5 Common Sports Injuries and How Physiotherapy Can Help
Whether you play sport at a competitive level or simply enjoy staying active on weekends, injuries are an unfortunate reality. The good news is that physiotherapy is one of the most effective tools for recovering from sports injuries — and for preventing them from recurring. At Burwood Physio, we treat athletes and active individuals from Burwood, Strathfield, Concord, Croydon and across the Inner West every day.
Here are five of the most common sports injuries we see and how physiotherapy helps.
1. Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are the most common sports injury across virtually every sport. They occur when the ankle is forced beyond its normal range of motion, stretching or tearing the ligaments. Without proper rehabilitation, ankle sprains frequently recur due to poor strength and proprioception (joint position sense).
How physio helps: We assess the severity of the sprain, reduce pain and swelling in the early phase, then progressively rebuild ankle strength, stability and balance. Most athletes return to sport faster with physio than with rest alone.
2. Hamstring Strains
Hamstring strains are particularly common in running, football, soccer and tennis. They range from minor grade 1 strains to complete grade 3 tears, and have a notoriously high re-injury rate without proper rehabilitation.
How physio helps: Early physio includes hands-on treatment to manage the acute injury, followed by a progressive loading program to restore full strength and flexibility. We also address biomechanical factors — such as running technique — to reduce re-injury risk.
3. Knee Ligament Injuries (ACL, MCL)
Knee ligament injuries are common in contact sports and those involving change of direction. ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries in particular are season-ending and sometimes require surgery. MCL injuries are often managed non-surgically.
How physio helps: For non-surgical cases, physiotherapy focuses on regaining strength, stability and function. Post-surgical rehabilitation is guided by surgeon protocols and progresses from early movement through to full return-to-sport testing.
4. Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles around the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff tears, strains and tendinopathy are common in overhead sports like swimming, tennis, cricket and baseball, as well as in gym-goers who train the shoulder heavily.
How physio helps: Physiotherapy for rotator cuff injuries involves reducing pain, restoring movement and rebuilding strength through progressive exercise. We also address any contributing factors such as thoracic mobility and scapular stability.
5. Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)
Shin splints affect runners and other athletes who do repetitive impact activity, especially when training loads increase too quickly. The pain is felt along the inner border of the shinbone and can become debilitating if ignored.
How physio helps: We identify contributing factors including training load, footwear, running biomechanics and hip/calf weakness, and design a graduated return-to-run program that allows the bone to adapt without being overstressed.
When to See a Physiotherapist for a Sports Injury
As a general rule: if you are limping, cannot bear weight, have significant swelling or the injury is not improving within a few days, see a physiotherapist. Early intervention almost always leads to faster and better outcomes.
Book an appointment at Burwood Physio or call 02 8322 9022. Shop 2, 36-38 Victoria St East, Burwood NSW 2134.
Reviewed by the Burwood Physio Clinical Team
BPhty (Hons) | AHPRA Registered Physiotherapists | Member, Australian Physiotherapy Association
Our clinical team has over 20 years of combined experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports rehabilitation, and pain management. All content is reviewed for clinical accuracy and updated in line with current evidence-based practice guidelines. Meet our team →
