Josephine Key

Josephine Key is a neuro-musculo-skeletal physiotherapist with over 45 years in clinical practice - of which the last 30 years or so have been devoted to seeking a better understanding of the spine in health - and its dis-ease. She gained a Post Gaduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapy from Sydney University in 1984.

The evolution of her model of care, The Key Moves(R) Programme of Therapeutic Exercise and Movement, is the result of evaluating and integrating the available movement and neuroscience; the ample evidence gleaned from clinical practice; the exploration and evaluation of various movement disciplines (Body Mind Centering; various forms of Yoga; Somatics; Feldenkrais; Pilates; Gyrotonic, streams within the fitness industry) - for what they offer in terms of healthy spinal control - or otherwise. Josephine is increasingly exploring the felt sense of movement and the ability to exploit neuro-plastic change - 'retraining our brain' to organise healthier movement patterns and better biomechanics.

She has developed and continues to refine classes for spinal health - to help clients move without pain and gain enhanced function. Presently, her practice conducts over 40 'Key Moves'(R) classes a week. This unique programme has been running for over 16 years. Central to it is the re-establishment of important key Fundamental Patterns of Control - which also provide a vehicle to access restrictions in the fascial system, help to rebalance the muscular and nervous systems and restore optimal joint and soft tissue loading, It represents a paradigm shift for exercise therapy for the spine - both therapeutic and preventative.

Josephine has had a number of papers published on her work in the international peer reviewed journal, Bodywork and Movement Therapy. Her paper The Core: Understanding it and retraining it'd dysfunction was one of the journal's five most downloaded papers in 2014.

She is the author of the text book BACK PAIN: A movement problem. A clinical approach incorporating relevant research and practice - published by Elsevier, Edinburgh in 2010.

She has presented at the International World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Pain in 2007, 2010 & 2013; the Fascia Research Congress in 2009, 2012 & 2015; The Physiotherapy New Zealand Conference 2014. She conducts workshops nationally and internationally for physiotherapists and interdisciplinary manual therapists and movement teachers.