RX Physiotherapy

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(+61) 423 252 749

ACL REHABILITATION

Clear answers. Stronger knees. Smarter returns to sport.

An ACL injury doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all solution.
Despite what you’re often told, surgery is not always the first or only step.

At Hustle Hut / RX Physiotherapy, we take a rehab-first, evidence-based approach to ACL injuries — helping you make informed decisions and building a knee that’s actually prepared for sport, not just cleared on paper.

Understanding ACL Injuries

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) plays a major role in knee stability, particularly during:

  • Pivoting and cutting

  • Sudden deceleration

  • Jumping and landing

Most ACL injuries occur without contact, often during sport. Common signs include:

  • A pop or giving-way sensation

  • Rapid swelling

  • Ongoing instability

  • Loss of confidence in the knee

ACL injuries are common in football, netball, basketball, soccer, skiing, and high-intensity training environments.

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(+61) 423 252 749

Our ACL Rehab Philosophy​

We don’t chase timelines.
We don’t clear athletes based on one test.

Our rehab is built around:

  • Objective strength benchmarks

  • High-speed and change-of-direction tolerance

  • Movement quality under fatigue

  • Psychological readiness and confidence

  • Progressive, real-world sport exposure

Return to sport is a process, not a moment.

Do You Always Need ACL Surgery?​

No.

Modern research shows that:

  • Many people can return to sport without reconstruction

  • Others benefit from surgery depending on instability, sport demands, and response to rehab

  • Outcomes are driven more by rehabilitation quality and decision-making than surgery alone

We follow a rehab-first model, similar to the Melbourne ACL Protocol:

  • Start with structured, high-quality rehab

  • Reassess stability, function, and confidence over time

  • Use surgery when it’s clearly indicated — not by default

This approach avoids rushed decisions and puts control back in your hands.

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(+61) 423 252 749

Non-Surgical ACL Rehabilitation

Non-surgical ACL rehab is a legitimate, evidence-supported pathway — not a compromise.

Our non-surgical programs focus on:

  • Building high-level quadriceps and hamstring strength

  • Restoring control during cutting, landing, and deceleration

  • Gradual exposure to running and sport-specific loads

  • Ongoing monitoring of knee stability and symptoms

Emerging evidence shows that some ACLs demonstrate biological healing, especially when early rehab is well managed.

The goal isn’t just coping — it’s returning to performance with confidence.

Surgical ACL Rehabilitation

ACL reconstruction can be the right choice for:

  • Persistent instability despite rehab

  • High-risk pivoting sports

  • Athletes with specific performance demands

Surgery restores passive stability — rehab restores function.

Our post-surgical ACL rehab is:

  • Graft-specific (hamstring, patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon)

  • Strength-led, not timeline-led

  • Focused on performance, not just return

A reconstructed ACL still needs to earn the right to return to sport.

Can You Get Back to Sport After an ACL Injury?

Yes — and many do.

But safe return depends on:

  • Strength that meets real demands

  • Exposure to sport-specific chaos

  • Confidence under fatigue

  • Ongoing load management after return

Passing tests doesn’t mean you’re bulletproof.
Being underprepared means you’re at risk.

Our goal is performance-ready, not just “back on the field.”

When to book an Assessment?

Whether you’re:

  • Newly injured

  • Weighing up surgery

  • Already post-reconstruction

  • Stuck or frustrated in rehab

We’ll give you:

  • Clear guidance

  • Honest timelines

  • Evidence-based options

  • A plan built around your sport and goals

Book an assessment and take control of your recovery.

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Dr. April Patterson

Physiotherapist

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Dr. April Patterson graduated from Bond University with a Doctor of Physiotherapy degree and founded RX Physiotherapy in 2019 with a vision to provide exceptional, personalised care. As a physiotherapist living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), hypermobility, and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) issues, April brings a rare combination of personal insight and professional expertise to her practice. Her own experiences with these conditions fuel her passion for understanding and treating them, allowing her to empathise deeply with her patients and guide them with authenticity and compassion.

