By Joe Fentum, BSc (hons) Physiotherapy
Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend warrior, or just want to stay active and avoid setbacks, injury prevention is key to continuing the activities you love. Physiotherapy is often thought of as something you turn to after an injury, but what if you could prevent the injury from happening in the first place?
Physiotherapists don’t just treat pain — they’re movement experts, skilled in picking up small issues before they become big ones. Read on to learn how physios prevent injury, who can benefit, and how a tailored prevention plan can keep you moving with confidence.
What Is Injury Prevention in Physiotherapy?
Injury prevention is about identifying and addressing potential problem areas before they become an issue. In some cases, you may attend an appointment with a niggle that you don’t want to worsen. Other times, you may not be experiencing pain, but your physio may still identify key areas to work on.
Physiotherapists are trained to assess the way you move, your posture, your strength, and your flexibility. With the the latest movement and strength screening equipment, the team at Quay Health can provide you with objective data to establish baseline numbers and monitor your progress.
Through this lens, imbalances can be detected as well as weaknesses or dysfunctional patterns that may not be painful now but could eventually lead to overuse, strain or breakdown.
In practical terms, this will involve:
- Detailed history taking to establish your symptoms and goals
- A hands-on assessment to monitor joint movement and muscle tightness
- A movement screen or biomechanical analysis
- Testing strength and jumping with tools like the ForceDecks or ForceFrame, which gives objective data, thereby taking the guesswork out of rehabilitation • Reviewing your daily routine, sport, or gym technique
- Prescribing specific exercises to build resilience in vulnerable areas
The Evidence: How Physiotherapy Reduces Injury Risk
Over the years, research has consistently shown the benefits of Physiotherapy in reducing injury risk among the healthy population and preventing reinjuring the same area.
Some examples are listed below:
- Regular exercise and education guided by physiotherapists has been shown to reduce back pain and the frequency of future flare-ups (Steffens et al. 2016).
- A recent study found that athletes who engage in regular shoulder strengthening programs, have a significantly reduced rate of injuries compared with those that do not (Hadjisavvas, 2024).
- Regular hamstring exercises have been shown to reduce the rate of hamstring injuries in athletes, with one study showing up to a 51% reduction in hamstring injuries and improved sprint performance (Nunes et al. 2024)
- Whilst strength training is important, jump training (plyometrics) is also key to enhancing performance and speeding up recovery from injuries. A study involving football players found that those with ankle instability experienced a greater improvement in pain and function (Abinaya 2023).
- Using the latest technology, physiotherapists can also detect asymmetries or deficits that aren’t visible to the naked eye, allowing early intervention before pain or injury occurs. This data-driven approach has shown to be effective in early detection of risk factors that can lead to injury (Bishop et al. 2018).
Who Should Consider Injury Prevention Physiotherapy?
You don’t need to be injured to see a physio. In fact, physiotherapy for injury prevention is beneficial for:
- Athletes and active people who are looking to boost their performance and reduce time on the sidelines, or who are unable to do their sport
- Office workers with posture-related issues
- Manual workers at risk of overuse injuries
- People with recurring injuries aiming to stop them coming back
- Older adults looking to keep as active as possible, but are at risk of falls or losing muscle strength
- Individuals awaiting surgery who want to be in the best shape possible ahead of it, or progress to the point where surgery is not required
- Gym-goers looking to lift, run, or move better without setbacks
What Does a Physiotherapy Injury Prevention Program Look Like?
At Quay Health, every client is treated as an individual when considering their needs and assessing their function. This principle is also applied to the delivery of treatment, ensuring you get what you need.
This could include:
- Hands-on treatment, such as soft tissue or joint mobilisations, to achieve full joint range of motion
- Education about your condition/injury — how to avoid flaring up during daily activities, and what to focus on
- A detailed treatment plan of what to expect regarding timelines for progression
- Progressive exercises — including strength, balance, control and plyometric work
- Regular retesting to track your progress from your perspective, as well as using objective data to confirm this
How to Get Started
Physiotherapy can offer more than just pain relief — it’s a proactive way to move better, protect your body and keep doing the things you love. Whatever you are struggling with, an individualised plan can help you get the best out of yourself.
Ready to future-proof your body? Book an assessment with a Quay Health Physiotherapist in Sydney today and take the first step towards moving with confidence.
References
Abinaya, S. (2023). A study to evaluate the effectiveness of plyometric training program versus conventional program on pain and ankle instability among football players –
Randomized controlled trial (RCT). Bioscience Biotechnology Research Communications, May 2023.
Bishop, C., Read, P., Chavda, S., & Turner, A. (2018). Asymmetries of the lower limb: The calculation conundrum in strength training and injury prevention. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 40(1), 1–6.
Hadjisavvas, S. (2024). Shoulder injury prevention exercise programs in overhead athletes: A brief review. Journal of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, 1(1), 1002.
Nunes, H., Fernandes, L. G., Martins, P. N., & Ferreira, R. M. (2023). The effects of Nordic hamstring exercise on performance and injury in the lower extremities: An umbrella review. Healthcare, 11(15), 2121.
Steffens, D., Maher, C. G., Pereira, L. S., Stevens, M. L., Oliveira, V. C., Chapple, M., & Hancock, M. J. (2016). Prevention of low back pain: A systematic review and meta analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(2), 199–208.
