Sports physio
Get back to your sport without losing half a season to a niggle
The injury has not settled, training hurts and you are guessing about what is safe to do. Sports injuries respond well to the right assessment, the right loading and a clear return to sport plan.
Medicare, NDIS, DVA and private health funds accepted.
Understanding Sports physiotherapy
Sports physio is physiotherapy for injuries caused by sport, training or exercise. Your physiotherapist works out which tissue is injured, what your training load had to do with it, and what your body needs to handle your sport again.
Treatment usually combines hands-on techniques, a graded strength and loading program, and changes to how you train while you recover. Most people keep doing some form of training rather than stopping completely.
Who does it affect?
anyone who trains, from weekend runners and social netballers to junior and elite athletes.
How common is it?
injuries are common at every level of sport, particularly in pre-season and after a break from training.
What is the recovery like?
varies with the tissue involved, the severity and the demands of your sport.
Who should I see for treatment?
your physiotherapist, with input from exercise physiology or podiatry when your case needs it.
What funding options are available?
Medicare, NDIS, DVA and private health funds accepted.
What is sports physio?
Sports physio is the assessment and treatment of injuries linked to sport and training. It covers the acute injury that happened in one moment, the overuse injury that crept in over weeks, and the rehabilitation that comes after surgery.
Most sports injuries happen when the load you ask of a tissue is more than the load it can currently handle. That gap opens up in two ways: the load jumps suddenly, or your capacity drops through fatigue, time off or an old injury that was never fully rehabilitated.
Things that commonly contribute:
A quick rise in training volume, intensity or frequency
Direct contact resulting injury - fracture, contusion
Returning to sport after the off-season, illness or a previous injury
Strength, control or mobility deficits at the hip, trunk, shoulder or ankle
Fatigue late in a session or game, when technique changes
A change in footwear, playing surface or equipment
Limited recovery time between sessions, games or events
Symptoms of Sports physiotherapy
Sports injuries present in different ways depending on the tissue involved:
Pain during a session, straight after, or the next morning
Swelling, bruising, or a joint that feels hot and puffy
Noticeable loss of strength, speed or power on one side
A joint that gives way, catches or locks
Stiffness that blocks a movement your sport needs
Pain that appears at the same point in every session
Your plan comes from your assessment, including your diagnosis, your training history and the demands of your sport.
What to expect at your first appointment
Tell us what is going on
How the injury happened, what your sport and training week look like, and what you are aiming to get back to.
A full assessment
Your physiotherapist tests movement, strength, control and the specific structures involved, and checks the joints above and below.
A clear plan
You leave knowing your diagnosis, what you can safely keep doing, and the exercises that start your rehabilitation.
Review and adjust
As your strength and tolerance improve, your program progresses towards full training and competition.
When to book an appointment
Pain has lasted more than a week, or comes back every time you train
You are limping, guarding a limb, or pulling out of sessions
Rest, ice and stretching have not changed anything
You are unsure whether training on it is making it worse
Book an assessment if:
Looking after yourself at home
A quick rise in training volume, intensity or frequency
Direct contact resulting injury - fracture, contusion
Returning to sport after the off-season, illness or a previous injury
Strength, control or mobility deficits at the hip, trunk, shoulder or ankle
Fatigue late in a session or game, when technique changes
A change in footwear, playing surface or equipment
Limited recovery time between sessions, games or events
Meet the team who treat this
Behind every appointment is a team of practitioners who know each other, trust each other and work together for you. Across seven clinics and nine disciplines, our team shares expertise, coordinates treatment plans and celebrates your progress together.
