Early career and training

Mark qualified as a physiotherapist in 2018 with a first-class honours degree from Cardiff University. A Business and Law graduate from University College Dublin four years previous, Mark’s personal experiences with pain and injury compelled him to change career paths and pursue his passion for physiotherapy. As a student his undergraduate dissertation was accepted for presentation at the National Physiotherapy UK Conference in Birmingham in 2018. 

Mark also qualified as a sports massage therapist during his time at Cardiff University and began his own practice operating at Cardiff University Sports Training Village, providing sports massage therapy for both elite university athletes as well as the general population. He also gained significant experience in elite sport in this capacity, working with both Cardiff City FC and Cardiff Blues from 2016-2018.

Mark began his physiotherapy career with roles as Head of Rehabilitation and Recovery at the SISM Clinic, Physiotherapist at Mayo Sports Clinic, Ballina, and finally as Lead Lower Limb Rehabilitation Specialist at the Evidence-Based Therapy Centre, Galway, before setting up MD Performance & Therapy.

Approach to physiotherapy

Mark’s philosophy is firmly centred around the biopsychosocial approach, a model of care that appreciates the multifactorial nature of pain, injury and overall health and wellbeing. Mark’s pursuit of a career in physiotherapy stems from his own personal experience with several years of persistent pain, an experience which he has documented in a blog piece for Pain-Ed. This experience undoubtedly helps Mark empathise with patients struggling with pain and injury and drives him to be the best therapist he can possibly be for patients in his care.

Mark’s approach to physiotherapy focuses on helping patients understand their condition before creating a strong therapeutic alliance, actively involving the patient in their own care. He holds a strong appreciation for the role of exercise in rehabilitation and recovery and encourages patients to actively engage in the therapeutic process.

Strength & Conditioning and Personal Training

Mark also works as a strength & conditioning coach, having gained invaluable experience at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, recognised as one of the world’s best strength and conditioning facilities. Since then he has worked athletes and teams ranging from recreational to international level across a number of sports including GAA, boxing, rugby, soccer and karate. He also uses his knowledge and expertise of exercise prescription combined with his healthcare training as a physiotherapist to provide personal training services to the general population looking to achieve a broad variety of health and fitness goals. 

Personal interests

An avid sportsman himself, Mark has competed in rugby and boxing in the past, and is now playing Gaelic Football for Castlebar Mitchels. 

Research & publications

Day, R., Dixon, A., Dunleavy, C., Durcan, M. and Day, A. (2018). The effects of SNAGs at L4/5 on the range of flexion compared to repeated auto-flexion, assessed via three independent measures.

Durcan, M. (2018). My Experience with Pain: A Physiotherapy Student’s Perspective. [online]. Pain-Ed. Available at: http://www.pain-ed.com/blog/2018/03/03/my-experience-with-pain-a-physiotherapy-students-perspective/ 

Memberships

Mark is registered with CORU, the regulator for health and social care professionals in Ireland, and is also a member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (MISCP).

Contact

To get in contact with Mark directly, please feel free to email mark@mdperformancetherapy.com.