre in Aberdeen. Sarah has completed post graduate courses linked to the management and treatment of the neurological patient including a period of study at University of Glasgow looking at clinical issues in stroke.
Sarah works within the Neurological Rehabilitation Team. She has completed PD Warrior training, which is an exercise-based programme effective in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Exercise has long been recognised for its therapeutic benefits in maintaining mobility and function in neurological conditions such as PD with a growing body of research evidence to support this.
She carries out individual assessments and the treatment of patients within both the clinic and the community. Sarah has a particular interest in head injuries, exercise-based rehabilitation and hydrotherapy.Sarah and Lynn run NeuroPilates classes for patients with neurological or more complex needs, and run Step Ahead Aberdeen’s after stroke exercise classes.
Outside clinic Sarah is a keen swimmer. This is a slight understatement as she competed and medalled in the Commonwealth Games when she was younger.
Lynn graduated with a BSc in Physiotherapy from Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh in 1991. After gaining experience in a number of centres in the UK, Lynn specialised in neurological rehabilitation, joining the SPEAR Physiotherapy in 2010.
Lynn enjoys a varied clinical caseload working in clinic, community and community support groups. She is committed to enhancing her knowledge, skills, and expertise and has completed a number of post graduate courses. With an interest in exercise following stroke, Lynn gained a qualification as a Specialist Exercise and Fitness After Stroke Instructor. Forming close links with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland she helped establish Step Ahead Aberdeen, a registered Scottish Charity supporting the long-term physical fitness, health and well-being of stroke survivors living in the North East.
Pilates is another area of interest. Lynn has completed matwork training, and a Neuro Specific Pilates Course. Together with Sarah they run NeuroPilates classes for patients with Neurological or more complex needs. Lynn has also completed a PD Warrior Course. This course is an intensive exercise-based approach designed to support those recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
Out with work, Lynn enjoys walking her dog and is an enthusiastic cyclist.
Leigh graduated with a BSc in Physiotherapy from The Robert Gordon University in 2007 and went onto complete a MSc in Exercise Science at Syracuse University, New York. She has 12 years’ experience within the NHS in both acute and rehabilitation settings. This included roles within the Edinburgh Community Stroke Service and as the NHS Lothian Falls Co-ordinator.
More recently, Leigh has completed a MSc in Health Promotion and Public Health and has a particular interest in the benefits of physical activity in the management of long-term conditions. She has completed training in APPI Pilates and uses this training to support individuals and groups.
In her spare time, she loves to be outdoors, active and enjoys time with her family.
Megan graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2014 with a BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy. When growing up Megan was a competitive swimmer and this fuelled her interest in Sports Physiotherapy.
On completion of her degree she went straight into full-time football, working initially for Kilmarnock Football Club for 2 seasons, and then went on to be Head Physiotherapist for Hamilton Academical Football Club.
In January 2018 she started working for SPEAR Physiotherapy bringing a wealth of football knowledge to the team. She has extensive rehabiliation knowledge and currently works with a number of Highland League teams.
Megan has also worked with various sports teams nationally including:- The Scottish Rugby Union, Glasgow Rocks Basketball Team, Caledonia Pride Women’s Basketball Team, Strathclyde University Rugby Team, Aberdeen FC Youth Academy, and Dundee United Youth Academy.
Megan has a keen interest in Sports Injuries, Sports Prehabilitation, Sports Rehabilitation and Return to Sport.
SPECIALIST AREAS
Lisa graduated from Robert Gordon University in 2014 with a BSc Hons physiotherapy. During her time at university, she also completed a diploma in sports massage and a qualification in strength and Conditioning, which she was able to put to good use while working within the Scottish Rugby union before transitioning into a Physiotherapy based practice.
As well as focussing on injury rehabilitation she has a keen interest in injury prevention focussing on exercise and education to improve performance, combining both her strength and conditioning qualification and her physiotherapy degree to offer a personalised approach.
She looks to provide a service tailored for the individual using current evidence-based practise, putting you first.
Lisa used to participate in athletics as a sprinter and after retiring as a result of injury is a keen sports person who enjoys helping others achieve their goals.
Aimee graduated from Robert Gordon University in 2013 with a MSc in Physiotherapy. Upon completion of her degree, she began working as a Physiotherapist with Aberdeen Football Club gaining valuable experience in the rehabilitation of elite athletes. She held this role for 5 years working with the first team, under 20’s and leading the Youth Academy. She then worked privately at Nuffield Health seeing a wide array of often complex musculoskeletal conditions.
