About Us

From the Sunny Coast of Western Australia to North Down, Active Health brings an International approach to helping people reach their goals and live the Active Healthy Life they deserve. Find out more about the multidisciplinary team here at Active Health.

Founded by David & Rachel Saligari in 2007 after returning from David’s native Perth, Western Australia, Active Health’s goal has always been to provide a Multidisciplinary approach help people live free from pain and stiffness and to continue doing the things they love. Active Health has grown into a company of Passionate Healthcare Professionals who pride themselves in providing the most up-to-date evidence based treatments to get people back to living life to the fullest. We provide a range of services that will allow you to Activate your Health and Live Life to the Fullest.

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Therapists

Rachel Saligari
Managing Director and Pilates Instructor

Rachel founded Active Health Solutions with David in 2007, bringing together their experience of physiotherapy clinics in Australia and New Zealand. Today, she leads the practice across Holywood, Bangor and Saintfield, while continuing to teach reformer Pilates in Holywood.

David Saligari
Physiotherapist and Founder of The Headache and Migraine Centre

David focuses on helping people with headache and migraine, drawing on postgraduate manual therapy training and extensive experience working with patients referred by consultant neurologists.

Claire Bannerman
Lead Physiotherapist and Clinical Manager | Pilates Instructor

Claire provides musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports rehabilitation and Pilates in Holywood and Bangor. She helps people recover from injury or surgery, return to sport and exercise, and build the strength and confidence to stay active.

Hannah Younge
Senior Physio, Pilates Instructor

Hannah graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2015 with a first class honours degree in Physiotherapy. She then stayed in Glasgow, working in the NHS setting where she gained experience in multiple areas before specialising in musculoskeletal physio. Her love of travel, and Spanish language and culture then took her to Spain where she worked in a hospital clinic in Gibraltar and taught Pilates in Spain.

Lucy Armstrong
Sports Therapist and Head of Active Health Pilates

Lucy provides sports therapy, injury rehabilitation and Pilates in Holywood and Bangor, with particular interests in running injuries, lower-limb rehabilitation and returning to sport.

Ellie McCormack
Physio, Massage Therapist

Ellie comes from Coatbridge, in Scotland and Studied at Glasgow Caledonian University, gaining a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy
She also has attained Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Massage and completed a Kinesiology Taping & Strapping course

Ellie loves the friendly and supportive working environment here at Active Health, enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking care of her dog and other pets and regularly spends time in the gym.

She has a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, and has travelled around Europe to places such as Poland, Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden to compete in Taekwondo competitions.

Rory McDonagh
Physiotherapist

Rory provides physiotherapy, sports rehabilitation and mat Pilates in Holywood, with particular interests in sports injuries, rehabilitation of the spine and limbs, and helping people move with greater confidence.

Laura Steenson
Physiotherapist

Laura graduated from the University of Ulster with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy. She has worked in the NHS for more than ten years, gaining experience in musculoskeletal outpatients, trauma and orthopaedics, and community rehabilitation.

Alongside private practice, she works as a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Stroke Rehabilitation in the NHS, where she has spent the past five years of her NHS career. She is also working towards a master’s qualification in Advancing Practice.

Laura has treated patients at Saintfield Physiotherapy, now part of Active Health Solutions, since 2019. Her private practice experience includes acute injuries, persistent pain and rehabilitation before and after surgery.

Pilates Instructors

Rachel Saligari
Managing Director and Pilates Instructor

Claire Bannerman
Lead Physiotherapist and Clinical Manager | Pilates Instructor

Hannah Younge
Senior Physio, Pilates Instructor

Vanessa Newell
Pilates Instructor

Vanessa Newell is originally from Crawfordsburn, Co.Down and is now living in Donaghadee.
Approximately 20 years ago, Vanessa first started her fitness instruction journey with a Personal Training (PT) qualification and Diploma in Body Massage.
Vanessa grew up taking part in gymnastics competitively and has been doing Pilates since around 2010.
She started her instructor journey in 2020 and is now fully trained in essential, intermediate and advanced mat and reformer pilates.
2022 will see Vanessa complete Cadillac, barrel and chair training and thus becoming an extremely well-rounded pilates instructor!

Vanessa enjoys working with Active Health as she really feels part of the team and loves working with clients that are working on rehabilitation: she finds it very rewarding to see their improvement.
In her spare time she loves doing Pilates and yoga, keeping active in many different sporting areas and walking with her family and dogs 🐶 ❤️

Lucy Armstrong
Sports Therapist and Head of Active Health Pilates

Lucy provides sports therapy, injury rehabilitation and Pilates in Holywood and Bangor, with particular interests in running injuries, lower-limb rehabilitation and returning to sport.

