private physiotherapy Appointments: 01772282189
Meet The Team
Nathan Briganti
- Nathan first gained interest in physiotherapy after playing both basketball and rugby to a high level when younger. Numerous hours spent in rehab or on physio couches gave him a passion for health and fitness and also helping people. He embarked on a 4 year degree in Sports and Exercise Science after which he worked as a personal trainer, gym manager and strength and conditioning coach. He then undertook master level modules in Strength and conditioning which gave him his first interest into professional sport. Being a strength and conditioning coach was very rewarding but working within the professional world felt he was always under orders to follow protocols and was overseen by the medical team which spurned him to return to University and he graduated from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen with a Msc in Physiotherapy.
- His first job was with Munster rugby as a rehab therapist guiding players back from long term injuries where he learned from some of the best physios in the sport. From there he was offered a job working at Hadley Hospital in Washington DC, working with this company he grew to become the director of outpatients increasing referral rates by 200%. He also worked at world renowned Washington Hospital centre in orthopaedics as well as Walter Reed Military/Armed forces retirement home working with wounded and retired veterans and sub specialising in amputee rehab . He maintained his connection to professional sport with the Irish Rugby League team as a travelling physio, as well as a consultant on occasion with the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team. He is still involved in sports and is lead medic for the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) IQ program outside of Ireland. The program aims to get boys/girls and women into green or provincial jerseys in Ireland.
- After marrying his wife Emily the decision was made to return to the UK for a better work life balance. Since then he has worked predominantly in private practice working initially with high profile athletes and clients and then starting with Nuffield Health. At Nuffield he built a very successful clinic as well as being promoted to an advanced level physiotherapist. He managed this due to pushing the boundaries of his learning by returning to university where he completed several masters modules. He also returned to work part time as an extended scope physiotherapist in the NHS being able to evaluate and direct patients to appropriate treatment/diagnostics or consultants thus enabling a smoother patient journey but also helping to reduce NHS waiting times.
- Opening the clinic has always been a dream of his. He wants to be able to provide world class physiotherapy to people in the Lancashire area without the constricts of time or place. Sometimes you need to spend 1.5 hours with a patient others 30 minutes, sometimes patients need to be seen at home others need to be seen on a pitch, hillside or in a lake/pool. At Briganti physiotherapy we are passionate about helping people to maximise themselves and make a difference in their lives and we get an immense sense of satisfaction from doing this. It's all about quality of life.
- As with most things opening just prior to a pandemic was not the best time but the clinic has survived and thrived over the last couple of years. Nathan spent several years as a first contact physiotherapist lead and was involved in creating the service in the Wigan area. The service won a NHS parliamentary award. Nathan has completed numerous university courses and is able to prescribe medication Independently as well as being awarding a digital badge from NHS England giving Nathan the title of Advanced Clinical Practitioner, showing his advanced knowledge base in 4 pillars of practice, Clinical, Education, Research and Leadership.
- Nathan now works primarily in private practice but does consultancy work with professional sports, Film and TV as well as with Private hospitals and GP providers. He also continues to Inject guided and unguided frequently in the NHS/Private Practice, and is a MSK sonographer.
EMILY Briganti
- Emily's interest in Physiotherapy began when she was 13 and was watching a family member being treated, she then undertook various work placements that cemented that interest. She attended Kings College in London and completed her BSc in Physiotherapy. On Graduation she worked for two years in London. It was during this time she developed a love for hospital based treatments. She completed rotations in Intensive care, Surgery, Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal, giving her a well rounded understanding of physiology, pathology and treatment.
- Following London she returned back " Up North" and gained a senior rotational post amongst all the disciplines, it was during this time her passion for Cardiorespiratory came to the fore and she was successful in obtaining a static specialist position in this area. In this role she worked in intensive care and post op respiratory care, including Maxillo-facial, urology, hepato-billary and gastrointestinal surgery. She also developed specialist knowledge in tracheostomy care, and developed a post op care bundle for Breast cancer and pre-operative conditioning pilot program for patients undergoing surgery.
- Due to her success, an opportunity arose for Emily to successfully be appointed as the Cardiorespiratory team leader. She is responsible for leading a team of therapists providing care for patients on the Critical Care unit, Respiratory, Surgical and Cardiology wards, the specialist respiratory outpatients department, Pulmonary rehab classes as well as the therapy lead for Cardiac rehab classes. As team lead she ensures all patients are treated with the latest evidence base to provide effective care.
- In clinic Emily brings her wealth of experience to provide the opportunity for patients to see a specialised respiratory physio, something which is lacking in the private sector. She will assess each patient on an individual basis, evaluating the patients needs and wishes and providing a care plan/self management plan where appropriate. Empowering patients to manage their conditions effectively.