Aimee was part of the Scottish Women’s Hockey team representing at all age groups and competed at numerous European and World Cup competitions. She was selected for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth games and GB training squad for Beijing, however due to multiple serious knee injuries which delayed her playing career, she ironically developed a desire to pursue a career in Physiotherapy. Hard work, determination and the infamous “never give up” (stubborn athlete) attitude earned her a place at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.
Aimee has a strong interest in sports rehabilitation, posture, pain and performance enhancement and enjoys seeing patients return to full fitness. Aimee is also qualified in Sports Massage, Acupuncture and is trained at human foundations level for Functional Patterns. She loves a knee!
Outside of work Aimee’s passion is road cycling (fair weather only!), watching football and training individuals in Functional Patterns and is working towards becoming a Human Biomechanics specialist.
Sarah Rohe is a New Zealand trained physiotherapist – Otago University School of Physiotherapy class of 2016. She has post graduate training in advanced side line care for Rugby, as well as dry needling. Her first few years of practice were in a private musculoskeletal and sport practice in Hawkes Bay New Zealand before she immigrated to Aberdeen in August 2019.
Her professional special interests are sports injuries and rehabilitation, exercise prescription, dry needling, and manual therapies.
Professionally, Sarah has experience and proficiency working with athletes from rugby, CrossFit, weightlifting and strength sport, swimming, and rowing. In New Zealand Sarah provided Physiotherapy for local men’s as well as regional women’s rugby teams.
Sarah is passionate about using her experience and eclectic knowledge base to guide her patients through their injuries and rehab, as well as optimising their existing function towards the patient’s specific goals.
Personally Sarah loves her CrossFit and weightlifting/strength training, and she has a history with swimming, rowing, football, netball, hockey, rugby, and equestrian.
Clare graduated from Robert Gordon University in 2017 with a Masters in Physiotherapy. Her career started in the NHS as a Band 5 Rotational Physiotherapist, where she gained experience in all areas of Physiotherapy, including MSK, orthopaedics and stroke rehabilitation. In the summer of 2019, she joined the SPEAR team as a Physiotherapist and Pilates Instructor.
Clare has a strong interest in treating an array of musculoskeletal injuries tailored to those with and without a sporting background. She finds adopting a holistic approach to rehab, aimed at treating the person as a whole, allows her to maximise movement and performance while improving her patient’s overall wellbeing.
You will quite often find Clare on a Pilates mat teaching. Clare has completed both her APPI Matwork level 1 and 2 Pilates courses. She teaches online and face to face classes as well as private small groups and 1:1. Pilates can be the perfect form of exercise for those recovering from injury, struggling with back pain, or needing a low impact exercise to improve strength and mobility.
Specialist Areas
“I love to progress clients beyond where they ever imagined they would be.”
Out of work, Clare has a keen interest in sport, having played many typesfrom a young age, notably netball. While at Edinburgh University studying for her undergraduate pharmacology degree, Clare played for the Edinburgh University Netball 1st Team, captaining for 2 years as well as playing for SSS team representing Scotland at the Home Nations.
Leanne graduated from Robert Gordon University in 2019 with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy. In 2018, whilst at university she carried out her elective clinical placement at SPEAR, attracted by her strong interest in sporting injuries, rehabilitation and return to sport. SPEAR were so impressed by Leanne and her work ethic that on graduation Leanne started a mentorship program at SPEAR.
Prior to Leanne’s Physiotherapy journey, she completed a football scholarship in America where she gained a degree in Exercise Science & Strength and Conditioning. On return from the US, she worked as personal trainer. She worked with a variety of individuals with varying abilities, helping her clients reach their goals. This is where she found her love for analysing human biomechanics and fuelled her drive to help individuals move better.
While at SPEAR she has continued to further her learning, which has fuelled a special interest in running and sport specific injuries. She combines exercise prescription and her Physiotherapy skills to provide a personal approach to rehabilitation and injury prevention.
In 2020 Leanne researched and then developed her Gym:Ready service where she assesses patients coming back from injury to see what their capabilities are. She then puts together a progressive individualised programme to help her patients achieve their goals.
“I like to treat an array of musculoskeletal conditions with the aim to get you back to what you love doing!”
When not at work, Leanne continues to play football. She plays football for Buchan Ladies and has competed at a National level for Scotland at u-15, u-17 and u-19 levels.
Cathleen graduated from The Robert Gordon University in 2017 with a MSc in Physiotherapy. After completing her degree Cathleen moved back to the US. She worked in the US in an outpatient rehabilitation setting as part of the local hospital network for two and half years, gaining experience in musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and aquatic rehabilitation. Cathleen moved back from the States to Aberdeen and joined the SPEAR Physiotherapy team in July 2021.
