Top Contributor March 2025 | Melanie Harding

We are delighted to celebrate Melanie Harding as Physiopedia’s Top Contributor for March! With more than 30 years dedicated to spinal cord rehabilitation and a passion for education, Melanie brings valuable expertise to our global community.

As clinical manager at a private spinal unit in Pretoria, Melanie works hands-on with acute spinal cord injury patients while leading a specialised rehabilitation team. Her influence extends throughout South Africa in her role as chairman of the Southern African Spinal Cord Association (SASCA), where she is busy organising their 2025 congress in Cape Town.

Join us as Melanie shares insights from her remarkable career and how she tackles the unique challenges of providing rehabilitation in rural African settings.

Your name:

Melanie Harding (Skeen)

Time active with Physiopedia:

3 years

Current role with Physiopedia:

Contributor and creator of courses on various aspects of spinal cord injuries.

Where did you go to university/college?

I completed both my degree and masters in physiotherapy at the University of Pretoria South Africa.

Where do you work?

I work at a private spinal unit in Pretoria, South Africa. I love what I do. I have been in spinal cord rehabilitation for over 30 years. I am also the chairman of the Southern African Spinal Cord Association (SASCA) and I am currently arranging the 2025 congress which is to be held in Cape Town in May.

Describe your role:

I am clinical manager and work physically doing rehabilitation on acute spinal cord injury. I also see some outpatients and love student supervision. Every month I run small groups with the students from the University of Pretoria. Then as SASCA chairman, I negotiate with role players in the healthcare industry, organise congresses, attend ISCoS and serve on the Affiliated Societies Committee.

What is the most rewarding part of being a clinician, or working with Physiopedia?

I just love what I do, and love having this amazing opportunity of sharing my knowledge and experience with others, be that patients, families, students or colleagues. Physiopedia has challenged me personally and professionally and I trust others may be able to benefit from this.

What are some of the more challenging aspects about your work?

I find having to send patients back home into rural Africa with limited resources and limited health care support a challenge. That is why education of the patient and family is so crucial as it empowers them to be independent and enables them to manage the complexities of living with spinal cord injuries in rural Africa.

What are some of your professional passions?

I love working with patients with quadriplegia and love the amazing people I get to meet through my profession!

What are a few of your personal passions?

I love to run albeit slowly and to travel and explore new places around Africa and the world. I love my kids and grandkids and love spending time with them.

What would be your advice to a newly graduating physiotherapist or professional?

Find the job you love and you never have to work a day in your life!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I will hopefully be scaling down a little. I would love to travel and volunteer in rehab situations after natural disasters. I would love to keep sharing SCI knowledge wherever it is required and love to spend time with those important people in my life.

What are the best things about being part of the Physiopedia team?

Being part of education and sharing information to those with a hunger for knowledge.

How has being a Physiopedia team member helped your professional development/career progression?

It has taught me public speaking skills, to be concise and to get the most important facts across.

What are your hopes and aspirations for Physiopedia?

I trust Physiopedia will continue with the awesome services they provide, especially the translation of talks into other languages so as to educate therapists in other countries where English is not their first language.

What is your favourite Plus course?

The Role of Occupational Therapy in Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Anything else you would like to share?

I am grateful for the opportunities Physiopedia has afforded me.

Thanks so much to Melanie for sharing her knowledge with our community! Her work improving life for spinal cord injury patients in South Africa and her commitment to teaching others shows just how much difference people can make. We are lucky to have people like Melanie helping us share practical rehabilitation knowledge around the world.