Lidcombe Physiotherapy
Services
At Onward Physiotherapy, we’re committed to delivering personalised, evidence-based care tailored to your unique needs. Conveniently based in Lidcombe at the vibrant IMI Entertainment dance studio, we also have access to the state-of-the-art Gym Physix to support your recovery and performance goals.
Our Services
Our clinic offers a wide range of physiotherapy services designed for dancers, athletes, and everyday movers alike. Whether you’re recovering from injury, managing chronic pain, or aiming to optimise your physical performance, our hands-on approach and extensive experience will help you move forward with confidence and ease.
General Physiotherapy
At Onward Physiotherapy, our general physiotherapy services cover a wide range of musculoskeletal concerns including sports injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, joint pain, everyday strains, and chronic pain management.
Using evidence-based treatment plans, we provide hands-on therapy, education, and tailored exercise programs designed to reduce pain, restore function, improve mobility, and help you regain strength. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or surgery, managing a long-term condition, or aiming to prevent future injuries, our goal is to support your long-term movement, wellbeing, and quality of life.
Our hands-on treatments and personalised exercise programs help you build strength, flexibility, and balance, so you can return to dancing confidently and reduce your risk of injury.
Whether you’ve had a tough experience with physio before, are short on time, or aren’t sure how we can help, we’re here to listen and work with you, on your schedule, at your pace. We are happy to help you with any dance genre and we also provide pre-pointe assessments.
Dance Physiotherapy
We understand that as a dancer, you might worry about pain being “just part of the job,” or fear that seeing a physiotherapist means you’ll have to stop dancing. At Onward Physiotherapy, our dance physiotherapy is designed specifically for you and the unique demands of your art.
There wasn’t a physio nearby who really understood dancers or dance injuries.
I thought the pain was just normal for dancers, so I didn’t think it needed treatment.
I was afraid they’d tell me to stop dancing, and I didn’t want to lose training time.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure how physio could actually help with my dance injuries or performance.
It seemed expensive, and I wasn’t sure if I could afford the sessions.
My schedule is packed with rehearsals and performances I just didn’t have the time.
I had a bad experience with a physio before, so I wasn’t keen to go back.
I thought the injury would get better on its own, so I ignored the early signs.
We know dance involves complex movements and biomechanics, so we focus on injury prevention, rehab, and improving performance without unnecessary downtime.
Pre-Pointe Assessments
Getting ready for pointe work? Our pre-pointe assessments are designed to make sure your feet, ankles, and whole body are strong and flexible enough to take on the challenge safely.
During the assessment, we’ll check your strength, balance, flexibility, and technique to identify any areas that might need a little extra attention. This helps reduce the risk of injury and sets you up for a confident, enjoyable start to pointe dancing.
TMJ / TMD Physiotherapy
We offer physiotherapy for the jaw, also known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) include painful and non-painful issues affecting the jaw joint, chewing muscles, and related structures.
These problems can cause jaw pain, tightness in the chewing muscles, clicking or locking of the jaw, difficulty opening your mouth, and even headaches. In fact, TMJ problems are the most common cause of facial pain not related to teeth and are the second most reported musculoskeletal issue after chronic low back pain.
During your initial consultation, we’ll talk about your symptoms, what helps or worsens them, and any previous treatments. We then assess your jaw movement, chewing muscles, neck, posture, and strength. Based on this, we provide hands-on treatment and advice to help you manage your symptoms at home. If you’ve been referred by a dentist or specialist, we can also provide a detailed report with your diagnosis and recommendations. You don’t need a referral to see us.
Casting
Certain orthopaedic injuries like fractures, serious sprains, or joint problems, may need a cast to keep the area still and help it heal properly. We’ll just need a referral from your GP or orthopaedic specialist to get started.
If your injury is less than 10–14 days old, we may apply a plaster backslab first. This is because swelling is common early on, and a full cast might become too loose or too tight as swelling changes, which can cause complications.
After the swelling has settled (around 10–14 days), we can discuss switching to a synthetic (fibreglass) cast, which is lighter and stronger. We may also be able to provide waterproof materials, provided you don’t have any open wounds near the fracture.
Your doctor will advise how long you’ll need to keep the cast on and may arrange follow-up scans to monitor healing.
When it’s time to remove the cast, we’ll use a special cast saw. It might look intimidating, but it only cuts the cast, not your skin. After removal, we’ll guide your recovery by helping you regain movement, strength, and control.
Dry Needling
Dry needling uses very fine, single-use needles inserted into tight spots in your muscles called trigger points. This can help relieve muscle tension and reduce discomfort. Unlike acupuncture, which follows specific pathways called meridians, dry needling targets muscles based on clinical assessment.
Dry needling is a safe low-risk treatment when done by a qualified professional.
The most common side effects are mild bruising, muscle soreness, or feeling a bit tired afterward. These usually pass quickly and are well tolerated by most people.
Running Biomechanical Assessments
We can help you recover from running injuries, reduce the risk of new ones, and boost your running performance.
Our approach includes practical running retraining, tailored exercises, and advice on the right footwear to keep you moving strong.
Book an appointment
Based in a local dance studio, Onward Physiotherapy provides personalised, hands-on care to help you move better, feel stronger, and step confidently into your best self.