CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
Shannen Prins
Senior Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Shannen is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with more than four years of clinical experience and over eight years of experience working alongside people with disability through the NDIS.
She has a particular interest in neurological rehabilitation, stroke recovery, wheelchair exercise prescription, spinal cord injury, chronic conditions, healthy ageing, bone health and menopause.
Shannen combines clinical knowledge with warmth, patience and a genuine interest in helping people build strength, function and confidence in ways that support everyday life.
- Accredited Exercise Physiologist
- Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology — Queensland University of Technology
- 4+ years of clinical Exercise Physiology experience
- 8+ years of experience within the disability and NDIS sector
- Clinic, home and community-based services
- Manly West and Brisbane Bayside
- Neurological rehabilitation and wheelchair exercise
Supporting movement, function and confidence
Shannen brings together more than four years of clinical Exercise Physiology experience and over eight years of experience working with people with disability through the NDIS.
Her professional experience has given her a strong understanding of the importance of patience, communication, consistency and genuinely individualised support. She recognises that progress looks different for every person and that successful exercise programs need to account for health, disability, fatigue, mobility, confidence, environment and access to support.
Shannen particularly enjoys working with people living with neurological conditions, including stroke, spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury and dementia. She also supports wheelchair users, people living with chronic health conditions and adults experiencing changes in strength, balance, bone health or physical function.
Her goal is to make exercise feel purposeful and achievable. Rather than focusing only on isolated exercises or fitness measures, Shannen considers how improved physical capacity may help a person transfer, propel their wheelchair, complete daily activities, participate in the community or return to something meaningful.
Experience and professional background
Shannen’s experience spans disability support, NDIS services, neurological rehabilitation, chronic-condition management and individual exercise prescription.
Shannen completed a Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology at Queensland University of Technology. Her university training included approximately 1,000 hours of supervised clinical placement across different areas of health, exercise and rehabilitation.
She is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and continues to undertake professional development relevant to her clinical interests and the needs of the people she supports.
Shannen has more than eight years of experience working with people with disability and a strong understanding of person-centred support within the NDIS.
She focuses on the participant’s goals, functional needs, preferences and everyday environment. Exercise recommendations may support strength, mobility, transfers, wheelchair propulsion, physical capacity, independence, community participation and management of secondary health risks.
Shannen welcomes collaboration with participants, families, support workers, support coordinators and other allied health professionals—with the participant’s consent.
Shannen has a particular interest in supporting people living with neurological conditions and injuries, including stroke, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury and dementia.
Exercise may address strength, balance, coordination, cardiovascular capacity, mobility, fatigue, confidence and the physical requirements of everyday tasks.
Programs are adapted around the person’s presentation, mobility, communication, cognition, symptoms, support needs and goals. Progression is based on the individual rather than a predetermined timeline.
Shannen enjoys supporting manual and powered wheelchair users to participate in safe and meaningful exercise.
Assessment may consider upper-body strength, cardiovascular fitness, seated balance, transfers, wheelchair propulsion, fatigue, pain, posture and the physical demands of daily activities.
Exercise can be completed from a wheelchair or another supported position and adapted around equipment, mobility, sensation, range of movement and available assistance. The aim is not to make every person perform exercises in the same way, but to find an approach that is appropriate, effective and sustainable for them.
Following a stroke, exercise can help address changes in strength, balance, coordination, endurance, mobility and confidence.
Shannen develops graded exercise recommendations around the individual’s current function, medical considerations and rehabilitation goals. This may include supported strength training, cardiovascular exercise, balance activities, walking or mobility practice and exercises connected to everyday tasks.
With consent, Shannen can collaborate with the person’s physiotherapist, occupational therapist, GP, specialist and other members of their rehabilitation team.
Shannen supports people living with chronic health conditions that may affect energy, mobility, strength, pain, balance or confidence with exercise.
Programs are developed around the person’s health history, symptoms, current capacity and priorities. Exercise may help improve physical capacity, manage secondary health risks and support continued participation in home, work, recreation and community activities.
Sessions can be modified when symptoms, fatigue or circumstances change.
Shannen has an interest in supporting women experiencing menopause, reduced bone density, osteoporosis and changes in strength or balance.
Exercise may include appropriately prescribed resistance training, weight-bearing activity, impact exercise where suitable and balance training.
Recommendations consider fracture history, pain, mobility, confidence, current capacity and other health conditions. Exercise is introduced and progressed according to the individual rather than assumptions based on age or previous activity.
Areas of Interest
Neurological rehabilitation
Individualised exercise support for people living with neurological conditions, injuries and changes in physical function.
Programs may address strength, balance, mobility, coordination, cardiovascular capacity, fatigue and confidence.
Wheelchair exercise
Adapted exercise for manual and powered wheelchair users, including seated strength, cardiovascular fitness, transfers and wheelchair-related physical capacity.
Exercise is adapted around mobility, sensation, range of movement, pain and individual support needs.
