Evidence-based advice from our physios

How Does a 36-Year-Old Win an AFL Final? Longevity Lessons for Every Weekend Athlete

Patrick Dangerfield kicked five goals in a final at 36. Here is what the research says about staying strong as you age, and what it means for weekend athletes in Adelaide.

6 Sep 2026 · Read →

Tech Neck: Why Your Desk Job Hurts Your Neck (and How to Fix It)

If a nagging ache at the base of your neck, tightness across the top of your shoulders, or headaches that build the longer you’re at the desk sound familiar, you may be dealing with what’s commonly called tech neck. Neck pain from desk work is a condition we treat every day at Saunders Physiotherapy, conveniently

7 Jul 2026 · Read →

Managing Calf Injury: Symptoms & Recovery Tips

Calf injuries are common among individuals who engage in physical activities involving running, jumping, or sudden changes in direction. In this guide, we will explore the common causes, symptoms, and identification methods for calf injuries, such as strains, tears, and overuse injuries, and provide actionable advice for managing and recovering from these injuries. If a

25 May 2026 · Read →

Understanding Foot Intrinsic Muscles and Their Importance

How often do you strengthen your feet? Often, our attention is focused on strengthening the hips and pelvis. But did you know that your feet play a vital role in your overall movement and stability? The foot alone is thought to contribute up to 17% of the energy required to power push-off during walking and

25 May 2026 · Read →

Why Golfers Get Low Back Pain: Common Causes & Injuries

Low back pain is a common issue among golfers, especially those in Adelaide and across Australia. This is often due to the repetitive nature of the sport, rotational movements in the swing, and poor posture during play. Many cases of golf-related lower back pain arise not from the lower back itself, but from issues in

9 Jul 2025 · Read →

Corky Injury: Causes & Treatment – Saunders Physio

A corky injury – also known as a muscle contusion or corked thigh – is one of the most common injuries seen in contact sports like football, rugby, and netball. It occurs when a direct blow causes bleeding within the muscle tissue, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness. In this article, our Adelaide physios explain

30 Nov 2024 · Read →

Is Swimming Good for Lower Back Pain Relief?

Is Swimming Good for Lower Back Pain? Swimming is effective for alleviating lower back pain due to its low-impact nature and the support provided by water’s buoyancy. This reduces stress on the spine and joints compared to land-based exercises. Swimming strengthens back muscles, enhances flexibility, and promotes spinal health, making it a suitable exercise for

23 Oct 2024 · Read →

Medicare Physio Rebates: Pensioner Guide

Physiotherapy can significantly improve well-being, especially for those with chronic or complex health needs, but it can be costly for pensioners. Thankfully, eligible pensioners in Australia may be able to access Medicare rebates for up to 5 allied health services each calendar year, including physiotherapy. In this blog post, we’ll explain how Medicare can help,

6 Oct 2024 · Read →

What are Controlled Articular Rotations?

What are Controlled Articular Rotations? Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs) are slow, deliberate joint movements designed to explore and expand the full range of motion of your joints. By actively moving each joint in a controlled circular pattern, CARs help maintain joint health, improve mobility, and reduce stiffness. These movements target the deepest layers of joint

4 Oct 2024 · Read →

Physio Adelaide: What is Physiotherapy and Why Do You Need It?

Physiotherapy is a vital part of many treatment plans, whether you’re dealing with pain, recovering from surgery, or managing a sports injury. At Saunders Physiotherapy in Adelaide, we focus on providing personalised care to help you achieve your rehabilitation goals. Learn more about physiotherapy benefits and how it can help you. What Is Physiotherapy? Physiotherapy

23 Aug 2024 · Read →

Preventing and Treating Surf Life Saving Injuries with Physiotherapy

Understanding the Demands of Surf Life Saving Surf life saving is not just a sport but a way of life that demands peak physical fitness and resilience in challenging aquatic conditions. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a passionate enthusiast, understanding the potential injuries associated with

