Central City Physiotherapy was established in Lambton Quay, Wellington in 1989.

The practice offers high quality service and enjoys an excellent reputation with health professionals and clients. This is reflected by the return of satisfied clients and self referral from clients and their co-workers.

Our Team

Our Central City Physiotherapy team are all highly experienced and motivated therapists. All have or are working towards post-graduate qualifications, offering you a holistic approach towards recovery.

Each physiotherapist offers special skills as well as a broad range of experience. Our commitment to clinical excellence requires continually upgrading skills and keeping up to date with the latest research. We hold regular in-house training and attend weekend courses along with national and international scientific conferences.

Staff Profiles

Kara Mulvein

- Owner and principal physiotherapist (MNZSP,MSc Manip Ther,BSc(Hons)
Kara graduated from the Royal London Hospital 1988 with a BSc (Hons) and gained a wide variety of practical experience in public and private sector in the UK.  She obtained a Masters in Manipulative Therapy at the University of Queensland following eighteen months working in private practice in Australia. The ongoing research at Queensland heightened her interest in spinal problems and particularly the influence of spinal (core) stabilisation in relation to other conditions (such as sports injuries).

In 1996 she completed the PAANZ acupuncture course. Kara also has a special interest in women’s health problems, including pre and post-natal back pain. Skills include excellent clinical reasoning, integrating a neuro-muscular-articular approach to assessment and treatment, thus ensuring a high standard of professional practice.

Kara is an extremely motivated therapist continually updating her skills by attending courses and conferences both nationally and internationally. She has also been involved in lecturing small groups and giving presentations.

Memberships

New Zealand Society of Physiotherapy

New Zealand College of Physiotherapy

New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapists Association Inc.

Manipulative Physiotherapy Association, Australia

Sports and Orthopaedic Special Interest Group

Physiotherapists Acupuncture Association of New Zealand

Womens Health Special Interest Group

Private Practitioners Association New Zealand

Gina Di Rienzo

M.N.Z.S.P., BSc, BPhEd, MSc Phty

   Gina obtained her MSc in Physical Therapy in 2007, and her BSc. and Bachelor of Physical and Health Education in 2005 from Queen’s University in Canada. She started out working in a busy private practice clinic in Canada, which provided her with a strong background in treating back and neck pain.  She continued her work in NZ in 2009 again working in a busy private practice clinic treating a variety of musculoskeletal injuries before heading to Australia to complete her certificate in orthopaedic manual therapy.

Gina has a keen interest in sports and treating sports injuries which can be seen through her involvement with various university teams for 5 years, an American Football team for a year in Canada and premier rugby in Wellington in 2009.  As well as her own participation in A grade ice hockey and international American football while in Canada.

Gina is an eager learner and continues to improve her skill set taking courses in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.

Membership
New Zealand Society of Physiotherapy
New Zealand College of Physiotherapy

Lindsay Barwick

M.N.Z.S.P., BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy

Lindsay obtained her Bachelor of Health Science in Physiotherapy at York St John University in the United Kingdom in 2007.

Lindsay completed her junior rotations within the NHS gaining experience in various physiotherapy specialities. As a senior physiotherapist, she specialised in orthopaedics and musculoskeletal injuries attending external courses to improve her skill set.  Lindsay has vast experience in exercise rehabilitation, having run a physiotherapy gymnasium service and led education classes for long term back and neck problems.

Lindsay has a special interest in Pilates and is a qualified class instructor. She is now attending the manual therapy training courses offered by the New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapists Association.

Lindsay’s keen interest in treating sporting injuries emanates from her sporting background. In the UK she played competitive football and netball as well as enjoying long distance running. Since moving to NZ she is now concentrating her efforts on running and swimming and aims to compete in multisport events next year.

Membership
New Zealand Society of Physiotherapy
New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapy Association

Sarah Gardner

M.N.Z.S.P., BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy

Sarah qualified in physiotherapy from Brunel University in London in 2003 graduating with a first class degree.  She started working in a large district hospital in Surrey, South East England, where she completed her junior rotations, covering a wide variety of physiotherapy specialities.  After three years she started to specialise in orthopaedics, musculoskeletal physiotherapy and sports injuries, at a busy West London hospital.  Two years later she decided to come to New Zealand.

She started working in Dunedin for the Summer of 2007, where she worked and trained in a private Pilates Studio.  However, warmer weather was calling and she moved up to Wellington, where she has continued to work within the private sector.

Throughout Sarah’s career she has continued her training, and her special interests lie in treating back pain and Pilates training.  Sarah has also supported several sports teams over the years both in the UK and New Zealand.

In her spare time Sarah loves socialising, skiing and has recently taken up sailing.

Sarah is committed to ongoing training and endeavours to ensure that her practise is based on the most current research.

Membership
New Zealand Society of Physiotherapy
New Zealand Physiotherapy Trust