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about semli

SEMLI is a Research Institute which prioritises research, education and training. Our dedicated team of experts are here to make sure you get the very best treatment available.
Meet the SEMLI Team

Clinical & scientific services

SEMLI promotes the health and well-being of people through lifestyle interventions, reducing exercise-related illness, injuries and medical complications, promoting participation in exercise and facilitating improvements in sports performance. The main services we provide are Sport and Exercise Medicine, Biokinetics, Sports Physiotherapy, Sport Science, Nutrition, Psychology and Orthopedics.

Research Programmes

SEMLI is involved in a number of research activities in the fields of sport, exercise medicine and lifestyle interventions for chronic disease. The main research focus areas being Lifestyle Interventions for Chronic Disease, Exercise-related Injuries, Medical complications & Illness during Exercise, Sports Performance and Sport and physical activity in society.

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Education

SEMLI hosts and presents informative seminars/webinars, lectures and conferences involving local and international experts in the fields of sport, exercise medicine and health promotion. Some of these are CPD-accredited and relevant to specific clinical or scientific professional groups, while others are available to members of the public for knowledge sharing and interaction.

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Training

The clinical and scientific services platform at SEMLI forms an important part of clinical training in the disciplines of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Biokinetics, Sports Science, Sports Psychology, Sports Nutrition, Sports Physiotherapy, Orthopaedics, and Radiology. As such, the role of the clinical and scientific service delivery platform is to provide specialist services to patients and clients, and serve as an experiential mechanism for staff and students.
semli biokinetics

Improving the quantity and quality of life for all

The Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI) at the University of Pretoria, was established in June 2015 under the directorship of Prof Martin Schwellnus, Professor of Sport and Exercise Medicine and specialist sport and exercise medicine physician.

SEMLI is a Research Institute which therefore prioritises research, education and training. What makes SEMLI a unique research institute, is that it also provides scientific and clinical consultancy services to the public, national and international athletes, UP staff and student athletes, and students at the TuksSport high school.

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Reducing risks
Supporting success

SEMLI’s work contributes to reducing the burden of chronic diseases and health care costs, reducing the risk of illness, injury and medical complications during physical activity, improving regional, national and international sporting success, and improving the quantity and quality of life of individuals.

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meet the semli team

the SEMLI executive team

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Prof. Christa Janse van Rensburg

Director of SEMLI

MBCHB, MSC SPORTS MEDICINE, MMED PHYSICAL MEDICINE, DMED (PHD) INTERNAL MEDICINE

Areas of speciality

Rheumatologist with a special interest in Sports and Exercise Medicine.

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Dr Jill Borresen

Chief Operations Officer

PHD (EXERCISE SCIENCE), BSCMED(HONS)(EXERCISE SCIENCE), BSC, BARCH

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MS LIZETTE CRESSEY

general manager

BCOM (HONS), CA(SA), CFA, DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING AND COMMUNICATION

SEMLI CLINICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SERVICE SPECIALISTS

Maki Ramagole

DR DIMAKATSO RAMAGOLE

Sports Physician

MBCHB, MPHIL SPORT AND EXERCISE MEDICINE

Areas of speciality

Athletes and athlete conditions, limited GP practice.
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DR CAROLETTE CLOETE (SNYDERS)

Sport and Exercise Medicine Practitioner

MBCHB, PHD (SPORTS MEDICINE)

special interests

Sports-related illness and injuries at all levels (amateur to high performance). People with disabilities.
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Dr Marcel Jooste

Sports Physician

MBCHB, MSC SPORT AND EXERCISE MEDICINE

Areas of interest

Sports-related injuries. Endurance athletes. High-performance sports medicine. Breathing-related problems.
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DR MTHOKOZISI MASANGO

General Practitioner

MBCHB, MSC SPORT MEDICINE CANDIDATE

Areas of SPECIALITY

Sport and Exercise Medicine.

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DR DHAVINA NAIDOO

Medical Practitioner

MBCHB (WSU), MSC SPORTS MED (UP), DMH (CMSA)

Areas of SPECIALITY

Sport and Exercise Medicine and mental health.

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DR LERVASEN PILLAY

Sports Physician

MBCHB, MSC (MED) SPORT MEDICINE

AREAS OF SPECIALITY

Non-communicable disease management, pre-screening for active patients, concussion evaluation/treatment and return to play, interventions (e.g. PRP) for conditions related to muscles, tendons, bones and joints.

Dr Christian Schaap

DR christian schaap

Medical Practitioner

MBCHB, DIPPEC (CMSA), MSC SPORT AND EXERCISE MEDICINE (IN PROGRESS)

AREAS OF SPECIALITY

Sport-related injuries, injuries and emergencies. Athlete screening.

