Physiotherapist | Clinical Director | University Lecturer | Professional Volleyball Athlete

Mariana Maia is a physiotherapist with a Master’s degree in Orthopaedic Manual Therapy and a lecturer at the Escola Superior de Saúde da Universidade Técnica do Porto, Portugal.

She is the Clinical Director of Dystonia Virtual Clinic, where she combines specialized knowledge of dystonia with physiotherapy assessment, clinical reasoning, and individualized rehabilitation.

She has undertaken extensive training with Dr. Joaquín Farias in neuroplasticity-based rehabilitation for dystonia, an approach that draws on the nervous system’s ability to adapt and focuses on improving motor control, sensory integration, and movement patterns through individualized rehabilitation.

Alongside her clinical and academic work, Mariana is a professional indoor and beach volleyball athlete competing at international level. She has also worked as a physiotherapist in high-performance sport, bringing together clinical expertise and first-hand experience of the physical, technical, and performance demands of competitive sport.

She is also a certified APPI Matwork Pilates Instructor (MW1, MW2 and MW3), integrating movement control, body awareness, and functional exercise principles into her professional practice.

Her approach is grounded in clinical reasoning, individualized care, and the integration of current rehabilitation principles to address each person's specific needs, manifestations, and goals.

Professional Registration: Physiotherapist · Licence No. 1525 · Ordem dos Fisioterapeutas, Portugal