Neatline Physiotherapy

Clinical Staff

Kate Neates
Director / Principal Therapist
Paediatric Physiotherapist
M. Advanced Paediatric Physiotherapy Practice
B. Science (Physiotherapy)

After graduating from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy), Kate worked in the Private Practice Musculoskeletal and Sports area for 4 years. She volunteered for 5 years with the WA Wheelchair Sports Association as the Head Physiotherapist for the Perth Wheelcats, WA's National League Wheelchair Basketball Team whilst also completing a season as a Physiotherapist with the WA Football Commissions AFL 16s and 18s State Development Teams.

Following this, Kate moved to hospital work in the remote areas of Port Hedland and Derby where she continued to grow passionate towards the areas of community health care, in particular working with children. Recently, Kate has returned to the metro area and re-commenced working in Paediatrics whilst completing a Masters in Advanced Paediatric Physiotherapy Practice.

Kate continues to be passionate about holistic treatment in Paediatrics. She has a specific interest in neurodevelopmental therapy and sensory regulation issues in children with global delay, which involves early intervention therapy in children with gross motor delay and follow-up care for premature infants.

Since her country stint, Kate has become particularly passionate about the care of children who have been affected by drugs and alcohol pre- and post-natally and carries out regular training on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome for healthcare and education professionals.

Services

Paediatric Services

Neatline Physiotherapy specialises in Paediatric Therapy Services, targeted specifically to cater for your child's needs. Therapists regularly attend professional development courses and training to ensure they are up to date with the latest treatment/research in the management of specific conditions.

Paediatric Specialist treatment areas include:

• Coordination and Gross Motor Development issues


• Gross Motor Delay in Infants and toddlers


• Hypermobility and Connective Tissue disorders (including Benign Joint Hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome)


• Gait abnormalities (including Idiopathic Toe-Walking, In-toeing and Out-toeing)


• Movement disorders (including Dyspraxia and Developmental Coordination Disorder)


• Packaging disorders (CTEV, DDH, plagiocephaly and infant torticollis)


• Persistent and Chronic Pain (including Chronic Regional Pain Syndromes)


• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis


• Growth Related Pain


• Chronic Fatigue


• General Paediatric Orthopaedics including post-surgical rehabilitation for limb lengthening and derotational osteotomies


• Fitness and weight management for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disability

Therapists are able to work collaboratively with everyone involved in your children's care from siblings and grandparents to school teachers and local sporting clubs.

Clinic Visits

Clinic Visits are usual for children that are easily distractable and find it difficult to focus on one task. Whilst a clinic environment can be overwhelming at times, a clinic room can be controlled to ensure your child focuses on one task at a time, allowing for repetition of tasks ensuring the practice of skills. Reproducible activities can be provided so practice can be continued at home.

These visits are also beneficial for assessment appointments, in order to accurately assess your child's hips, knees, feet or other joint/bony issues.

Clinic visits will range from 60-90 minutes depending on the complexity of the assessment and required therapy.

Clinic appointments are currently offered within Karrinyup Physiotherapy Centre on Tuesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

Home visits

In these appointments, Kate will come out to your house to meet you and your child. Home visits ensure that your child feels comfortable in their familiar environment. Not only do you not have to worry about leaving the house, it also means that you can relax knowing you don’t have to entertain the kids whilst in the waiting room.

These appointments are best suited to younger children who mainly play in their home environment or children who are generally shy and take a bit of time to warm up to strangers. Home visits also ensure that your child works with what is available within your home and their own toys during therapy time. This means that tricks of the trade learnt during therapy time can continue outside of therapy hours, giving your child increased opportunity for practice and continued development.

Home visits will usually take an hour; the number and frequency of home visits required will vary depending on the child, family, complexity of issues and goals for your child.

These appointments are available on Tuesday mornings. Please contact Kate directly to arrange these appointments.

School visits

If your child is having problems at school, then school is where it needs be addressed! Kate is happy to coordinate appointments so your child can be assessed in their natural learning environment or, if they are having particular issues with their gross motor activities, during their sports lessons. Paediatric therapists are frequently asked about issues during school so providing your child's teacher is amenable, Kate is happy to assist them in order to address your child's needs.

School visits are generally the duration of a school session, 45-60 minutes. Additional resources are able to be provided to the classroom teacher as required as well. These appointments are available on Tuesday mornings. Please contact Kate directly to arrange these appointments.

Phone / email consultations

If you're not sure if Paediatric Physiotherapy is what you need or would be able to help, feel free to contact Kate to get further guidance. Some issues require medical clearance so at times a quick phone call can point you in the right direction first.

If you would like a quote for your query, please email us via the 'contact us' page.

Groups

Not only are groups great for children's social skills, playing in the presence of other children at a similar level can be great motivators for your child to move, as well as learning skills from the modelling of their peers.

Parents of children with developmental delay or a disability can often feel quite isolated; groups are not only a great way for your kids to socialize but great for the parents too!

A clinic visit is required for an initial assessment to ensure this is the right environment for your child and will address your child's goals.

Adult Services

Adult services include all aspects of musculoskeletal physiotherapy including:

• neck and back pain


• headaches


• jaw pain


• sports injury management


• exercise rehabilitation

These services are available at North Beach, Floreat and Ellenbrook locations.