Aimee Fuller
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Alicia Whiticker
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amanda Banks
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amanda Duggan
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Amy Meekings
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Anita Beerapu
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Benjamin Tucker
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Blake Cossar
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Bronte Tupper
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Chris Farrugia
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Corrina Aitken
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
David Logue
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Dean Gresser
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Emma Nassif
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Esha Sharma
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Fatima Hussaini
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Felicity Spencer-Davey
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Frankie Raikadroka
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Hannah Norrie
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Heather Edwards
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Isaac Vella
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Jarrah Nesbitt
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Jonathan Lopez
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Justin Hanna
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kasey Collins
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Katrina Gauci
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kennedy Touet
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kristy Edwards
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Kyle Perry
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Lorna Nicastri
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Maja Bosic
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Marxy Koronel
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Matt Barton
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Michael Todd
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Mr Jeffery Jenkins FACPS
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Nathan Cavanagh
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Patrick Celeban
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Praise Khin
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Sarah Bonnici
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Shannon Smith
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Siobhan Kelly
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Taleisha Bozzi
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Trystan Singh
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Uty Kotwal
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Yoni Hochberg
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
Zak Lloyd
Healthcare Support Officer
Available at Blaxland
EPC, DVA, NDIS and WorkCover welcome
Nearly half of our appointments are funded through Medicare, DVA, NDIS or WorkCover. We manage the paperwork so you can focus on your health.
NDIS
We support eligible NDIS participants across podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology, dietetics and psychology, depending on your plan and goals. Eligibility and funding are set by your plan.
Medicare
Medicare may rebate podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology and dietetics sessions when your GP refers you under an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan, and psychology sessions under a Mental Health Care Plan. The number of sessions is set by your plan.
DVA
Gold and White card holders can access DVA-funded care across our services with a valid referral.
WorkCover
If you have been injured at work, we accept WorkCover referrals for physiotherapy, exercise physiology and psychology, and manage the paperwork with your insurer, with a clear return-to-work plan.
Seven clinics across three regions
Find a clinic near you. Each location is staffed by local practitioners who know your community.
Penrith
Western SydneyOur largest centre, with our full range of services under one roof.
Ropes Crossing
Western SydneyPodiatry, at Ropes Crossing Village.
Blaxland
Blue MountainsPodiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology and group classes.
Springwood
Blue MountainsPodiatry, dietetics and a boutique footwear store.
Katoomba
Blue MountainsPodiatry, physiotherapy and dietetics, in a restored 1914 cottage.
Ryde
North ShorePodiatry, physiotherapy, dietetics and exercise physiology, with a footwear store and gait analysis.
Lindfield
North ShorePodiatry, with mobile podiatry across the North Shore and Northern Beaches.
Ready to get back to your sport?
Book a sports physio assessment and get a plan for training, rehabilitation and return to play.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a sports physio and a general physiotherapist?
Sports physiotherapy is an area of focus, not a separate registration. Every physiotherapist you see is registered with AHPRA and trained in musculoskeletal injury. A sports focus means the assessment weighs your sport’s demands, your training week, your position and your competition calendar, and rehabilitation is built to those demands rather than to everyday movement. [CONFIRM: whether any OnePointHealth physiotherapists hold sports-specific postgraduate qualifications]
How soon after a sports injury should I be assessed?
Within the first few days for most acute injuries. Early assessment identifies injuries that need imaging or protection, and it stops you resting more than you need to. Swelling and pain in the first 48 hours can mask what is happening, so your physiotherapist may retest a few days later once the initial reaction settles.
What should I bring to my first sports physio appointment?
Bring the shoes or boots you train and compete in, plus any brace, orthotic or strapping you currently use. Wear or bring shorts and a top you can move in, since your physiotherapist needs to see the joint working. Also bring any scan reports, surgical notes, your training program and the dates of upcoming games or events.
Can I claim sports physio through my private health fund at the clinic?
Yes. Our clinics process extras claims on the spot through HICAPS, so you pay only the gap on the day. What you get back depends on your level of cover, your annual limits and whether you have used physiotherapy benefits already this year. You do not need a referral to claim under private extras cover.
Do you work with my coach, club or surgeon?
Yes, with your permission. Your physiotherapist can share modified training recommendations with a coach, report on return to play stages for a club, and follow the rehabilitation protocol set by your surgeon after an operation. Communication between everyone involved reduces the chance of you being asked to do two conflicting things in the same week.
Can a sports physio help before I get injured?
Yes. Pre-season screening and load planning look at strength, movement control, previous injuries and training history to identify where you are most exposed. This suits athletes coming back from an off-season, anyone starting a new event build-up, and people with a history of the same injury recurring. Read more: https://onepointhealth.com.au/treatments/injury-prevention/