How To Find A Good Physiotherapist Or Allied Health Practitioner

Caitlyn Davey • July 8, 2025

The field of allied health is a contentious one – there are excellent practitioners from physios to chiropractors but as with any industry, there are some to look out for.  From physiotherapists to exercise physiologists, chiropractors and osteopaths, there are different opinions about what people need and it’s about finding the right practitioner for your needs.  But there are a few things to be wary of.   Rebuild Health and Fitness’s in-house physiotherapist, Louis Savill touches on some ways to identify a practitioner to suit your needs.  We’ve spoken about what to do when you’re injured and when to use a chiropractor v osteopath v physio. (NB: They all are fairly similar in terms of treating you).  Citing an article featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, written by another fellow physiotherapist, Louis says the piece was disappointing and outright incorrect. “The article was about the big three gym lifts, so the deadlift, the squat, and the bench-press.  From a technical proficiency perspective, he clearly didn’t understand powerlifting, and it was just full of bad advice, talking about how risky these things were in a way that just isn’t true. He spoke about the deadlift being potentially the most injurious thing in the gym. I mean, if you look at the research into injury risk in weightlifting- we’re talking about powerlifting and Olympic lifting, it has a significantly lower injury rate than running and most sports,” explains Louis.  “This bloke has a background in AFL - it’s a collision sport where people are flying around, taking each other out left and right and centre. They’ve got a high ACL injury rate, a high hamstring injury rate. I guarantee you he’s not telling people off of playing AFL, but this bias and perception come way like that’s not safe, it’s just not right.  “Ultimately that may be true for you at a point in time if you’ve got a big issue, right? If you’ve got a broken arm or ankle, you probably shouldn’t be doing a sport that could be harmful again, it probably is dangerous for you but at the end of the day, that physio should be able to take you from there back to performing the thing that you want with potentially some modifications depending on the person. So, I’d say a big red flag is if they are just dismissing you based on your activity immediately.  “They’re showing they don’t understand it and they can’t help you get back to it,” says Louis. What about testimonials? Testimonials are a great way for businesses to gather more support and clients. This is mainly because it adds a level of trust among potential clients and builds a certain amount of reputation for the business/professional.  However, it’s worth discussing whether testimonials are even fair or trustworthy when it comes to the medical profession – given the differences in diagnoses, treatments and the severity of the issue. Louis understands why certain guidelines have been put in place as they may end up misleading the public. “I understand why they’re in place to an extent because certainly using testimonials can be very misleading when they’re giving an overly optimistic impression of how effective your treatment was. Obviously, I’m under no illusion, I can’t help everyone or solve any problem. Alright? And I think that selectively using these positive testimonials can be misleading. But, when it’s just simply talking about something like, ‘I had this good outcome and this guy really knows and understands this activity,’ I don’t really see anything wrong with that. People can leave us Google reviews, but we can’t then, as physios, grab that and use it on our website.  “As for finding someone who works for you, I guess you just want to search for somebody who understands your activity, who has shown experience working in your activity. I think that’s the thing with physios - we have a general broad education and over time, depending on their experience and work, you find a bit of a focus and that becomes your niche.  “I’d say that probably where I’ve niched myself a bit is helping Rebuild members and community - and with my work here over the last four years, I’ve gotten fairly good at dealing with that population and understanding their needs, and helping progress them back to what they want to do,” he says. So what should you look for? Speak to a practitioner about your needs, and they will advise how they can help you. Ensure you give them a clear picture of your activity and needs, and listen to them and how they can help. Ensure you’re comfortable with the course of action and them as a practitioner. It’s always okay to get a second opinion.