7 Aug 2024 · Read →

Prevent Swimmer Shoulder Injuries

By Henry Lambert – Physiotherapist Understanding Shoulder Strength Imbalance in Swimmers Swimming is a competitive sport that demands repetitive shoulder movements, which can lead to muscle imbalances and injuries. Physiotherapy support is vital for managing both short- and long-term shoulder health and stability. Without physiotherapy input and strengthening programs, swimmers are at higher risk of

6 Aug 2024 · Read →

ACL Rehab for Female Athletes: The Vital Role of Hip Strength

Understanding ACL Injuries and Injury Risk in Female Athletes ACL injuries are a common and often debilitating injury for female athletes, sidelining players for at least a year. In fact, a recent study by Ardern et al. (2014) reported that only 65% of individuals returned to their pre-injury level of

5 Aug 2024 · Read →

Force Plates in Physiotherapy Rehabilitation: Jumping into a New Form of Testing

In the realm of modern physiotherapy, technological innovations continue to redefine the landscape of rehabilitation practices. Among these advancements, force plates emerge as pivotal tools offering valuable insights into the biomechanics of movement. They allow us to analyse ground reaction forces and patterns of movement, providing essential

7 Jul 2024 · Read →

Achilles Tendinopathy Rehabilitation: The Crucial Role Hip Strengthening Can Play

Are you suffering from persistent heel pain? Have you tried everything, yet nothing seems to work? You might be missing a key component in Achilles tendinopathy rehabilitation – hip strengthening. Persistent Achilles pain is one of the most common problems we see in sports physiotherapy at our Adelaide clinic. Achilles

29 Jun 2024 · Read →

Adelaide Physiotherapy: Enhance Muscle Growth with BFR Training – Book Online

Blood Flow Restriction Training: A Revolutionary Approach to Muscle Growth and Rehabilitation At Saunders Physiotherapy, we’re proud to offer Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Training, a cutting-edge technique widely used in elite sports and clinical settings worldwide. Our experienced physiotherapists bring protocols derived from leading sports medicine practices to facilitate muscle hypertrophy (muscle growth) when traditional

26 Jun 2024 · Read →

Exploring Non-Surgical ACL Injury Rehabilitation: New Insights and Best Practices

The evolving understanding of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries and their management represents a significant shift in orthopedic and sports medicine. This shift, emphasizing the potential for non-surgical rehabilitation and the capacity of the ACL to heal spontaneously, is particularly noteworthy in a country like Australia, where the rate of ACL reconstruction surgeries is remarkably

4 Jun 2024 · Read →

Low Back Pain: Causes, Costs, and Effective Treatments

Low Back Pain: The Cost and Lessons Learned Low back pain is the most costly musculoskeletal condition in the western world today. It affects more than 80% of the population at some point and costs the community over $50 billion per year in the US alone. Despite this financial burden, the greater costs are to

17 May 2024 · Read →

Expert Solutions for Groin Pain: How Saunders Physiotherapy Can Help 

Groin pain can be a complex and frustrating issue, affecting athletes and active individuals alike. At Saunders Physiotherapy, we specialise in diagnosing and treating chronic groin pain, leveraging our expertise to help you return to your best form. Whether you’re dealing with sudden onset pain or a long-standing issue, our team is here to provide

11 Apr 2024 · Read →

What is a Lis Franc injury?

by Henry Lambert The dreaded Lisfranc injury. There has been a lot of interest and discussion surrounding thisinjury after Chet Holmgren, the number two 2022 NBA draft pick suffered a ‘Lisfranc’ rulinghim out for his entire rookie season. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential to ensure successful outcomes and minimiseongoing disability. Regaining adequate strength and

16 Sep 2022 · Read →

Quad Strength Recovery After ACL Surgery

by Henry Lambert One of the main priorities after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL) surgery is the restoration of knee extensor strength. Failure to regain adequate quadriceps muscle size and strength is linked to poor outcomes and increased risk of ‘re-injury’. Wellsandt et al. (2017) found that only 29% of athletes achieve adequate quadriceps strength

