Sports Injury Physiotherapy
Sports injuries are one of the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy. They affect athletes and recreational exercisers at all levels, from weekend runners and social sport players to competitive athletes and gym training enthusiasts. Whether your injury happened suddenly during a game or training session, or built up gradually over weeks of training, getting the right assessment and management early makes a significant difference to recovery time and the risk of the problem recurring.
At Onward Physiotherapy in Lidcombe, sports injuries are assessed thoroughly. Our physiotherapists look at the injured structure, the contributing factors that led to the injury, and what is needed to return you to your sport or activity safely and with confidence. Returning to sport is not just about resolving pain. It requires restoring strength, movement, and the physical capacity to handle the demands of your activity.
Types of Sports Injuries We Treat
Muscle strains
Tears or overstretching of muscle fibres from a sudden explosive effort or fatigue-related injury. Common in the hamstrings, quadriceps, calf, and groin. Graded from mild to severe depending on the extent of the tear. Early management and progressive rehabilitation leads to better outcomes and reduces re-injury risk.
Ligament sprains
Injuries to the ligaments that stabilise joints, commonly the ankle, knee, and shoulder. Range from mild stretching to complete tears. Appropriate rehabilitation restores joint stability and reduces the risk of chronic instability or re-injury.
Tendinopathy
Overuse injuries to tendons from training load that exceeds the tendon’s capacity to recover. Common in the Achilles, patellar, rotator cuff, and gluteal tendons. Responds well to a progressive loading rehabilitation program rather than rest alone.
Stress fractures
Bone stress injuries from repetitive loading, common in runners, dancers, and athletes in high-impact sports. Management involves load modification and a structured return to activity guided by symptom response.
ACL and knee ligament injuries
One of the most significant sports injuries, commonly from pivoting, landing, or contact. Physiotherapy plays a central role in both non-surgical management and post-surgical rehabilitation following ACL reconstruction, including a structured return to sport program.
Shoulder injuries in sport
Including rotator cuff strains, AC joint injuries, shoulder dislocations, and labral injuries from throwing, contact, swimming, and racquet sports. Physiotherapy restores movement, strength, and stability.
Shin splints and bone stress injuries
Pain along the shin from running and impact loading. Ranges from medial tibial stress syndrome to tibial stress fractures. Common in runners increasing their mileage and those new to high-impact activity.
Groin and hip injuries
Including adductor strains, hip flexor injuries, and hip impingement-related pain from kicking sports, sprinting, and change of direction activities.
Sports hernia and athletic pubalgia
Groin pain in athletes from repetitive kicking, twisting, and change of direction. Requires a thorough assessment to differentiate from other groin pain sources and a structured rehabilitation program.
Concussion management
Physiotherapy plays a role in post-concussion management, particularly for cervicogenic headaches, neck pain, and return to sport progression following head injuries in contact sports.
Return to sport rehabilitation
Structured rehabilitation programs for athletes recovering from surgery or significant injury, progressing through strength, movement, sport-specific conditioning, and return to training milestones.
Common Symptoms of Sports Injuries
Sports injuries can present in a wide range of ways depending on the structure involved and the mechanism of injury. Common symptoms include:
– Sudden onset pain during or after activity
– Swelling, bruising, or tenderness at the injury site
– Reduced range of movement following injury
– Muscle tightness or cramping
– A popping, snapping, or tearing sensation at the time of injury
– Joint instability or a feeling of giving way
– Pain that builds gradually with training load
– Stiffness after rest or the morning after activity
– Weakness or reduced performance in sport or training
– Recurring injuries at the same site
How Physiotherapy Can Help Sports Injuries
Physiotherapy for sports injuries aims to accurately diagnose what has been injured, manage pain and swelling in the early stages, and guide a progressive rehabilitation program that restores full function and reduces re-injury risk.
