Martin Elvey has been a physiotherapist in private practice for over twenty years, with extensive experience in management of chronic pain conditions. He qualified as a physiotherapist at the University of Cape Town and pursued further study at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) earning a Master’s degree in physiotherapy. His research involved management of chronic neck pain and the role of psychosocial factors therein. He has also studied nervous system movement and mechanics, and lectures in anatomy and clinical decision-making to physiotherapy Master’s students at Wits.
Martin’s deep interest in the interaction between the body and the brain as regards pain, as well as his expertise in chronic pain management led to the establishment of the Pain Care Group in 2013.
Martin has authored guidelines for insurance companies, to help clarify the role of pain rehabilitation in pain disability claimants and to aid in the decision-making process as to whether to pursue rehabilitation in each case. He has also authored “10 Predictors for Return to Work,” a questionnaire aiding insurance assessors in deciding how to proceed with a pain-disability claim. These documents constitute pioneering change in the way insurance companies deal with pain-disability claimants. The results speak for themselves: companies are seeing claims withdrawn due to successful rehabilitation, as claimants return to work and optimum functioning.