John Contreras

APA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist | Strength & Conditioning Coach | Pilates Educator

B.Physio (Hons) | B.Sc | M.Sports Physio |M.ExSci (Strength & Conditioning)

From the Pitfalls I Faced to the Tools You Need

I remember the uncertainty. Fresh out of university, confident in my anatomy knowledge but uncertain about how to actually get patients to do the exercises I prescribed. How to bridge the gap between the evidence I'd read and the real human sitting in front of me who had their own beliefs, fears, and motivations.

Twenty-three years later, I'm still learning. But I've figured out a few things that work.

I'm John Contreras, an APA Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist based in Melbourne, and I've spent over two decades combining Physiotherapy, Strength & Conditioning, and Pilates to help patients build genuine, lasting relationships with exercise. More recently, I've dedicated myself to helping other physiotherapists avoid the challenges I faced and deliver exercise prescription with confidence.

The Journey: Building a Framework That Actually Works

The Foundation — I graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2001 as a physiotherapist, excited about the profession but quickly realising that prescribing exercises and getting patients to actually complete them were two very different skills.

The Expansion — Seeking answers, I pursued a Master of Exercise Science (Strength & Conditioning) from Edith Cowan University in 2011 and a Master of Sports Physiotherapy from La Trobe University in 2016. I also spent over 16 years teaching Physiotherapy-based Pilates, becoming a former Master Trainer with the Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Institute (APPI).

The Integration — Through clinical work with Football Federation Victoria state squads, Brentford Football Club (UK), Victorian Bushrangers, Collegians FC, and various triathlon teams, I learned that the magic wasn't in any single discipline. It was in knowing when to use what, and more importantly, how to guide patients through behavior change.

The Evolution — In 2012, I launched Resistance Training Rehabilitation (RTR) to share this integrated approach with other health professionals across Australia, the UK, Europe, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Brazil, and the USA. In 2023, I rebranded to John Contreras Physio—a reflection that what I teach isn't just textbook science, but the real-life approach of an experienced clinician who's made mistakes, learned from them, and found what actually works in the gym and clinic.

Philosophy: Treating Humans, Not Just Injuries

Here's what I've learned after thousands of patient interactions:

We're not treating injuries. We're treating people who happen to have injuries.

Every patient walks in with their own beliefs about exercise, their own motivations, their own fears about movement. Rehabilitation isn't one-way traffic from therapist to patient—it's a collaboration. Our job isn't to simply prescribe exercises; it's to create an environment where successful outcomes become possible based on their beliefs and motivations, not just our clinical reasoning.

The biggest hurdles in rehabilitation aren't anatomical—they're behavioral. Habit building and behavior change are where the real work happens. Understanding this is what separates exercise prescription that gets filed away from programs that actually transform how patients move and live.

This is what I call "best practice" physiotherapy—evidence-based science delivered through the lens of human psychology and real-world application.

Clinical Approach: The Unique Blend

My methodology combines three distinct but complementary frameworks:

Physiotherapy Knowledge — Understanding injury pathology, tissue healing, pain science, and clinical reasoning to make safe, effective decisions.

Strength & Conditioning Principles — Applying progressive overload, periodization, and athletic development concepts to build resilience and performance.

Pilates Movement Philosophy — Teaching movement awareness, control, and the bridge between rehabilitation and functional performance.

This isn't about being a jack-of-all-trades. It's about having the right tool for the right moment in each patient's journey—from acute injury through to high performance.

I specialize in gym-based rehabilitation programs, particularly for athletic patients with lower limb and spinal injuries, as well as the athletic development of young and adolescent athletes. My clinical focus is helping patients transition from "injured" to "active lifestyle"—building a new, positive relationship with exercise that extends far beyond our time together.

Why This Matters to You

If you're a physiotherapist—especially a new graduate—you're likely facing some of the same questions I did:

  • How do I get patients to actually complete their home programs?

  • When do I progress? When do I regress?

  • How do I balance evidence-based practice with the reality of limited time and resources?

  • How do I build a successful exercise-based practice when I'm still building my confidence?

I want to help you enjoy your work more. I want to help you avoid the pitfalls and challenges I faced by shining a light on the tools and approaches that helped me along the way.

That's why I created the Exercise Prescription Mastery workshop—to give you the practical frameworks and clinical confidence that took me years to develop, delivered in a format you can immediately apply to your practice.

The Impact: What Success Actually Looks Like

Clinical success, to me, isn't measured in pain scales or range of motion degrees. It's measured in:

  • The patient who starts an active lifestyle for the first time in years

  • The athlete who returns to sport stronger and more resilient than before injury

  • The person who discovers that exercise isn't punishment—it's empowerment

Helping people see and experience the benefits of exercise we know exist—that's what gets me out of bed each morning.

Values That Guide Everything

Be caring and empathetic. Everyone has their own challenges, visible and invisible. Our patients trust us with their bodies and their hopes for recovery. That's a responsibility I never take lightly.

Be grateful. I'm genuinely grateful for every opportunity to help others live a more active lifestyle. This profession is a privilege, and I try to approach it with that mindset every single day.

Beyond the Clinic

In 2020, I founded The Physio Social Club to create a community for physiotherapists, health, and fitness professionals to connect, socialize, and discuss various aspects of our industry and personal development. Because this work can be isolating, and we're all better when we learn together. John also hosts The Physio Social Club Podcast, a podcast aimed at sharing information.

I currently consult from Physiosports Brighton in Melbourne, where I continue to treat patients while developing educational content for health professionals worldwide.

Work With Me

For Physiotherapists: Join the Exercise Prescription Mastery workshop to learn the frameworks I wish I'd had when I started. Get practical tools, clinical guidelines, and the confidence to lead patients from injury through to high performance.

For Patients: I'm currently accepting clients at Physiosports Brighton for gym-based rehabilitation and athletic development programs. If you're looking to build a genuine, lasting relationship with exercise—not just recover from injury—let's work together.

For Organizations: I deliver workshops internationally on exercise prescription, combining Physiotherapy, Strength & Conditioning, and Pilates principles. If you're looking for evidence-based, practical training for your team, let's talk.

The journey from injury to performance doesn't have to be complicated. But it does require the right guidance, at the right time, delivered in the right way. That's what I'm here to provide—whether you're a physiotherapist building your practice or a patient building your relationship with movement.