About us
Alexandria Physiotherapy & Sports Injury
The clinic was founded by the team of physiotherapists who have been at the helm of the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL for the past decade – Steve Velovski and Eddie Farah.
Drawing on their extensive experience and unique skills, Steve and Eddie decided to extend their expertise to the broader community by establishing a new clinic in the heart of Alexandria.
Their journey began with the launch of their first practice in Redfern in 2016. The clinic's success and rapid growth can be attributed to their innovative approach, unwavering dedication to their clients, and genuine care for the community.
Now, they are bringing their best practices and knowledge to the new clinic in Alexandria.
Eddie and Steve have been instrumental in the Rabbitohs' turnaround and success, culminating in the 2014 grand final victory, joining the team's medical staff in 2007, they contributed significantly to the development of elite training and rehabilitation services at the club.
The increasing demands and pressures of professional sport require sports medicine providers to stay at the cutting edge of sports science and rehabilitation, and this high-pressure environment has propelled them to the forefront of their profession.
In addition to their advanced skills and expertise in sports injuries, the clinic offers comprehensive services for a wide range of musculoskeletal and orthopaedic complaints for individuals of all ages.
Our treatment approach is evidence-based, hands-on, and places a strong emphasis on patient education and exercise rehabilitation. The clinic is equipped with a fully functional gym, allowing for the rehabilitation of injuries through individualised, targeted, and progressive exercise programs.
Beyond treating injuries, they strive to build lasting relationships with their patients and educate them on long-term management plans to enhance their health and prevent the recurrence of symptoms. Their goal is to help patients feel better and stay better.
What sets Alexandria Physiotherapy apart is its commitment to assisting patients throughout their rehabilitation journey. Many individuals suffer from chronic or recurrent pain, and Alexandria Physiotherapy goes beyond merely treating the pain. They educate and empower patients, emphasizing a collaborative approach and ongoing management for long-term success.
Their primary focus is on helping people return to the activities they love most, whether it's running, swimming, netball, tennis, playing with their kids, practicing yoga, or meeting the demands of daily work and life.
Our team's dedication to comprehensive care and patient empowerment ensures that everyone receives the best possible treatment and support on their path to recovery and optimal health.
Our latest health blogs
Hamstring injuries are a common injury among athletes, particularly those involved in sports that require sudden changes of direction, explosive acceleration, and high-speed running. Rehabilitation after a hamstring injury can be a challenging process, and it is essential to understand the special considerations involved in the rehabilitation process to ensure optimal outcomes. The latest evidence has shown hamstring injuries require assessment and treatment of multiple areas of the body such as lumbopelvic control, posterior chain strength and stability and hamstring strength in a fatigued state. Due to the complex nature of hamstring injuries and their relationship with the aforementioned areas, they have a high recurrence rate. In this blog, we will discuss the special considerations for hamstring rehabilitation. The Importance of Early Intervention One of the most critical special considerations for hamstring rehabilitation is the importance of early intervention. Delaying rehabilitation can prolong the recovery time and increase the risk of re-injury. Therefore, it is essential to initiate rehabilitation as soon as possible after the injury. Gradual Progression Another important consideration for hamstring rehabilitation is the need for gradual progression. It is crucial to progress rehabilitation exercises slowly and steadily, focusing on regaining strength, flexibility, and mobility while avoiding overloading the hamstring muscles. Eccentric Exercises Eccentric exercises are particularly effective for hamstring rehabilitation. These exercises involve lengthening the muscle while it is under tension, which helps to promote muscle fibre remodelling and healing. Eccentric exercises can also help to improve muscle strength and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Sports-Specific Rehabilitation Rehabilitation exercises should be tailored to the specific requirements of the athlete's sport. For example, athletes involved in sports that require high-speed running may benefit from incorporating high-speed running drills into their rehabilitation program. This approach can help to improve neuromuscular control, endurance, and power. How Can High-Speed Running Help with Hamstring Rehabilitation? The use of high-speed running as a rehabilitation strategy for hamstring injuries is based on the principle of progressive loading. High-speed running involves significant eccentric loading of the hamstring muscles, which can help to stimulate muscle fibre remodelling and improve muscle strength and endurance. Evidence for High-Speed Running for Hamstring Rehabilitation Several studies have explored the use of high-speed running as a rehabilitation strategy for hamstring injuries, with promising results. A systematic review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine evaluated the effectiveness of high-speed running in the rehabilitation of hamstring injuries. The review analysed seven studies