She also facilitates the online Pilates classes and is trained in the online PEAK programme which addresses knee pain caused by Osteoarthritis (OA).
All of these were not a reality less than two years ago and this highlights that constant learning and specialising is essential to stay relevant in your field, especially when it comes to healthcare.
Megan grew up in Assagay and attended all the Kloof schools – pre-primary, junior, senior and high and matriculated in 2014.
Her younger sister, Robyn, played a lot of competitive sport and when injured went to see a physiotherapist and this is when Megan’s interest in physiotherapy started. “The process of healing people’s injuries fascinated me,’’ explains Megan.
With her mind made up that Physiotherapy was her future, Megan took double science for Matric and went on to study at the university of the Free State – where her Afrikaans improved greatly! She completed her four-year Physiotherapy degree and then went on to do her community service in KwaZulu-Natal at the Kwadabeka Community Health Centre. The Centre was linked to six other clinics in the area – KwaNdengezi, Molweni, Halley Stott, KwaNgcolosi, Zwelibomvu and Maphepheteni.
“Every three weeks we would visit a different clinic and offer physiotherapy to the outpatients. This was the only physiotherapy these patients would receive and knowing that in most cases a minimum of between four or five consecutive sessions is needed to heal an injury, it was disheartening, however, I was grateful I was able to provide relief from their pain when I did treat them,’’ says Megan.
According to Megan, the referred patients had booked appointments, but most patients were walk ins. “I saw lots of people with back and neck problems, the elderly, stroke recovery patients and children with cerebral palsy. Physiotherapy shows wonderful results with children who have cerebral palsy.”
The conditions for the patients were not ideal and due to space restraints, they were often seen to on the outside grass area. This was a problem in very hot or rainy weather. “Despite this my patients were so cooperative and grateful, we saw remarkable results. My stroke patients did their exercises at home and parents worked with their children to get results. During my time I was privileged to see amputees receive prosthetic limbs which was life changing.”
Megan completed her community service in 2020 during the COVID pandemic and said that staff and patients were very responsible when it came to PPE, sanitising, wearing masks and social distancing.
Megan started with Debbie Cameron Physiotherapy in October 2020 and shadowed Nadia Reuter until December of that year, which was wonderful for her to learn from a physiotherapist focussed on planning, preparation, and constant learning.
To book an appointment with Megan at Hillcrest Centenary Centre or to enquire about the Long-COVID recovery programme please phone 031 765 8898.