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

Running Injury Assessments

Knowledge is power, and this is definitely true with managing overuse running injuries. At Saunders Physiotherapy we have the skills and experience to help runners become their stronger and fastest selves. We are the only clinic in Adelaide with access to KangaTech. KangaTech can objectively measure your strength, ensuring that your rehab specifically targets your

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

The power of the calf

The almighty calf. Often under appreciated, the calf is one of the hardest working muscles in the body. Recent research from the University of Melbourne has shown that the calf muscles are critical to walking, jogging and running. They produce forces of 6-8 x Body weight every step you take! Other research has also shown

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

How to set up your desk to avoid aches and pains

Whether it’s for study, work or just at home, many of us spend hours in front of a computer each day. Because of this, postural related pain and injuries have become more commonplace. Neck and shoulder pain, headaches, elbow and wrist, and low back pain can all be attributed to poor sustained postural positions in

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

Have you had your KangaTech assessment yet?

With the Adelaide Marathon just around the corner, it’s important to make sure your body is prepared. Here at Saunders Physiotherapy we know just the thing to get you sorted. KangaTech is an injury prevention and management hardware and software platform currently used to test for and retrain neuromuscular imbalances associated with injury and poor

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

What’s in a warm-up?

Is your warm-up doing enough? The goal of warm-ups traditionally has been to prepare the body for sports. However, recently at elite levels teams are using warm-ups as an opportunity to build strength, enhance performance and decrease injury risk. Recent research from FIFA has shown that warm-ups that include hip, knee and ankle strengthening exercises

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

Improve your muscle strength

With the Adelaide Fringe in full swing, many of us have been out and about to watch amazing acts from across the globe. From acrobatics to circus and physical theatre, it’s hard to believe the tricks performed on stage. The skill and specific strength required to complete these stunts can take years to develop. Improving

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

Trunk Muscle Activation Insights

Journal Article Article in Posture 20(3):280-90 · January 2005 Authors Steven W. Saunders, David Rath, Paul W. Hodges Abstract Despite the importance of the deep intrinsic spinal muscles for trunk control, few studies have investigated their activity during human locomotion or how this may change with speed and mode of locomotion. Furthermore, it has not been determined whether

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

Changes in three dimensional lumbo-pelvic kinematics and trunk muscle activity with speed and mode of locomotion

Journal Article Article in Clinical Biomechanics 20(8):784-93 · November 2005 Authors Steven W. Saunders, Anthony Schache, David Rath, Paul W. Hodges Abstract Control of the trunk is critical for locomotor efficiency. However, investigations of trunk muscle activity and three-dimensional lumbo-pelvic kinematics during walking and running remain scarce. Gait parameters and three-dimensional lumbo-pelvic kinematics were recorded in seven subjects.

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

Sonoelastography of the Achilles Tendon: Prevalence and Prognostic Value Among Asymptomatic Elite Australian Rules Football Players

Journal Article Clinical journal of sport medicine: official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine 26(4) · October 2015 Authors Chin Chin Ooi, Michal E. Schneider, Peter Malliaris, Donna Jones, Steven W. Saunders, Andrew McMahon, David Connell Abstract Objective: To investigate the prevalence of sonographic abnormalities at the mid-Achilles tendon among a cohort of asymptomatic professional

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

Meet the MAX Skate Team

The Maxm Skate is a simple, yet highly sophisticated medical device supplemented with an e-health software solution to facilitate purposeful and monitored patient rehabilitation after a total, revised or partial knee replacement surgery. The team behind the MAXM Skate are qualified specialists who have had years of hands on experience within the medical profession and

31 Jul 2022 · Read →

Athletic Groin Pain Symposium

Steve will be speaking at the Athletic Groin Pain Symposium in Melbourne on November 24-25, 2018. Groin pain in sport can often be complex and difficult to manage. Professional development in this space often only scratches the surface and rarely covers in-depth rehabilitation and complex groin pain presentations. This event will delve deeper in to

31 Jul 2022 · Read →