The Physiotherapy Board is pleased to announce the registration of Melissa Davidson as a Physiotherapy Specialist, working in the area of continence and women’s health.

Melissa is the sixth Physiotherapy Specialist to be granted registration since the ‘specialist scope’ was gazetted in November 2012. She qualified in New Zealand as a physiotherapist in 1990 and since then has worked in various physiotherapy positions both in NZ and overseas, including roles in private practice and hospitals. Melissa owns a private practice in Queenstown and obtained her MPhil (a pelvic floor research masters) in 2014 and is currently completing her PhD (researching changes to pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy) at the University of Auckland Bioengineering Institute while working clinically in her speciality area of pelvic health.

She is actively involved in Physiotherapy New Zealand in various volunteer roles including National Executive (since 2015), Professional Development Committee (since 2015) and is in the Pelvic, Women’s and Men’s Health Special Interest Group Committee (Secretary 2009-2015). She is also current Secretary to the International Organisation of Physical Therapists in Women’s Health, a sub-group of the World Configuration of Physical Therapists.