Jo Gordon

Specialist Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

BSc Hons Sport & Exercise Medicine Science, The University of Aberdeen 2001

MSc (pre-registration) Physiotherapy, The Robert Gordon University 2004

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM/Physios in Sport)

Within performance sport, much of the focus of my work has been with youth team sports, winter sports, parasport and outdoor adventure and endurance sports, however I work with all athletes and enjoy a multi-sport environment.

Working clinically with all musculoskeletal presentations, I have a particular interest in hands/wrists, feet/ankles, knees, hips, shoulders and the lower back, whether injuries, conditions or following surgery.  I work with all individuals, including younger and older people, and people with disabilities.  Where possible, I enjoy considering injury prevention and performance enhancement, ensuring an individual can  continue their preferred sport or activity to the best possible standard. 

With all individuals I take a motivational and person-centred approach, fully understanding problems and goals.  Following initial history and assessment, including movement analysis, where appropriate involving a treadmill or BikeFit, I establish a working diagnosis.  Where suitable I use treatment including acupuncture, soft tissue release, manual therapy or taping.  Rehabilitation and advice takes an evidence-based and load-managed approach, including a home or gym based exercise programme, where suitable making use of the excellent facilities and equipment at the Pleasance such as the gym equipment, AlterG, and Pilates or yoga based exercises.  I use retesting to demonstrate progress, where beneficial making use of Biodex or VALD equipment.

Alongside colleagues at FASIC I enjoy lecturing on Injury Prevention and Special Populations (The Older Athlete, The Younger Athlete and Parasport) within The University of Edinburgh Sports Medicine module to undergraduates and postgraduates, helping them prepare for careers in healthcare and sport, and promoting physical activity. 

After qualifying in Aberdeen in 2004 I worked in Glasgow and the Western Isles for 5 years, covering all core NHS specialisms, while building on my previous sports coaching experience by starting work as a physiotherapist in club rugby, and travelling with hockey squads.  I then returned to Edinburgh, working in musculoskeletal outpatients at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals, gaining a range of training from Pilates (APPI matwork levels 1, 2 and 3), to soft tissue, manual therapy, taping and rehabilitation courses, and Strength and Conditioning (UKSCA for physiotherapists), and later acupuncture (AACP). 

Thereafter I moved to core roles within NHS Lothian, initially musculoskeletal outpatients, rehabilitation, then occupational health, allowing a return to working in sport, this time with a high performance focus. I started contracts with Scottish Rugby (SRU), Sport Scotland Institute of Sport (SIS) and the Scottish Football Association (SFA).  For 3 years I delivered evening clinics for SIS, treating a wide variety of athletes from the East of Scotland, including a number of Paralympic athletes, and have travelled extensively with squads from all 3 organisations to training camps and tournaments including European and World Championships, and worked with the Women’s Rugby programme at SRU as the U20’s physiotherapist. 

Early 2016 I took up the opportunity to start working at FASIC. I am based here 19 hours a week, and love the multi-disciplinary environment within the gym, the cross-over between healthcare, higher education and sport. and the wide range of patients and athletes we see.  Initially this was alongside SIS clinics, then as the physio for the Scottish National Performance Academy for Women’s Football, and my own clinic.  Since 2018, I have additionally worked as Falls Coordinator for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, a strategic, improvement and project management role looking at reducing falls in older people in the community and care homes across Edinburgh, drawing on my interest in injury prevention.  I continue to travel and work pitch side for SRU and SFA, and work at international events.  My teaching interest extends to teaching sports first aid, and I deliver training for the Scottish National Sports First Aid qualification and for First Aid in Rugby (FAIR) courses for World Rugby as a Medical Educator.

Club Rugby -  2 seasons with Lenzie RFC, 3 seasons with GHA RFC

Scottish Rugby - since 2013 covering clinics, training sessions, events; women’s u20’s physio 2015-2016 including support for Women’s National Team, incorporating training camp and international match in Spain; physio for National Men’s U17’s training camp in Spain.

Scottish Football Association- since 2016 covering training sessions, camps and UEFA tournaments, including Women’s U19’s in Portugal and Hungary, Women’s U17’s in Czech Republic, Women’s U15’s camps in Scotland, Men’s U15 training sessions, upcoming Men’s u16 tournament in Cyprus and supporting Women’s National Teams training sessions and international matches.

Sport Scotland Institute of Sport- 2014-2016 including twice weekly multisport clinics for Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth athletes; European Badminton team and individual Championships in Switzerland and Russia; Men’s World Curling Championships in Beijing; Para Snowsport GB training camp in Austria and GB Bobsleigh Olympic selection camp in Latvia.

Hampden Sports Clinic- 2016-2017 Senior Physiotherapist for Scottish National Performance Academy for Women’s Football, based at Oriam National Sports Performance Centre.

Volunteering - European Hockey Championships Switzerland, UK School Games (Hockey) Cardiff, Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014 (Squash), Lothian Disability Badminton- clinics, Back-Up Trust (camp for U18’s with spinal injuries).

Events - physiotherapy support for IPC World Swimming Championships Glasgow, European Athletics Championships Glasgow, European Championships (Synchronised Swimming) Glasgow.

Sports First Aid- SCRUMCAP’s Pre-Hospital Care qualified; National Sports First Aid Course Sports First Aid Tutor since 2018; World Rugby Medical Educator since 2015.

I enjoy a wide range of sports, from skiing (alpine, touring, XC), running (road, trail, canicross), triathlon (traditional, off-road), water sports (paddle boarding, surfing, sailing, open water swimming), hillwalking, dog walking and yoga, and generally spending time with my dog and friends on the beach and in the mountains and countryside.

With an interest in all areas of health and well-being, from high performance sport to promoting physical activity, I am a motivated and forward-thinking physiotherapist.  With a range of specialist skills and experience I look enhance lives and support individuals to achieve their goals through team working and physiotherapy.