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July 22, 2025
If you live in Wynnum or Capalaba , chances are you’ve seen a bootcamp in action — high-intensity sessions in parks, with lots of burpees, sprints, and shouting. While bootcamps can be a fun way to get sweaty, there’s a reason more people are choosing structured strength training instead. At Rebuild, we often meet people who’ve jumped from one bootcamp to another, chasing results they never quite achieve, or can’t maintain. Here’s why strength training, not bootcamp-style fitness, is the smarter long-term approach for your health and body. 1. Progress Over Punishment Bootcamps often focus on burning calories and pushing people to their limits every session. It feels intense — but it’s usually random. There’s no plan beyond “go hard”. Strength training is different. It’s measured, progressive, and adaptable . Whether you’re lifting a barbell or doing bodyweight movements, the goal is to build skill, strength, and confidence over time. You're not punished for where you're at — you're coached toward where you want to be. 2. Stronger Muscles = Better Results Cardio-heavy bootcamps might help you lose weight quickly, but they rarely help you build muscle, and muscle is the key to long-term fat loss, strength, and mobility . When you train with resistance (weights, bands, or bodyweight), your body becomes more efficient. You burn more calories at rest, move better, and feel more capable in everyday life. And unlike bootcamps, strength training actually preserves lean mass while you're in a calorie deficit — which matters if your goal is body composition, not just weight loss. 3. Individual Coaching Matters Most bootcamps have one instructor yelling instructions to a big group. There’s rarely time to check your technique, let alone adjust for injuries, experience, or confidence levels. At Rebuild, our group sessions are coach-led and purpose-built . We take time to teach proper form, scale movements to your ability, and track your progress. You're not just surviving a workout — you’re learning how to move better and train smarter. 4. It’s Not Just About Today’s Workout Bootcamps often lack structure. You show up, do something exhausting, and leave. There’s no continuity or long-term planning. Strength training follows a programmed approach , meaning each week builds on the last. You’ll have sessions designed to improve specific movements and outcomes — whether that’s lifting more weight, increasing core strength, or mastering your first pull-up. That structure keeps you consistent, motivated, and injury-free. 5. Sustainability Over Shock Tactics If you’re tired of the “go hard or go home” mentality, strength training is for you. It’s adaptable to all ages, bodies, and goals . You’ll get fitter, stronger, and more confident — without burning out or breaking down. Ready to train with purpose? If you're looking for something better than a bootcamp in Wynnum or Capalaba , join us at Rebuild. We coach real people — not fitness models — to get real results. 📍 Structured training 📍 Expert coaches 📍 Community that has your back You don’t need to be fit to start. You just need to start.
July 22, 2025
A lot of people have completed a marathon but how many people have collapsed at 40km?

Sometimes you do everything right, and shit still doesn’t go to plan.
 Last weekend I ran in the Gold Coast Marathon, my first ever marathon. I trained properly, my body felt relatively good (all things considered when preparing to run 42.2km), I carb-loaded, and my race day nutrition was dialled in.
 I was ready.
 We set off. Jess and the kids met me at different points on the course with signs, the atmosphere was great. I loved seeing the kids with their signs. Pacing felt on point. The first 21km? Easy. I felt great. Maybe I should’ve drunk more water, but I didn’t think too much of it at the time.
 At 25km, I felt slower, but pace wise I was still holding well. I’d kept telling myself throughout the day "The race starts at 30km." And let me tell you, it does.
 By 30km, the sun was out, and I was starting to struggle. My watch started glitching so I had no real idea of my splits. I thought I was slowing down a lot (turns out I wasn’t), but the effort to keep the same pace suddenly felt 10x harder.
 I hadn’t taken on enough water. Usually, I can get away with lower fluids. Not this time. Dehydration crept in. hard.
 At 35km I was in survival mode, one foot in front of the other, flicking between moments of pain and little short lived waves of “let’s go.” But by 39km I was delirious. I could see the finish line, I hit the 40km mark (where I thought enjoyment might return to finish), and I collapsed.
 I was gone. Scary stuff.
 The last few hundred metres were a complete blur. All I remember is the crowd, the medics, and about five paramedics suddenly around me. I was vomiting, shaking, confused, in and out of it. I had this overwhelming, indescribable feeling, and honestly, for a moment, I thought I could die.
 My memory went. I couldn’t recall the day, the year, where I lived, or how to spell. I only knew who Jess and the kids were, and that I didn’t want them to see me with wires in me. 
 My temperature had hit 40°C. Blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, the medics and paramedics were incredible, I had a drip running into me within 10 to 15 minutes.
 As I already knew, I’m stubborn. I wanted to run it all. Not walk. Not stop and breathe and In hindsight, I should have. 
 Seems like my mind was just a bit stronger than my body on the day. I never thought I could push myself there in all honesty. 

Am I gutted? Of course, I was only 2km away but I gave it everything I had on that day. Heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration got me. 

I am always reminded here of the quote ‘The man in the arena’ look it up if you need. 
 Will I run 42.2km again? Yes, I feel I need to. 

Would I do things differently, now I’ve run 40km under race conditions? You bet, lessons learnt. Always lessons. Never be scared to not succeed. Be scared to never try in the first place. 
 We go again.
By Caitlyn Davey July 8, 2025
You Need To Earn The Right To Be Good At Something
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