There’s more to sports therapy than just treating the physical side of an injury. Everyone who walks through the door brings their own goals, worries, habits, and motivations – which means no two rehab plans are ever the same.
It also takes careful listening: understanding how someone is feeling physically and emotionally, noticing the small details that may be holding them back, and recognising when lifestyle factors are part of the picture. Effective sports therapy is as much about empathy and communication as it is about hands-on treatment – and junior sports therapist, Nora approaches every session with equal parts skill and care, helping clients rebuild confidence and strength.
We sat down with her to hear what drives her, how she approaches treatment, and what she finds most rewarding about guiding people people through injury and recovery.
Meet Nora Nait Ladjemil: Marsden Health’s Junior Sports Therapist
Q: What first drew you to sports therapy, and how did your background in sport (or outside of it) influence your career path? Were there any key moments, mentors, or experiences that made you realise this was the right field for you?
Nora: I gravitated towards sports therapy because I’ve always lived an active life, growing up playing football and all sorts of other sports. Having that background really shaped things for me – I know firsthand how important movement is for your mental health, and how difficult it can be when injury gets in the way. Some of the moments that remind me I’m exactly where I should be are when clients finish their treatment or rehab with a smile on their face. Seeing them feeling better and genuinely happy with the support they’ve received is incredibly rewarding.
Q: Do you find that professional or competitive athletes require a different kind of care than people who are simply active for health or enjoyment?
Nora: I’d say the standard of care stays the same, but professional athletes usually have more performance-driven goals – for example, needing to be competition-ready within a set number of weeks. Their training intensity tends to be higher too, which means recovery becomes even more of a priority.
Q: How do motivation, mindset, and recovery expectations differ – and how do you adapt your approach to suit each individual?
Nora: Everyone comes in with a different mindset, motivation level, and set of expectations, and you get a good sense of that during the initial assessment. That helps shape the way I work with them. Some people are very performance-focused, which naturally fuels their motivation, while others might need a bit more encouragement throughout their rehab. Some also need reassurance and a slower pace to help rebuild confidence – it’s all about understanding the individual.
Q: How do you address the emotional or mental aspects of coming back from an injury?
Nora: Recovering from an injury can be mentally just as challenging as it is physically. I focus on motivating clients and helping them rebuild trust in their bodies, so they feel confident pushing themselves a little more as rehab progresses. Supporting them emotionally makes a big difference to how they move forward physically.
Q: Are there particular strategies you use to help clients rebuild confidence or stay patient through the process?
Nora: Communication is a big part of helping clients rebuild confidence. Finding out what they’re worried about, talking it through, and working out how we can overcome those barriers together is really important. Sometimes that means taking a step back to move forward more effectively.
Q: What aspects of hands-on treatment or movement-based therapy do you enjoy most, and how do you decide which approach to use for different clients?
Nora: What I enjoy most about hands-on treatment is how quickly it can make a difference – whether that’s easing pain or helping someone move more comfortably. Movement-based therapy is really rewarding too, because you get to watch clients progress from small improvements to much bigger changes, like increased range of motion, better strength, or reduced pain. Every client is different, so I tailor treatment to their symptoms and sensitivity levels. Understanding the person in front of you is key to giving them the most effective approach.
Q: How do you know when someone’s ready for the next step – physically and mentally? And how do you support clients who may be anxious about reinjury or pain returning?
Nora: I often find it’s the client who gives the first sign they’re ready for the next step – they might start talking about trying movements they couldn’t do before or looking ahead to an event or match in a few weeks’ time. That shift shows their confidence is returning. Alongside that, they need to hit key rehab markers and be able to move freely and without pain before they’re discharged.
Q: How do you define success in rehab: is it about performance, confidence, or something more personal?
Nora: For me, success in rehab is of course about hitting the physical targets and recovering well from the injury, but it’s also about the discipline you build and the mental hurdles you overcome along the way. Coming out the other side both physically and mentally stronger is a huge part of what makes the process meaningful.
For those who feel anxious about reinjury, I remind them to trust their body and not let those doubts hold them back. And even once rehab is complete, there are still plenty of things they can do – like following a solid strengthening programme and sticking to good recovery habits – to help prevent future issues.
Q: How do you stay current with new ideas in sports therapy (e.g. through courses, research, or learning from other professionals) – and how does that influence the way you work with clients?
Nora: I stay up to date by listening to podcasts, reading new research as it comes out, and keeping an eye on the techniques used by top professionals who specialise in different areas of the body. It helps keep my own practice relevant and effective.
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