About Us
RehabWorx offers acute and long-term comprehensive stroke and neurological rehabilitation. Located in the heart of Pretoria, at Life Groenkloof Hospital, our independent facility specialises in the assessment and treatment of neurological conditions.
We were established in 2005 as a small company of women and have grown to a skilled multidisciplinary team comprising of a full complement of therapists.​
RehabWorx is the umbrella term under which three independent practices function. The 3 entities form a solid unit under the umbrella name as they all truly believe that Rehab WORKS!
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Our three practices are:​
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Retha Nienaber - Physiotherapists (Inc.)
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Nikki de Beer - Occupational Therapists
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Megan Barnes - Speech & Language Therapists (Inc.)
Retha Nienaber
PHYSIOTHERAPY
After qualifying as a physiotherapist in 2001, Retha commenced her physiotherapy career and interest in adult neurology, in the United Kingdom. In 2005, upon returning to SA, she worked at a rehabilitation facility in Johannesburg until 2007, when she became the co-director of the physiotherapy practice at RehabWorx, and the sole owner in May 2011. Retha has been supervising 4th year physiotherapy students at RehabWorx since 2007 and served as a part time neurology lecturer at the University of Pretoria in 2008 and 2009. She is a passionate LSVT BIG® and FES clinician, a vestibular rehabilitation therapist and has completed her Advanced Bobath training in 2013. Retha lives out her passion in the field of adult neurology treating patients, supervising students and encouraging those around her to offer the best possible care, and more, to their patients.
Nikki de Beer
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Nikki de Beer qualified as an Occupational Therapist from the University of the Free State in 1996. She worked in an acute private hospital for a year before venturing to the USA and England for work experience, specialising in the field of Neurology, for a period of 5 and a half years. Nikki bought the current Occupational therapy practice in 2003. She has a special interest in Neurology and completed the community Bobath course whilst in England. She completed the Fitness to Drive course in 2021 and is a member of the Driver Fitness Coalition.
Nikki was the Life Rehab therapy manager at Groenkloof Hospital and served as chairperson of the Stroke Support group in Pretoria for 2 years and was actively involved on the committee for 4 years. Nikki is married to Marius and mother to Elize, Hilda and David.
Megan Barnes
LANGUAGE & SPEECH THERAPY
Megan studied a BA degree specialising in English and Maths before changing direction to study Speech language Pathology. Having graduated as a speech therapist in 2000, Megan worked under the mentorship of Karin Theron for 2 years in a private neuro practice. In 2003, Megan joined Life Rehabilitation, where she worked as the Head speech-language therapist and as assistant therapy manager of the unit and it is here where she developed a strong appreciation for the value of multidisciplinary teamwork. In 2005, Megan joined Liezel Spies as co-owner of the speech therapy practice at RehabWorx. In 2017, Megan became the sole owner of the speech therapy practice. Megan attended a course in Scotland, presented by Jeri Logeman, in the training of swallowing disorders in 2003.
WE EXCEL IN
WHAT WE DO
MULTIDISCIPLINARY
TEAM WORK
The rehabilitation approach is multidisciplinary, bringing together the different skills and expertise of the various disciplines to meet each patient’s unique needs.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)
RehabWorx coordinates a weekly CPD Programme for our therapy team. In the interest of developing neurological therapeutic care in Pretoria, we coordinate the Pretoria Neuro Interest Group whereby quarterly presentations are held, involving the key neuro-rehabilitation teams in Pretoria. We support SANRA (South African Neurological Rehabilitation Association) to encourage and promote rehabilitation.
UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT TRAINING
RehabWorx is involved in the training and development of 4th year students from the University of Pretoria in our fields of expertise.
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS
All RehabWorx therapists are mandatory members of the HPCSA (Health Professional Council of South Africa).
My life was changed by the rehabilitation programme of RehabWorx. My quality of life improved dramatically, and I am of the view that rehab subsequent to a brain injury, is usually completely under-estimated. Immediately after starting the use of the FES machine, my pain disappeared.
AM Marais