Sentient Physiotherapy

When your four-legged friend starts moving differently or your horse isn’t quite themselves, you need someone who truly gets it. That’s where Heather Maxwell and Sentient Physiotherapy come in. Working from her home clinic in Langwarrin, Heather provides specialized physiotherapy to dogs to restore movement, relieve pain, and improve quality of life. For horses, she brings the clinic to you, offering hands-on care right in their own environment where they’re most comfortable. And here’s the best part: she treats humans too, offering physiotherapy and clinical exercise classes so you can stay strong and active alongside your beloved pets.

Expertise Built on Education and Experience

Heather’s journey is amazing. She started with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Animal Science back in the UK in 2013, followed it up with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Physiotherapy in 2015, and then earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Veterinary Physiotherapy in 2023. Prior to starting her practice, she gained seven years of extensive physiotherapy experience working with everyone from football teams to everyday champions tackling annoying aches and pains. But her real passion? That shows up when she’s working with animals, whether they’re recovering from surgery, managing the aging process, or getting preventative care. She’s a lifelong horse rider too. When she’s not in the saddle or treating patients, you’ll find her with her two lovable kelpies, Ziggy and Audey.

What Sets Sentient Physiotherapy Apart

Here’s what clients rave about: Heather has this gift for getting even the most standoffish dogs to warm up to her quickly. It’s not magic, it’s genuine care and patience. She takes time to thoroughly assess each patient in a stress free environment, carefully checking how they walk, their joints, and muscle symmetry. Then she explains everything she’s finding in plain English, answers all your questions, and creates a treatment plan that’s completely individualized. No cookie cutter protocols here. Her toolkit includes manual therapy, dry needling, and laser therapy, all designed for lasting results. But the real secret? She watches what your animal needs and adapts on the spot. If an exercise isn’t working, she finds another path rather than pushing through.

Relief, Strength, and Getting Back to What They Love

Whether you’re dealing with limping and lameness, performance issues, spinal or hip issues, post surgery recovery, or just want to keep your aging pet comfortable and mobile, Heather’s approach focuses on both immediate relief and long term strength. She creates exercise prescriptions designed to prevent future problems, not just patch up current ones. Clients often mention how rare it is to find someone who combines serious expertise with genuine passion and respect for every patient. Plus, she’s always at the other end of the phone for those “is this normal?” questions that pop up between appointments. With easy parking at her fully equipped Langwarrin clinic, home visits available for local clients, and mobile equine services across the Mornington Peninsula, Sentient Physiotherapy makes it easy to get the care your animals (and you) deserve.