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 mick.h@nqpc.com.au

.king has worked in settings where 1500 ACLs will come through the door - and he’s learnt a lot and got a lot to share. ...
09/12/2025

.king has worked in settings where 1500 ACLs will come through the door - and he’s learnt a lot and got a lot to share.

In this long-form conversation, he shares the patterns that keep showing up: quads, plyos, graft quirks, contralateral risk, and why time alone is a poor guide for return to sport.

This is very much physio-to-physio – practical, honest and grounded in a huge amount of volume.

Go to my bio and click on The ACL Hub - you'll find the blog and full free interview there

Share this one around - its a good one!

09/12/2025

I used to think knee extensions were a big red flag too 🚩

Then I started listening to and others much smarter then me, read more, tested more, and watched what actually helped people.

Well-programmed knee extensions (and their friends: squats, leg press, Bulgarians, step ups) are often part of the solution for knee pain, not the cause.

It’s not “good vs bad” exercises.

It’s “appropriate vs inappropriate” load for that person, on that day.

Share this with someone who’s been scared away from the machines.

08/12/2025

Hot take: “Never do knee extensions” has harmed more knees than it’s helped.

For PFJ pain, I’d rather:

✔️ Choose smart angles – isometrics at 60–90°
✔️ Respect symptoms with half-ROM 45-90 knee extensions early on
✔️ Keep the whole lower limb honest with pain-free ROM wall sits & leg press, hamstring curls, RDLs, 0-45deg partial squats and calf raises.

Not reckless.
Not fragile.

Just progressive loading with a bit of thought.

Save this for the next time someone tells you knee extensions are “bad for your knees”.

www.learn.physio / www.mickhughes.physio

I’m not the best at celebrating wins, but this one belongs to you as much as it does to and ISpotify Wrapped tells me ...
08/12/2025

I’m not the best at celebrating wins, but this one belongs to you as much as it does to and I

Spotify Wrapped tells me is a top performing new podcast. So thanks a billion to all of you who have tuned in this year!

What I see when I look at that is:
😊 people making space to keep learning in busy lives
😊 physios and coaches who actually care about the details
😊 a quiet community that values evidence over noise

If you’ve ever put us in your ears while you walk the dog, clean up the kitchen or write your notes, thank you.

We will keep doing our best to make every episode worth that small slice of your day.

If you’ve been meaning to check it out, consider this your nudge to search “Exercise Matters Podcast” and pick one topic that interests you.

07/12/2025

Bulgarian split squats are already tough enough...

Getting into position doesn’t need to be another workout.

Sit down.
Stretch the working leg out.
Stand up.
Back foot on the bench.

Simple, stable, repeatable.

Tiny setup change, big difference to how safe and strong this feels – especially if you’ve got a grumpy knee or you’re coming back from an ACL injury.

👉 Save this for your next lower body day

👉 Share it with someone who’s trying to build confidence with Bulgarians

07/12/2025

If your Achilles spend the first 10 steps of the day acting 97 years old, then remembers its actually only 40yrs of age 10 minutes later… you are NOT alone. 😅

Morning stiffness is common – grumpy tendon ≠ doomed tendon.

👉 Share this to your fellow “morning hobblers” so they feel seen.

06/12/2025

If your comeback story currently looks like a blooper reel – embrace it.

You’re exactly where you should be.

Messy, rough and imperfect.

Keep shooting your shot.

The highlight reel comes later

Share this with someone who is in the messy middle of their rehab story

06/12/2025

Also how you're walking 3 days later when DOMS peaking 😂

Tag and share with your mates who are walking down the stairs this week like a baby giraffe

www.learn.physio / mickhughesphysio

05/12/2025

Weekend warriors, this one’s for you.

We love the passion, we love the vibes…

But if your celebration has a higher injury risk than the actual game, it might be time for a little self-audit 😂

Tag a mate who needs to reel in their post-goal celebrations this weekend

www.learn.physio / mickhughesphysio

We love control as physios. Sets, reps, tempos, progressions… all neatly in our little boxes.But I learnt something real...
05/12/2025

We love control as physios. Sets, reps, tempos, progressions… all neatly in our little boxes.

But I learnt something really important from .

When she worked at Red Bull, it forced Amy to do the opposite – give athletes a framework, then let them play.

The result? More buy-in, more fun, better intent.

🎥 Hear how she does this in ACL rehab in our full chat on The ACL Hub.

Link in bio

We still don't know what the best set of discharge criteria for return to sport following ACLR is, but what we do know i...
04/12/2025

We still don't know what the best set of discharge criteria for return to sport following ACLR is, but what we do know is that we need to do more than a Lachman Test, Pivot Shift Test and manual muscle testing.

For me, the test battery that I do will vary depending on the athlete and their specific sport needs, but as a general rule my return to sport criteria are:

✅ minimum 9 months post-op (non-professional athletes)

✅ >90% quads and hamstrings limb symmetry index (LSI) and strength values similiar to age and s*x matched healthy normal athletes

✅ >90% LSI on at least 2 single leg hop tests (my preferred options - single leg hop, single leg vertical, side hop test) and distance/height/reps similiar to age and s*x matched healthy normal athletes

✅ ACL-RSI >76%

✅ TSK-11

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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