April has a huge passion for in EDS, Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), and TMJ dysfunction, while also treating all joints and musculoskeletal conditions. She personally conducts initial assessments to understand each patient’s story, goals, and challenges before referring them to her highly skilled team for ongoing care. Her holistic, evidence-based approach blends manual therapy, strength and conditioning, pain management, and education to help clients regain function, confidence, and independence.

As Managing Director, April maintains the highest standard of care through weekly team sessions to review progress, provide guidance, and support professional development. This ensures that every patient receives structured, personalised care, while allowing her to focus on leadership, strategy, and advancing the clinic’s mission.

Outside the clinic, April enjoys hitting the gym, cooking, and spending quality time with her partner, her two dachshunds and two cats.

Ms. Emily Yorkston

Physiotherapist

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Emily is a senior physiotherapist with extensive experience across musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopaedic, women’s health, and paediatric physiotherapy. She has worked in a wide range of clinical settings, including rural outreach programs and allied health leadership roles, which have shaped her holistic, collaborative, and genuinely client-centred approach to care.

Emily is a highly empathetic physiotherapist with lived experience of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), giving her a rare and deeply personal understanding of the physical, emotional, and day-to-day challenges faced by people living with complex and chronic conditions. She has a strong clinical interest in hypermobility (HSD, EDS), TMJ and jaw dysfunction and women’s health, and has completed APA Women’s Health Level 1 training. Emily is skilled in assessing and treating all joints and a broad range of musculoskeletal presentations, from everyday pain to complex, multi-system conditions.

She is passionate about helping clients achieve meaningful, sustainable, long-term outcomes. Emily combines personalised rehab programs, hands-on manual therapy, and targeted rehabilitation strategies to improve function, build confidence, and restore independence. Her care is structured, evidence-based, and highly individualised, ensuring every client feels informed, supported, and actively involved in their recovery.

Outside the clinic, Emily enjoys travelling and exploring new experiences, bringing fresh perspective and energy back into her work. She is known for her warm, calm, and motivating style, helping clients feel safe, understood, and empowered throughout their rehabilitation journey.

If you’re living with pain, recovering from injury, or navigating a complex condition such as EDS, HSD, TMJ dysfunction, women’s health concerns, or any musculoskeletal issue, you don’t have to do it alone. Book an appointment with Emily today to receive thoughtful, personalised care and take the next step toward moving with greater comfort, confidence, and trust in your body again.

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Ms. Laura Flemming

Physiotherapist

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Laura is a senior physiotherapist with six years of experience across hospital, private practice, community, and sports settings. She began her career at Wollongong Hospital before moving to Sydney, where she expanded her skills in musculoskeletal rehab, neurological rehab, and community-based care. During this time she became a Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach and worked with junior representative soccer teams in the St George region. Now back in the Illawarra, she’s excited to support her local community again.

Laura’s approach is grounded in understanding the individual—what they value, what they hope to achieve, and how their condition impacts their life. She focuses on meaningful outcomes through a blend of manual therapy, strength training, pain management, patient education, and personalised rehabilitation programs. Her experience spans acute and chronic injuries, post-operative rehab, strength and endurance training, falls prevention, and neurological conditions including stroke and brain injury.

She has a strong interest in working with people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), and she brings extensive experience supporting participants within the NDIS. She also specialises in treating TMJ/jaw dysfunction, helping clients reduce pain, improve mobility, and address the muscular and biomechanical factors contributing to their symptoms. Her calm, collaborative style helps clients feel understood, supported, and confident navigating long-term conditions.

Outside the clinic, you’ll find Laura hiking up mountains, writing music, playing soccer, or training for the occasional triathlon or running event.

Whether you’re managing pain, recovering from an injury, or navigating a complex condition like EDS, HSD, or TMJ dysfunction, Laura can help with all joints and musculoskeletal concerns, guiding you with structure, clarity, and genuine care.

