Fit Spines Exercise Physiology - Jo Venter-
Back pain prevention and rehabilitation
Jo Venter
BA, Human Movement Science. BA (Honours), Sports Science. BSc (Honours), Biokinetics. Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP). McGill Master Clinician
Jo has worked as a Biokineticist, Sports Scientist and Exercise Physiologist for the past 24 years, and specialises in lower back rehabilitation.
He managed and developed Wellness and Injury Prevention Programs at a national electricity company as well as Mercedes Benz South Africa. He worked closely with the engineering team on the production line to develop a safer, more efficient working environment.
In Australia, he has owned 3 successful Exercise Physiology businesses in NSW. These practices have allowed him to assist patients with a range of injuries, and diversify his skillset to assist these patients whether they are from the Workers Compensation Scheme, DVA, Medicare, Private patients and many suffering from PTSD.
Jo has also had extensive experience in delivering preventative and rehabilitation programs within the mining sector, helping the mining companies to reduce employee injuries and increase productivity.
McGill Master Clinician
In 2019 Jo qualified as a MASTER Clinician with BACKFIT PRO, under Dr Stuart McGill, through which he has a global patient base. He is the only MASTER clinician in Australia and one of only 16 worldwide. This qualification required extensive training in Canada, under the guidance of Dr McGill and the BACKFIT PRO team. This qualification has only bettered his skills in assessing patients with back injuries and assisting them in corrective movement patterns and rehabilitative intervention.
To learn more please visit: https://www.backfitpro.com/backpain/master-clinician/
About Fit Spines
Experience and Expertise
PTSD Rehabilitation for First Responders
PTSD Rehabilitation for First Responders
For the past 7 years Jo has worked alongside a leading Neurosurgeon on the Central Coast, NSW. This opportunity allowed him to specialise in spinal rehabilitation and injury prevention. With the guidance of the neurosurgeon, Dr Marc Coughlan, he has gained insight into all spinal surgeries and injuries. With this comprehensive understandi
For the past 7 years Jo has worked alongside a leading Neurosurgeon on the Central Coast, NSW. This opportunity allowed him to specialise in spinal rehabilitation and injury prevention. With the guidance of the neurosurgeon, Dr Marc Coughlan, he has gained insight into all spinal surgeries and injuries. With this comprehensive understanding he is better able to identify potential risks, help prevent injuries before they occur and optimise the rehabilitation outcomes.
PTSD Rehabilitation for First Responders
PTSD Rehabilitation for First Responders
PTSD Rehabilitation for First Responders
Jo works closely with psychologists and psychiatrists to offer a safe and professional environment in which individuals suffering from PTSD can get active. All rehabilitation programs are tailored to the individual's personal physical needs, taking previous and current injuries into consideration. This ensures they will have the best poss
Jo works closely with psychologists and psychiatrists to offer a safe and professional environment in which individuals suffering from PTSD can get active. All rehabilitation programs are tailored to the individual's personal physical needs, taking previous and current injuries into consideration. This ensures they will have the best possible outcome and benefit for their health, fitness and mental wellbeing.
Mining Injury Prevention
PTSD Rehabilitation for First Responders
Mining Injury Prevention
Jo has extensive experience in delivering back injury prevention programs and services in the NSW Coal Mining Industry. In these underground and open cut mines there is a high incidence of lower back and neck injuries. It was Jo's role to advise and train the front line workers at the coal face to manage their spines effectively under str
Jo has extensive experience in delivering back injury prevention programs and services in the NSW Coal Mining Industry. In these underground and open cut mines there is a high incidence of lower back and neck injuries. It was Jo's role to advise and train the front line workers at the coal face to manage their spines effectively under strenuous working conditions. This significantly reduced the risk of injury by focusing on prevention rather than cure.
SERVICEs
Workers Compensation
At Fit Spines we know the vital role that functional exercise prescription plays in an injured worker's return to employment. Exercise Physiologists are engaged to provide specialised expertise to assess a worker's capacity and to provide evidence based treatment to optimise their recovery and return to work.
Fit Spines Exercise Physiologists have been trained to:
- Thoroughly assess each injured worker and provide a comprehensive initial and final report to the insurance company involved
- Ensure correct muscle activation patterns during affected activities or movements
- Increase capacity for work related activities
- Improve manual handling skills; pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying etc.
- Communicate regularly to all parties involved in the workers compensation claim to maximise outcomes
Private Patients
Many patients choose to engage in Fit Spines' services privately to:
- Increase strength and learn correct movement patterns leading into back surgery.