At Onward Physiotherapy, treatment is tailored to your assessment findings, the demands of your sport, and your return to sport goals. Depending on your presentation, treatment may include:
– Manual therapy to restore joint movement and reduce pain
– Soft tissue work for muscle tightness and scar tissue management
– Progressive strength and loading exercises specific to your injury and sport
– Movement retraining to address biomechanical factors that contributed to the injury
– Balance, proprioception, and agility retraining for return to sport
– Dry needling for muscle tension and pain management where clinically appropriate
– Taping and bracing advice for return to training
– Load management guidance to support recovery while maintaining fitness
– Running biomechanical assessments for athletes returning to running after injury
– Structured return to sport programs with clear milestones and criteria
Sessions run for 40 to 45 minutes, giving our physiotherapists enough time to both treat and progress your rehabilitation within each appointment.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your first appointment is 45 minutes. Our physiotherapists will ask about how and when the injury occurred, your symptoms, your sport and training history, and what you want to return to.
A physical assessment follows. This looks at the injured structure, joint movement, muscle strength, and any biomechanical factors that may have contributed to the injury. From there, a treatment plan is discussed with you, including a realistic timeframe for return to sport and clear guidance on what you can and cannot do during recovery.
You do not need a referral to book.
Pricing
– Initial consultation: $130 for 45 minutes
– Follow up: $120 for 40 minutes
– Extended consultation: $200 for 90 minutes (for complex or post-surgical presentations)
– Individual Running Biomechanical Assessment: $200 for 90 minutes
– Medicare: $61.80 rebate processed on the spot with a Chronic Condition Management Plan from your GP
– WorkCover and CTP: billed direct to your insurer with no out-of-pocket cost
FAQ — Sports Injury Physiotherapy
How soon after a sports injury should I see a physiotherapist?
As soon as possible. Early physiotherapy assessment following a sports injury helps clarify the extent of the injury, guides appropriate early management, and reduces the risk of complications from delayed or inappropriate treatment. You do not need to wait until the acute pain settles before booking.
Do I need a scan before seeing a physiotherapist for a sports injury?
No. Most sports injuries are assessed and managed effectively without imaging. Our physiotherapists will advise you at your appointment if a scan would provide useful information for your specific presentation.
Can physiotherapy help me return to sport after an ACL injury?
Yes. Physiotherapy is central to ACL rehabilitation whether you are managing the injury without surgery or recovering from ACL reconstruction. Rehabilitation progresses through specific strength, movement, and sport-specific milestones before return to sport is cleared.
How long does it take to recover from a muscle strain?
This depends on the severity of the strain and the muscle involved. Mild strains can recover within a few weeks with appropriate management. More significant tears require a longer structured program. Our physiotherapists will give you a realistic timeframe at your first appointment based on your assessment findings.
Can physiotherapy help with a recurring sports injury?
Yes. Recurring injuries are often driven by incomplete rehabilitation following an earlier injury, leaving deficits in strength, movement, or load tolerance that make the area vulnerable. Physiotherapy identifies and addresses these underlying factors.
Do you treat junior and adolescent athletes?
Yes. Young athletes including children and teenagers are commonly treated at the clinic. Parents are involved throughout the assessment and treatment process. Conditions specific to adolescent athletes, including growth-related presentations, are assessed and managed appropriately.
Do you treat sports injuries from running events?
Yes. Runners preparing for and recovering from events such as the Sydney Marathon, Hoka Half Marathon, and parkrun are regularly seen at the clinic. Running biomechanical assessments are also available for those who want a detailed analysis of their technique and injury risk.
Do you treat sports injuries from dance and performance?
Yes. Dance-related sports injuries are treated at the clinic with an understanding of the specific physical demands of dance training and performance. The clinic is located within IMI Entertainment, making it directly accessible for IMI dancers and performers.
Do you accept WorkCover or CTP claims for sports injuries?
Yes. WorkCover, CTP, Linfox, and FPES early intervention claims are accepted and billed direct to your insurer with no out-of-pocket cost.
Where is the clinic located?
Onward Physiotherapy is at 9 East Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141, inside Studio D at IMI Entertainment. The clinic is close to Lidcombe Station on the T1 and T2 lines and serves patients from across Western and Inner West Sydney including Strathfield, Auburn, Burwood, Parramatta, Rhodes, Homebush, and Sydney Olympic Park.