The People Behind Your Recovery
Meet the Team
Every member of the Briganti team brings specialist expertise, genuine passion and a commitment to delivering the highest standard of care — whether you are an elite athlete, recovering from surgery, or simply want to move and feel better.
Nathan Briganti
Lead Physiotherapist & Founder
- ✓BSc Sports Science — University of Limerick
- ✓MSc Pre-Registration Physiotherapy — Robert Gordon University
- ✓Advanced Practice — Manchester Metropolitan University
- ✓MSK Sonography — Brunel University London
- ✓Advanced Clinical Practitioner — NHS England Digital Badge
- ✓Independent Prescriber
- ✓HCPC Registered & CSP Chartered Physiotherapist
Nathan's career spans elite sport, advanced NHS practice and private clinic leadership. He has worked with Munster Rugby, the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team and the IRFU IQ programme, and held senior roles at Washington Hospital Center and Walter Reed Military Hospital in the USA. Returning to the UK, he led an award-winning First Contact Physiotherapy service in Wigan before founding Briganti Physiotherapy to bring world-class care to Lancashire. He holds an NHS England Advanced Clinical Practitioner digital badge, is a qualified MSK sonographer and independent prescriber, and continues to consult in professional sport, film and television alongside his clinic work.
Emily Briganti
Cardiorespiratory Specialist
- ✓BSc Physiotherapy — Kings College London
- ✓Specialist Cardiorespiratory Training
- ✓Cardiorespiratory Team Leader
- ✓HCPC Registered & CSP Chartered Physiotherapist
Emily graduated from Kings College London and built her career across intensive care, surgery, orthopaedics and MSK before specialising in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. She progressed to Cardiorespiratory Team Leader, overseeing critical care, respiratory and surgical wards, pulmonary rehabilitation and cardiac rehabilitation. In clinic she provides a specialist respiratory service — including breathwork, airway clearance and self-management planning — that is rarely available in the private sector.
Sarah Titherley
Advanced Practitioner
- ✓BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
- ✓MSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
- ✓Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner — NHS
- ✓Qualified Injection Therapist
- ✓Independent Non-Medical Prescriber (pending)
- ✓Sports Massage, Acupuncture & APPI Pilates
- ✓HCPC Registered & CSP Chartered Physiotherapist
Sarah has 13 years of postgraduate experience across NHS MSK services, private practice and professional sport. She currently leads a First Contact Practitioner service as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner, managing complex presentations within multidisciplinary teams. A qualified Injection Therapist and soon-to-be Independent Prescriber, she also holds additional qualifications in Sports Massage, Acupuncture and APPI Pilates — and draws on her own experience of significant sports injuries to bring both clinical depth and genuine empathy to every patient.
Ryan Collins
Physiotherapist
- ✓BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
- ✓HCPC Registered & CSP Chartered Physiotherapist
Ryan is a Chartered Physiotherapist with experience across NHS and private MSK settings, treating a broad range of acute and chronic conditions. He takes a hands-on, patient-centred approach — combining thorough assessment with manual therapy, exercise rehabilitation and education to help patients understand and manage their condition. Ryan is committed to evidence-based practice and to building long-term resilience, not just short-term symptom relief.
Ellie
Physiotherapist
- ✓BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
- ✓HCPC Registered & CSP Chartered Physiotherapist
Ellie is a Chartered Physiotherapist with a strong foundation in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation. She brings energy and precision to every assessment, combining clinical reasoning with a genuine interest in helping patients return to the activities they love. Her approach is collaborative — working with each patient to set realistic goals, build a clear progressive pathway back to full function, and ensure they leave every session with a better understanding of their condition and recovery.
Rachel Whittaker
Physiotherapist
- ✓BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
- ✓HCPC Registered & CSP Chartered Physiotherapist
Rachel is a Chartered Physiotherapist with experience in NHS and private MSK settings, treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions and sports injuries. She combines thorough clinical assessment with hands-on treatment and tailored exercise programmes, focusing on empowering patients with the knowledge and tools to manage their recovery confidently. Rachel is passionate about delivering care that is both evidence-based and genuinely person-centred, ensuring every patient feels heard and supported throughout their rehabilitation journey.
Mel Bartley
Fitness & Strength Coach
- ✓Personal Training Qualification
- ✓Strength & Conditioning Specialist
- ✓Hyrox Coach
Mel founded Mel Bartley Fitness in 2013, which evolved into Elevate — a specialist fitness studio that has helped hundreds of clients transform their lives. In 2025, Elevate and Briganti Physiotherapy joined forces to open a dedicated rehab and fitness hub, bridging the gap between clinical rehabilitation and long-term performance. Mel works closely alongside the clinical team, designing progressive strength and fitness programmes that build on rehabilitation outcomes — ensuring patients do not just recover, but come back stronger, fitter and more resilient than before. She continues to train and compete herself, whether preparing for Hyrox events or running alongside her clients.
Danielle Simpson
Physiotherapist
- ✓BSc (Hons) Exercise & Nutrition — UCLan (2011)
- ✓MSc Physiotherapy (2024)
- ✓HCPC Registered & CSP Chartered Physiotherapist
- ✓Exercise Referral Specialist
- ✓Deep Tissue Massage
Danielle brings a distinctive background to physiotherapy — over 15 years as a Personal Trainer and Exercise Referral Specialist before completing her MSc in Physiotherapy in 2024. She currently works as a Paediatric Physiotherapist in the NHS alongside her private clinic work, and provides pitchside cover for Manchester Titans American Football Club, Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club U18s and Fylde Rugby Club Men's 1st Team. Her specialist areas include paediatrics, MSK rehabilitation, neuromuscular conditions, women's health and deep tissue massage.
Josh Williams
Physiotherapist — Elite Football
- ✓Physiotherapy Degree
- ✓MSc Sports Physiotherapy — University of Bath (in progress)
- ✓UKSCA Accredited S&C Coach
- ✓HCPC Registered & CSP Chartered Physiotherapist
Josh works at the intersection of elite football and clinical physiotherapy — currently Head of Academy Medical at Stoke City FC, where he serves as clinical lead across the academy and manages a multidisciplinary team of physiotherapists, sports scientists and nutritionists. Prior to professional football he spent several years as a Specialist MSK Physiotherapist in the NHS, leading clinics focused on shoulder injuries, knee and hip OA and lower-limb rehabilitation. He is completing an MSc in Sports Physiotherapy at the University of Bath and is a UKSCA Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach, integrating S&C principles into a comprehensive rehabilitation approach.
Boru Briganti
Chief Morale Officer
- ✓Advanced Treat Acquisition
- ✓Nap Optimisation Specialist
Boru is our most loyal team member — a Silver Labrador with an evidence-based approach to patient wellbeing. His clinical contributions include strategic tail wags, the occasional zoomie, and an unwavering commitment to being an absolute good boy. An avid traveller who has visited many places worldwide, he keeps spirits high and stress levels low — and takes his role very seriously.