with a total of 301 participants. The review found that high-speed running was effective in improving hamstring strength, running performance, and reducing the risk of re-injury. The review also found that high-speed running did not increase pain or re-injury risk compared to traditional rehabilitation programs. Another study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy evaluated the effectiveness of high-speed running in the rehabilitation of elite soccer players with hamstring injuries. The study found that high-speed running was effective in reducing the time to return to play, improving hamstring strength, and reducing the risk of re-injury. The Role of Manual Therapy Manual therapy can also be beneficial for hamstring rehabilitation. Soft tissue mobilisation techniques, such as soft tissue release, can help to improve blood flow, reduce muscle tension, and promote tissue healing. Joint mobilisation techniques around the lumbar spine and pelvis can also help to improve joint mobility, reducing the risk of further injury. This is integral as we work on ensuring the lumbopelvic region is working efficiently to allow the hamstrings to rehabilitate to their full potential. Psychological Considerations Recovering from a hamstring injury can be a frustrating and challenging process, and psychological consider a tions should also be taken into account during rehabilitation. It is common for people to experience the highs and lows of rehab & may benefit from working with a sports psychologist to help them cope with the emotional and psychological challenges of rehabilitation and stay motivated throughout the process. This is also integral for return to sport considerations as it can be a daunting experience after injury. Concerns of re-injury or not being able to perform at their pre-injury level is often felt and thus it is important for people to feel confident and mentally prepared to return to sport following a hamstring injury. Conclusion Hamstring rehabilitation requires special considerations to ensure optimal outcomes. Early intervention, gradual progression, eccentric exercises, sports-specific rehabilitation, manual therapy, and psychological considerations are all essential elements of an effective rehabilitation program. It is essential to work with a physiotherapist to develop a personalised rehabilitation program tailored to the athletes specific needs and goals.
Application and benefits during rehab. Blood flow restriction (BFR) training involves restricting the blood flow to working muscles during exercise, resulting in hypoxia in the muscle tissue. It can be applied to both resistance and aerobic exercise; however, the purpose of this blog is to have a look at the potential benefits of using BFR during resistance-based exercise in rehab. BFR resistance training has been shown to help increase muscle size and strength in young, old and load compromised populations (including post ACL replacement surgery and people suffering from OA). The greatest benefits of BFR training have been shown to occur during low-load resistance exercise, with some studies showing that muscle hypertrophy and strength adaptions using BFR are significantly greater than those achieved with low load resistance exercise alone. Benefits of BFR during rehab After sustaining an injury or having surgery, people will often struggle tolerating heavy loads through the affected area, which can cause an increase in pain during activity, reduce function and impact rehab and recovery timeframes. During rehab for any type of injury, it is important to load and strengthen the muscles around the injured or painful structure, however pain (and injury) can often prevent a person from being able to perform the required exercises (or tolerate the required load during exercise) to actually achieve this increase in strength, which can often lead to slow progression during rehab. This is where BFR training can be beneficial. BFR training can be used to get the most out of low-load resistance training for load compromised people who can’t tolerate heavy-load training during the early stages of rehab. Applying BFR training to rehab As mentioned above, BFR training can be a useful tool when trying to maximise the impact of low-load exercise during rehab. This can often be beneficial when pain/injury is impacting the ability to appropriately load the injured area in order to elicit a change in symptoms. A good example of this presentation in the clinic is during rehab following a patella dislocation or subluxation. The sensitivity and reduced capacity to load the patellofemoral joint after this type of injury can make it hard to perform quadriceps strengthening exercises with adequate load to elicit a meaningful change in strength, which can lead to the development of compensatory strategies and slow progression during rehab. BFR can be used to help overcome this hurdle. Have a look at our Instagram here to see an example of a rehab session using BFR for a client who suffered a patella dislocation. There are many other types of pain/injury that could benefit from the use of BFR at certain stages of rehab, such as managing OA pain and when recovering from ACL replacement surgery. Overall, BFR can be a useful tool to use during certain stages of rehab; but just like all aspects of rehab there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach, so get in contact in you would like to discuss if BFR could be useful for you. Reference for information Hughes L, Paton B, Rosenblatt B, Gissane C, Patterson SD. Blood flow restriction training in clinical musculoskeletal rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2017 Jul;51(13):1003-1011. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-097071. Epub 2017 Mar 4. PMID: 28259850.