- Please message or call the clinic to book an appointment with Emily
Ryan Collins
- Ryan is a dedicated and compassionate Physiotherapist with years of experience from assistant level before qualifying. Graduating from York St John's University, Ryan has developed a strong foundation in the assessment and treatment of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Sports Injuries, and post-surgical Elective and Trauma Orthopedic Rehabilitation. Ryan has also years of experience within Sports Massage Therapy and thrives in assisting optimal recovery for individuals training for competitions and overall fitness.
- Throughout his career, he has worked with a diverse range of patients, from athletes seeking to optimise their performance to individuals recovering from surgery. As a Physiotherapist, he is passionate about empowering patients through education and tailored exercise programs, aiming to restore function and improve an overall, pain free quality of life.
- Within his practice, Ryan utilises a variety of therapeutic techniques, with a commitment to staying current with the latest evidence and research within Physiotherapy, he regularly participates in professional development opportunities and thrives towards becoming the best he can be.
- In addition to clinical practice, he is dedicated to community outreach, providing workshops and resources on injury prevention and wellness.
- Ryan believes in a holistic approach to Physiotherapy, focusing not just on physical recovery, but also adopting a positive mindset and encouraging lifelong wellness.
- Ryan is available in clinic throughout the week and continues to combine his private role with his NHS work. He is available to be booked online for clinic based appointments and for home based can be booked by calling the clinic direct
- Follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.collins.physio
Boru Briganti
- Introducing our most loyal member of the team, Boru the therapy dog! Boru is a Silver Labrador. He is an avid traveller and has been many places worldwide. His favourite past times include eating (typical Lab), swimming and can be found most weekends on long walks with both Nathan and Emily.
Ellie Kemp
- Ellie has a wealth of frontline experience from both the NHS and private practice. She combines her extensive knowledge with a compassionate approach to ensure her patients receive the highest standard of care. Her expertise lies not only in rehabilitation but also in enhancing the quality of life for her clients through tailored treatment plans and supportive interventions.
- With Briganti Physiotherapy she leads on the home based care of patients. Ellie is dedicated to supporting patients regain function and promoting independence, utilising evidence based practice to motivate and empower them to lead better, healthier and more active lives
- Our Home based service covers a large area including Bamber Bridge, Clayton Le Woods, Lostock Hall, Buckshaw Village, Leyland, Houghton, Preston, Goosnargh, Longridge, Whalley, Clitheroe, Ribble Valley, Blackburn, Chorley, Kirkham, Lytham St Annes, Burnley and all places in between.
- Ellie can be booked by calling/contacting the clinic and offers a variety of appointments throughout the working week. Please call as costs may vary dependent on location.
Rachel Whittaker
- After playing a range of competitive sports whilst growing up, Rachel knew that she wanted to be a Physiotherapist from a very young age. She completed a degree in BSc Sports Therapy, followed by MSc Physiotherapy both at Teesside University, graduating in 2008.
- Rachel initially worked as a junior rotational Physiotherapist at James Cook University Hospital in the North East of England, gaining experience in ITU, Trauma & Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal outpatients. She soon knew that she wanted to develop and broaden her knowledge and experience in Musculoskeletal/sports rehabilitation. Rachel therefore moved down to London in 2009 and worked for Barts & The London NHS Trust, working as a Senior Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist. This post allowed her to gain a vast array of knowledge and experience in Trauma & Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, and Musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Alongside this, Rachel also worked as a pitch side Physiotherapist for Old Colfeians Rugby Club in South East London, providing Sports Trauma management and sports injury clinics.
- In 2013 Rachel ventured into Private practice, joining one of London's leading Physiotherapy clinics Six Physio located in the City of London. She initially worked as a Musculoskeletal rehabilitation specialist, but then shortly after she progressed to the Clinic Director. This involved managing a team of Physiotherapists, sports massage therapists and a practice manager, while also maintaining her own clinical caseload. Rachel really enjoyed her time working down south, but eventually decided to re-locate back to her home town in the North West.
- Since relocating back up North in 2023 Rachel has stayed working in the private sector for Ramsay Health, providing Musculoskeletal and post-operative Orthopedic Physiotherapy which she continues to maintain alongside her work at Briganti Physiotherapy.
- Rachel endeavours to provide gold standard, evidence based practice, tailored for each individual to meet their goals.
Mel Bartley
- Mel Bartley Fitness was founded in 2013 by Mel Bartley and has transformed into Elevate as of 2025. Since opening, Mel has helped hundreds of clients transform their lives for the better.