What to expect from an appointment with a sport and exercise medicine physician

If you are injured in a sport-related activity, or if you do not feel well and you think that either your exercise/sports performance may be negatively affected, or you are worried that exercising may cause harm, then you should consult a sports medicine physician. At your appointment, the doctor will discuss with you your medical and exercise history, and your symptoms. Thereafter they will examine you before making a diagnosis or referring you to another specialist for further tests (e.g. X-rays, MRI’s, bone scans, ECG’s etc), if they feel this is required. These test results are usually sent back to your Sports Physician so that he/she can discuss the results with you and create a treatment plan for you. Depending on what the diagnosis is and the severity of the illness/injury, your doctor may treat you immediately, and/or prescribe medication and/or design a treatment strategy for you that may or may not involve referral to another specialist such as a Biokineticist or Physiotherapist. For ease of assessment and for your own comfort, remember to bring a pair of shorts to change into, if your injury is below the waist; and if your injury is above the waist, bring a T-shirt or tank-top to wear during the appointment.
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SEMLI biokinetics team

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MS MICAELA GROENEWALD

Biokineticist and Acting Head

BSC HONS BIOKINETICS, BSC HONS SPORT SCI, BSC SPORTS SCIENCE, CURRENT MSC STUDENT IN BIOKINETICS.

Areas of speciality

Orthopaedic injury rehabilitation, Lifestyle intervention, and stroke recovery. Expertise in return to play protocol implementation to ensure performance rehabilitation with athletes ranging from recreational to professional athletes.

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Ms Danielle Steenkamp

Senior Biokineticist

MA BIOKINETICS, HONS BIOKINETICS

Areas of speciality

Orthopaedic rehabilitation, Chronic disease management, Cardiac, Pulmonary, Diabetic, Pain management, Neurological rehabilitation and qualified Pilates instructor.
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MS TRACEY STEENKAMP

Senior Biokineticist

MA BIOKINETICS, HONS BIOKINETICS

Areas of speciality

Orthopaedic rehabilitation, chronic disease management, cardiac, pulmonary, diabetic, neurological rehabilitation, pain management and qualified Pilates instructor.
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DR FC DU TOIT

Senior Biokineticist

PHD (SPORT SCIENCE BIOKINETICS)

Areas of speciality

Orthopaedics, Special Populations, High Performance.

What to expect from an appointment with a biokineticist

The first appointment consists of an evaluation (personal to each individual’s needs), which may involve one or more of the following: Recording a person’s general, medical or condition-specific history to determine any risks of exercise, a physical work capacity test, specific musculoskeletal tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure, range of motion and muscle strength tests, and the evaluation of body posture and body composition. Thereafter, individualized exercise program prescription and guidance is provided, along with one-on-one sessions and follow-up assessments. Due to the nature of the physical assessments, it is advisable to wear shorts and t-shirt or exercise gear.
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SEMLI sport science team

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MS KIRSTY ELLIOTT

Head of Sports Science

M (HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE) WITH SPECIALISATION IN SPORT SCIENCE

Areas of speciality

Applied sport scientist specialising in athlete performance, strength, movement, injury management, and data analysis. Experienced lecturer, mentor, and researcher with a keen interest in youth development, tennis, and wheelchair tennis. Passionate about advancing the Sport Science profession in Africa.

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MS CHARNE BRITZ

Sport Scientist

BA (HONS) SPORT SCIENCE, MSC SPORT SCIENCE (BIOMECHANICS), STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING SPECIALIST

Areas of speciality

Athletics, netball, youth athletic development.

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MR BRYANT DE COTER

Sport Scientist

BSC HONS SPORT SCIENCE

Areas of speciality

GPS Data Tracking, Athlete Monitoring Systems, Dashboard Integrations, Strength and Conditioning.

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MS SUSANNA AMA

Sport Scientist

BSC (HONS) SPORT SCIENCE

Areas of speciality

Youth athletic development and the female athlete.

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MS HANNAH DWYER

Sports Scientist & Intern Manager

BSC HONOURS SPORTS SCIENCE

Areas of speciality

Performance enhancement through program system design and implementation. Research, application and intervention in the Female Athlete and overall female athlete development. Para-athlete performance and data analysis. Sporting disciplines - Football, Netball, Wheelchair Tennis, Speed Climbing & Endurance Sports.

 

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MR WILLIAM MUTLOW

Sport Scientist

BSPORTSCI / BSC SPORT SCIENCE

Areas of speciality

Strength and conditioning, velocity-based training.

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MS MBALI PADI

Sport Scientist

BSC (HONS) SPORT SCIENCE (UP)

Areas of speciality

Performance monitoring, dashboard building, biomechanics and performance development. Expertise is working with football and middle distance academy and adapting training styles/philosophy to different training history and age groups.

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MR KARABO MAKHANYA

Sport Scientist

BSC SPORT SCIENCE, BSC (HONS) SPORT SCIENCE, FA INTRODUCTION TO COACHING FOOTBALL, FA SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN IN FOOTBALL, 3D INSTITUTE COACHING COURSE

Areas of speciality

Strength and Conditioning, Sport Science, Exercise as Medicine.

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MS DEMI LEECH

Sport Scientist

BSPORTSCIENCE (UNDERGRAD) BSC(HONS) SPORT SCIENCE

Areas of speciality

Tuks Swimming, Tuks Hockey, SA Women's Hockey.
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MS ANDISWA MASEKO

Sport Scientist

BHSCBIOK BSC (HONS) SPORT SCIENCE

Areas of speciality

Athletic performance in girls’ and women’s sport, with a growing focus on rugby and female athlete physiology.

