Return-to-Sport Rehab on the Field and Court

This is genuinely one of my favourite parts of the job, and it's also one of the biggest advantages of being a mobile physiotherapist rather than someone stuck behind four clinic walls. So much of rehabilitation, particularly for athletes, comes down to how someone moves, reacts, and performs in the actual environment they compete in. You can build all the strength in the world in a gym, but if I never actually see you sprint, change direction, or land from a jump on the surface you play on, I'm working with an incomplete picture.

Field and court based rehabilitation lets me bridge that gap. Instead of you coming back to tell me in three weeks how training felt, I'm right there with you, watching, adjusting, and problem-solving in real time. It's a stage of rehabilitation that I think gets skipped or underutilised far too often, and in my experience, it's often the difference between an athlete who returns to sport and one who returns to sport with genuine confidence. You can read more in my article on ACL rehab exercises.

Sessions can take place at your training ground, a local park or oval, or a court near you, wherever suits you and the drills we need to do. Because I am a mobile physio, I come to you, so there is no need to travel to a clinic. Training in the same environment and on the same surface you will be returning to helps your rehab transfer directly to your sport, and it is often more motivating than working indoors.

Field and court rehab is for athletes and active people in the later stages of recovery from an injury or surgery who are working towards a return to sport. It is commonly used after ACL injuries, hamstring strains, ankle sprains and groin injuries, but suits any sport-related injury. It also suits people who want to return to running or recreational sport. Athletes of all levels benefit, from juniors and social players to elite athletes.

Field and court sessions usually start once you have a good base of strength and can run in a straight line without pain. Before that, rehab focuses on settling pain, restoring movement and building strength. Once you are ready, we progress through running, acceleration and deceleration, change of direction, agility and sport-specific skills, and finally drills that mimic training and game demands. I use testing to guide when you are ready to move to each stage.

Wear your usual training gear and bring the footwear you play in, such as boots for field sports or court shoes for indoor sports. Bring water, a towel and sunscreen and a hat for outdoor sessions, and any equipment specific to your sport, like a ball or a stick. If you use a brace or tape for your injury, bring that too. I bring all the equipment needed for the session.