Rehab Potential Physiotherapy & Sports Performance

Rehab Potential Physiotherapy & Sports Performance We exist to help YOU achieve your physical best following pain, injury or surgery. Achieve YOUR Rehab Potential!

12/08/2026

ACL REHAB CASE STUDY 👇

6 weeks post ACL reconstruction with a hamstring graft + meniscus repair, Zak came in with a swollen knee, reduced quad activation and difficulty getting the basics right.

Rather than trying to do more, we went back to doing the right things.

Over the next week we:

* Reduced his overall knee load and step count
* Used crutches to better manage his walking load
* Prioritised swelling reduction
* Hit the quad activation hard
* Focused on restoring a normal walking pattern and heel pop

And the difference after just one week was significant.

Early ACL rehab isn’t about smashing yourself.

It’s about getting the fundamentals right, then progressively building from there.

The boring stuff done really well = big changes early.

Watch the video to see the difference 👀

RehabPotential

06/08/2026

Just had ACL surgery? Your first goal is to restore a heel pop.

The chief milestone of Phase 1 (RESET) in our RP9 ACL Rehab System is restoring your heel pop.

It may look like a simple exercise, but it tells us your knee is ready to move forward.

A successful heel pop shows:
✅ Your quadriceps are firing and coming back online.
✅ Swelling is settling and your knee is becoming “quiet.”
✅ You’re regaining full knee extension.
✅ You’re ready to walk off crutches with a normal walking pattern.

Once you’ve restored your heel pop, you’ve earned the right to progress into Phase 2 (RELOAD), where we begin rebuilding the strength and muscle lost after surgery.

At Rehab Potential, we don’t progress because time has passed—we progress because you’ve earned the next milestone.

04/08/2026

"I’m looking for a physio to assist with a knee injury, cyst, osteoarthritis and a history of knee reconstructions…”

That was Mel’s very first message to me.

She’d had three ACL reconstructions, with her last surgery more than 10 years ago. She was dealing with ongoing knee pain, arthritis, and had gradually stopped running because the impact had simply become too painful.

Like many people, she’d started accepting that this was probably just how her knee was going to be.

But when we assessed her, one thing stood out.

Despite being over a decade post-op, her hamstring on the graft side was still significantly weaker than it should have been.

That’s not uncommon after a hamstring tendon ACL reconstruction.

The problem is that if those strength deficits are never fully addressed, your body often finds other ways to cope. In Mel’s case, that wasn’t just contributing to ongoing knee issues—it also appeared to be influencing how she loaded through her back.

So instead of chasing pain, we chased capacity.

We progressively rebuilt her hamstring strength, lower limb strength and confidence to move. Over time, she progressed from strength work, to impact, to running again.

Her knee became stronger. She’s back running again. And her back pain has continued to settle as her strength and movement have improved.

The biggest lesson?

ACL rehab doesn’t always end at 9 or 12 months.

Sometimes the deficits that matter most are still there 10 years later.

If you’ve had an ACL reconstruction and still experience knee pain, hamstring weakness or even seemingly unrelated issues like back pain, it might not be because you’re “getting older” or because you have arthritis.

It might simply be that your body never got the chance to fully rebuild.

Come back better.

31/07/2026

The first 2 weeks after ACL surgery matter more than most people realise.

The goal isn’t to “push through” pain—it’s to lay the foundations for everything that comes next.

In this video you’ll see the progression from:
➡️ Walking with two crutches
➡️ Gradually restoring confidence and normal gait
➡️ Getting back on the exercise bike

In these early stages we’re focused on:
✅ Reducing swelling
✅ Regaining full knee extension
✅ Restoring quadriceps activation
✅ Improving knee flexion
✅ Relearning a normal walking pattern

Every athlete progresses at their own pace, and that’s okay. The aim isn’t to compare yourself to someone else’s timeline—it’s to make consistent progress with the things that matter most.

The better you get these early foundations right, the easier the next phases of rehab become.

ACL rehab isn’t about rushing. It’s about building.

RehabPotential ReturnToSport KneeRehab SportsInjury BrisbanePhysio

What a journey it’s been with Dallas.I had the privilege of working with Dallas through his first ACL reconstruction, on...
27/07/2026

What a journey it’s been with Dallas.

