Sports Injuries Treatment in Wantirna
Whether you're training for a marathon, chasing a ball on Saturday morning, or just trying to stay active enough to keep up with your kids—injuries happen. And when they do, how you manage them determines how quickly you return and whether you'll be sidelined again with the same issue.
At Nudge Osteopathy in Wantirna, we strive to get athletes back to what they love. We don't just treat your injury—we analyse why it happened, address the underlying biomechanical flaws, and prepare you for a safer return to sport.
Why Choose Nudge Osteopathy for Your Sports Injuries?
✅ Sports-specific expertise—we understand the demands of your sport
✅ Thorough biomechanical assessment—identifying why you got injured
✅ Hands-on treatment combined with evidence-based rehabilitation
✅ Return-to-sport planning—we don't just clear you, we prepare you
✅ Convenient Wantirna location—serving Knox, Boronia, Bayswater & Eastern suburbs
✅ HICAPS available—instant private health rebates
Our Philosophy: Treat the Athlete, Not Just the Injury
Two runners present with Achilles pain. Their treatment plans should not be the same.
One is an 18-year-old sprinter with high arches and a sudden increase in training intensity. The other is a 52-year-old recreational jogger with tight calves, a history of ankle sprains, and worn-out running shoes.
Same tendon. Different athletes. Different causes. Different solutions.
This is why one-size-fits-all rehabilitation fails. We take the time to understand:
Your sport: Running, football, netball, cycling, swimming, tennis, golf, martial arts, CrossFit—each has unique demands
Your position/role: A midfielder covers 10-12km per game; a goalkeeper has explosive power demands
Your training load: Mileage, intensity, frequency, recovery
Your injury history: Old injuries shape current movement patterns
Your goals: Returning to social sport? Chasing a podium? Simply pain-free daily life?
Only then do we design your treatment.
Our 4-Phase Approach to Back Pain & Sciatica
Phase 1: Comprehensive Sports Assessment (Your First Visit)
Your first appointment is 45-60 minutes. This isn't a standard physiotherapy assessment—it's a sports performance and injury analysis.
We take a detailed sports history:
Your sport, position, training frequency, and competition schedule
How the injury occurred—acute trauma or gradual onset?
Previous injuries and their management
Your equipment—shoes, bike, racquet, club
Your goals—return to sport date, performance targets
We perform a comprehensive physical examination:
Injury-specific assessment: Orthopaedic and special tests for your condition
Biomechanical assessment: How you move—we may analyse your squat, lunge, run, or sport-specific movement
Kinetic chain assessment: Examining joints above and below your injury
Strength and flexibility profiling: Identifying imbalances that contributed to your injury
Functional testing: Sport-specific movements relevant to your activity
You'll leave knowing:
Exactly what's injured and the severity
Why it happened—the biomechanical and training factors
Whether you can continue training (and how to modify)
Your personalised treatment and rehabilitation plan
Expected timeline for return to sport
Phase 2: Pain Relief & Tissue Healing
Goal: Reduce pain, protect injured tissue, maintain fitness
Treatment may include:
Manual therapy: Joint mobilisation, soft tissue release, dry needling (if qualified)
Pain modulation strategies: Taping, activity modification, relative rest
Maintaining fitness: Cross-training options specific to your sport
Load management: Finding your pain-free training window
Duration: Days to weeks, depending on injury severity
Phase 3: Rehabilitation & Corrective Exercise
Goal: Restore strength, address biomechanical deficits, build capacity
Treatment may include:
Targeted strengthening: Addressing specific weaknesses identified in your assessment
Neuromuscular control: Proprioception, balance, coordination
Flexibility and mobility: Addressing restrictions limiting optimal movement
Sport-specific loading: Gradually introducing movements relevant to your sport
Duration: Weeks to months—this is where long-term outcomes are determined
Phase 4: Return to Sport & Performance Optimisation
Goal: Safe return to full competition with reduced re-injury risk
Treatment may include:
Return-to-sport testing: Objective criteria, not just time-based
Sport-specific drills: Position-specific demands
Training load integration: Merging rehabilitation with team/individual training
Injury prevention programming: Long-term strategies to stay on the field
Duration: Ongoing—transition from patient to athlete
Return to Sport: How We Know You're Ready
Time-based return to sport ("it's been 6 weeks") is outdated and dangerous. We use objective criteria:
For lower limb injuries:
Pain-free during relevant movements
Full range of motion (compared to uninjured side)
Strength within 90% of uninjured side
Hop tests within 90% of uninjured side
Sport-specific movements completed without compensation
Confidence in the injured limb (yes, we ask)
For upper limb injuries:
Pain-free during sport-specific movements
Full range of motion
Strength within 90% of uninjured side
Successful completion of graded return-to-throw programs
We don't clear you to play. We prepare you to perform.
Sports Injury Prevention: Staying on the Field
The best injury is the one that never happens. We offer:
Individual prevention programs:
Pre-season screening to identify risk factors
Personalised injury prevention exercise programs
Load management guidance
Team services:
Sideline presence for local clubs
Team injury prevention workshops
Coach education on injury identification and management
FAQs
"I have a big race/competition in 3 weeks. Can you help?"
1
Possibly. Acute injuries need immediate, accurate assessment. Some conditions can be managed to allow you to compete; others require withdrawal. We'll give you an honest assessment and a plan—whether that's getting you to the start line or making the difficult call to withdraw and preserve your long-term health.
"I've had this injury before and it's come back. Why?"
2
Recurrent injuries almost always indicate incomplete rehabilitation or unresolved biomechanical factors. We don't just treat the recurrence—we identify why it keeps happening and address the root cause.
"Do I need to stop training completely?"
3
Rarely. Complete rest leads to detraining, frustration, and often re-injury upon return. We prescribe relative rest—maintaining fitness while unloading injured tissues. You might swim instead of run, upper body instead of lower, or reduce intensity/frequency.
"I'm not an athlete, I just play social sport. Am I still welcome?"
4
Absolutely. You don't need to be elite to deserve expert care. Whether you're chasing a club premiership or just want to walk 18 holes without pain, we treat you with the same attention and expertise.
"Do you offer sports massage?"
5
We provide soft tissue therapy as part of comprehensive osteopathic treatment. This differs from stand-alone sports massage—our techniques are integrated with joint mobilisation, rehabilitation prescription, and whole-body assessment. We can generally accomodate your needs, give us a call!
Our Wantirna Location
We're conveniently located in Wantirna, serving:
Local suburbs: Wantirna, Wantirna South, Boronia, Bayswater, Knoxfield, Scoresby, Ferntree Gully, Rowville, Vermont, and surrounding Eastern Melbourne suburbs
Nearby clubs and facilities:
Boronia Hawks Football Club
Templeton Cricket Club
Knox Regional Netball Centre
State Basketball Centre
Wantirna South Football Netball Club
Ringwood City Soccer Club
Aquanation
Bayswater Football Club
Nearby landmarks: Westfield Knox, Wantirna Health, Eastland Shopping Centre, Aquanation
Parking: Free, easy-access parking available right outside
Don't Let Injury Sideline You
That race you've been training for. The grand final. The charity ride. The simple joy of a weekend run without pain.
Injuries are inevitable in sport. Long recoveries are not.
Our Wantirna osteopaths are here to help you understand your injury, treat its cause, and guide you safely back to the sport you love—stronger and more resilient than before.
📞 Call us today: (03) 9720 2640
📧 Email: niraj@nudgeosteopathy.com
📍 Visit: 6B The Mall, Wantirna VIC 3152
Have more questions? Visit our FAQ or Contact Us.
Related Conditions We Treat
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your osteopath, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.