Ellie McCormack
Physio, Massage Therapist

She has a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, and has travelled around Europe to places such as Poland, Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden to compete in Taekwondo competitions.

Personal Trainers

David Graham
Personal Trainer

David Graham BSc (Hons) is a fully qualified personal trainer, specialising in coaching triathletes, swimmers and individuals with a passion for fitness.

David’s areas of speciality include:

– Triathlon and Ironman Coaching
– Triathlon Swimming Coaching
– Swimming Technique Analysis
– Strength and Conditioning Coaching

Massage Therapists

Ellie McCormack
Physio, Massage Therapist

She has a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, and has travelled around Europe to places such as Poland, Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden to compete in Taekwondo competitions.

Lucy Armstrong
Sports Therapist and Head of Active Health Pilates

Lucy provides sports therapy, injury rehabilitation and Pilates in Holywood and Bangor, with particular interests in running injuries, lower-limb rehabilitation and returning to sport.

Podiatrist

Oliver Roe
Podiatrist

Olivia Donnelly
Podiatrist

Admin Team

Sarah McMillan
Business Development

Sarah is our Business Development Manager here at Active Health. She has a background in project management and art and design and is thrilled to bring her positive, creative input to the Active Health team.

Susan Morrissey
Receptionist

Susan is based mainly at Active Health’s Bangor clinic, with occasional reception cover in Holywood. She helps patients with enquiries, appointments, payments and insurance administration.

Ellie Matchett
Receptionist and Patient Services Administrator

Ellie supports patients at Active Health in Holywood and Bangor, with remote support for the Saintfield clinic. She helps with enquiries, appointment bookings and insurance administration.

Joan Waite

Having had headaches on an almost daily basis for a prolonged period, my Neurologist specifically referred me to David Saligari, Physiotherapist, at Active Health Solutions in Holywood. David specialises in this area and he was quick to source the root cause of my problem, to specific joints in my neck. I have completed treatment over a 3 month period, no longer need medication on a daily basis, and the headaches have lessened considerably. I would fully recommend this practice for any physiotherapy needs; it is an extremely well run practice, with very pleasant and welcoming staff. My ultimate thanks to David for his knowledge and professionalism.

Craig Walsh

Lucy at Active Health has been amazing with her advice and care helping me with my knee and ankle injury. Always on hand for any questions and queries I might have regarding exercises and always takes the time to ensure I understand and executing the exercises correctly. Thank you so much.

Mairead Diamond

I have had such success with Claire Bonnerman. I have had three sessions with Claire and I’m well on the way to recovery. The attention and ‘after sales’ checks are heartening. I was certain I wouldn’t be able to play golf this year and I’m now very positive I will. She is absolutely the best physio I have had and I will continually recommend her. Such a privilege to have met with her.

Helen Nicholl

We've been coming to Active Health for several years for various problems. Lovely people, excellent professional treatment - and if you've got a neck problem, go to Tom! Cannot recommend him highly enough. Not cheap but worth every penny you spend.

Steven McLean

Great clinic and helped me with my chronic back pain so much. Would highly recommend.

Atlantic Ocean

Very good workers and very helpful!

Lisa Johnston

I had been suffering debilitating headaches and was advised by my neurologist to contact David and arrange some physio. After 3 months, my headaches have greatly subsided, and thanks to treatment from David, who is very kind, professional and explains everything very thoroughly, I feel incredibly better. Thanks also to Charlotte at reception, for being so welcoming at every appointment.

Renata Fitzpatrick

I went to see a podiatrist for a free assessment appointment and the person - Caroline was her name - was thorough, patient, kind, and even wrote a letter to my GP suggesting a blood test. She also sent me exercises to do for my feet, and recommended I see a specialist. She went far beyond my expectations. The receptionist was very nice as well and contacted me before and after the appointment - excellent place to go.

Ruth Bromley

I have had a series of appointments at Active Health with Lucy and it has been a great experience. Not only has my pain gone but the treatment I received from walking in until leaving was really positive with friendly, helpful staff and top physio treatment. Thank you!

My Fabulous Fitness

I have suffered with post-concussion syndrome and whiplash symptoms for a year. I went to see David and he has reduced my symptoms massively within a month and I’m now back to exercising as normal. My neck pain is also gone. Magic

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