Physio for Impact Injuries: Shoulders, Knees & Everything In-Between

From bruised joints to deep tissue trauma — here’s how physio helps your body bounce back.

Got Hit, Landed Wrong, or Took a Knock? Don’t Shrug It Off.

Whether it’s a rough tackle, a hard fall, or an awkward landing, impact injuries are part of the game — and not just for professional athletes.

From footy fields and netball courts to gym sessions and everyday accidents, impact injuries can leave you with bruising, swelling, reduced mobility, or lingering pain in areas like your shoulder, knee, or lower back.

The good news? With the right physiotherapy approach, you don’t just recover — you rebuild stronger.

At Clinical Physio Solutions, we see impact injuries every day, and this blog unpacks what they are, what’s really happening under the surface, and how we treat them with long-term recovery in mind — not just short-term relief.

What Counts as an Impact Injury?

An impact injury (or blunt force trauma) happens when your body absorbs sudden external force. These injuries might not break bones or tear ligaments, but they can still cause serious disruption to muscles, joints, and movement.

Some of the most common examples we see at our Burwood and Eastgardens physio clinics include:

A direct shoulder blow during contact sport

Knee swelling after a fall or slide

Hip bruising from a hard landing

Lumbar pain after lifting and twisting poorly

Elbow or wrist trauma from bracing a fall

Left untreated, even “minor” impact injuries can lead to chronic pain, restricted movement, or overcompensating patterns that affect other joints — like shoulder pain causing neck strain, or a bruised knee changing your gait.

Why Seeing a Physio Early Matters

It’s easy to assume a knock will just heal with time — but impact injuries can be deceptive. There may be no fracture, but deep tissue damage, joint irritation, or muscle guarding can limit recovery.

Our sports physiotherapists in Burwood and across Sydney are trained to spot the red flags early and guide healing in the right direction.

Here’s how early intervention helps:

Reduces swelling and fluid build-up in the joint

Prevents protective tightness or compensation in nearby areas

Supports normal movement to avoid stiffness and long-term restrictions

Speeds up tissue repair with targeted hands-on techniques

Avoids re-injury or delayed return to sport/activity

If you’re typing “physio near me open today” after a training knock or accident, the answer is: the sooner, the better.

How Physio Helps Treat Impact Injuries

Our approach is both hands-on and movement-driven — blending manual therapy, load management, and functional rehab for a complete recovery.

Here’s how we break it down:

1. Initial Assessment and Injury Grading

We assess the extent of trauma, swelling, range of motion, and surrounding structures. If needed, we refer for scans — but many cases can be managed conservatively in-clinic.

2. Reducing Pain and Inflammation

Through soft tissue release, gentle mobilisations, and techniques like dry needling, we help calm irritated tissues and reduce pressure around the joint.

3. Restoring Normal Movement and Joint Function

We guide you through gentle, progressive movement to prevent freezing up or over-restricting motion. This includes range of motion drills, isometrics, and early stabilisation work.

4. Gradual Strength Rebuild

As the pain settles, we introduce controlled strength training — not just for the injured area, but for the entire movement chain (e.g. glutes and core to support a bruised knee). This may include Pilates-informed control work where precision is key.

5. Return-to-Activity Conditioning

This is where sports physio meets performance. We simulate the load, speed, and stress of your sport or lifestyle — with real movement coaching to get you back with confidence.

Common Impact Zones We Treat

✔️ Shoulders – Especially in contact sports, falls, and gym injuries. We treat rotator cuff bruising, AC joint irritation, and shoulder instability from knocks or repeated collisions.

✔️ Knees – Often affected in football, netball, running, and falls. We manage patellar contusions, joint effusion, and ligament bruising without tears.

✔️ Hips and Pelvis – Deep bruising or muscle spasms can limit mobility, especially in dancers and athletes. Early release and movement rehab physio help restore hip function fast.

✔️ Lower Back – From jarring impacts, lifting accidents, or sport contact. We address facet joint irritation, muscle guarding, and core deactivation from trauma.

✔️ Wrists and Elbows – Often overlooked after falls. We treat compression injuries, soft tissue inflammation, and tendon overload to restore grip and function.

What Makes Our Impact Injury Rehab Different?

Unlike general clinics that stop at pain relief, CPS takes you from early recovery all the way through to performance-level rehab.

Whether you’re dealing with sports impact injuries, gym trauma, or falls at work or home, our physios build a plan that fits your goals and gets results.

Our edge:

Top-rated physios in Burwood and Sydney suburbs

Credentialed team including APA registered physios, sports physio specialists, and clinical Pilates experts

Onsite movement assessment, strength rehab, and pain management

Location-specific programs — trusted by athletes, schools, and local GPs

Evidence-based care, tailored to your sport or activity demands

If you’re searching for impact injury treatment, knee physio near Burwood, or a reliable physio for shoulder rehab, you’re in the right place.