Meet Nate: Physiotherapist at SurfEdge Sports Physiotherapy
Hi, I’m Nathan (Nate) Epps, a physiotherapist at SurfEdge Sports Physiotherapy with three years of private practice experience.
I enjoy working with people from all walks of life, whether that’s someone dealing with an everyday ache or injury, an athlete trying to get back to their sport, or someone recovering from a workplace injury and working towards returning to their normal duties.
My main areas of clinical interest include sports injuries, combat sports and martial arts, vestibular rehabilitation, and occupational rehabilitation and return-to-work physiotherapy.
My approach to physiotherapy
I take an active, exercise-focused approach to rehabilitation. Rather than unnecessarily stopping everything when an injury occurs, I generally aim to find ways to keep people moving and participating in the activities that are important to them while their injury recovers.
That might mean modifying training for an athlete, adjusting exercises around an injury, gradually rebuilding strength and capacity, or working through a structured return-to-work program.
Where some time away from an activity is necessary, my goal is to help people build back towards it safely and progressively, while minimising unnecessary time away from their sport, work or hobbies.
I enjoy helping people understand what is going on with their injury and giving them a clear plan for what they can do now, what we are working towards, and how we are going to get there.
Sports and combat sports physiotherapy
Sport has always been a strong interest of mine, particularly combat sports and martial arts. I personally train Muay Thai kickboxing, which gives me an appreciation of the physical demands of striking sports and the importance of being able to continue training where possible during rehabilitation.
I enjoy working with athletes across a range of sports, from recreational competitors through to those training and competing at a higher level. Rehabilitation is tailored to the individual and the demands they need to return to, rather than simply stopping once pain has settled.
I have also completed additional training in combat sports injury management to further develop my knowledge in this area.
Vestibular rehabilitation
Another area of particular interest for me is vestibular rehabilitation.
Vestibular physiotherapy can assist people experiencing problems such as vertigo, dizziness, imbalance or difficulty with movement and visual environments. These symptoms can significantly affect day-to-day activities, work, exercise and confidence with movement.
Assessment helps identify what may be contributing to the symptoms and, where appropriate, treatment can include specific vestibular exercises, balance rehabilitation, movement retraining and strategies aimed at gradually restoring normal function.
Workplace injuries and return to work
I also have an interest in occupational and workplace rehabilitation and have completed additional training in occupational and workplace health.
Returning to work after an injury often involves more than simply waiting for symptoms to disappear. Rehabilitation may involve progressively rebuilding the strength, tolerance and confidence required for specific work tasks, while considering the physical demands of the person’s role.
Where appropriate, I aim to help people remain engaged with work in a safe and modified capacity while progressively building towards their normal duties.
Further training
Alongside my physiotherapy qualifications and private practice experience, I have completed additional training in:
Combat sports injury management
Occupational and workplace health
Vestibular rehabilitation
Dry Needling Level 2
ONERO®, an evidence-based exercise program for people with osteoporosis and osteopenia
Outside of the clinic, I train Muay Thai and enjoy travelling, hiking and spending time outdoors.
Whether you’re dealing with an injury, trying to return to sport, managing a workplace injury, experiencing dizziness or vertigo, or simply wanting to move and function better, I’d be happy to help you work towards getting back to the things that matter to you.
To book an appointment with Nate at SurfEdge Sports Physiotherapy in Maroochydore, call the clinic on (07) 5444 0563 or book online.