Physical Therapy for Sport

Physical therapy in sport and exercise

Physical therapy practitioners support athletes and participants across the sport and active recreation sector, primarily through injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance optimisation. ⁴

Physical therapy practitioners perform a broad range of tasks that contribute to individual and/or team sport performances. This can include: ^{1, 4}

• Working with other performance support practitioners and coaches in the daily performance environment to optimise athlete availability.
• Injury reporting and surveillance.
• Supporting the development and implementation of rehabilitation and return to play plans.
• Travelling with athletes to domestic and international camps or competitions.
• Assisting with the implementation and delivery of performance recovery strategies.
• Conducting applied research.

Groups, societies and professional bodies

There are a range of organisations that support the professional needs of physiotherapists and soft tissue therapists. These organisations offer registration and regulation, professional standards, advocacy, professional development, continuing education, and/or networking opportunities.

Vocational education and training

The path to becoming a physiotherapist or a soft tissue therapist in the sport sector differs considerably.

Within the Australian high performance sport system workforce, most physiotherapists and soft tissue therapists are engaged in contract roles, and/or for specific camps or competitions rather than embedded in permanent, full time positions. As a result, many practitioners balance work in high performance sport with private practice. ^{5, 6}

A series of Performance Support Success Profiles have been developed to guide Australian high performance sport organisations in the recruitment, development and retention of practitioners in various roles and disciplines, including physiotherapists. Each success profile details the key factors across knowledge, experience, competencies and personal attributes that are associated with successful job performance.

Physiotherapy

To become a physiotherapist you require a degree (Bachelor or Master) in Physiotherapy and current registration with AHPRA. Physiotherapists working in the Australian high performance system are expected to hold a Masters of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy (or equivalent) or be an APA-titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist. ^{6, 7}

Soft tissue therapy

Soft tissue therapists can become accredited with one of six professional associations in Australia. According to a review of soft tissue therapists in the Australian high performance sport system, the most common was through Massage & Myotherapy Australia. ⁵

Standards

The Australian Performance Support Practitioner Minimum Standards represent the minimum standards for Performance Support staff and contractors engaged to deliver professional services in identified practice disciplines by National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), National Institute Network (NIN) partners, the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, and Commonwealth Games Australia. These standards, along with the AIS Sport Science Sport Medicine Best Practice Principles are a recommendation within the National Integrity Framework, opens in a new tab.

Research and resources

• National Institute Network Research. Recently published sports science/sports medicine research from NIN researchers. This list is updated on a monthly basis.
• Evidence-based position statements and best practice guidelines, Australian Institute of Sport, (accessed 5 June 2026). The Australian Institute of Sport develops evidence-based position statements on new and complex topics in sports science and sports medicine. Examples include:
  • Pressure injuries
  • Dry needling
  • Injury reporting
• Physical therapy handover, Australian Sports Commission, (2022). A document to support providers, national sporting organisations, and national institute networks with optimising athlete transitions between daily performance and national team environments.
• Engagement of physical therapies providers on a short-term basis via a service agreement/contractor agreement, Australian Sports Commission, (2022). Guidelines to support national sporting organisations and national institute networks with engaging physiotherapists and soft tissue therapists, including recruitment standards, role responsibilities and scope of practice, induction and onboarding processes, fostering the coach/practitioner relationship, planning for critical incidents, and post-event reporting and feedback.

Journals and databases

Videos

^{* Licencing restrictions apply to some resources.}

Explore additional conferences, presentations, and webinars in the Clearinghouse video collection.

Network resources

Networks are a useful way for organisations, committees and both formal and informal working groups to connect, share ideas and exchange knowledge and resources—either openly or through secure channels—to support the development of sport.

Some resources could require login or membership and may be restricted to those working in the Australian sport sector due to licensing, copyright or privacy conditions. If you think you should have access, please contact us.

Related topics