We are delighted to introduce one of our newest volunteer editors, Malisha van der Berg, whose curiosity and evidence-first approach to physiotherapy are already enriching Physiopedia’s global knowledge-sharing mission. From seeking out the latest therapeutic modalities to forming a hypothesis at the drop of a hat, Malisha brings a researcher’s mindset to everything. Get to know one of our newest contributors this month.
How long have you been volunteering with Physiopedia? I joined the Physiopedia volunteer onboarding program in May 2026 and officially became part of the editing team from June.
Whereabouts in the world are you based? I currently live and work in South Africa.
Where did you go to university/college? I studied for a Bachelors in Physiotherapy (BPhysT) at the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2012 and a Masters in Science in Clinical Research (MSc) at the University of Warwick in 2026.
Where do you work? I am a private physiotherapist and something of a jack of all trades. My work blends osteopathic and OMT based treatments with passive stretch therapy, fascia movement, Thai Vedic yoga movement, sports massage, therapeutic modalities, dry needling and acupuncture. I am in the fortunate position of being able to seek out the latest therapeutic modalities and compile evidence on their use and outcomes. I am also a recently graduated MSc clinical researcher, assisting with protocol development and literature reviews.
What is the most rewarding part of being a clinician, or working with Physiopedia? The most rewarding part of being a clinician is that magical moment when someone comes back to you and says you have changed their life. The human body is endlessly fascinating, and finding what makes certain parts itch, and working out how to scratch that itch, is rewarding in itself. As for working with Physiopedia, it is knowing that I can contribute a little to the vast collective knowledge built up by a great team of physiotherapists from around the world.
What are some of the more challenging aspects about your work? Sometimes it can be a challenge to keep up with the latest modalities and find the evidence to support their use.
What are some of your professional passions? I love the human body. Everything about it is my passion.
What are a few of your personal passions? I love history and research, and in my downtime I enjoy reading and watching Chinese dramas.
What would be your advice to a newly graduating physiotherapist or professional? You only really start to learn once you begin working. Over time you become comfortable with how you assess and your own method of treating. Physiotherapy is very subjective and every therapist has a different approach, so if a patient does not respond to yours, you are probably not the right physio for them, and that is okay. You also cannot fix everyone. Sometimes we are more psychologist than anything else.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Probably doing something crazy like a PhD.
What attracted you to joining Physiopedia? Physiopedia has been my go-to website since 2018. If I had known about it sooner I would have used it even more, and the app is a lifesaver. I wanted to help gather information and share some of my own knowledge with other physiotherapists, especially in the biomedical field, in the hope of helping to explain concepts more clearly.
What are the best things about being part of Physiopedia? The research, the team and the international community of physiotherapists who share their thoughts and ideas.
What Physiopedia page are you most proud of? I am currently working on the Neural Entrainment page.
Anything else you would like to share? I’m pretty much a geek. You can ask me anything and I will probably form a hypothesis and dig into the research to either prove or disprove the claim, and find the areas that might need more attention. So if anyone is ever looking for an independent researcher for their work, you know where to find me.
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