About Us

Claire grew up on the West Coast at Melkbosstrand and after completing school at Milnerton High, went on to study physio at UCT. After graduating in 2004, she did community service at Frere Hospital in East London where she met her now husband, Grant. Their shared love of travel and passion for adventure saw them traveling and working in the UK and Europe over the following 12 months but finally ended up back home, in the beauty of the Mother City.

Claire loves balancing a fulfilling career doing what she loves with being a mom of 2. She is committed to life-long learning and personal growth and is dedicated to providing evidence-based care within a strong therapeutic alliance between patient and therapist.

Other Qualifications

• 2007 – Specific Soft Tissue Mobilisation (Glenn Hunter)
• 2008 – Pilates Matwork and Reformer (Healthy Living Education)
• 2009 – Dry Needling (Optimal Dry Needling Solutions)
• 2010 – OMT (Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy)
• 2011 – Golf Mechanics (Dave Bensted- Smith)
• 2011 – Cervicogenic Headache and TMJ dysfunction (Dr Ina Diener)
• 2012 – Neuro-proprioceptive taping (Iain Sykes)
• 2013 – SPT (Sports Physiotherapy)
• 2014 – Certificate in Pain Management
• 2017 – Pain modules 2, 3 and 5 (Train Pain Academy)
• 2021 – the Ultimate Upper Quarter (Tanja Bell- Jenje)
• 2021 – Differentiating Buttock Pain (Tanja Bell -Jenje)
• 2022 – Persistent NMS Pain Bootcamp (SASP)
• 2022 – Ultimate lower quarter (Tanja Bell- Jenje)
• 2023 – A Roadmap to Managing a Patient with Musculoskeletal Pain (Jacqui Koep)

Service to Profession:

• 2018 – Assistant on OMT course
• 2020 – Committee member Advanced Neuromusculoskeletal course (ANMS)
• 2023 – Committee member and clinical supervisor on the ANMS course
• 2023 – Treasurer of NMSPG, a special interest group of the SASP

Margi obtained her BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy degree from Stellenbosch University in 2015 and completed her community service in Port Elizabeth. She joined the West Coast Team in 2021 after a stint in Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province where she worked at a private practice while completing various courses presented by National and International presenters. She also instructed Pilates classes.

Margi has a keen interest in Sports injuries and Orthopedic Physiotherapy and is an accredited Lyno practitioner. Lynotherapy is a great system used to manage musculoskeletal conditions. She has also completed Be activated course, a revolutionary treatment system that aims to address muscle imbalances and compensation strategies of the body.

In her personal life, Margi and her husband Juan enjoy the outdoors and adventure. She is also a keen trail runner and mountain biker and has taken part in many multi-stage events, as well as a few ultra-marathons in both disciplines.

Margi’s therapeutic approach is providing compassionate, patient-specific care and empowering patients in the process of addressing the cause of their problem. She believes that every individual is unique and so are their needs and aims to implement individualised treatment plans based on personal goals.

Other Qualifications

• 2016 Deep Dry Needling
• 2017 Ultimate Upper Quarter Course and Ultimate Lower Quater Course (Tanya Bell)
• 2018 Lynotherapy certification units 1 to 3
• 2019 Chronic Pain course with Train Pain Academy
• 2020 Sport Injuries and Rehabilitation series (Clinical Solutions)
• 2021 Be Activated Muscle Activation Course

Shannon McKenzie attended Wits University, where she obtained her BSc (Honours) in physiotherapy (2018) and performed her community service in Limpopo, at a rural district hospital (2019). After working in private practice in Johannesburg for two years, she moved to the beautiful Cape Town area and joined the West Coast Physio team, in 2022.

In her personal capacity, Shannon loves the outdoors. She especially enjoys hiking, exploring her surroundings and the peace that comes with being out in nature, with her husband.

Shannon has an interest in orthopaedics, neuromusculoskeletal injuries and pain conditions and has attended various courses to broaden her knowledge and provide her patients with the best possible care she can. She believes in empowering her patients and assisting them to achieve their therapeutic goals.

Other Qualifications

• 2019 – Pain Neuroscience Education (Dr Adriaan Louw)
• 2019 – Assessing the Sensitised Nervous System (Dr Ina Diener)
• 2019 – Introduction to Neurodevelopmental Supportive Care of the Preterm Infant (Just Jargon)
• 2019 – Building Brains: Introduction to Neuroanatomy (Just Jargon)
• 2020 – ANMS Module 1: Introduction and Concepts (NMSPG)
• 2020 – Basic Life Support (CPR for Professionals)
• 2021 – Dry Needling Level 1 (Optimal Dry Needling Solutions)
• 2021 – Dry Needling Level 2 (Optimal Dry Needling Solutions)
• 2023 – ANMS course (NMSPG)

Cara Smith obtained her BSc Physiotherapy degree at Stellenbosch University in 2020. Thereafter she did her community service in Port Elizabeth/ Gqberga where she stayed on working in a private practice with both in- and out-patients.

She is passionate about helping people regain their optimal function and improving her clients quality of life. Her aim is to understand her client’s perspective and work together on the therapeutic goals.

Outside of work she and her husband, Nelius, enjoy spending time outdoors. They are keen on adventures and spend their time surfing, mountain biking, running, rock climbing, hiking or spending quality time with loved ones.

Other Qualifications

• 2015- Basic Strapping Course
• 2021- Dry Needling Level 1 (Optimal Dry Needling Solutions)
• 2022- BASI Pilates Mat Teacher Training Course
• 2023- Advanced Neuromusculo-skeletal Course (NMSPG)

Reené Otto graduated as a physiotherapist from the University of Pretoria in 2010. She completed her Community Service in Tembisa and then transitioned into the private sector, gaining experience in both hospital and outpatient settings. Her career has taken her from Pretoria to Durban and Sedgefield.

Reené has a keen interest in treating orthopedic conditions, sports injuries, headaches, and TMJ dysfunction, among others. She is dedicated to empowering her patients to take an active role in their recovery, striving to provide the highest standard of care. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Reené continually seeks opportunities to enhance her knowledge and skills.

In her spare time, Reené enjoys exploring nature with her husband and dogs. She is also an avid runner and a certified yoga teacher.

Other Qualifications:

• BSc(MedSci) (UP) 2006
• Basic Life Support (January 2023)
• Persistent NMS Pain Bootcamp (Nov 2022)
• Physiotherapy management of Vertigo and BPPV (2022)
• Basic coding for physiotherapists (2022)
• Introduction to the Hypertonic Pelvic Floor (2020)
• McKenzie Part A (Nov 2017)
• 200hour Yoga Teacher Training (2015)
• Optimal Dry Needling Solutions Module 1&2 (2014)
• Women’s Health Module 1: The hypotonic Pelvic Floor (2014)
• Lyno method Unit 1&2 (2013)
• Kinesio Taping (KT 1&2) (2013)
• The Future of Movement Assessment (2012)
• Optimal Dry Needling Solutions Module 1-3 (2011)

Candice obtained her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Finance and Investments from UWC in 2019. Her professional journey spans diverse roles, including Accounting Clerk, Preschool Manager, and Office Manager. She brings a decade of experience in financial management, operations, administration and leadership and is extremely passionate about empowering teams, optimizing operations, delivering excellent service through collaboration, empathy, and innovation.

Outside of work, she cherishes time with her son Noah and her husband Hadley. She finds joy in being outdoors, reading, watching K-Dramas, and collaborating on music with her husband.