We often get asked as Osteopaths if all we do is work with bones, or if we predominantly focus on the spine. The truth is that Osteopaths treat many conditions that can affect the ENTIRE BODY. Osteopaths can work with and treat people of all walks of life; office workers, tradies, students, children, the elderly and athletes of all shapes and sizes. From a junior footballer, a casual gym goer or even an elite athlete, we aim to help you perform at your best, as well as help to manage your body recover from injuries so that you can continue in your chosen sport. 


Around 1/3rd of Sporting Australians will experience a sport-related injury every year


Sport is a huge part of the Australian lifestyle with around 60% of Australians participating in organised sport.  Injuries can be widely variable and each sport will have a different impact upon a person’s body. However what all sports injuries have in common is that they can impact your work/daily life, impact performance, limit your ability to continue with exercise as well as being incredibly frustrating. 

Common Sports Injuries:

  • Muscle strains
  • Joint sprains (eg. Ankle sprain)
  • Jumpers/Runners Knee
  • Shin Splints
  • Dislocations
  • Broken Bones 
  • Concussions
  • Rotator Cuff injuries
  • Tennis/Golfer’s elbow

Steps From Injury to return to sport:

  1. Rest and Protect the injury (Ice, NSAIDs, removing aggravating activities)
  2. Recover range of motion (gentle exercises leading to recovering motion)
  3. Restore strength (strength and endurance training)
  4. Sports specific exercises (speed, agility, proprioception, balance and coordination)
  5. Return to sport

How do I know what the best management is?

“Osteopaths will conduct a thorough examination to identify the injury that has occurred and work with you to formulate a specific and tailored management strategy”


You cannot hope to apply the best management for your injury without an accurate diagnosis of the injury. Without accurate diagnosis, healing times could be negatively impacted leading to longer periods away from sport.

Osteopaths will conduct a thorough examination to identify the injury that has occurred and work with you to formulate a specific and tailored management strategy to get you back performing at your best. In addition, your Osteopath will work with you to improve your performance levels after the injury to help prevent recurrence of the injury.

So, what’s an osteopath and what can we do for you?

  • QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

Osteopaths have 5 years of University training under their belt where they learn to master the difficult task of assessing, diagnosing, treating and managing musculoskeletal injury.

  • THOROUGH HISTORY & ASSESSMENT

Initial consultations with our osteopaths are 60 minutes long to ensure your story is heard. Every person’s pain is different, so our osteopaths take the time to understand your history and the circumstances surrounding your pain.  Our questioning is thorough, ensuring we can tailor an efficient assessment to pinpoint the cause of your pain and develop an individualised management plan based on your goals.

  • HANDS ON TREATMENT APPROACH

Pain is often the most common reason people seek osteopathic treatment.  Therefore, there’s no surprise that osteopaths continue to employ a hands on approach to help decrease pain and get you moving better.  There are a vast range of hands on techniques that an osteopath will use including:

  • Soft tissue massage & stretching
  • Joint mobilisation
  • Joint manipulation
  • Rigid and kinesio taping
  • Dry needling 
  • Shockwave therapy

And there are many more techniques in our “tool bag”.

  • INDIVIDUALISED TREATMENT PLAN

Here at Pakenham Osteopathy, we strongly believe that your understanding of your condition or pain plays an important part in your recovery.  That is why we take the time to explain your pain and provide you with a written management plan outlining your diagnosis, why it has occurred, expected recovery time and anything else that is required to reach your goals.

  • HOLISTIC APPROACH

For many people, postural pain can become a recurring annoyance and can affect more than just your work.  We believe in long term success and therefore adopt an holistic approach to your injury by not only treating your pain, but also addressing the root cause of your problem.  This will reduce the likelihood of pain returning in the future so that you can live a healthy and active life moving forward.

  • Exercises

    Here’s Hayley and Aaron after a fun run.

    PASSION FOR SPORT AND EXERCISE

At Pakenham Osteopathy, our Osteopaths all share a passion for health and fitness, with many of us also sharing a love of competition and sport. From surfing, rugby, AFL, weight training, basketball, fishing, ninja warrior, running, cycling, circuit training, swimming and most other sports you can think of, the Pakenham Osteopathy team have most of the athletic world covered. Not only do we share a love of sport but all of us are still active and compete in one way or another. We fully understand the demands that these sports can create on the body and how frustrating it can be when your body is not at it’s best. 

We take a keen interest in our client’s lives both on and off the sporting field and work with you to get you back on track as quickly as possible.

So Why Should I See an Osteopath for my Sports Injury

Everyone’s pain is different and everyone has different goals they aspire to achieve, both in sport and in life.  As Osteopaths, we strive to treat the person, not just the injury.  Whether your goals are to run marathons, muck around with the kids or enjoy your time in retirement, we take them very seriously (whilst always having a laugh in the treatment room at the same time!). These goals help us form the basis of our individualised management plan to ensure that together we are able to get you back doing the things that you love.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SPORTS INJURIES, READ SOME OF OUR GREAT BLOGS BELOW:

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/sports-injuries-pakenham-5/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/sports-injuries-pakenham-4/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/knee-pain-pakenham/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/sports-injury-pakenham/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/tennis-elbow-pakenham/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/sports-injuries-pakenham-3/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/sports-injuries-pakenham-2/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/sports-injuries-3810/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/sports-injuries-pakenham/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/ankle-pain-pakenham/

https://www.pakenhamosteopathy.com.au/runners-knee-a-very-common-problem/