Syndesmosis injuries, also known as high ankle sprains, are a type of injury that occurs in the ankle joint. Unlike traditional ankle sprains, which affect the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, syndesmosis injuries involve the ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula bones in the lower leg. These ligaments are known as the syndesmotic ligaments, and they help to stabilise the ankle joint during movement. Symptoms of syndesmosis injuries can include pain, swelling, and tenderness on the front of the ankle. The pain is often located above the ankle joint and can be severe, especially during weight-bearing activities. In more severe cases, the individual may experience difficulty bearing weight on the affected leg and may have limited mobility in the ankle joint. Syndesmosis injuries are often caused by a twisting or rolling motion of the ankle, which can occur during sports or other physical activities. They can also be caused by a fall or other trauma to the ankle joint. Individuals who participate in sports that involve jumping, cutting, or pivoting movements are at higher risk for syndesmosis injuries. Diagnosis of syndesmosis injuries usually involves a physical examination of the ankle joint, as well as imaging tests such as X-rays or MRI scans. The following is an example of a sports rehab program for an individual recovering from a syndesmosis injury: Phase 1: Acute Phase (1-2 weeks) Rest, ice, compression, and elevation to manage pain and swelling Non-weight bearing with the use of crutches Gentle range of motion exercises such as ankle circles and ankle pumps Isometric exercises for ankle strengthening Phase 2: Sub-Acute Phase (2-4 weeks) Weight-bearing as tolerated Active range of motion exercises such as calf loading and calf raises Strengthening exercises such as calf raises, single leg balance exercises and posterior chain loading Manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue massage and joint mobilisation Sport-specific training Phase 3: Functional Phase (4-6 weeks) Plyometric exercises to improve power and agility Sport-specific drills to improve coordination and balance Proprioception and balance training Advanced strengthening exercises such as squats, lunges, and lateral movements Return to sport or activity with gradual progression and careful monitoring It is important to note that every individual's rehab program will be different and will depend on the severity of their injury, as well as their overall health and fitness level. It is recommended to work closely with a qualified physiotherapist to ensure a safe and effective rehab program that is tailored to your specific needs and goals. A systematic review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2019 found that early functional rehabilitation, which includes range of motion, strength, and proprioception exercises, can lead to better outcomes and faster return to sport for individuals with syndesmosis injuries compared to immobilization or surgery alone. Another study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research in 2019 found that a structured rehabilitation program that included progressive weight-bearing, range of motion, and strength exercises resulted in significant improvements in pain, function, and ankle range of motion for individuals with syndesmosis injuries. In summary, syndesmosis injuries are a type of ankle injury that can be caused by a variety of factors. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important for a successful recovery, and rehabilitation programs can help individuals return to their normal activities safely and effectively. By taking steps to prevent ankle injuries in general, individuals can reduce their risk of experiencing a syndesmosis injury and maintain good overall ankle health.
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