Physio Focus - Celia Cohen

Celia Cohen is a Category A ACPAT member.

How long have you been a Chartered Physiotherapist and an animal physiotherapist?

7 years! I qualified as a Human Physio in May 2000 and completed my veterinary training in 2004 - it was a long slog but worth it!

What interested you in specialising in animals?

I have been around animals all my life and sat on a horse before I could walk and crawled around with the dogs before I could walk too!!

I think the real inspiration was my Dad who was a vet. I also remember wanting to be like my Dad – but I didn’t want to have to put animals to sleep so physiotherapy was a much nicer option.

I also wanted to be able to make a difference however small especially in the horse world where there is sometimes ignorance in the way horses are trained and worked. It wasn’t so long ago most people didn’t even consider a horse or dog could ever require a physiotherapist, there was an illusion they don’t feel pain like us. That kind of thinking is definitely changing.

Where did you train and what did it involve?

Lots of very hard work and determination!

I completed my human physiotherapy course at Brunel University, London which involved 3 years and included large amounts of anatomy/physiology work and placements at various hospitals. I did manage to spend half of my final year in Sweden on placements so that wasn’t so bad.

My animal handling training was a life of living and working with animals but the academic training was an MSc at The Royal Veterinary College, University College London. The course was 2 years part time, again with placements. The main difference being all self funded and having to continue to work for the NHS at the same time.

What do you enjoy most about treating animals?

Even in pain, most animals seem aware and appreciative of my efforts to help and if you get it wrong they let you know. Every day is different and a challenge and I so often feel privileged that the owner and animal trust me to treat them.

You have to use so many skills of observation, handling and be very imaginative and resourceful when trying to get an animal to do an exercise or a movement. The downsides are the long hours and it can be physically exhausting when dealing with the larger animals.

What is the most unusual animal you have treated?

Probably Durango the mule! He was used for trekking and had a sore back and kept lying down when they went to tack him up. He responded very well to treatment.

I have also treated some of the dairy cows on my partner's farm (that is not glamorous work!).