Samantha Harding Physiotherapist
Team: Samantha Harding
Samantha Harding is a dedicated physiotherapist with a passion for helping people move better and live pain-free. After graduating with a BSc. Physiotherapy from the University of the Free State in 2009, she pursued advanced training in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (OMTC) and has since completed numerous postgraduate courses in pain management, rehabilitation, and women’s health.
Her journey has taken her from large physiotherapy practices to founding her own in Empangeni in 2014. Over the years, she has developed a special interest in sports injuries, post-operative rehab, chronic pain, and pelvic health —ensuring her patients receive expert, evidence-based care tailored to their needs.
Samantha is known for her kind and compassionate approach, always striving to help her patients regain confidence in their movement and well-being. She believes in continuous learning and ensures that both she and her team stay at the forefront of physiotherapy advancements. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, struggling with persistent pain, or looking for specialized women’s health care, Samantha is here to support your journey to better health.
Team: Shabnum Shah
Shabnum Shah is a physiotherapist with a deep passion for helping people move better, feel stronger, and get back to doing what they love. She graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2016 and completed her community service at Ngwelezana Tertiary Hospital, where she gained valuable experience working with a wide variety of patients and conditions.
After completing her community service, Shabnum returned to her hometown of Durban, where she worked as a locum physiotherapist at several hospitals. In February 2018, she made the move back to Empangeni and joined Samantha Harding Physiotherapists. Since then, Empangeni has become her home—a place where she’s continues to grow, both personally and professionally, surrounded by a team and community that inspire her every day.
Over the years, she has pursued further training in Dry Needling, Kinesiology Taping, Tanya Bell’s Lower Quarter Course, and the treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction. She has also completed courses in pain management and pain neuroscience, and is trained in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (OMT), with experience in both Maitland and Mulligan techniques. She is also certified in Pilates, which she often incorporates into her treatment approach.
Shabnum is a strong believer in lifelong learning and has recently begun exploring women’s health—an area she is excited to grow in.
She enjoys working with a broad range of conditions, whether in hospital or outpatient settings. Her special interests include neck pain and headaches, post-surgical rehab, neurological conditions like strokes and spinal cord injuries, SI joint dysfunction, and care for patients in an ICU setting.
For Shabnum, physiotherapy is more than just treatment—it’s about walking alongside her patients on their journey to recovery, celebrating every step forward with them.
Team: Mickayla Morgan
Mickayla Morgan graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy in 2023.
She then completed her community service in 2024 working at Sundumbili CHC as well as General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital. During this time Mickayla developed interests in paediatrics as well as neurological conditions.
Mickayla began working at Samantha Harding Physiotherapist from April 2025 and is the newest addition to the team. She has completed post graduate courses in Kinesiology Taping for both upper and lower body, a course for assessment and treatment of high risk babies, dry needling and is currently completing The upper quarter with Tanya Bell and Clinical Pilates with Debbie Creamer.
Mickayla believes in patient centred care and has a passion for getting patients to their optimal functional level, whether that entails taking your dog for their daily walk or running marathons.
Musculoskeletal & Orthopedic Physiotherapy
- Back & Neck Pain – Treatment for stiffness, nerve pain and muscle spasms
- Headache & Migraine Relief – Addressing musculoskeletal causes of headaches
- Joint Pain & Arthritis Management – Pain relief and mobility improvement
- Post-Operative Rehabilitation– Recovery after orthopedic surgeries (e.g., knee, hip, shoulder, ankle)
- Sports Injury Treatment – Rehabilitation for athletes to return to sport
- Fracture & Injury Rehabilitation – Restoring strength and function after injuries
- Tendinitis & Overuse Injuries – Management of conditions like tennis elbow and Achilles tendinitis
Pelvic Health & Women’s Health Physiotherapy
- Urinary Incontinence Treatment – Stress, urge, and mixed incontinence management
- Pelvic Pain & Dysfunction– Treatment for conditions like pudendal neuralgia and vulvodynia
- Pregnancy & Postnatal Care– Pain relief, core restoration, and recovery support as well as birth preparation
- Diastasis Recti Management – Rehabilitation for abdominal separation post-pregnancy
- Prolapse Management- Conservative treatment to improve pelvic support
- Post-Prostatectomy Physiotherapy – Recovery support for men after prostate surgery
Paediatric Pelvic Health
- Bedwetting (Enuresis) Management– Non-invasive therapy for children
- Constipation & Bowel Dysfunction – Physiotherapy-based approaches to improve gut health
Chronic Pain & Rehabilitation
- Chronic Pain Management – Education and therapy for long-term pain conditions
- Fibromyalgia & Neuropathic Pain Treatment- Pain relief and improvement in function
- Pain Neuroscience Education– Helping patients understand and manage chronic pain
Rehabilitation & Specialized Techniques
- Dry Needling – For muscle pain and tension relief
– Maitland, McKenzie & Mulligan Techniques – Manual therapy for joint and spinal mobilization - Kinesiology Taping – Support and injury prevention
- Fascia & Connective Tissue Mobilization – Improving flexibility and reducing tension
- Neural sliders & tensioners
- Traction for nerve pain in the neck
- Electrotherapy- ultrasound, tens, laser and muscle stims
- Visceral manipulation- managing constipation
- Pain neuroscience education and mirror therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy – Managing stress-related pain and chronic pain
Contact
- Telephone: 035 772 1044
- WhatsApp: 071 247 6120
- Email: admin@samhardingphysio.co.za