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.

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

Return to run criteria > 3 months since surgeryRead my latest ACL Hub blog on this important topic of ACLR rehab managem...
21/09/2025

Return to run criteria > 3 months since surgery

Read my latest ACL Hub blog on this important topic of ACLR rehab management

Link to The ACL Hub in bio ☝️

"This was the moment of truth. Her quads, the all-important shock absorbers, were functioning at just 59% of their poten...
19/09/2025

"This was the moment of truth.

Her quads, the all-important shock absorbers, were functioning at just 59% of their potential.

That’s not a small gap; it’s a chasm.

Asking that leg to absorb the 2-3 times bodyweight force of every single running step would be a recipe for pain, swelling, and a major setback".

Continue reading - link to The ACL Hub blog in bio ☝️

Knee Extensions - More Good Than Harm 💪I'm a firm believer (based on the best available evidence), that the absence of k...
18/09/2025

Knee Extensions - More Good Than Harm 💪

I'm a firm believer (based on the best available evidence), that the absence of knee extensions in ACLR rehab plans is far more detrimental to the patient than the presence of them.

What about you? Let me know 👇

Read my latest ACL Hub blog on knee extensions - link in bio

On paper, this was a “straightforward” isolated ACL rupture.In reality, it was anything but.Managing the school-swim-bas...
13/09/2025

On paper, this was a “straightforward” isolated ACL rupture.

In reality, it was anything but.

Managing the school-swim-basketball-life balance made this one of the most complex cases I’ve seen.

In this blog, I share the challenges, decision points, and lessons that can help both clinicians and patients alike.

Read this case study at The ACL Hub

Link in bio

🥳 ​Happy World Physiotherapy Day! 🥳​Well, it's been 15 years since I somehow managed to officially call myself a physiot...
08/09/2025

🥳 ​Happy World Physiotherapy Day! 🥳

​Well, it's been 15 years since I somehow managed to officially call myself a physiotherapist.

I definitely took the scenic route to get here via an Exercise Science degree, probably because I needed the extra time to figure out what I was doing!

​Looking back, the biggest and most humbling lesson is that I've learned far more from my patients and colleagues than I ever could from a textbook.

You've not only trusted me with your injuries and goals, but you’ve inadvertently taught me how to be a more patient, empathetic, and better human being.

For that, I am eternally grateful.

Some days, I still feel like I'm just winging it, but your trust makes all the difference.

​I'm incredibly proud to have been able to give a little back to the profession that's given me so much, through things like the Melbourne ACL Rehab Guide and helping fellow clinicians with their continuing education via Learn.Physio and The ACL Hub.

​After 15 years, the imposter syndrome is still real, but my excitement for what the next 15 years of learning and growing looks like is even more so.

​A massive thank you to everyone who has been a part of the best job that I've ever had.

​

76 reps...not "sIx, SeVEnn" reps 🤣"For patients in later-stage rehabilitation whose goals involve high levels of enduran...
07/09/2025

76 reps...not "sIx, SeVEnn" reps 🤣

"For patients in later-stage rehabilitation whose goals involve high levels of endurance - like runners or field sport athletes - these results can help inform our targets.

The average performance of 76 repetitions in this healthy cohort can serve as a potential standard to aim for when returning an individual to full, resilient function".

Drop a "6 7" below and click on the Micks Memos link in my bio if you want to read this one - you parents with pre-teens and teens know what im talking about -

Yep. It can...I’m grateful for clinicians like Jane who push us to think clearly and care better.This one’s worth your t...
04/09/2025

Yep. It can...

I’m grateful for clinicians like Jane who push us to think clearly and care better.

This one’s worth your time.

See the full interview at The ACL Hub (link in bio)

Calling all health professionals who treat ACL'ers. Help us with this survey 👇📌 Movement Quality Assessment after ACLR –...
03/09/2025

Calling all health professionals who treat ACL'ers. Help us with this survey 👇

📌 Movement Quality Assessment after ACLR – a survey of current practices

🔗 Survey Link: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/stmarys/movement-quality-assessment-after-aclr

We would like to invite all professionals involved in the recovery process of patients following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) to take part in this Survey project!

This anonymous survey, which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, aims to explore how clinicians assess movement quality in ACLR patients throughout their rehabilitation.

Your professional experience is invaluable, and your insights can make a meaningful contribution to advancing knowledge and improving rehabilitation practices - ultimately helping patients achieve better outcomes.

Thanks for your contribution!

Sooo… I went down a non-ACL rabbit hole - I hope you dont mind:• Tape + 60° isometrics = window to load PFPS• One “hero ...
01/09/2025

Sooo… I went down a non-ACL rabbit hole - I hope you dont mind:

• Tape + 60° isometrics = window to load PFPS
• One “hero run” can predict injury
• SL wall-squat to catch endurance gaps
• Plyos BEFORE the main session
• Achilles rupture mgmt: similar 1-yr function, different trade-offs

10 short reads, all practical.
👉 learn.physio/p/micks-memos (or link in bio)

I sat down with one of the sharpest minds in ACL land, Jane Rooney, to talk shop for The ACL Hub.We covered everything f...
01/09/2025

I sat down with one of the sharpest minds in ACL land, Jane Rooney, to talk shop for The ACL Hub.

We covered everything from "patient zero" in the Cross Bracing Protocol cohort (now over 1100 participants) to the future of non-operative ACL care.

An absolute masterclass in acute ACL injury management

Read it now.

Link in BIO

I grew up on the “ACLs don’t heal” story.Turns out… some do.In my latest ACL Hub blog I break down the Cross Bracing Pro...
29/08/2025

I grew up on the “ACLs don’t heal” story.

Turns out… some do.

In my latest ACL Hub blog I break down the Cross Bracing Protocol (90% showing healing at 3 months) and the KANON trial (53% healing with rehab alone).

I’m not anti-surgery BTW.

I’m pro-options and honest conversations.

Thanks to the researchers and clinicians pushing us all to think better. 🙏

Full post: link in bio.

Do you routinely ask about family ACL history? Comment YES or NOT YET below 👇Latest ACL blog now available at The ACL Hu...
26/08/2025

Do you routinely ask about family ACL history? Comment YES or NOT YET below 👇

Latest ACL blog now available at The ACL Hub

Link in bio

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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