About Us

Sport & Spine Physiotherapy was established in 1993, to provide high quality Physiotherapy and Sports medicine services to the people of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.

Since that time we have worked with many different sports from recreational to elite level, and these include Athletics, National and local Netball, National Rugby League, Olympic Sailing, Triathlon, Gymnastics, Hockey, Cross Fit and Dance.

We are ‘Hands On’ with our clinical assessment and treatment. This means that an essential part of your diagnosis and treatment is carried out with the manual skills and techniques which our Physiotherapists have developed and refined over their careers. These are then combined, with the sophisticated information technology now provides, to confirm and clarify clinical presentations.

Our Physiotherapists operate in a network of highly trained and qualified Sports medicine professionals including, Sports and Exercise Specialists, specialist Orthopaedic Surgeons, Sports Radiology, General Practitioners, Coaches, Sports Trainers, strength and conditioning experts and Massage Therapists.

Our experience extends over four decades and covers, the diagnosis and treatment of most musculo-skeletal and spinal problems, and also includes the following services:

  • Spinal assessment and treatment

  • Sports injuries

  • Dance physiotherapy

  • Plasters, braces and boots

  • Acupuncture and dry needling

  • Prescription Orthotics

  • Specific sports screening

  • Post operative and post injury Rehabilitation

  • Diagnostic Ultrasound for abdominal muscle, pelvic floor assessment and soft tissue injuries

  • Imaging referrals

  • Exercise programs

Our Team

Chris Downs

Physiotherapist

Chris graduated from Sydney University in 1987 and began his career at Royal Newcastle Hospital, later working at The Sports Clinic in Sydney and in the UK before returning to Newcastle to co-found Sport and Spine Physiotherapy in 1993 - a lifelong runner, Chris has worked with numerous sports organisations including the Australian Disabled Track Team, Newcastle Netball, Forster Ironman, Hunter Mariners, and the Australian Olympic Sailing Team - he has also contributed to sports medicine education through the Hunter Region Physiotherapy Group and Sports Medicine Australia - his clinical interests focus on running injuries, lower limb biomechanics, tendon issues, and orthotic prescription.

Carolyn Fay

Clinical Lead

Carolyn graduated from Sydney University in 1987 and completed her intern training through Prince of Wales Hospital with rural placements before gaining further experience in the UK and at Lingard Sports Medicine Centre - in 1993, she co-founded Sport and Spine Physiotherapy with Chris Downs and earned the title of Sports Physiotherapist in 2000 after completing a Master’s degree at Griffith University - she has worked extensively with the Newcastle Netball Association and junior representative teams - her clinical interests include cervical spine issues, headaches and migraines, pelvic instability, lateral hip pain, surgical rehab, pre and post-natal care, and core stability using diagnostic ultrasound - Carolyn is passionate about helping clients of all ages and continues to advance her expertise through ongoing education.

John Siede

Physiotherapist

John has been a valued member of Sport and Spine Physiotherapy for over 12 years and has a strong personal and professional interest in soccer, rugby, running, cycling, and triathlon - he has completed 12 Ironman Triathlons, including three World Championships in Hawaii and a sub-9-hour finish in Busselton - John specialises in treating running-related, spinal, shoulder, and knee injuries, as well as vertigo, and also provides professional bike fittings - he is a certified GLA:D Australia clinician for hip and knee osteoarthritis - outside of work, he enjoys cycling and spending time with his family.

Bek Downes

Physiotherapist

Bek graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2012 and has spent over a decade working in private practice across the Hunter region - she has experience treating a wide variety of injuries but has a strong passion for helping runners, female athletes, women navigating perimenopause, and those with complex shoulder, elbow, or wrist issues - outside the clinic, Bek enjoys gym training, sprinting, touch footy, and flexing her trivia skills with the Sydney Morning Herald quiz, all while bringing energy and enthusiasm to everything she does.

Emma Bramble

Physiotherapist

Emma completed her Physiotherapy degree at Newcastle University in 2010 and began her career at Sport and Spine - with a background in classical dance from the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy, she brings a strong understanding of movement and performance to her physiotherapy work, particularly within Newcastle’s dance community - Emma specialises in managing dance-related injuries and provides high quality care through collaboration with imaging, orthopaedic, and sports medicine professionals - her clinical focus includes ankle, foot, back, hip, and pelvic injuries, and she also teaches Pilates classes, enjoying the long-term progress of her clients.

Sudarshan KC

Physiotherapist

Sudarshan brings nearly 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal pain management from both international and Australian private practice settings. Committed to evidence-based care, he completed a PhD focused on shoulder-related outcome measures at the University of Sydney in 2022. His clinical interests include treating pain and dysfunction in the back, shoulder, knee, and ankle. Outside the clinic, Sudarshan enjoys quality time with his family and staying active at the gym.

Matthan Choi

Physiotherapist

Matthan is a recent graduate from the University of Newcastle. During his studies, he worked as a wardsperson at John Hunter Hospital, gaining valuable experience across diverse patient groups. Having completed his honours research on the physiology of chronic pain, Matthan is passionate about helping clients manage and overcome pain. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, participating in parkruns, and keeping up with the NFL.

Lisa Hockings

Practice Manager

With over 30 years of experience in administration and secretarial roles, Lisa is proud to bring a strong sense of organisation, efficiency and care to our Sport & Spine Physiotherapy.

As Practice Manager, she loves supporting both the team and the clients to ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

Lisa is friendly, approachable and always happy to help – whether it's answering a question, solving a problem or just sharing a smile.

She truly loves what she does and feels lucky to be part of such a supportive and caring environment.

Jann Daniel

Receptionist

Jann has been the friendly face at our front desk for over 22 years. With a deep knowledge of our clinic and a genuine passion for helping people, she’s often the first point of contact for our clients — and always makes them feel welcome.

Jann’s warmth, efficiency and long-standing commitment to our team make her an invaluable part of our clinic.

Whether you’re calling to book an appointment or arriving for your session, Jann is here to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Matthan is a recent graduate from the University of Newcastle. During his studies, he worked as a wardsperson at John Hunter Hospital, gaining valuable experience across diverse patient groups. Having completed his honours research on the physiology of chronic pain, Matthan is passionate about helping clients manage and overcome pain. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, participating in parkruns, and keeping up with the NFL.