Axis Sports Medicine Specialists

10/12/2025

Great news if you are a GP, Urgent Care Specialist or ED Clinical Staff. New Zealand’s leading interdisciplinary concussion service is now open in Christchurch.

The Axis Concussion Service provides specialist care for all concussions, including people needing more prolonged and closely managed recovery. Your patients will be supported by an experienced team of Sports & Exercise Physicians, Physiotherapists, Neuropsychologists, Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and more.

Our Christchurch service builds on the concussion clinics we have been running successfully in Auckland and Queenstown for several years.

Concussion is an area of expertise at Axis. Our clinicians are involved in internationally recognised concussion research and provide expert advice to ACC as well as national and global sporting codes on concussion best practice.

Key Points
▪️ Referrals must come from a doctor or hospital clinical staff.
▪️ Concussions do not need to be sports related.
▪️ Patients are seen within 1 week of referral acceptance, so we can get them on to a path to recovery quickly.

How to refer
▪️ Use your usual method of referring to Axis
▪️ If submitting via email, contact our concussion team at concussion@axissportsmedicine.co.nz
▪️ Alternatively, use our Online Referral Form (https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/online-referral). This helps ensure all necessary information is captured.

Important - referrals must be received within 12 months of injury and must include all relevant ACC information.

We are pleased to bring this service to patients in Christchurch and the greater Canterbury region.

Learn more about our Christchurch Concussion Service here https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/services/acc-concussion-service

13/11/2025

Just because winter sport has wrapped up doesn’t mean concussion goes away. We see it year-round, and many of the people who walk through our doors weren’t injured on a field at all.

Yes, that's right, we treat more than just sports concussions.

In our latest blog we talk about something we think is important for everyone to understand. Concussion isn’t just a sports injury. It happens at home, at work, on the road and during everyday activities. The data shows that most concussions in New Zealand actually occur outside organised sport.

We also explain how our approach has evolved. What started in sport now guides recovery for everyone. Active, individualised treatment helps people get back to study, work and life safely and confidently.

If you work with people or care about their wellbeing, this one’s worth a read - https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/blog/concussion-isnt-just-a-sports-injury

Looking for expert concussion care, look no further

📍 Clinics in Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch (coming soon)

Concussion is often linked with sport, but it can occur almost anywhere: at home, at work, on the road or during everyday activities. Getting checked as so

02/11/2025

It's marathon season (congrats to all who competed in the Auckland Marathon over the weekend), Dane Baker our Performance Dietitian appeared on TVNZ Breakfast to give some advice on fuelling before your big race.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/30/coco-pops-before-your-marathon-whats-the-perfect-pre-race-menu/

29/09/2025

Do you have a patient with a new shoulder injury or repeat dislocation?

We are excited to launch our new Acute Shoulder Clinic in Auckland and Christchurch. Meaning your patients receive:

▪️Fast Access. Patients are generally seen within a week of their referral.

▪️A Prompt Definitive Diagnosis. Patients often have their consultation and imaging on the same day.

▪️Tailored Treatment Plans. Both non-surgical and surgical options will be considered, alongside physiotherapy either with your patient's existing provider, or with one of the Axis team.

This clinic is for patients with a recent, traumatic shoulder injury (within the last four weeks), or those with instability due to dislocation.

More information can be found here https://lnkd.in/gDvXczEF

22/09/2025

Great news for those patients suffering persistent shoulder pain.

Our new Shoulder Pain Clinic is now up and running in Auckland and Christchurch. Your patients will receive:

Fast Access. Patients are generally seen within a week of their referral.

A Prompt Definitive Diagnosis. Patients often have their consultation and imaging arranged on the same day (if required).

Pain Relief. If necessary, an injection can be arranged, often on the same day.

Tailored treatment plans. Both non-surgical and surgical options will be considered, alongside physiotherapy either with your patient's existing provider, or with one of the Axis team.

To be eligible for this clinic, patients must be referred with a working diagnosis of frozen shoulder, AC joint arthritis, or rotator cuff pain. An X-ray is also required, and patients must not have had previous surgery or a specialist opinion for the same issue, no suggestion of referred pain from the cervical spine, and no major medical comorbidities.

More information can be found here https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/services/shoulder-pain-clinic

04/09/2025

Excellent interview here with Axis's Dr Simon Young on RNZ with Katherine Ryan talking on a wide range of knee topics - oesteoarthritis, how to care for your knee and stay active as you age, ACL injuries surgery and recovery, advancements in knee surgery and more, including some listener questions.

▶️ RNZ: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2019002325/knee-trouble-our-expert-explains-how-to-keep-yours-moving

▶️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VKM2El6do02NZMUb1Cd4D?si=a7557bbb4e64468a

Nine To Noon · Episode

12/08/2025

We know that early intervention is crucial for recovery from acute knee injuries.

So, we've expanded our Acute Knee Clinic to Christchurch and Queenstown, joining our Auckland locations.

It's the perfect place to refer if your patient has suffered an injury within the past 4 weeks. They're typically seen within a week by our clinical team (including a Sport and Exercise Physician), often get same-day imaging alongside their initial consult, and have access to surgical options if necessary.

