Our people: Stuart Horton

Stuart Horton is an Otago graduate and has been a practicing physiotherapist for 25 years.

All in a day's work at Otago

Stuart knew little about physiotherapy until a family friend working in the field encouraged him to apply to study it.

He tells us that he finds the profession hugely rewarding and that his chosen career has opened up multiple avenues for scholarship and research, and for the real world application of those investigations.

Stuart describes the finer points of spinal structure to a student.

This cross-disciplinary activity at the School of Physiotherapy Clinic transfers research and education into the practical application of effective therapies in the wider community.

Today Stuart is a subject expert in spinal problems and related migraine and headaches at our Clinic in Dunedin, and advocates for the McKenzie Method® for therapy and pain relief and also for the Watson Headache® Approach, which is defined as “a methodology and manual therapy protocol for examining and treating the upper cervical spine in all headache”

A working day generally involves the supervision of clinical practice with undergraduate and postgraduate students along with the clinical treatment of patients with predominantly spinal related problems. At times he also steps in to help with lectures and activities in the lab.

Stuart enjoys good working relationships with a number of specialists and general practitioners in Dunedin and surrounding districts. He also authors and co-authors articles published in journals and online.

On the shoulders of giants

When asked if he has any advice for an aspiring physiotherapist who may be interested in following a similar career path he stresses the importance of finding a trusted mentor who can offer ongoing support and advice.

Stuart sees the progression of a new generation of physiotherapists who are more involved than ever before in multidisciplinary teams, which tend to broaden and expand effective interactions with holistic health care.

The history and tradition of the School of Physiotherapy at Otago are a real strength he says and the Isaac Newton quote: "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" neatly captures that cultural reality for him.

Stuart tells us that he feels very fortunate to be working in such a supportive environment where he feels able to stand on the shoulders of some real 'giants' of New Zealand physiotherapy.

“I really enjoy teaching the students in a clinical setting and watching them have some 'light bulb' moments as they work with patients and something they have learned in a lecture or lab becomes real right in front of them. Personally, I get great satisfaction each day when I can see that I have made a difference to a patient's life in terms of reduced pain or improved function”

Research, knowledge transfer and real world application are at the heart of all endeavors at the School, and Stuart is proud to help drive the ongoing development of a number of these new and effective synergies.