Mick Hughes: Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Mick Hughes: Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist This page provides evidence-based sports physiotherapy information and allows readers to make appointments. For more info click on link below.
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Thanks for visiting my page! My name is Mick Hughes and I am a APA titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist with dual qualifications in Physiotherapy and Exercise Science. I currently work at North Queensland Physiotherapy Centre in Townsville, and was previously
Head Physiotherapist and High Performance Manager for the Collingwood Magpies Netball Team in the National Netball League and consulted

at The Melbourne Sports Medicine Centre for 6 years. Since 2016 I have focused my time and energy in specialising in ACL rehabilitation and have helped co-author the Melbourne ACL Rehabilitation Guide with Randall Cooper, and presented and given workshops on ACL rehab countless times both here in Australia and overseas. Clinically, I have a strong skillset in ACL rehabilitation, both ACLR and those pursuing a non-operative treatment pathway. Furthermore, I have a strong clinical interest and experience in managing all types of knee pain, lower limb tendon pain and lower limb soft tissue injuries. On my page (and other social media pages), you'll find plenty of ACL advice and the summaries of the very latest in ACL research. If you'd like to make an appointment to come see me in the clinic, don't hesitate to contact me on [email protected]

Do you use BFR? Good experiences? Negative experiences? Pros and cons? Would love to hear from you and start a fruitful ...
05/09/2026

Do you use BFR? Good experiences? Negative experiences? Pros and cons? Would love to hear from you and start a fruitful discussion

Link in bio for my latest ACL Hub blog

Anyone else a psychopath??
03/09/2026

Anyone else a psychopath??

Context always matters 🤣🤣
31/08/2026

Context always matters 🤣🤣

How are we supposed to sit down and then stand up from a chair, Genius? What about picking up the laundry basket or smal...
29/08/2026

How are we supposed to sit down and then stand up from a chair, Genius? What about picking up the laundry basket or small kids from the ground?

A bit of a brain dump on this topic, because I've seen a bit on social media lately that goes a bit like this.... Clinic...
26/08/2026

A bit of a brain dump on this topic, because I've seen a bit on social media lately that goes a bit like this....

Clinician frustrated that their patient isn't getting better, isn't doing their exercises. Shifting the blame back onto them. Punching down, in a way.

And I get it.

That clinician is trying their best, trying to educate, trying to give the best treatment with the best available evidence.

But I'm a bit torn, because it might not be solely the patient's fault.

If you put a big list of exercises in front of someone, it's not a matter of which ones they'll do. It's pretty much a matter of none of them being done.

For some, it's overwhelming, and they don't know which ones to prioritise and which ones to sacrifice when time gets short. Maybe that's on us.

If it can only be done in a gym on a leg press and a Smith machine, that's a barrier we built.

Life is messy, and the older we get, the messier it gets.

Compare a 23-year-old with anterior knee pain, eight hours of sleep and a free morning, to a 38-year-old with a newborn, school-aged kids, ageing parents, training and games in the afternoon and meals to prep.

The availability just isn't there.

The person sitting in front of you isn't always to blame, and more often than not we need to have a look at ourselves.

I say that as someone who used to get frustrated too, in my twenties, before my wife and kids came along. It wasn't until I became a dad that I realised how much harder it is to prioritise the things that matter.

And right now it's Book Week, end of Term 3, end-of-season sport. August and early September really sucks for busy families.

Just yesterday, I told a patient to just sit on the bike for a few weeks. Not an ideal stimulus? No. But the options are something gets done or nothing gets done, and I'd rather something.

I'm trying not to punch down on the people who punch down. That's not my intention here. It's just a little nudge and I just think we probably need to be careful about how we interpret why a person isn't doing their exercises.

Sometimes it's them. Often it's the program.

And this week it's because of Book Week 😉

Just going to leave this here.To be fair, I did find 1 paper on pubmed via a Google search that snuck through my search ...
25/08/2026

Just going to leave this here.

To be fair, I did find 1 paper on pubmed via a Google search that snuck through my search term and it showed that tibial anterior volume was normal in ACL deficiennt patients (non-op patients) who were coping and LARGER in those who were non-copers!

Moral of the story. Theres plenty of other things I'd prioritise in ACLR rehab. And tib anterior strengthening is nowhere near the top of my list.

Not even top 10....

Really enjoyed the discussion on the last post. Loads of different perspectives from all over the world, which is exactl...
25/08/2026

Really enjoyed the discussion on the last post. Loads of different perspectives from all over the world, which is exactly what a topic this complex deserves.

A bit of extra context here for anyone who hasn't read the blog yet.

None of this is anti-surgery. Some knees need it, and need it soon.

What I'm questioning is doing it to everyone by default, early, before we've seen how the knee actually behaves.

Three randomised trials and a dozen other papers, all referenced, free at the link in my bio.

Worth a read if you've got an interest in this space.

21/08/2026

Enjoy it fam 😀

Address

26 Graham Murray Place
Townsville City, QLD
4810

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+61747996803

Website

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