About Us

Leah Purcell,
Chartered Physiotherapist, Practice Owner

Able Bodies Physiotherapy was established in 2018 by Leah Purcell. Leah graduated from Trinity College in 2008 with first class honours. While in her final year, she spent time studying in the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, a world renowned centre of neurological research.

After graduating, Leah moved to New Zealand where she spent 5 years working in Sports (mainly rugby) and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

She completed a Masters in Manual Therapy from the University of Western Australia in Perth in 2015.

On returning to Ireland, Leah began working with spinal surgeon Mr Ashley Poynton as a senior physiotherapist – assisting in establishing the Spinal Assessment and Physiotherapy services at the Poynton Spinecare Institute. Here, she specialised in the triage, diagnosis, and management of spinal pathology.

Leah is a keen sportsperson herself, having played GAA for many years with Eadestown GAA, as well as running and road biking. She was delighted to establish Able Bodies Physiotherapy in her home county of Kildare.

Neasa Dooley,
Athletic Therapist

Neasa graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy in SETU Carlow. Prior to this, she completed Sports and Exercise Management, and a Diploma in Massage in 2020. She has a wealth of experience working in the Sports Injury Clinic at SETU Carlow, pitchside work with both club and inter-county teams, and with Carlow Senior Men’s Football Team, as well as at Able Bodies Physiotherapy.

She has completed Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute. As well as the APPI, she is registered with ARTI, the Athletic Rehabilitation Therapists of Ireland, and the Irish Massage Therapists Association. She is also a trained Cardiac First Responder and First Aid provider.

Outside of education and work, Neasa has had a keen interest in the Ladies Gaelic Football. She captained the Kildare minor team to a Leinster and All Ireland title in 2018, and has been part of the ladies intercounty panel since 2017, winning the Intermediate All Ireland Championship in 2023. Neasa was also named on the Lidl National Division 3 Team of The League in 2019,20,21,22 and 2023, and the Intermediate Championship Team of the Year in 2023.

Rani Lam,
Chartered Physiotherapist, BSc (Royal College of Surgeons), CORU ISCP

Rani graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with a BSc(Hons) in Physiotherapy in 2024. Whilst undergraduate, gained clinical experience in the sub-specialties of Musculoskeletal Inpatient and Outpatient, Care of the Elderly-Rehabilitation, Respiratory and Oncology. Since graduating, Rani has worked in Rehabilitation in a residential unit, treating a broad range of neurological conditions and with the elderly.

Since graduating, she has completed a comprehensive Foot and Ankle diagnosis/rehabilitation course in St James’ hospital, a course in Spinal Diagnosis and Manipulation in Cork, and is undertaking her Pilates Teacher Training Program.

Rani has a strong belief in the combination of the use of Manual Therapy and Specific Exercise Prescription ensures a full and speedy recovery.

She is interested in all forms of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, especially Spinal, Ankle and Foot conditions. She has worked as an assistant researcher in the Royal College of Surgeons on 2 main projects- ” The Prevalance of suspected or confirmed Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy in patients attending a neurological spinal assessment clinic with a new referral of neck pain” (2022) and “Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine” (2021). She is a trained Cardiac First Responder and First Aid provider, and holds qualifications Infection Control and Antimicrobial resistance. She speaks fluent Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

Outside of her work as a Chartered Physiotherapist, Rani enjoys travelling, hiking and badminton.

Fiona McLarnon O Brien,
Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist, BSC, MISCP

Chartered Physiotherapist and Intermediate Stott Mat work Pilates Instructor. Ante and Post Natal instruction. Special interest in Paediatrics early developmental delay.

Fiona qualified in 1986 UUJ with a 2:1 Hons in Physiotherapy, and has worked extensively across public and private practice over the past 4 decades. As a student she trained in Musgrave Park and Royal Victoria Trauma and Orthopaedic units.

Since graduation Fiona has worked in the teaching hospitals of Sligo, NGH, Mater Misericordiae and the Meath across all specialities, then working as a Senior in Trauma and elective Orthopaedics supervising Junior staff. She has completed courses in Mac Kenzie spinal concept and Langer orthotic prescription.

Whilst working in Lagan Valley-a MACP teaching site in Co. Antrim- she attained her MACP in Peripheral Manipulation in Norwich in 1991. As a result she worked as a clinical tutor for clinical placement final year students from TCD and UCD since the early 1990s. She trained as a Senior Physiotherapy clinical supervisor with in 2015.

After 7 years self-employed in private practice and then in Outpatients, Fiona commenced work in Primary care where, as Physiotherapist, she developed the Primary care Paediatric Physiotherapy services for non-complex conditions and commissioned the Rheumatology and Neurodevelopmental Outreach service innovations 2009-2024. Fiona served as a board member of the Kildare Sports Partnership between 2017-2021, as the HSE representative to the partnership.

Fiona has a keen interest in developmental delay, and the education of parents to support children to reach their potential. She completed the Dyspraxia Assessment Course with Michelle Lea, the University of London Musculoskeletal Paediatric module, and the Lois Bly Neurodevelopmental basic and Advanced Developmental courses in 2014 &2015. From 2021-24 Fiona completed her post graduate in Healthcare project management at ATU. Prior to commencing work in Able Bodies Physiotherapy, she developed an MDT Paediatric Project in Primary Care looking at the MDT to facilitate outcomes for parents and children.

Fiona has four adult children and who are involved with Nurney Camogie club and Athgarvan GFC-Suncroft AFC and Cill Dara RFC. Fiona enjoys walks on The Curragh and is a member of the local Liffey Choir.

Call us today on (045) 435480, email info@ablebodies.ie or click here to book an appointment. No referral needed