Meet Carlton Exercise Physiologist – Marissa Hoey
Marissa is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist here at Melbourne Osteohealth Carlton, after having relocated from the Sunshine Coast. She completed her Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of the Sunshine Coast and then undertook a research project exploring exercise perceptions and participation of individuals living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Type II), a type of neuromuscular condition that causes profound difficulties controlling skeletal muscle. Marissa was awarded her Master’s degree from the University of the Sunshine Coast for this research.
Marissa is exceptionally passionate about working with adults and children living with disabilities, sub-acute and chronic illness. Her background in disability care and research makes her ideally placed to help anyone wanting to improve their functional capability and manage their pain.
Carlton Exercise Physiologist – Marissa Hoey
Marissa has particular experience with diabetes management, cerebral palsy, and neuromuscular disease. She also thoroughly enjoys working with children that have chronic health and developmental difficulties including autism, cystic fibrosis, epilepsy, and dyspraxia. As an exercise physiologist she works with them to help them build better fitness, strength, mobility and co-ordination… all while having a bit of fun!
Marissa is confident working with people who experience back pain, neuromuscular diseases and disabilities, including working with those who are non-verbal or have behavioural difficulties.
Marissa worked as a disability support worker for 9 years, prior to and during her studies. She worked with children and adults who had a wide range of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury and neuromuscular disease. This is what inspired her passion for helping people to achieve their goals and live their life to their full potential.
She enjoys helping people to achieve their goals and live their life to their full potential, including improvements to functional ability and reductions in pain. Marissa especially loves being able to help them learn or re-learn something that enables them to be more independent and enjoy their day to day more.
Marissa has lived with chronic pain for over 5 years and feels that this her personal experience enables her to truly empathise, educate and prescribe exercise to individuals who live with chronic pain. Outside of exercise physiology, Marissa enjoys blues and swing dancing. She also loves the outdoors and likes to spend time bushwalking; however, she is just as happy to curl up with a good book. She also plays board games competitively once a month!
Marissa is a pivotal part of the care team here at Melbourne Osteohealth and works alongside our osteopaths to help deliver the best care possible to all of our patients. Marissa’s passion for comprehensive, multidisciplinary care has seen her drive the development of the Inner North Allied Health and Medical Network which we launched here at Melbourne Osteohealth just a few short months ago. Marissa has made it her mission to develop a regular networking event for health professionals in the Carlton area that will allow us all to come together, to educate one another and build team care relationships that deliver on the Melbourne Osteohealth vision for better patient care and better health for our community. This network is open to registered allied health and medical practitioners from the Carlton, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Collingwood, Clifton Hill, Parkville and North Melbourne areas so feel free to mention it to your practitioners.
Marissa is a dual accredited Exercise Physiologist and Exercise Scientist with Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA). She is also registered with Medicare, TAC and the Victorian Workcover Authority.
Marissa is available at Melbourne Osteohealth Carlton Monday to Saturday; she consults on and individual and small group basis and has a number of out of hours appointments available.