- Post surgery rehabilitation
- Gain valuable advice and exercise prescription on back injury prevention
- Weight loss
- Too improve a feeling of wellbeing and mental health
- Improve sports performance
Medicare EPC's
Enhanced Primary Care Plans - GP Referrals Required
As Accredited Exercise Physiologists we are able to treat patients referred on Care Plans from their GP. We are required to send a report and updates on the patients' condition to the referring GP.
Please contact your GP to see if you are eligible for this service.
Preventative Programs
At Fit Spines, we believe that prevention is better than cure. This is why, throughout Jo's career, he has been involved in designing and implementing a number of Preventative Wellness Programs for large companies worldwide.
He understands the major negative effects back injuries can have on a company in regards to delays, disruptions in production and ultimately cost to company.
Jo's Preventative Programs focus on :
- Assessing and identifying staff who are at risk
- Educating staff on how to minimise the risk of injury
- Monitoring the implementation of preventative strategies
- Making changes to work site/equipment handling to reduce risk
- Assisting injured staff in their rehabilitation
- Ensuring this process is streamlined to ensure time efficiency
TESTIMONIALS
World Champion
Competitive Cyclist
Lower Back Pain
"I am a former world champion wood chopper from New Zealand. In 2019 I bulged a disc in my lower back for the second time. It has been a slow and painful process and my attempts at recovery have been ineffective. I reached out to Jo for help. He arranged for me to meet with him in Sydney while Dr Stuart McGill was visiting for an assessment. I met Jo on the 4 January 2020. I had to fly in from New Zealand but Jo made the whole process stress free for me. Immediately I felt at ease with him. He was kind and professional. He was interested in my condition. At no time did I feel uncomfortable. I was in immense pain in my hip and back, but at no time was my body handled without care. The assessment was thorough and professional. I was asked to describe my life and what had led me to this point something I struggled to do, as I found I have had to focus on the future and my goals to keep moving forward. It was unusual for me to not feel pressurised and under a time constraint when seeing a specialist. Nothing was rushed all pain mechanisms were tested. I was shown better ways to move to spare my back and I was given an exercise plan with instruction by Jo. The movements and exercises gave me immediate relief. My x-rays were studied toward the end of the assessment and confirmed what the physical checks had indicated. I returned to New Zealand later that evening feeling inspired. Finally someone has treated me as an individual with respect according to what I have done in my life. There were no agendas. The advice given was honest and accurate. My back health has been positively affected by this assessment and from the exercises set out by Jo and the McGill method. I now know that I am in control of my back recovery. This has empowered me. Moving better and exercising correctly is really up to me now that I’ve been shown the proper techniques.
I urge anyone suffering back pain to contact Jo for an assessment. I have my sights set on recovering and competing in another championship. Jo has given me hope and direction to realise this.
Thank you Jo and Dr Stuart McGill.”
Jason Wynyard
Lower Back Pain
Competitive Cyclist
Lower Back Pain
“I first met Jo Venter from Fit Spines 2 ½ years ago after a friend referred him to me. Thanks to five disc prolapses and severe sciatic nerve pain, by the time I walked into Jo’s consulting room I had been suffering chronic pain 24/7 for over 6 months. I was permanently lopsided, on constant pain medication and any form of walking was a challenge. The supermarket trolley had become my best friend and I was considering buying a walking frame to help me get around. I feared I would have to undergo spinal surgery and Jo was my last hope.
Working with Jo and his tailored exercise program gave me my life back. It was slow progress but week by week I improved. I now have a strong core, did not need an operation and have been pain free for 2 years. I would highly recommend Jo to anyone suffering from back pain. I cannot thank him enough for helping me”.
Alexandra Dodd
Competitive Cyclist
Competitive Cyclist
Competitive Cyclist
"After a lifetime of competitive cycling I was forced to retire in 2015 due to a bad back. Since then I have had to manage daily back pain whilst trying to stay fit and active.
At the end of my tether I sought help from two neurosurgeons. One told me he didn’t want to help yet and offered no other advice, the other booked me in for an L5-S1 spinal fusion.
Luckily a friend put me onto Jo Venter and after a couple of months I am now pain free and have started some eMTB riding and am soon to get back into the gym. Life changing is an understatement."
Andrew Barcroft
Cardiologist
Real Estate Professional
Competitive Cyclist
“I came to Jo in pain, limited in movement and weak. He has carefully guided me to pain free movement and a marked reduction in my sensory symptoms. I am now back to almost all of my pre-injury activities – stronger and moving better – without the need for back surgery. I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
Dr Mark Perrin, Cardiologist
Real Estate Professional
Real Estate Professional
Real Estate Professional
"Thanks to Jo, I've experienced a remarkable improvement in my back pain. His expertise, tailored exercises, and guidance have made a significant difference in my daily comfort and mobility. I'm grateful for his dedication to my well-being and highly recommend his services to anyone seeking relief from back issues."
Korgan Hucent