In Summer 2021, Cathleen completed her APPI Matwork level one and two Pilates Training. She is now an integral member of the Pilates Teaching team teaching classes in Westhill and online.
Cathleen has always had an interest in sports, playing football and ice hockey from a young age and competing in ice hockey at university in Canada. Outside of work you can find her playing football, running, hiking and skiing.
Specialist Areas
Iona graduated from Robert Gordon University in 2019 with a BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy. During her time at university, she also completed a diploma in Sports Massage and obtained a qualification in taping.
Since graduating Iona has been on various rotations within NHS Grampian and in the last 2 years has worked as a Specialist Rehabilitation Physiotherapist where she has gained experience with a number of specialities including orthopaedics, major trauma, elderly medicine, community and stroke.
On a recent rotation Iona completed a quality improvement project focused on patient centred goal setting to improve outcomes for her patients on discharge. The success of this project inspired her to combine specialist rehabilitation and patient centred goals to help those with complex needs achieve their full potential. Iona is committed to enhancing her knowledge, skills, and expertise to deliver patient centred Physiotherapy interventions of the highest quality. This has made SPEAR an ideal fit for furthering her physiotherapy career, where patients are at the heart of everything we do.
Alvin earned a First-Class Master in Physiotherapy from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. As a chartered physiotherapist, he brings a wealth of experience and a keen focus on spinal rehabilitation, sports injuries, as well as general muscles, tendon and joint injuries.
Currently, Alvin serves as a physiotherapist and first aider for both the Aberdeen Football Club Youth Academy and a Highland League football club. His professional journey includes clinical physiotherapist and educational roles in a private clinic, where he mentored students, and as a lecturer with MCL Medics, training offshore medical staff. He has also contributed his expertise to various healthcare environments, including NHS orthopaedics and outpatient clinics.
In addition to his elite sports commitments, Alvin holds qualifications as a NASM-certified personal trainer and an ITEC-certified sports massage therapist. He has pursued postgraduate education in acupuncture, seamlessly integrating it into his physiotherapy practice to enhance patient care.
“Having pain that affect your lifestyle, work or sports can be frustrating. Imagine being able understand the condition, make sense of the pain and being able to move freely without the fear of aggravating it. We can work together to help you achieve your goals with personalised treatment plan, advice, targeted exercises and manual therapy.”
Rachel started her career in health and fitness 8 years ago in Edinburgh, working as both a Personal Trainer and as a Sports Massage Therapist. It was here she developed an interest in prehabilitation, sports injury prevention and rehabilitation. She progressed to graduate as a Physiotherapist at Robert Gordon University in 2021. She has since worked in a private practice in Dundee which also supported a local rugby club, and then in Aberdeen at a private clinic within Robert Gordons University, giving her a breadth of experience managing and treating a wide range of sporting and non-sporting conditions. Alongside her role as a Physiotherapist Rachel also enjoys teaching matwork pilates.
Combining her qualifications in personal training, pilates and physiotherapy Rachel has a keen interest in exercise promotion and prescription and enjoys providing customised rehabilitation plans focusing on the goals of each individual, whether that be to walk to the shop or to run a marathon.
Teegan graduated with a Master’s in Physiotherapy from The Robert Gordon University in 2022 after embarking on a career change from professional ballet. Since the age of 11 she trained full-time at Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto. Upon graduation she continued her training at the Royal Conservatoire of the Hague in The Netherlands, receiving a Bachelor of Dance in 2010. Teegan enjoyed a near decade-long career dancing on international stages as a member of the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich and later the South Bohemian Theatre in the Czech Republic. Through dancing she explored the incredible capacity of the human body but learned the frustration of being limited by pain and injury. Experiencing physiotherapy from a patient’s point of view, she now strives to help others attain their movement goals.
Teegan’s work as a ballet teacher alongside her physiotherapy has driven a deep interest in human biomechanics, and she loves guiding clients through quality movement to achieve the best outcomes. Her experience both on stage and in the clinic has reaffirmed her belief that healthy movement starts with a strong core. She completed her APPI Matwork Levels 1-3 and leads Intermediate Pilates classes in Westhill.
With a keen interest in neurological rehabilitation, Teegan underwent specialised training to lead Dance for Parkinson’s classes in Aberdeen. She wants everyone to share in the joys of movement and uncover their movement potential. As a firm believer that exercise should be fun, Teegan spends her free time hiking with her dog, dancing in the studio and volunteering as a ranger for the National Trust for Scotland.