Sports Physiotherapy Adelaide
Sports Injury Specialists
Dealing with a sports injury is frustrating, especially when it keeps you from doing what you love. For more than 30 years, our physios have worked with Adelaide athletes as they recover from injury and return to movement, from weekend netballers through to players in organised competitions.
Injured your knee during Saturday's footy match? Managing a niggling calf strain while training for City to Bay? Our sports physiotherapists in Adelaide can assess your injury, explain what is going on, and support you with a structured rehabilitation plan.
Treating Adelaide athletes since the early 1990s
Same day bookings often available
Fully equipped physio gym facilities
All insurance accepted (Private, Medicare CDM, DVA, WorkCover)
What is Sports Physiotherapy
Sports physiotherapy focuses on assessing and managing injuries that occur during sport or physical activity. Rolled your ankle playing netball? Strained your hamstring at training? Working through rehabilitation after ACL surgery? These are the types of problems we see every day.
Our physios understand how athletes move, what commonly goes wrong, and how to assess and manage these issues. The goal is not only to reduce pain. We also look at strength, flexibility, control, and technique so your body can better handle the demands of your chosen activity and may help reduce the risk of future injury.
We work with:
AFL players, netballers, soccer players, cricketers, and tennis players
Weekend players and recreational sportspeople
Regular gym goers and CrossFit participants
Runners, cyclists, and people who enjoy Adelaide Hills walking and running trails
People recovering from sports related surgery
Common Sports Injuries We See in Adelaide
Our Adelaide clinics see many types of sports injuries. Some happen in a split second on the field. Others build up slowly during weeks or months of training.
Knee injuries are very common. ACL injuries may require surgery and a long rehabilitation program. Meniscus injuries can occur with or without ACL involvement. Pain around or behind the kneecap often troubles runners and people who spend a lot of time on stairs or hills. Jumper's knee is frequently seen in netball, basketball, and volleyball.
Ankle injuries occur when a joint is rolled, sprained, or twisted. The bigger problem can arise when the ankle becomes unstable over time because the ligaments and surrounding muscles have not fully recovered. Distance runners may develop Achilles tendon pain that needs careful load management and progressive strengthening.
Shoulder injuries often appear in contact sports and swimming. Rotator cuff irritation or tears, previous dislocations, and impingement can all limit how comfortably you can lift your arm, catch a ball, or swim overhead strokes.
Muscle strains in the hamstrings, calves, groin, or quadriceps usually occur during sprinting, rapid direction changes, or late in a game when fatigue sets in.
Overuse injuries tend to appear more gradually. Tennis elbow is common in racquet sports but also in people who repeat gripping tasks at work. Shin pain can affect newer runners or people who have increased their training too quickly. Pain under the heel or along the arch of the foot may make those first steps out of bed in the morning uncomfortable.
We also provide concussion management based on current guidelines, with a focus on brain health and safe decision making around training and game play.
Some research on ACL injuries suggests that structured and progressive rehabilitation programs can support many athletes in returning to sport. These findings relate to the study groups only and individual outcomes vary. Your physiotherapist will discuss what this evidence may mean for your specific situation.
How Sports Physiotherapy Works at Ducker Physio
Initial Assessment: Understanding Your Injury
Your first session focuses on understanding what has happened and why. Your physiotherapist takes a detailed history, asks about your sport and training load, and performs movement and strength tests. The aim is to identify contributing factors such as weakness, reduced control, or changes in training that may have led to your injury. This information forms the basis of your treatment plan.
Early Treatment Phase: Calming Symptoms
During the early phase after an injury, treatment is aimed at reducing pain and swelling while supporting tissue healing. Your sessions may include gentle joint mobilisations, soft tissue techniques, taping, and education on activity modification. Dry needling may be used for some people to address muscle tension if appropriate. Your physio will also guide you through safe exercises you can usually start quite early in the recovery process.
Progressive Rehabilitation: Building Strength and Function
As symptoms begin to settle, rehabilitation focuses more on strength, control, and gradually increasing your load tolerance. Your physiotherapist designs an exercise program linked to your sport and goals, which is adjusted as you improve.
Early stages emphasise simple movements, basic strength work, and maintaining general fitness in areas not affected by the injury. As you progress, exercises may include targeted strength training, flexibility work, balance drills, and sport specific patterns.
Rehabilitation sessions often take place in our physio gyms at Magill and Salisbury, where you can use equipment designed for exercise based recovery.
