10/06/2026
"Today, as I say goodbye to Ballito, Durban and the surrounding communities, my greatest gratitude goes to the patients who trusted me with their care and chose to get better from the best."
"Over the years, I had the privilege of treating people from all walks of life..."
Over the past six years, Muscle Recon faced challenges that many businesses would not have survived.
The COVID-19 lockdowns brought enormous financial pressure and uncertainty.
Like many South Africans, my family was deeply affected by the economic impact of the pandemic. The financial security and savings we had worked so hard to build for our future were completely depleted as we fought to survive one of the most difficult periods of our lives.
As income disappeared and opportunities became scarce, my husband and I worked as car guards simply to put food on the table. During the unrest and looting of July 2021, even that became unsafe. Many residents in our community came together to help protect shopping centres, businesses and homes during a time of great uncertainty.
At the same time, Muscle Recon was facing its own challenges. Following the pandemic, many people remained fearful of close personal contact, making it extremely difficult to rebuild a hands-on therapy practice and regain the patient base that had been lost during the lockdowns.
Then, on 27 November 2021, my world changed forever when I lost my husband.
Just months later, the devastating KwaZulu-Natal floods of April 2022 brought further hardship to our region.
In the years that followed, I faced periods of homelessness, ongoing financial challenges, and most recently the theft of all funds from my bank account through fraud.
This devastating loss would have forced me into homelessness once again. Throughout many of these hardships, there were extended periods where I often went without food due to a lack of financial resources.
As a result, I was unable to establish a new home and residential base in KwaZulu-Natal, ultimately forcing me to relocate and rebuild my life and business in eMalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga.
Despite these circumstances, Muscle Recon continued to serve its patients with the same passion, dedication and commitment to results.
At many points, it would have been easier to give up.
Instead, Muscle Recon kept moving forward because helping people move better, feel better and live stronger every day was always bigger than the challenges we faced.
Today, as I say goodbye to Ballito, Durban and the surrounding communities, my greatest gratitude goes to the patients who trusted me with their care and chose to get better from the best.
I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to the South African Multiple Sclerosis Association.
Thank you for placing your trust in Muscle Recon through the opportunities and contracts you provided over the years.
Working with patients living with Multiple Sclerosis was both a privilege and a humbling experience. Many of these patients faced significant mobility challenges. Some required assistance from family members or caregivers simply to attend treatment sessions, while others required home-based therapy because travelling was difficult.
Being trusted to play a role in improving their movement, comfort, function and quality of life was an honour that I will never forget.
To every Multiple Sclerosis patient and family member who trusted me with their care, thank you. Your determination, resilience and willingness to keep fighting despite the challenges you faced was truly inspiring.
I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have been part of your journey.
Over the years, I had the privilege of treating people from all walks of life, including a heart surgeon, medical doctors, a chiropractor, a physiotherapist, business owners, athletes, workers, parents and retirees.
To every one of you, thank you.
Thank you for believing that your body holds the key to recovery and for trusting me to help unlock that potential.
Thank you for placing your health and wellbeing in my hands and allowing me to be part of your journey.
Most importantly, thank you for discovering that at Muscle Recon we do not chase symptoms — we find the true source of pain, restriction and dysfunction.
Together, we worked to restore movement, improve function and create lasting results.
Every milestone achieved, every step taken without pain, every return to work, sport, family activities and daily life reminded me why this work matters so much.
To every patient who walked through my door, welcomed me into their home, referred a friend or family member, shared a success story or simply trusted the process — thank you.
You were never just patients.
You became part of the Muscle Recon family.
I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Coronation Medical Centre in Malvern and Odyssey Medical Centre in Ballito.
A special thank you to Dr. Justin Henry.
Our professional relationship began in 2017 when you treated me following my back injury. Over the years, that relationship grew into one of professional collaboration, guidance and friendship.
Following the devastating floods and the loss of virtually everything I had worked for, you opened your doors to Muscle Recon and provided me with the opportunity to rebuild by working alongside your chiropractic practice. For that, I will always be grateful.
Your contribution to the Muscle Recon journey went far beyond simply providing a treatment room. You were a mentor who offered advice, guidance, encouragement and professional support during some of the most difficult periods of my life and business journey.
Thank you for believing in Muscle Recon, for sharing your knowledge and experience, and for helping me continue serving patients when it would have been easy to give up.
I would also like to thank Coronation Medical Centre and Odyssey Medical Centre for welcoming Muscle Recon into your facilities, allowing me to serve patients within your centres and making me feel part of your teams. Your support and professionalism contributed to the care and recovery of countless patients over the years.
While the treatment room at Coronation Medical Centre in Malvern and the treatment room at Odyssey Medical Centre in Ballito may be closing, the lessons, memories, friendships and professional relationships built over the years will stay with me forever.
Thank you for believing in and trusting the expert care and Muscle Recon approach.
Thank you for allowing me to help you move better, feel better and live stronger every day.
This is not goodbye forever.
This is simply the start of a new chapter.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Nikita De Beer Kotze
Muscle Recon
Pain & Movement Specialist