Mr. Trent Cooksley

Physiotherapist

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Trent is a physiotherapist who genuinely cares about people — the kind who listens properly, meets you where you’re at, and helps you feel comfortable from the moment you walk in. He has that big brother energy; calm, thoughtful, easy to talk to, and always looking out for you. His focus is simple — helping you move better, feel stronger, and get back to the things that matter to you, whether that’s training, sport, work, or living life without pain.

He treats a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including shoulder, knee, lower back, neck, and ankle injuries, and works with people of all ages and activity levels. Trent’s approach is hands-on, structured, and tailored to the individual. He’s not about quick fixes or generic programs — he takes the time to understand your body, your goals, and what’s been holding you back, then builds a clear plan to help you move forward with confidence.

Born and raised in Wollongong, Trent grew up immersed in sport. He played soccer with the Woonona Sharks and was involved in everything from tennis and golf to swimming, footy, cricket, and AFL. As a teenager, golf became his focus, earning him a place in the IAS Golf Program and later a college golf scholarship in Abilene, Texas. Experiencing injuries firsthand — and seeing how physiotherapy restored his performance — shaped the way he now supports others through injury, rehab, and long-term recovery.

Outside the clinic, Trent is easygoing, down-to-earth, and approachable. You’ll find him on the golf course, in the surf, or catching up with friends. That same calm, supportive energy carries into his sessions, helping clients feel at ease, understood, and supported every step of the way.

If you’re dealing with pain, injury, or ongoing frustration with your body, Trent is someone you can trust to have your back — and help you move with clarity, confidence, and strength again.

Mr. Harrison Smith

Physiotherapist

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Harrison Smith holds a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy and brings over 10 years of clinical experience to his practice. His philosophy is simple: pain is rarely the real problem — it’s information. He often describes pain as a “check engine light” — a useful warning signal, but not always located where the actual fault exists.

Because of this, Harrison focuses on identifying the true cause of dysfunction rather than chasing symptoms. He performs detailed, full-body assessments to understand how the entire system is working together, then builds clear, targeted treatment plans designed for lasting change — not temporary relief.

His goal is to stand in your corner while you rebuild your body and confidence: reducing pain, addressing long-standing issues, improving body composition, and helping you reach meaningful performance goals. Ultimately, he aims to be the last practitioner you need by giving you both results and understanding.

Alongside Physiotherapy, Harrison has formal training in Sports & Exercise Science and Nutrition, allowing him to take a genuinely holistic approach to recovery and performance.

He has spent over a decade working within women’s sport, supporting teams from Gordon Rugby through to the Norwegian National Team, and has travelled internationally with the FRN Wolverines to Dubai.

Outside the clinic, Harrison lives what he teaches — surfing, freediving, strength training, and snow sports all shape his appreciation for movement efficiency, resilience, and real-world performance.

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Mr Reece Nikitaras

Physiotherapist

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Reece Nikitaras is deeply passionate about optimising human movement and enhancing quality of life through targeted rehabilitation and evidence-based therapeutic techniques. His journey into physiotherapy was driven by a genuine desire to help individuals overcome physical barriers and reach their full potential.

As an avid runner, Reece brings both personal insight and clinical expertise to the treatment of running-related injuries. He is particularly dedicated to helping runners recover from injury, prevent future setbacks, and elevate their performance. Reece has developed a comprehensive running assessment protocol designed to identify biomechanical inefficiencies and areas of weakness, allowing for tailored interventions that support long-term improvement and injury prevention.

Reece also holds a strong clinical interest in knee rehabilitation, with an in-depth understanding of knee biomechanics and the complex nature of knee injuries. He implements highly specialised, results-driven treatment plans to restore function and accelerate recovery in clients dealing with knee concerns.

Always eager to stay at the forefront of his field, Reece consistently seeks out new knowledge and incorporates the latest advancements in physiotherapy research into his practice. His commitment to continuous learning ensures he delivers the highest standard of care to every patient.

Outside of the clinic, Reece enjoys travelling, spending time at the beach, and playing a round of golf.