Mark Collins

Mark Collins – Physiotherapist B.App.Sc (Physio)

Hi my name is Mark Collins, I am the owner of Canton Beach Physio and a Physiotherapist who has been working for over 29 years. When I was 11 years old I started going to the local gym in Cobar where I grew up.  From the moment I started lifting weights I was amazed at how the muscles in the body worked and how they could be changed with exercising.  I loved the feeling of exercising and learning how each muscle moved the body in different ways.  I couldn’t wait until each new muscle magazine came out in a newsagent.  I would study those magazines from front to back.  I would always read the anatomy section and was fascinated how complex the body was.

When I turned 15 I was reading a University guide book and came across a section on Physiotherapy.  I immediately knew that was the job I wanted to do.  Looking back it is funny to think that even though I had never been to a Physio or really knew what they did, I knew I would love it.  From that point on studied and learnt as much about the human body as possible.

I have now been working for 29 yrs as a Physiotherapist and am still amazed at how the body moves and how it can adapt and improve. I have performed around 90 000 treatments in that time.  Over the last 29 years I have lost count of all the courses I have done, books I have read and podcasts I have listened to.  In many ways I feel like I am learning more now than when I first started.  I have finished a 4 part series in ConnectTherapy, which has transformed how I look at the body and treat it. Additionally, I have completed the GEMt Level 1, 2, and 3 courses, further specializing my skills in advanced dry needling.

At Canton Beach Physio, I am proud to utilize both Radial and Focused Shockwave therapy. We are one of the first clinics in Australia to offer both technologies, allowing us to provide the most precise and effective treatment for chronic tendon injuries and musculoskeletal pain.

I have not stopped going to the gym since I was 11, which was 39 years ago.  I have done many sports over the years; Rugby League, Japanese Ju Jitsu, Karate, Brazilian Ju Jitsu and Crossfit.  I still love going to the gym and pushing my body to the limits. I am as strong at 50 as I was at 20 and only strength train for 30 minutes a week.  Over the years of exercising I have learnt what works and what doesn’t work for patients.  One of the most important things to do when injured is to keep exercising.

The areas of Physiotherapy that interest me the most are strengthening exercises, manual therapy, self treatment techniques and dry needling.  I love to work out the cause of why someone has pain and treat the cause to get a better long term improvement.  I love showing people how they can use simple methods of self treatment at home to help with their rehab and to get quick pain relief.  I believe most post underestimate how good they can actually feel and have almost forgotten what it feels like to move normally.

In addition to my clinical work, I am a Clinical Educator for the University of Newcastle’s physiotherapy program, mentoring and supporting the next generation of physiotherapists.