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. It was unclear how to bridge the gap between the evidence and the real human sitting in front of me. Working with patients who had their own beliefs, fears, and motivations was a tricky path to navigate.

Twenty-four 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.

My Journey

  • 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.

  • 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 6 years teaching Physiotherapy-based Pilates, and becoming a Master Trainer with the Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Institute (APPI) in London and Australia..

  • Through my clinical work, delivering exercise based workshops to health professionals and working with sporting organisations in football (soccer), AFL, cricket, combat sports, athletics and triathlon, 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 behaviour change.

  • In 2012, I launched Resistance Training Rehabilitation (RTR) to share this integrated exercise therapy approach combining sports Physiotherapy, strength training and Pilates training. I’ve delivered workshop to 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.

  • Today, my practice is grounded in continuous reflection and learning. I read, I question, I learn from colleagues and mentors, and I constantly ask myself two questions: How does this help patients understand their clinical journey? and How does this make our work more fulfilling? I believe our profession should evolve and improve with every patient interaction, every conversation with colleagues, and every piece of research we digest. I don't have all the answers—but I'm committed to asking better questions and sharing what I discover along the way.

My Philosophy

Treat Humans, Not 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 behavioural. Habit building and behaviour 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 coaching, psychology and real-world application.

Clinical Approach

  • My clinical approach combines three distinct but complementary frameworks. 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.

  • Understanding injury pathology, tissue healing, pain science, and clinical reasoning to make safe, effective decisions

  • Applying progressive overload, periodisation and athletic development concepts to build resilience and physical performance

  • Teaching movement awareness, coordination, and confidence to bridge from injury rehabilitation towards physical performance.

I specialise in gym-based rehabilitation programs across the athletic spectrum. I work with young and adolescent athletes in their development years, helping them build strong movement foundations. I also work extensively with masters level athletes—those over 35 navigating osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and the realities of training with bodies that have lived a bit longer. My focus with this group is keeping them active, competitive, and doing what they love, despite what imaging or age might suggest is "normal."

Whether you're 15 or 75, my clinical focus is the same: helping patients transition from "injured" to "active lifestyle"—building a new, positive relationship with exercise that extends far beyond our time together.

Helping You Enjoy Your Work

If you're a physiotherapist—especially a young 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 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 Essentials, Strength Training Essentials and Pilates Training Essentials workshops — 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.

What Success Actually Looks Like

To me, clinical success isn’t measured in pain scales or range of motion. It’s measured in:

A New Beginning

The patient who starts an active lifestyle for the first time in years, discovering that movement can be enjoyable, not just therapeutic.

Beyond Recovery

The patient who returns to activity and sport stronger and more resilient than pre-injury, using setbacks as opportunities to rebuild better foundations.

A More Empowered Look

The patient who discovers that an injury isn’t an ending but an opportunity and can take ownership of their recovery journey.

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, socialise, 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.

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

Learn More about The Physio Social Club

Work With Me

  • Join the Exercise Prescription Essentials, Strength Training Essentials and/or Pilates Training Essentials 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 physical performance.

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

  • I deliver workshops in Australia and 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's easier with experienced support, practical frameworks, and guidance that meets you where you are and helps you navigate your unique path forward. That's what I'm here to provide—whether you're a physiotherapist building your practice or a patient building your relationship with movement.