Preparing to Return to Sport
Before we discuss a return to training or competition, your physio looks at a combination of factors including strength, power, movement quality, and confidence.
Testing may include:
Strength testing that compares the injured and uninjured side
Single leg and multi directional hop tests
Movement screening under load
Sport specific tasks that reflect the demands of your position or event
We also consider psychological readiness. Many athletes feel uncertain about returning after a significant injury, so part of our role is to help you understand risk, pacing, and realistic expectations.
Some surveys of physiotherapists have reported that both physical measures and psychological factors are considered important when advising on return to sport. Your physiotherapist will explain how these principles apply in your case.
Ongoing Support and Injury Risk Reduction
Getting back on the field, court, or track is an important milestone. After this point, many people benefit from a plan that focuses on long term joint health and injury risk reduction.
Your physio may discuss:
Load management and training progression
Maintenance strength exercises
Warm up and recovery strategies
Position specific drills you can integrate into your regular training
Why Adelaide Athletes Work With Ducker Physio
Longstanding Experience With Sporting Injuries
Our team has been working with Adelaide athletes since the early 1990s. Over time we have supported people from community sport through to higher level competition in a wide range of codes. This experience helps us recognise common injury patterns and develop practical treatment and rehab plans.
Hospital Experience in a Private Clinic Setting
Ducker Physio provides physiotherapy services at Calvary Central Districts Hospital. The knowledge gained in that setting is carried into our private clinics, where patients can work with the same physiotherapists in a more flexible appointment environment.
Evidence Informed Treatment
We aim to base your treatment on current research, clinical guidelines, and professional experience. Our physios maintain ongoing education so your rehabilitation plan reflects both the latest evidence and what is realistic for your life and sport.
Convenient Adelaide Locations
We provide sports physiotherapy across Adelaide's eastern and northern suburbs. You can choose the clinic that best suits your schedule, work, or home location.
Our Adelaide Sports Physio Locations
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Sports Physio Magill
Address: 465/ 467 The Parade, Magill SA 5072
Servicing: Norwood, Burnside, Kensington, Campbelltown, Rostrevor, Athelstone, Magill, St Peters
Facilities: Physio gym, private treatment rooms, after hours appointments available
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Sports Physio Salisbury
Address: 9 Mary Street, Salisbury SA 5108
Servicing: Salisbury, Parafield, Elizabeth, Munno Para, Gawler, Golden Grove
Facilities: Physio gym facility, small group exercise classes, after hours appointments available
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Sports Physio at Calvary Central Districts Hospital
Address: 25 / 37 Jarvis Road, Elizabeth Vale SA 5112
Servicing: Hospital inpatients and the northern Adelaide community
Book Your Sports Physio Assessment
Early assessment can help clarify the nature of your injury and outline a realistic plan to return to activity. Our Adelaide sports physiotherapists aim to offer same day or after hours appointments where possible, subject to availability.
We accept all major insurance types including private health funds, Medicare CDM plans, DVA, and WorkCover. You can book online or contact our reception team by phone for assistance.
FAQs
Most frequently asked questions about our Sports Physiotherapy in Adelaide.
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You can book directly with Ducker Physio without a GP referral for most private appointments. Some funding schemes, such as Medicare CDM plans, WorkCover, and DVA, usually require a referral or specific paperwork in order to claim a rebate. If you are unsure, our reception team or your insurer can explain what is needed.
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Initial consultation fees start from [price]. We accept all major health funds and offer HICAPS claiming so you can usually process your rebate on the day. If you are attending through a specific program or clinic, such as the Joint Replacement Clinic, you may be eligible for reduced or no gap costs depending on your health fund and policy. Our team can provide fee information before you book.
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Recovery timeframes vary widely and depend on the type of injury, how severe it is, and your general health. As a general guide, some minor sprains may settle within a few weeks, while many people recovering from ACL reconstruction require many months of rehabilitation. Your physiotherapist will discuss a timeframe that reflects your situation and will review this as you progress.
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You can book a sports physiotherapy appointment in Adelaide online or by calling our reception team. Choose our Magill clinic if you are based in the eastern suburbs or Salisbury if you live in the north. No referral is needed for most private appointments. If you notice red flag symptoms such as numbness, loss of strength, night pain that does not settle, fever, or a significant injury event, please seek urgent medical care or call emergency services as appropriate.
General information only
The information on this page is general in nature and does not replace individual medical or physiotherapy advice. Your assessment and treatment will always be based on your specific symptoms, medical history, and goals. Outcomes vary from person to person.