Stroke rehabilitation
Graded exercise addressing the physical effects of stroke and supporting meaningful rehabilitation goals.
Sessions may focus on strength, balance, coordination, endurance, mobility and greater confidence with daily activities.
Disability and NDIS
Person-centred Exercise Physiology linked to the participant’s functional goals, choices and everyday life.
Sessions can be adapted for physical, sensory, cognitive, communication and fatigue-related needs.
Chronic conditions
Evidence-based exercise for people managing chronic health conditions, reduced physical capacity, pain or deconditioning.
Recommendations are adjusted around symptoms, health risks, preferences and current function.
Women’s and bone health
Exercise support during menopause and for women managing reduced bone density, osteoporosis, balance concerns or age-related changes in strength.
Programs may include resistance, weight-bearing, impact and balance exercise where appropriate.
What you can expect from Shannen
Shannen provides a calm, welcoming environment where clients can build confidence with exercise at their own pace.
Her sessions combine clear guidance with flexibility, patience and an understanding that communication, energy, function and support needs may vary from day to day.
A SPECIAL INTEREST IN NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION
Exercise adapted around your function
Shannen has a strong interest in supporting people living with neurological conditions, spinal cord injury and changes in mobility.
She understands that neurological presentations can vary significantly between people—and sometimes from one day to the next. Strength, tone, sensation, balance, coordination, fatigue, pain, communication and confidence may all influence how a person participates in exercise.
Sessions are therefore adapted around the individual rather than expecting the individual to fit a standard program.
For wheelchair users, exercise may include upper-body and trunk strength, cardiovascular conditioning, seated balance, transfer-related capacity, shoulder health and the physical requirements of wheelchair propulsion and everyday activities.
Shannen focuses on what is possible, meaningful and appropriate for the person while respecting their choices, experience and preferred way of moving.
Working with your healthcare and support team
Shannen values coordinated care, particularly when supporting people with neurological conditions, disability or complex health needs.
With your consent, she can communicate with your GP, specialist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, psychologist, dietitian, support coordinator, plan manager and other members of your healthcare or support team.
This may help clarify precautions, align functional goals, share relevant progress and reduce unnecessary duplication between services.
Shannen works within the scope of Exercise Physiology and will recommend involvement from another profession when a concern requires assessment or treatment outside that scope.
- GP and specialists
- Midwifery and obstetrics
- Pelvic-health physiotherapy
- List Item
- Occupational therapy
- Mental health providers
- Dietician
- NDIS and support teams
- Physiotherapist
What an appointment involves
Your first appointment begins with a conversation about your health, disability, daily activities and what you would like exercise to help you achieve.
Shannen will ask about your preferred communication, accessibility requirements, previous experiences with exercise and anything that may help you feel comfortable during appointments.
Shannen will review relevant diagnoses, medical history, symptoms, medications, mobility, current supports and recommendations from your healthcare team.
Goals may relate to strength, mobility, transfers, wheelchair use, fatigue, balance, independence, community access or participation in a meaningful activity.
Assessment is selected around your individual presentation and may explore strength, balance, coordination, mobility, cardiovascular capacity, fatigue, movement or functional activities.
Assessment tasks can be completed seated, standing, supported or from a wheelchair. Shannen will explain what is being assessed and why.
Shannen will develop recommendations based on your goals, health, current function and preferences.
Exercise may include strength, cardiovascular conditioning, balance, mobility, seated exercise, hydrotherapy or activities connected to everyday functional tasks.
Exercises can be adapted for mobility, range of movement, sensation, pain, fatigue, cognition, communication and sensory preferences.
Mobility aids are welcomed, and support people can attend where appropriate. You can ask for an activity to be explained differently, changed, paused or stopped.
With your consent, Shannen can communicate with relevant healthcare professionals, support coordinators, family members or support workers.
This may help coordinate recommendations and connect exercise with your broader rehabilitation or NDIS goals.
Your program will be reviewed and adapted as your function, symptoms, confidence or circumstances change.
Progress may involve improved capacity, greater independence, reduced assistance, better tolerance of an activity or increased participation—not simply lifting heavier weights.
Beyond the clinic
Outside the clinic, Shannen enjoys spending time in nature, going for walks and cooking.
She values meaningful relationships, balance and the positive role that movement can play in physical and emotional wellbeing.
These interests contribute to Shannen’s warm and down-to-earth approach. She aims to create sessions where people feel welcome, understood and encouraged to explore movement without judgement.
Rachel does not expect clients to organise their lives around a perfect exercise routine. She helps people identify what is manageable now, develop the tools they need and build towards meaningful activities at a pace that respects their circumstances.
Appointments with Shannen
- Manly West clinic appointments
- Home and community visits where available
- Telehealth where clinically appropriate
- Private health rebates may apply
- Medicare rebates may be available with an eligible GP referral
- NDIS services where appropriate to Rachel’s scope
- No referral is required for private appointments
