Established practice — Sunshine Coast

Expert care for
horses, dogs
& cats

Nicky Suckle brings over 20 years of musculoskeletal and rehabilitation expertise to the Sunshine Coast — mobile equine service across the region, and a dedicated small animal clinic in Bokarina.

NS

Nicky Suckle

BSc (Hons) · MvetPhys

Part of

Absolute Health

Mobile

0466 366 369

Clinic

07 5478 2333

Email

nicky@absolutehealth.net.au

Address

Shop 2, 21 Smith St, Mooloolaba

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy — Glasgow Caledonian, 2003

Master of Veterinary Physiotherapy — London Veterinary College, 2009

What Nicky treats

Animal physiotherapy services

Equine physiotherapy

Competition horses, rehabilitation post-surgery, back and pelvic pain, performance maintenance, soft tissue and nerve injuries.

Mobile — Sunshine Coast

Small animal physiotherapy

Post-operative rehabilitation, arthritis, joint and spinal pain, neurological conditions for cats and dogs.

Bokarina clinic

Horse & rider assessment

Joint biomechanical assessment — harmony, symmetry and performance of the horse-rider unit.

Mobile — Sunshine Coast
Nicky Suckle, physiotherapist and animal physiotherapist on the Sunshine Coast

About Nicky

Two decades of expertise

Nicky graduated with a BSc Honours in Physiotherapy from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2003, specialising in musculoskeletal injuries, sports injuries and Pilates. She qualified with a Master's in Veterinary Physiotherapy from The London Veterinary College in 2009.

Nicky relocated to Australia in 2010 and has built an established practice as part of the Absolute Health team on the Sunshine Coast. As a competitive horse rider — eventing, dressage and riding club — she understands the demands of equine sport firsthand.

Glasgow Caledonian, 2003 London Veterinary College, 2009 20+ years experience Competitive horse rider

Part of Absolute Health

Sunshine Coast's established health clinic

Nicky's animal physiotherapy practice sits within Absolute Health — human physiotherapy, chiropractic, Pilates and acupuncture at Shop 2, 21 Smith Street, Mooloolaba.

absolutehealth.net.au

Mooloolaba

Clinic

Bokarina

Small animals

Mobile

Equine visits

Ready to book an appointment?

Call, email or use the contact page — Nicky will get back to you promptly.

0466 366 369

Services

Animal physiotherapy
services

Evidence-based physiotherapy tailored to each animal — from elite competition horses to family companions.

Equine

Equine physiotherapy

Valuable for competition and riding horses preventatively and post-injury, the older horse, and post-surgery or box rest to maintain muscle tone, flexibility and minimise scar tissue.

Conditions treated

  • Back, neck or pelvic pain
  • Muscle strains or tears
  • Tendon or ligament injuries
  • Compensatory problems from lameness
  • Degenerative joint conditions
  • Poor performance or inconsistency
  • One-sidedness
  • Maintenance of high performance
  • Return to performance post-injury
  • Nerve injuries & rehabilitation post-surgery
  • Saddle-related problems

Performance signs that may benefit

  • Lack of suppleness
  • Inability to maintain a good outline
  • Temperament changes — bucking or napping
  • Inconsistency in performance
  • One-sidedness
  • Favouring one canter lead

From high-level eventers to pony club games, horses can present with performance problems that physiotherapy can address.

Small animal

Small animal physiotherapy

Cats and dogs are treated at Nicky's dedicated small animal clinic in Bokarina.

Post-operative rehab

Recovery programmes following surgery to restore strength, mobility and function.

Joint & spinal conditions

Degenerative joint disease, arthritis, joint and spinal pain management.

Soft tissue injuries

Muscle strains, tendon and ligament injuries, canine sports injuries.

Neurological conditions

Rehabilitation for neurological issues to improve function and movement quality.

Horse & rider

Horse & rider assessment

Your posture and position affects not only your riding but also your horse's performance — whether you're a dressage rider, eventer, show jumper, happy hacker or show enthusiast.

A rider may benefit if they experience:

  • Difficulty achieving even contact through the seat or legs
  • Continually tipping forward or to one side
  • Excessive trunk or head movement when riding
  • Unlevel shoulders
  • Any pre-existing musculoskeletal condition
  • Joint or muscle pain, stiffness or inflexibility

Example — dressage rider

A shoulder injury causing asymmetrical rein pressure leads to restricted movement and a cycle of poor patterns, muscle tightening and joint stiffness in both horse and rider.

Example — eventer

An asymmetrical pelvis from an old fall causes the rider to sit crooked, creating muscle imbalance that affects the horse's movement and can cascade into loss of performance.

Book through Absolute Health

0466 366 369 Email Nicky

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about animal physiotherapy with Nicky Suckle at Absolute Health, Sunshine Coast.

1 What is the purpose of physiotherapy?

The purpose of physiotherapy is to restore and maintain mobility, function and performance.

2 When does physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy can help by relieving pain, increasing mobility and promoting healing — including dramatically improving symptoms following orthopaedic surgery or arthritis.

Animals may show obvious signs like lameness or crying, or subtle signs like behaviour changes, altered performance or stiffness. In the sporting animal, physiotherapy helps achieve and maintain optimal performance. Each animal receives a fully tailored treatment and exercise plan.

3 What happens at a physiotherapy assessment?

Each animal's gait, limb and spinal movement is assessed to determine variation from normal, and muscles are palpated for areas of pain or tension. This is then considered alongside the functional problem presented.

4 What treatments are used?

Exercises

Strength, stability, flexibility and balance during sessions plus a tailored home programme.