I had the privilege of working with Dallas through his first ACL reconstruction, only for him to suffer a re-tear very late in his rehab in incredibly unfortunate circumstances.

He made the decision to go again with revision surgery, and what he’s done since has been nothing short of incredible. The work, commitment and resilience he’s shown throughout his rehab have been immense — and to see him back playing at this level and being named Player of the Tournament is pretty special.

Dallas is a seriously talented athlete, but more than that, he’s an absolute pleasure to work with. I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of his journey and to see all the hard work pay off.

What a comeback. What an athlete. What a legend. 👏🏉

25/07/2026

Week 2 → Week 8 post-op with Naomi Wathen

Phase 1 - RESET the knee.

Following ACL reconstruction with a quad tendon graft and meniscus repair, the early phase of rehab is focused on rebuilding the foundations for long-term recovery.

The priorities early on include:
• Managing swelling
• Restoring full knee extension
• Regaining quadriceps activation and strength
• Progressively restoring knee flexion
• Protecting the healing meniscus
• Gradually normalising walking and loading

By 8 weeks, we’re progressing into more active rehabilitation — walking independently, cycling and treadmill walking — while continuing to build strength and movement capacity.

Every phase has a purpose.

Build the foundation. Progress the load. Earn the next step.

ACL rehab is a long game. 🦿

23/07/2026

Phase 1 of my RP9 ACL Rehab System: The Reset Phase

I use a 9-phase system (RP9) to guide ACL clients from surgery all the way back to sport. But before we talk strength, jumping or cutting… we need to reset the knee first.

After ACL surgery the knee is irritated, swollen and the quad muscle basically goes offline.

If you skip this phase and rush ahead, the knee usually fights you the whole rehab process.

So Phase 1 is about CARE.

C – Calm the knee
Reduce swelling and irritation so the joint can actually move and accept load.

A – Achieve full extension
Getting the knee completely straight early is critical for normal walking and long-term knee health.

R – Reignite the quad
The quad shuts down after surgery. We need to wake it back up so it can support the knee again.

E – Establish normal walking
Before strength training or running, we need a smooth, confident walking pattern.

This phase might sound simple… but it sets the foundation for everything that follows.

If the knee is quiet, straight, the quad is firing and you’re walking normally…
you’re ready to actually start building a knee that can perform again.

Over the next few posts I’ll break down all 9 phases of the RP9 system that take ACL athletes from:

👉 Post-op knee
👉 Strong knee
👉 Explosive knee
👉 Game-ready knee

If you’re going through ACL rehab right now, follow along so you don’t miss the next phases.

And if you want help building a knee that’s ready to cut, pivot and compete again, send me a DM with the word “ACL”.

17/07/2026

From crutches to sprinting. 🩼➡️🏃‍♂️💨

Eight months ago, Flynn underwent ACL reconstruction using a quadriceps tendon graft after a contact ACL injury.

The first clip was taken just 2 weeks after surgery—on crutches, with a swollen knee, focusing on the basics: settling the knee, restoring extension and getting the quads firing again.

Fast forward to today, and he’s sprinting.

One thing that stood out throughout Flynn’s rehab was his consistency. He embraced every stage of the process, turned up week after week, and trusted that the small wins would eventually become the big ones.

This wasn’t one breakthrough session—it was months of quality work:
✅ Restoring movement
✅ Building strength
✅ Developing power
✅ Earning the right to run
✅ Progressing back to sprinting

Sprinting at 8 months isn’t the finish line—it’s another milestone on the road back to sport.

Proud of the work you’ve put in, Flynn. Looking forward to seeing what comes next. 💪

RehabPotential ReturnToSport Sprinting ComeBackBetter

ACL REHABGreat to see Brendan back competing hard at recently 12 mths after acl reconstruction surgery.It's been a big ...
14/05/2026

ACL REHAB

Great to see Brendan back competing hard at recently 12 mths after acl reconstruction surgery.

It's been a big year of rehab but creating a knee that can compete with confidence is the reward for his hard work.

I really do love the journey of acl rehab. From surgery to sport, crutches to comeback!

Comeback complete ✅ First game of touch footy done, 408 days after doing my ACL, 347 days after surgery 🏈
28/04/2026

Comeback complete ✅

First game of touch footy done, 408 days after doing my ACL, 347 days after surgery 🏈

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