Mixed Osteo Osteopaths are trained to handle patients who like engaging in combat sports and are familiar with the needs and requirements of combat athletes.
Dr Luke Smith is a practising osteopath who holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has had some striking experience in boxing and Muay Thai. Many professional and amateur combat sports athletes, from MMA/UFC to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Muay Thai to Kickboxing to Boxing to Wrestling to Judo, are currently under his care.
Along with former UFC fighters Daniel Kelly and Callan "the rockstar" Potter, Luke also looks after current UFC fighters like Jimmy “the brute” Crute.
Luke's experience and participation in mixed martial arts has given him a greater understanding of the demands of combat sports as well as the injuries that might occur as a result of combat sports. When working with high-level athletes, it is critical to maintain them injury-free in order to allow them to continue training and prepare for competitions.
Injuries Associated with Combat Sports
Neck ache
Shoulder problems (rotator cuff strains, tendinopathies and bursitis, AC joint sprains)
Wrist and hand injuries
Injury to the ribs (sprains, strains, breaks and costochondritis)
Back pain in the lower back
Tightness in the lower back
Hip joint pain and limits
Tightness of soft tissues
Injuries to the knee ligaments and pain
Injuries to the foot and ankle
Injuries common in combat sports include:
How can a Mixed Osteo Osteopath help you?
Your Osteo will conduct a thorough case history and assessment to determine the aetiology of your injury, as well as any aggravating or maintaining variables, and to offer you with a diagnosis.
Your Osteopath will devise a treatment and care strategy that is tailored to the injury or condition at hand.
This involves listening to your goals as a client and ensuring that the treatment and management plan is discussed with you and tailored to help you achieve your objectives.
Manual therapy, movement therapy, exercise prescription, strength and conditioning, and workplace ergonomics and manual handling counselling are all options for treatment and management.
Your Osteopath may be compelled to refer you for additional assessment and investigation in specific situations.
Your osteopath may treat you with hands-on Osteopathy, movement-based treatment, or an exercise prescription/rehabilitation programme.
Your Osteopath will create a treatment and management plan for you that teaches and demonstrates you how to better manage your condition through stretching, mobility, and strengthening as needed.
Thinking Of Trying Out Some Combat sports/ MMA / BJJ?
Osteopath Luke Smith would recommend:
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ): Renegade MMA (Melbourne)
MMA, Judo and Boxing: Resilience Training Centre (Footscray), Progression MMA (Canberra).
Our location
92 Parsons Street, 3031 Kensington
Monday–Friday
8am-7pm
Saturday
8am - 1pm
Sunday
Closed