Seatoun Physio is a private physiotherapy and massage clinic at 4 Ferry Street in Seatoun, Wellington, run by Kara Mulvein (M.N.Z.S.P., MSc Manip Therapy, BSc Hons). The clinic is built around a high standard of professional practice, with treatment programmes assessed and planned around each individual's problem, history and goals.
Kara brings over 30 years of experience as a manual therapist and describes herself as an expert musculoskeletal clinician, with a particular passion for manipulative physiotherapy and a keen interest in the neurophysiology of pain and the many contributors to the persistent pain model. Her background includes work with the British Military across all three services, including Special Forces, where she dealt with both acute injuries and ongoing problems, and developed programmes for management and education around persistent pain. She also has specific expertise in women's health, including pre- and post-natal back pain and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Kara has worked in both practical and managerial roles across the public and private sectors in New Zealand, the UK and Australia, as well as in France, and has volunteered in India. She has been working in Wellington for over 20 years, giving her a strong network of other health practitioners to call on if a client's goals need additional support.
Seatoun Physio treats a wide range of conditions, from spinal, back, pelvic and neck pain through to sports injuries, arthritis, muscle imbalances and pre- and post-operative rehabilitation. The clinic operates on a non-ACC basis.
Tucked into 4 Ferry Street in Seatoun, Wellington, Seatoun Physio is a private physiotherapy and massage clinic run by Kara Mulvein, a manual therapist with over 30 years of experience and formal qualifications of M.N.Z.S.P., MSc Manip Therapy and BSc (Hons). The clinic's approach is built around a very high standard of professional practice, with every treatment programme carefully assessed and planned around the individual client.
A visit to Seatoun Physio starts with a conversation — about your problem, its timeline, and what you're hoping to achieve. Kara will also talk through your medical history, activity levels and general lifestyle, since these often contribute significantly to overall wellbeing and recovery. From there, a thorough physical examination is carried out with your permission, after which Kara explains what she believes is contributing to the issue and proposes a way forward. In some cases, that might mean a referral to your GP or another practitioner; more often, it means agreeing a treatment plan and schedule of management together.
Kara's career has taken her well beyond a typical physiotherapy clinic. She spent time working with the British Military across all three services, including Special Forces, managing both acute injuries and ongoing problems, and developing programmes for managing and educating patients around persistent pain — work she found particularly rewarding for the positive impact it had on people's future lives. She also brings specific expertise in women's health, including pre- and post-natal back pain and pelvic floor dysfunction, an area not every general physiotherapy clinic covers in depth.
Her career has spanned practical and managerial roles across the public and private sectors in New Zealand, the UK and Australia, plus time working in France and volunteering in India. She has now been practising in Wellington for more than 20 years, giving her a solid network of other local health practitioners to draw on if a client's goals call for additional support.
Seatoun Physio treats a broad spread of conditions: spinal problems, back, pelvic and neck pain, headaches and shoulder tension, joint pain, strains and sprains, arthritis management, sports problems, running injuries and niggles, muscle imbalances, persistent pain conditions, pain associated with computer or office work, and pre- and post-operative rehabilitation.
Kara's interest extends past hands-on treatment into everyday habits that support long-term health — things like regular exercise, a healthy diet and good sleep routines, which research consistently links to better overall health, wellbeing and injury recovery. Recognising that busy lifestyles often crowd these habits out, she works with clients on small, easy-to-implement routines, whether that's breathing exercises, flexibility work, or pointing someone toward an activity that fits their schedule — anything from a five-minute daily routine to something more involved.
Seatoun Physio operates as a non-ACC clinic, meaning appointments are self-funded rather than covered through ACC. For more information or to make an appointment, you can call 022 500 5513 or email [email protected], or fill out the enquiry form on the clinic's website.