- In 2018, the exclusive studio was opened and has since gone from strength to strength culminating in Elevate and Briganti Physiotherapy going from strength to strength and opening a new Rehab and fitness hub. She has worked with 100s of clients to help them to reach their goals and transform their lives.
- Mel runs a variety of classes including strength, blast, elevate and Hyrox specific.
- In her spare time she continues to train and push herself whether thats training for Hyrox or a 10Km race with her clients.
- To arrange PT or ask about classes, please contact Mel directly
- Follow Mel on Instagram @elevategympreston
Sarah titherley
- Sarah is a Physiotherapist with 13 years of postgraduate clinical experience across a wide range of musculoskeletal settings within both the NHS and private practice and professional sport.
- She currently works as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner in the NHS, where she leads a First Contact Practitioner (FCP) service, managing complex musculoskeletal presentations and supporting the delivery of high-quality patient care and supervision within multidisciplinary teams.
- Sarah holds BSc (Hons) and MSc (Hons) degrees in Physiotherapy and has extensive experience in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, including back and neck pain, sports injuries, joint conditions, persistent pain, and rehabilitation following injury or surgery.
- Her clinical background includes work across a variety of NHS MSK services, private practice, and professional sport environments, which has allowed her to develop a broad and advanced clinical skillset in managing both acute and long-term conditions.
- In addition to her physiotherapy qualifications, Sarah is a qualified Injection Therapist and soon to be Independent Non-Medical Prescriber. She also holds additional qualifications in Sports Massage, Acupuncture, and APPI Pilates, enabling her to provide a personalised and holistic approach to treatment and rehabilitation.
- Alongside her clinical work, Sarah has extensive experience supervising and supporting healthcare professionals and regularly contributes to the teaching and development of peers and medical colleagues, including doctors working within primary care services.
- Having personally experienced significant sports injuries herself, Sarah understands both the physical and psychological challenges involved in recovery and returning to activity. She now enjoys training and competing in CrossFit, giving her a strong appreciation for the demands of sport, performance, and rehabilitation at all levels.
- Sarah is passionate about helping people move better, recover from injury, reduce pain, and return confidently to the activities that matter most to them.
Josh Williams
- Josh currently works within professional football, providing physiotherapy support to athletes. He is the Head of Academy Medical at Port Vale F.C., where he serves as the clinical lead across the academy and line manages a multidisciplinary team of physiotherapists, sports scientists, and nutritionists. Alongside this role, Josh works as a Casual Academy Physiotherapist at Manchester City F.C., providing clinical care and matchday support to academy players.
- Previously, Josh spent several years working within the NHS as a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, gaining extensive experience in the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. He is passionate about helping people move better, recover faster, and return confidently to the activities they enjoy. During his NHS career, he led specialist clinics focusing on shoulder injuries, knee and hip osteoarthritis, and advanced lower-limb rehabilitation.
- Alongside his clinical work, Josh is currently completing a master’s degree in Sports Physiotherapy at University of Bath, combining the latest evidence-based research with practical clinical expertise.
- Josh is also a UKSCA Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach, enabling him to integrate physiotherapy and strength and conditioning principles into his practice. This combined approach provides comprehensive rehabilitation, injury prevention, and performance enhancement strategies, with a focus on delivering long-term benefits for his clients.
- Josh is available for clinic appointments throughout the week and can be booked online for in-clinic consultations.
Danielle Simpson
- Danielle is a HCPC Registered and CSP Chartered Physiotherapist with a passion for helping others, whether that's recovering from injury, improving physical wellbeing, and/or improving mobility and promoting independence.
- Danielle's specialist areas include paediatrics, musculoskeletal assessment and rehabilitation, deep tissue massage, neuromuscular conditions, women's health, and general fitness and wellbeing.
- In 2011, Danielle graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a BSc (Hons) in Exercise and Nutrition and spent over 15 years working as a Personal Trainer and Exercise Referral Specialist. During this time, she supported a wide range of clients, including stroke and cardiac patients, as well as patients following knee or hip replacements, helping to regain confidence, independence, and improve overall health and wellbeing.
- Danielle then went on to complete a Master's degree in Physiotherapy in 2024 and currently works in the NHS as a Paediatric Physiotherapist, alongside working in private clinics and with various sports teams on the weekends. These teams include Manchester Titans American Football Club, Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club U18s, and Fylde Rugby Club Men's 1st Team.
- Outside of work, Danielle has a personal goal of hiking all the 214 Wainwright peaks in the Lake District. She enjoys travelling and keeping active, whether that's hiking, swimming, cycling, or climbing.
- Danielle is available for clinic appointments throughout the week and can be booked online for in-clinic consultations.