Growing up in South Africa, where exercise and team sports are part of everyday life, Liesel developed an early passion for physical activity and human movement. Combining her love of sport with an interest in health, she completed her BSc in Physiotherapy at the University of Cape Town in 1998.
She began her career in a private physiotherapy practice in Cape Town, dividing her time between hospital work and outpatient musculoskeletal care. Although this provided valuable clinical experience, she soon realised her enthusiasm lay firmly in outpatient practice.
In 2001, Liesel moved to Edinburgh with her husband. She initially worked within the NHS, gaining insight into multidisciplinary care before transitioning into full-time private practice. During these years, she worked alongside physiotherapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists and chiropractors, developing a broad and integrated approach to treatment. Seeking a new challenge, she established her own clinic in 2007, working across two locations: a clinic in the Southside of Edinburgh and the Spartans Community Football Academy in the North.
As demand grew—and with the competing pressures of running a business and raising a family—Liesel founded Active Health Edinburgh Ltd in 2013 with a colleague and friend. Their shared vision was to create a welcoming, multidisciplinary clinic offering physiotherapy, remedial massage therapy and complementary therapies under one roof. Liesel took full ownership of the business in 2019 when her business partner returned to Australia.
Beyond the clinic, Liesel has extensive pitch-side and sports rehabilitation experience. She served as team physiotherapist for Preston Lodge FP Rugby Club for four seasons, supported the Scottish Hockey U21 squads for three years, and provided physiotherapy to Spartans Football Club players for six years until 2013. These roles gave her hands-on expertise in acute injury management and safely returning athletes to play.
Committed to excellence, Liesel continues her professional development through a wide range of ongoing training, allowing her to stay current with the latest evidence-based approaches in physiotherapy.
A keen sportswoman herself, Liesel has represented both South Africa and Scotland in Touch Rugby. She has also captained, coached and assisted Scottish Touch teams, gaining deep insight into motivation, resilience and performance—knowledge she brings into her clinical practice to help patients achieve meaningful goals, whether that’s becoming pain-free, returning to daily activities or preparing for a marathon. She still plays for the Scotland Women’s 40s team and understands the challenges of balancing family life, training, and the physical and emotional changes associated with menopause and aging.
Family time is incredibly important to Liesel. She treasures time with her husband, son and daughter, and returns to South Africa whenever possible to reconnect with loved ones and enjoy the sunshine and natural beauty of home.
I’ve played in four Touch World Cups. Only the first one took me somewhere new (Sydney, 1999), while the others were in more familiar territory — Stellenbosch (2007), Edinburgh (2011), and Nottingham (2024). Now I just need to stay injury-free so I can make it to New Zealand in 2028!
Touch rugby, going to the gym, or heading out for a run — and at the moment, not much time for hobbies because I’m busy being a chauffeur/taxi driver for my kids! But I like nothing better than reading a good crime fiction in the sunshine or water-skiing when I’m on holiday.
She’d be a cake decorator — although, unfortunately, the cakes never taste quite as good as they look. (Perhaps Agnes should be in charge of the baking!)
Coffee… and great chat from both colleagues and patients.
Two cats — Blue, a Siamese who’s fully convinced he’s a Labrador, and Bear, our lovable scaredy-cat.
Afrikaans, although it’s pretty rusty
