Sports physiotherapy is a specialised area of physiotherapy that focuses on the prevention, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries relating to sport and physical activity.
While it is commonly associated with athletes, sports physiotherapy is appropriate for anyone who engages in physical activity. Whether you are a weekend warrior or an elite athlete, sports physiotherapy can be for you!
The goal of sports physiotherapy goes beyond simply reducing pain. It aims to restore full function, improve performance, and safely return individuals to their chosen activity while reducing the risk of future injuries.
What Injuries Can Sports Physiotherapists Treat?
Sports physiotherapists manage a wide range of injuries and conditions that occur during training, competition, or physical activity. These include both acute injuries and chronic or overuse conditions, such as:
- Muscle injuries such as strains and tears (e.g. hamstring, calves, shoulder rotator cuff)
- Traumatic injuries (e.g. fractures, contusions)
- Ligament injuries (e.g. ankle sprains, ACLs)
- Tendon injuries (e.g. Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy)
- Joint injuries (e.g. shoulder instability/dislocations, knee pain)
- Bone loading injuries (e.g. bone stress reaction and fractures)
- Overuse injuries caused by training loads or technique errors
- Post-surgical rehab
Sports physiotherapists also play a key role in injury prevention by addressing strength deficits, movement pattern dysfunctions, mobility, load management, and recovery strategies.
How Does Sports Physiotherapy Differ from General Physiotherapy?
Sports physio takes a more performance-driven and sport-specific approach to injury management than general physiotherapy.
Key differences include:
- Focus on return to sport or activity (beyond just daily function)
- Sport-specific rehabilitation in the gym, at home, and on the field or court
- Higher-level strength, power, agility, and conditioning work
- Load management and performance monitoring
- Close collaboration with coaches, trainers, and medical teams within sporting environments as needed.
General physiotherapy, however, often focuses on returning to pain-free movement for everyday activities and is not specifically geared towards helping individuals return to the high physical demands of their sport.
What Does a Sports Physio Appointment Look Like at Complete Balance Physiotherapy?
At Complete Balance Physiotherapy, you can expect high-quality care, which begins with a thorough assessment.
Your sports physiotherapist will ask you about your injury, training/activity levels, goals, and relevant medical background. Then, your sports physiotherapist will conduct a physical examination, which may include movement analysis, strength testing, range of motion assessment, and functional or sport-specific tests.
Based on your assessment, your physiotherapist will complete the following:
- Explain the diagnosis and contributing factors.
- Develop a personalised rehabilitation plan to address your return to sport and performance goals.
- Begin treatment, which may include hands-on therapy, exercise prescription, movement retraining, and education.
- Provide guidance and recommendations regarding activity modification, training loads, and return-to-play plan.
Your sports physiotherapist will continue to progress your rehabilitation by gradually increasing intensity and training integration as suitable to safely prepare you for a full return to sport or activity.
Get Back to What You Love
Sports physiotherapy isn’t just for elite athletes. It’s for anyone who wants to move well, recover properly, and stay active with confidence.
From treating acute injuries to managing long-term overuse issues, sports physio focuses on restoring function, improving performance, and reducing the risk of future injury. With sport-specific rehab, load management, and personalised care, it helps you return safely to the activities you enjoy.
If pain or injury is holding you back, help is close by. Visit a Complete Balance Physiotherapy clinic near you or send us a message via our contact page.