ACC funding covers eligible injuries, so cost isn't a barrier to early intervention.

More info is available here https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/services/knee-injury-clinic

20/03/2025

🧠 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 🧠
We're excited to announce the launch of online baseline testing. Now anyone can complete a simple 20-minute assessment from home, on their own schedule. No appointments, no travel, no hassle.

Parents, coaches, sports administrators - this is the protection your athletes deserve.

Check it out https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/services/concussion-baseline-screening

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲?
Because 1 in 3 athletes with concussion still have cognitive impairment even after symptoms disappear?
Without knowing a person’s baseline cognitive function (their brain's normal state), it's very hard for doctors to know when someone has completely recovered and is safe to return to play. Knowing your baseline enables:
✅ Personalised treatment plans
✅ Precise recovery tracking
✅ Confident return-to-play decisions

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀
✅ Expert-Backed Technology: Developed by cognitive healthcare leader Cogstate (trusted by pro teams across NZ and Australia)
✅ Provided by NZ's Concussion Experts: Axis is New Zealand's leading Sport & Exercise Medicine provider and concussion experts.
✅ Unlimited repeat testing: For 1 year + preferential treatment with our concussion experts
✅ Just $99 per person

𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱
Share this with team members, parents, coaches, anyone involved in sport. Every baseline test completed is an athlete better protected.

Ready to elevate your team's concussion safety? Get started here → https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/services/concussion-baseline-screening

15/09/2024

We are incredibly excited to let you know that we have acquired the highly regarded fortéSports clinic in Christchurch. It is our 2nd clinic outside of Auckland (after Queenstown), and means we can serve and support patients across the South Island.

The new Axis clinic will consist of some familiar faces from the fortéSports team, and some new faces who will be shifting to Christchurch from our Auckland clinics.

The existing team includes:
- Dr Tony Page - Sport and Exercise Physician
- Dr Hamish Love - Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Dr Phil Fletcher - Sport and Exercise Medicine Registrar
- Dr Michael Tombros, FAFOEM(RACP) - Occupational & Environmental Physician

Joining the team from Axis in Auckland are:
- Dr Noah Whitehead - Sport and Exercise Physician
- Dr Samantha Wong - Sport and Exercise Medicine Registrar (joining in March 2025)

We're really looking forward to building on the great reputation fortéSports has built, and continuing to support the local community across Canterbury and beyond.

You can read more here https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/blog/axis-christchurch-is-now-open

If you're a fellow clinician in the region and are keen to discuss how we can work together, we'd love to chat.

10/09/2024

We’re thrilled to let you know that our new clinic in Mt Roskill is now open. Focussing exclusively on physiotherapy, with 3 physios available to see you for all your niggles and injuries.
‍
Situated at Keith Hay Park, 53 Arundel Street, Mount Roskill it’s perfectly located for those living or working in the Mt Roskill, Hillsborough, Three Kings, New Windsor and Lynfield areas.

The clinic is located at Auckland United Football Club, an organisation we’ve been working with for a while, so when the opportunity came along to open a clinic not only for their club members but the wider community as well, we jumped at the chance.‍

More info is here https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/locations/mt-roskill-clinic

You can now access our unrivalled co-ordinated care at 5 clinics across Auckland.

Stay tuned for another new clinic announcement coming early next week.

25/07/2024

We are excited to let you know of the launch of our Podiatry service, and welcome Keegan Pook to the Axis team as our Clinical Director of Podiatry.

Many of the musculoskeletal issues we see in patients stem from foot problems, and it's not uncommon for active people to suffer through ongoing foot pain, hampering their performance and enjoyment. So, it makes sense to be able to offer podiatry within our suite of services.

Just like our other services, with podiatry we're here to help all active people from professional athletes to anyone wanting to get back into regular exercise. And that's why we've brought on Keegan whose area of focus is sports podiatry.

It means patients are supported by someone who understands the demands of their sport or regular exercise routine and can design a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment plan, including technique adjustments to support recovery and prevent secondary and recurring injuries.

You can learn more about our podiatry service here https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/services/podiatry

We're open for new patients and referrals now.

30/06/2024

We are thrilled to announce our 4th clinic in Auckland is now open at 18 Triton Drive, Rosedale.

This new clinic will serve as the hub for all our concussion services on the North Shore (St Johns will continue as our hub for those south of the bridge), while also offering, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and of course specialist medical support from our Sport and Exercise Physicians.

“Over the past few years at Axis, we have grown our concussion capability and we believe that we now offer the most comprehensive concussion service in the New Zealand, from baseline testing through to our concussion rehabilitation services, as well as the ongoing research conducted by our clinicians. Today we are seeing more than double the concussion patients than we did two years ago, so it makes sense to add a new location and centralise a lot of the services that our North Shore patients need in Rosedale”, says Dr Mark Fulcher, Managing Director at Axis.

You can read more on the new clinic here https://www.axissportsmedicine.co.nz/blog/our-new-rosedale-clinic-is-now-open