Manual therapy

Soft tissue manipulation, joint mobilisation, massage and myofascial release.

Electrotherapy

Electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, TENS and pulsed magnetic therapy.

Advice

Managing the condition and adapting the home environment. Nicky liaises with vets, farriers, dentists, trainers and saddlers.

5 What qualifications does Nicky have?

Nicky holds a BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy from Glasgow Caledonian University and a Master's in Veterinary Physiotherapy from the Royal Veterinary College, London. Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapists only work with veterinary referral or consent and carry professional and public liability insurance.

6 What areas are covered?

All areas considered. Main areas covered include:

BeerwahBli BliBuderimCabooltureCaloundraCooroyEumundiFlaxtonGlass House MountainsGlenviewKilcoyKenilworthLandsboroughLittle MountainMalenyMapletonMaroochydooreMontville Mooloolaba Morayfield Nambour PalmwoodsPomonaWoombyeYandina

7 Animal physio vs. chiropractor / osteopath / masseur?

The key distinction is physiotherapy's strong focus on functional assessment — gait, range of movement, ridden assessment — combined with soft tissue work before joint mobilisation, then rehabilitation of correct movement patterns.

Physiotherapists are rehabilitation specialists, highly trained in tissue repair timescales. As required by the Veterinary Act, Nicky obtains veterinary referral prior to assessment and treatment of any animal.

For veterinary professionals

Referring to Nicky Suckle

Veterinary referral or consent is required before assessment and treatment of any animal. Nicky liaises closely with your practice throughout each patient's care.

Download referral form

Equine — vet information

Which horses to refer How physio helps Treatments used
Competition / general riding horses, older horsePreventative physio, maintenance of performance, treatment and rehab post-injuryConditioning, joint and soft tissue mobilisation, liaise with trainers
Post surgery, tendon / ligament injuries, box restMaintain / improve muscle tone, flexibility, minimise scar tissueElectrotherapy, stretches, mobilisation, rehabilitation
Back, neck, pelvic pain, nerve injuries, neurological, saddle problemsReduce pain and spasm, improve top line, flexibility, core strengthSoft tissue / joint mobilisation, strengthening, electrotherapy, liaise with saddler
Muscle strains, nerve injury, compensatory problems from lamenessRetrain muscle pattern, improve symmetry and strengthenElectrotherapy, soft tissue mobilisation, rehab by healing stage
Degenerative joint conditions, OCDStabilise joints, improve proprioception, maintain range of movementOwner education, electrotherapy, mobility / strengthening, liaise with farriers
Poor performance, one-sidedness, bucking, rearing, nappingImprove symmetry, reduce pain / spasmJoint and soft tissue work, liaise with dentists, farriers, trainers, saddlers

Small animal — vet information

Which animals to refer Treatments used
Post surgery — joint replacement, ACL, salvage procedures, fracture repairElectrotherapy and soft tissue mobilisation, reduce pain, regain range of movement, proprioception and function
Arthritis, dysplasia, OCD, joint, muscular and spinal painSoft tissue and joint mobilisation, stretches, maximise range of movement, acupuncture, owner education
Muscle strains and tears; tendon and ligament injuriesElectrotherapy, soft tissue mobilisation, stretches, proprioception, strengthening
Neurological — spinal fractures, disc disease, FCE, CDRMNeurological rehab to reduce ataxia, re-educate movement patterns, strengthen, maximise function
Canine sporting injuries — greyhounds, agility, working dogsPreventative and post-injury physio, sport-specific rehabilitation

Veterinary referral / consent form

A PDF referral form is available to download and complete before referring a patient. Contact Nicky at nicky@absolutehealth.net.au or 0466 366 369 with any referral questions.

Download referral form (PDF)

Contact & referral

Get in touch with Nicky

Mobile

0466 366 369

Calls & SMS welcome

Clinic

07 5478 2333

Absolute Health, Mooloolaba

Email

nicky@absolutehealth.net.au

Website

absolutehealth.net.au

Human physio also available

Mooloolaba clinic

Absolute Health
Shop 2, 21 Smith Street
Mooloolaba, QLD 4557

Small animal clinic — Bokarina

Cats and dogs treated at Nicky's clinic in Bokarina. Address provided on booking — please call to arrange.

Mobile equine service

Sunshine Coast, Nambour & Hinterland. Nicky travels to your property. All areas considered.

Veterinary referral / consent form

Veterinary referral or consent is required before Nicky can assess or treat any animal. Download the form and have your vet complete it prior to your appointment.

Download referral form (PDF)
NS

Nicky Suckle

Animal Physiotherapist at Absolute Health

BSc (Hons) Physio — Glasgow Caledonian, 2003 MSc Vet Physio — London Veterinary College, 2009 Established Sunshine Coast practice since 2010

Associated services

Absolute Health &
associated clinics

Nicky's animal physiotherapy practice is part of Absolute Health — the Sunshine Coast's established multi-modality health clinic in Mooloolaba.

Primary clinic

Absolute Health — Physiotherapy & Health

A well-established physiotherapy and multi-modality clinic in Mooloolaba. Nicky's animal physiotherapy practice is based here. The clinic offers human physiotherapy, specialist chiropractic care with digital x-ray and a reporting radiologist, Pilates, acupuncture and rehabilitation. Treating back pain, neck pain, headaches, sports injuries and more.

absolutehealth.net.au Nicky's profile 07 5478 2333 Shop 2, 21 Smith Street, Mooloolaba

Animal physiotherapy at Absolute Health

Call or email Nicky to book. For human physiotherapy, visit absolutehealth.net.au.

0466 366 369 Email Nicky