Our Story
Meet the Founder: Dominic
Physio. Climber. Shoulder & TFCC survivor.
Let’s be honest — I didn’t become a physio because I love anatomy textbooks. I became one because I’ve lived through the frustration of injury, the uncertainty of recovery, and the absolute magic of getting back to doing what you love.
Growing up, I was always active: basketball, archery, powerlifting, cycling… but it was climbing that really hooked me. There’s something about figuring out the crux of a route — the hardest, most frustrating part — that mirrors how I think about rehab.
Ironically, it was climbing that nearly stopped me from becoming a physio in the first place.
Just as I was finishing my studies, I had a massive shoulder injury on the wall. Terrible timing — I was meant to start my first job the following week, and suddenly I couldn’t lift my arm, let alone treat patients.
At first, I tried to be the perfect physio-patient hybrid: testing myself, overanalyzing symptoms, convincing myself I could fast-track the process with sheer will and a good rehab spreadsheet. Spoiler alert: I couldn’t.
What I actually found was delays, confusion, and a system that didn’t seem built for someone stuck in limbo. No roadmap, no reassurance — just long waits and a lot of overthinking.
And it got to me.
I couldn’t sleep properly. I was demonstrating exercises to patients while wondering if I was making my own shoulder worse. I stopped climbing. I stopped lifting. I stopped feeling like me.
Eventually, with the right help, things turned around. But not because I pushed harder — because I finally got the right exercises at the right time. The real breakthrough? Having someone in my corner who could help make sense of it all.
Years later, I tore my TFCC (yep, climbing again — clearly I didn’t learn the first time). This time it was my wrist, and while the injury was different, the lesson was the same: recovery is way less overwhelming when you’re not doing it alone.
And that’s really why I started Crux Physio & Hand Therapy.
Yes, I work with climbers. But I also help people with shoulder pain from holding their kids, thumb arthritis that makes simple tasks like opening jars or using a phone painful, and knee aches that flare up after a weekend hike. Whether you’re an athlete or just trying to stay active, the goal is the same: getting back to what you love with confidence.
Over the years, I’ve worked alongside brilliant upper limb surgeons, GPs, and sports doctors, physio, hand therapist and exercise physiologist. I’ve learned a lot. But the biggest thing? It’s not just about exercises or manual therapy. It’s about trust. Rehab works best when you feel supported, understood, and heard.
That’s what Crux is all about.
The name comes from climbing — the crux is the hardest part of the route. It’s where people fall, stall, or second-guess themselves. That’s where I come in.
Whether you’ve just tweaked a shoulder, torn a ligament, or just want to move better without pain — I’m here to help you through the tricky bit.
Let’s work through your crux together.
Expert care that understands your needs and helps you move pain-free.