I’m Daniel da Cruz, a physiotherapist based in Sandton, Johannesburg. I qualified from the University of Pretoria in 2018 and work mainly with musculoskeletal pain, injuries and rehabilitation.
Most people who come to see me want to know three things: what’s causing this, is it going to get better, and what do I do about it. My aim is to answer those clearly, treat what’s actually driving the problem, and get you back to what you were doing before.
Background and Expertise
My interest in physiotherapy developed through my own involvement in sport, particularly soccer and martial arts. Being active gave me an early appreciation for how injuries can affect not only sport, but also work, confidence and everyday life. These experiences taught me the importance of injury prevention and effective rehabilitation, and that has shaped how I work.
Since qualifying, I have worked with a wide range of people, from recreational and competitive athletes to office workers and people recovering from surgery. My previous clinical experience includes working
at Well Health Pro in Pretoria and managing patients following orthopaedic and surgical care.
I now practise at Medical on Maude in Sandton.
My Approach to Physiotherapy
I believe good physiotherapy starts with understanding the whole problem, not only the site of the pain.
An assessment looks at your symptoms, movement, strength, physical demands, training or work requirements, and what you need to get back to. From there, treatment is tailored to the individual rather than following the same routine for every person.
Manual therapy, dry needling, strapping, rehabilitation, progressive exercise and other techniques are all part of how I work. Which of them I use, and in what combination, depends on your problem, your symptoms and what you need to get back to. Easing pain and restoring movement matters as much as building strength and capacity, and most people need both.
The aim is to get your pain under control, get you moving properly again, and get you back to what you were doing — with more confidence than when you walked in.
Who I Work With
I commonly work with people experiencing:
- Sports and running-related injuries
- Back and neck pain
- Joint, muscle and tendon problems
- Injuries related to training or exercise
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Persistent musculoskeletal pain
- Difficulty returning to sport or normal activity after an injury
You do not need to know exactly what is causing your symptoms before booking. Part of the assessment is working out what may be contributing and what the appropriate next steps are.
Qualifications and Professional Registration
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy — University of Pretoria
- FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine
- ODNS Dry Needling Course
- SportTape UK Certification
- Precision Nutrition Level 1: Sleep, Stress Management & Recovery
- Registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) — PT 0137650
Physiotherapy in Sandton
Daniel da Cruz Physiotherapy is based at Medical on Maude in Sandton, with access to gym facilities where appropriate for rehabilitation.