What to expect from an appointment with a sport scientist

Services available at SEMLI Sport Science include Strength & Conditioning, Sport Science Testing, Biomechanical Testing, Age & Maturation Testing, Gait Analysis, Movement Analysis, Technique / Race analysis, Endurance sport assessment & training, Bike setup, Wattbike classes, Education seminars.
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SEMLI Sports Physiotherapy Team

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PROF CAREL VILJOEN

Physiotherapist & Head of Practice

PHD (VU AMSTERDAM & UP), MSC CLINICAL SPORT PHYSIOTHERAPY (UFS), B. PHYST (UP)

Areas of speciality

Injury prevention: Running-related injuries.

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Ms Natasha Schmidt

Physiotherapist

BACHELORS IN PHYSIOTHERAPY, MPHYST (UP), PHD CANDIDATE, BASI MAT PILATES INSTRUCTOR

Areas of speciality

Artistic sport, running and hockey.

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MS ANRI COETZEE

Physiotherapist

PHD CANDIDATE / MSC PHYSIOTHERAPY (WITS) /B.PHYST (UP)

Areas of speciality

Knee and ankle injuries/rehabilitation; Prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of netball injuries. Rehabilitation and exercise therapy; netball, athletics, tennis.
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Ms Sanet van Zyl

Physiotherapist

BPhysT (UP), MPhysT (UP), SPT1

Areas of speciality

Team sports - Rugby, Netball, Cricket, Hockey
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MR KAMO MOTSOAGAE

Physiotherapist

BPHYST (UP), MPHYST CANDIDATE (UP), ADVANCED SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY/SPT1, FIFA DIPLOMA IN FOOTBALL MEDICINE

Areas of speciality

Soccer, team sports, orthopaedic physiotherapy.

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MS THABITHA MOHLALA

Physiotherapist

BPHYST (UP)

Areas of speciality

Special interest in sports, orthopaedics, neurological conditions and woman’s health.

What to expect from an appointment with a sports physiotherapist

A Sports Physiotherapist will do a comprehensive evaluation to identify to underlying causes of the presenting symptoms. Treatment and rehabilitation will be done to address the pathology and promote healing. The patient’s sport will have specific physical requirements and therefore rehabilitation will be designed to meet these requirement upon return to full sports participation. Injury prevention strategies are also implemented to avoid future recurrence of injury.
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SEMLI Sports Nutrition

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MS DANELL BOLTMAN

Dietician

M THERAPEUTIC NUTRITION, BSC DIETETICS

Areas of speciality

Chronic diseases of lifestyle, sports nutrition, weight management and gastrointestinal disorders.

What to expect from an appointment with a sports dietician:

InBody Scale is being used at every consultation.

    Initial assessment:
    (60-75 minutes):

    • Detailed examination of lifestyle, eating habits, and medical history
    • Body composition analysis with the Inbody 770 scale
    • Goal setting and coaching
    • Individualized nutrition education

    Meal plan discussion (if necessary):
    (30-40 minutes, takes place after the initial consultation)

    • Discussion of meal plan, recipes and shopping list
    • Food diary discussion

    Follow up consultations:
    (20-30 minutes)

    • Discussion of any challenges or feelings experienced
    • Full body composition analysis every time
    • Diet plan amendments if needed
    • New goal setting
    Book an Appointment

    SEMLI Sports Psychology

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    MR SHAUN LANDSBERG

    Psychologist

    COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGIST; BA HMS (UP); BSOCSCI HONS PSYCH (UP); MA COUNS PSYCH (UP) (CUM LAUDE)

    Areas of speciality

    • Sport and Performance Psychology
    • Group and team dynamics
    • Individual athlete psychological performance enhancement
    • Individual athlete performance impairment
    • Coaching coaches working with athletes.

    What to expect from an appointment with a sports psychologist

    When consulting with a sport psychologist you can expect to feel heard and understood within a non-judgmental environment. The sport psychologist will meet you where you are and on your level and formulate a therapeutic intervention to suit your needs. The majority of athletes express feeling relieved and hopeful after consulting with a sport psychologist.
    Book an Appointment

    What to expect from an appointment with a sports psychologist

    When consulting with a sport psychologist you can expect to feel heard and understood within a non-judgmental environment. The sport psychologist will meet you where you are and on your level and formulate a therapeutic intervention to suit your needs. The majority of athletes express feeling relieved and hopeful after consulting with a sport psychologist.
    Book an Appointment

    SEMLI Research

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    ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR NICOLA SEWRY

    Associate Professor, SEMLI

    PHD IN EXERCISE SCIENCE (VRIJE UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN)

    Areas of speciality

    Researcher in injury prevention, and athlete health (endurance sports, rugby, chronic illness).

    SEMLI Administration

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    MS SINDI SWANA

    Receptionist

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    MS KERRI FOURACRES

    Receptionist

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    MS LAUZANNE BOOYSEN

    Receptionist

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    MS LENA DE SOUSA

    Financial Assistant

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    MS RETSELISITSOE MKONDO

    Departmental Administrator