About

Specialist Physiotherapy

A specialist physiotherapist in New Zealand is a highly qualified healthcare professional with advanced education (a Master's degree or PhD), and additional training to operate at the top end of their scope of practice. They possess expert knowledge and skills in a specific area of clinical practice, such as spinal health, and are registered with the board, ensuring they meet rigorous professional standards. Their role extends beyond individual patient treatment to include leadership in consultancy, education, and research, actively contributing to the development of best practices and national health strategies. They work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams across various health and disability settings, working in partnership with individuals, whanau, families, and communities to optimise health outcomes.

In New Zealand, there are only 17 registered specialist physiotherapists nationally, with five based in Auckland. Katy is the only specialist physiotherapist in Auckland with a subspecialty in spine. Achieving this title requires not only advanced postgraduate training but also demonstrating leadership, publishing research, and participating in professional activities. As specialist clinicians, their role is to deliver expert clinical assessment and treatment, influence policy development, and provide guidance to other practitioners, ultimately ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care tailored to their unique needs.

Spine Specialist Physiotherapy, Katy Carnachan

When to see a Specialist Physiotherapist?

Katy specialises in managing spinal injuries through specific and individualised exercise plans and adaption of movement patterns that may be contributing to persistent pain. Spinal injuries Katy treats include headaches, neck pain, upper and lower back pain, pelvic pain and hip pain. She also manages rheumatological conditions such as Ankylosing Spondylitis and other spondyloarthropathies, degenerative conditions including scoliosis and spondylolithesis, and can also help with managing any ongoing pain following spine surgery. Katy works with patients who haven't seen enough progress with previous treatment and need more specialised care. A referral is required to see her.

Referrals must clearly state they are for a “Specialist Physiotherapy Assessment”, referrals for physiotherapy cannot be accepted.

Meet KATY

KATY CARNACHAN

Specialist Physiotherapist

BPhty, Cert. MDT, Post Grad Diploma (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy) with Distinction, Masters of Health Science with First Class Honours

Katy Carnachan is a New Zealand Board-Registered Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Specialist (NZRPS), passionate about helping people with spinal pain and conditions, including complex spine surgery, ongoing pain, and inflammatory arthropathies. Since graduating from the University of Otago, Katy has gained valuable experience working in both the UK and New Zealand across a variety of hospital and private clinical settings. Her experience in orthopaedic spine and shoulder teams at Middlemore Hospital, and her close collaboration with specialists and surgeons, has provided her with a broad and expert foundation in treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.

Katy completed the McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy certification in 2009, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy through AUT in 2012, graduating with distinction. She then earned her Masters of Health Science with First Class Honours in 2016, with a thesis titled “Serious pathologies in the lumbar spine: prevalence and diagnostic accuracy of red flag questions.” As co-founder and current clinical director of Auckland Physiotherapy + Health Collective, she continually expands her knowledge by attending world-renowned courses, including intensive training with Prof. Stuart McGill in Canada, Rigo scoliosis and Watson headache training in Australia, and spine courses with Dr. Shirley Sahrmann in the UK. She has also received training in clinical Pilates, and has learned directly from leading experts such as Robin McKenzie, Brian Mulligan, and Dr. Mark Laslett.

Katy's research has been published in The Spine Journal, a reputable North American journal, and she has shared her findings at both national and international conferences. She is actively involved in developing clinical pathways for spine care and frequently educates general practitioners on managing back and neck pain. Katy values collaboration with other healthcare practitioners, offering expert conservative management advice and diagnostics to bridge the gap between primary care and specialist surgical referral.