Meet the Team

Two women smiling and standing close together in front of a plain light-colored wall, one with glasses and curly hair, the other with straight hair and pearl earrings.

We are a small team of 2 Chartered Physiotherapists, and members of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) with a combined total of over 50 years’ experience treating those with musculoskeletal conditions. During that time, we have specialised in the aquatic rehabilitation of those conditions.

We have been staggered over the years at the lack of aquatic therapy provision in this area and the difficulty in accessing what we recognise to be a highly effective and enabling environment for rehabilitation and the self-management of long-term conditions. This has prompted us to branch out, to be able to offer our expertise and support to more people in the local area.

We are both accredited with the Aquatic Therapy Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (ATACP) and have trained and developed skills in specialist aquatic therapy techniques.

We aim to provide a highly personalised service, delivering unique treatment plans, employing specialist therapy techniques tailored to your specific requirements, in a safe environment, where your personal goals are at the heart of your experience.

Whilst we do not have access to a single purpose-built rehabilitation pool, we utilise a range of appropriate warm water pools in the region, matching each individual to the pool most appropriate for their needs and the aquatic techniques we may need to employ when working with them. Our group sessions take place in the pools most suited to those sessions.

Petra Gable

Qualified as a Physiotherapist from Sheffield Hallam University in 1999.

Short stint on the residential chronic pain management programme and orthopaedic ward at Unsted Park in Surrey – first experience of aquatic physiotherapy

Junior rotational post at Stoke Mandeville Hospital including 8 months in the National Spinal Injuries Centre, during which time I accompanied the GB junior wheelchair basketball team to the world championships in Brazil and provided some cover physiotherapy for the GB senior team

Senior physiotherapist in Burns and Plastics and MSK Outpatients, also at SMH

Locum community physiotherapy work in southwest London – neurological and MSK

Senior physiotherapy rotation 2002-2006 (neuro and MSK) at MTW, including aquatic physiotherapy as part of MSK outpatients.

Static senior MSK outpatient physiotherapist 2006 on, including aquatic physiotherapy

Took over as aquatic physiotherapy lead in 2014

Clinical Specialist physiotherapist since 2018, with a speciality in aquatic physiotherapy, redesignated as Aquatic Physiotherapy Lead in 2021.

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing glasses, a striped collared shirt, and a dark sweater, smiling and leaning against a light-colored wall.

Catherine Cristal

Hailing from the Republic of Ireland, Catherine graduated from The University of Hertfordshire in 2008.

She entered the NHS workforce with a Junior rotational job at Princess Alexandra Hospital Harlow Essex 2008-2009.

Further junior rotations at Brighton and Sussex University Hospital Trust 2009-2011 with ward, specialist rehabilitation in Sussex rehabilitation center and multiple MSK outpatient rotations.

Senior post in 2011 at MTW trust rotating on the wards and in Outpatient MSK then a permanent Senior in MSK in 2013. Her experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy has stemmed the whole of her career with rotational posts developing a rounded profile of knowledge and understanding.

Having worked in aquatic therapy for many years as part of her MSK work she formalised her knowledge in 2023-2024 achieving her accreditation in Aquatic Therapy with the ATACP. She has also completed the Intermediate MSK Aquatic therapy course with the ATACP in 2025.

A smiling woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing pearl earrings and a black sleeveless top, standing against a light yellow wall.

Why choose Aquatic Physiotherapy with ATW?

We work according to the ATACP Guidance on Aquatic Physiotherapy Practice 2021 and the International Guidelines and Good practice Standards for Aquatic Physiotherapy Intervention produced by the International Organisation of Aquatic Physiotherapists and World Physiotherapy Speciality Group 2025. This means we are comitted to implementing effective rehabilitation prioritising safety to the highest standard and will continue to evolve our practice in line with research and guidance.

Working with us you will receive:

1:1 appointments with highly qualified, highly experienced clinicians.

Personalised treatment plans, with your goals in mind.

Specialist intervention in a safe and enabling environment.

Exercise with less pain and less post-exercise soreness.

Option to move from 1:1 appointments, to group or self-management sessions.

A woman in a black swimsuit smiling in a swimming pool while providing therapeutic handling of the lower limbs of a person supported lying in the pool.

Who is ATW able to treat?

Specialist musculoskeletal rehabilitation in water can be beneficial for a broad spectrum of conditions ranging from specific injuries (for example to joints, muscles or tendons) to long term conditions (such as osteoarthritis or axial spondyloarthritis)

Between us have over 37 years of aquatic rehabilitation experience, working with individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. These include

· pre- and post-surgical orthopaedics (both fractures and elective surgery)

· polytrauma (multiple fractures)

· ante- and post-natal

· rheumatology

· hypermobility

· back pain

· sports injuries

· pain management

· deconditioning (post-illness, surgery)

· general deconditioning (those wanting to become more active, but who are not sure where to begin)

Please be aware that we do not have access to a purpose-built rehabilitation pool, as there is sadly not one available in the vicinity. We hire the pools we practice in, and not every pool will be suitable for every client. This may be due to body weight limits for evacuation purposes, stair access only to the pool/changing areas, water depth in relation to the aquatic techniques you will need to access.

Individual risk assessments will be conducted during the initial consultation. Should we feel that we cannot accommodate your needs, you will be notified immediately, and we will do our best to signpost you to an alternative provider.

Please note: We are not specialists in neurological or developmental paediatric conditions but can direct you towards other qualified clinicians with expertise in those areas.

A woman with glasses smiling in a swimming pool, assisting a patient with brown hair using a yellow neck float support as they float on their back. The pool has blue mosaic tiles and there are safety equipment and a railing in the background.

What is the difference between Hydrotherapy and Aquatic Therapy/Aquatic Physiotherapy?

Hydrotherapy refers to water-based exercises/treatment for humans or animals. Anyone could call themselves a hydrotherapist/provide hydrotherapy with no, or a minimal level, of unspecified training.

Aquatic physiotherapy is: “A physiotherapy programme utilising the properties of water, designed by a suitably qualified physiotherapist. The programme should be specific for an individual to maximise function which can be physical, physiological, or psychological. Treatments should be carried out by appropriately trained personnel, ideally in a purpose built, and suitably heated hydrotherapy pool.” ATACP 2021. These practice guidelines also recommend that ATACP accreditation as the Gold standard to prove competence and anyone that has not achieved this level of development should work under the supervision of an accredited clinician.

Aquatic Therapy, as provided by ATW, is considered the umbrella term for all the aquatic services we provide within our group sessions. Whilst still designed and run by ATACP accredited physiotherapists these sessions are not tailored to a single individual’s needs.

How is Aquatic Therapy beneficial for musculoskeletal rehabilitation?

Water is an enabling, rather than a disabling, environment to move in so can help build confidence.

For shoulder or arm pain, the support of the water means your muscles do not need to work so hard to support your limbs

Buoyancy reduces bodyweight on painful or injured joints and can assist in increasing your joint range of movement.

Drag from the water can be used to assist or resist movement in any plane.

If you fear falling, due to balance, weakness, pain or injury, the water is a safe and supportive environment to move about in.

Being horizontally supported in the water enables movement in all directions without the barrier, and sometimes discomfort, of a treatment plinth.

The warm and support of the water can be relaxing.

Find out more about our services and how to book an appointment here or fill in a contact form below.

Healthcare Insurance

We are not currently registered with any insurance company. Please check with your insurance company to confirm if you can claim back the cost of your treatment via your policy in advance of commencing treatment with us. We can provide insurers with clinical information if required. Please note you are responsible for any fees not covered by your insurer.

Contact us

Submit a contact form to get further information and to enquire about appointments.