Injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (aka the ACL) is one of the most common knee injuries we see at BaiMed Performance Centre. Usually caused by a non-contact pivoting injury in sports like football, netball, basketball, tennis, and gymnastics, ACL injury can happen easily, with women around six times more likely to experience it than men.
More serious ACL injuries result in surgery, with around 400,000 ACL reconstructions conducted each year globally. Unfortunately, re-injury rates are still very high for people returning to competitive sport
We have strong evidence that shows ACL re-injury can be prevented through a specific exercise program by a qualified practitioner. And adherence to a rehabilitation program gives a massive 82% success rate for athletes returning to sport.
At BaiMed we manage our ACL patients from injury back to the level of performance that they were before injury. Our philosophy is not just “return to play”, but “return to perform”. We monitor you the whole way from Physio table back to sporting field, to ensure you have the best chance of a full recovery.
Have you experienced an ACL injury? What’s next?
- You need a comprehensive assessment from your Doctor, Orthopaedic surgeon, Physiotherapist, Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Know your options – you may not need surgery
- Own your rehab
- Build strength and confidence in your knee
- Return to performance as a better athlete
After ACL Reconstruction 30% of non-elite athletes never return to sport.
10% injury rate to opposite leg of under 18’s after ACL Rehabilitation
Adherence to a rehabilitation program gives a massive 82% success rate for athletes returning to sport
The BaiMed Return to Performance Assessment
How we assess, measure and treat your knee
Liam Richardson
Position: Performance Physiotherapist & Team Leader of Sport and Community
Location: Performance Centre, Kiama
Qualifications: Bach. of Physiotherapy & Mast. of Exercise Science (Strength & Conditioning)
Professional Achievements and Accreditations:
- NRL Rehabilitation Physiotherapist to St George Illawarra Dragons (2017 – 2019)
- Head Physiotherapist ACT/NSW Men’s Comets Cricket Team – Futures League (2016 – 2017)
- Australia Under 15’s Female Physiotherapist (2017)
- ACT/NSW Country Under 15/17’s Pathway Physiotherapist (2016 – 2017)
- Level 1 Sports Physiotherapist
- APA Member
Special Interests:
- Rehabilitation of individuals for return to sports following acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury – shoulder, Achilles and hamstring injuries
- Acute and chronic shoulder injuries – Coordinator for the ‘Cuff Strong’ Program
- Facilitating return to full function for upper body limb injuries
- Return to run rehabilitation following lower body injuries
Liam’s primary aim as a physiotherapist is to enable people to return to full function following injury. This is regardless of whether their aim is to return to sport, work or their favourite hobbies. He is passionate about ensuring people receive a high standard of care, whilst considering client’s goals and current life balance. Having worked in all levels of sport over the years (amateur, semi and elite), he has had the opportunity to work with people of all ages. These opportunities have resulted in Liam seeing many injuries commonly occurring within specific sports, which include rugby league, rugby union, Australian Rules football and cricket.
Reducing the risk of re-injury is another area that Liam is passionate about. Having completed his Masters in Strength and Conditioning, Liam believes clients should continue with ongoing maintenance programs after returning to full health. He believes musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation not only involves returning to full function, it also includes reducing the risk of subsequent injury.
Away from work, you will find Liam attempting to surf (having been born in Canberra made it challenging), going to the gym or camping within the wonderful areas of the Illawarra and surrounds.
Liam Richardson
Position: Performance Physiotherapist & Team Leader of Sport and Community
Location: Performance Centre, Kiama
Qualifications: Bach. of Physiotherapy & Mast. of Exercise Science (Strength & Conditioning)
Professional Achievements and Accreditations:
- NRL Rehabilitation Physiotherapist to St George Illawarra Dragons (2017 – 2019)
- Head Physiotherapist ACT/NSW Men’s Comets Cricket Team – Futures League (2016 – 2017)
- Australia Under 15’s Female Physiotherapist (2017)
- ACT/NSW Country Under 15/17’s Pathway Physiotherapist (2016 – 2017)
- Level 1 Sports Physiotherapist
- APA Member
Special Interests:
- Rehabilitation of individuals for return to sports following acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury – shoulder, Achilles and hamstring injuries
- Acute and chronic shoulder injuries – Coordinator for the ‘Cuff Strong’ Program
- Facilitating return to full function for upper body limb injuries
- Return to run rehabilitation following lower body injuries
Liam’s primary aim as a physiotherapist is to enable people to return to full function following injury. This is regardless of whether their aim is to return to sport, work or their favourite hobbies. He is passionate about ensuring people receive a high standard of care, whilst considering client’s goals and current life balance. Having worked in all levels of sport over the years (amateur, semi and elite), he has had the opportunity to work with people of all ages. These opportunities have resulted in Liam seeing many injuries commonly occurring within specific sports, which include rugby league, rugby union, Australian Rules football and cricket.
Reducing the risk of re-injury is another area that Liam is passionate about. Having completed his Masters in Strength and Conditioning, Liam believes clients should continue with ongoing maintenance programs after returning to full health. He believes musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation not only involves returning to full function, it also includes reducing the risk of subsequent injury.
Away from work, you will find Liam attempting to surf (having been born in Canberra made it challenging), going to the gym or camping within the wonderful areas of the Illawarra and surrounds.
Angus Clark
Location: Nowra
Qualifications: Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Sports Physiotherapy Level 1
Angus grew up in the Nowra where he played numerous sports, including rugby union, soccer, AFL, and cricket. After travelling overseas and around Australia during his gap years, Angus moved to Canberra to complete his studies at the University of Canberra. During this time, he gained valuable experience as a sports trainer with various rugby teams, including the Brumbies u16s.
Angus has a keen interest in sporting injuries, particularly the lower limb, and concussion. He also enjoys the connections you can make with people as a physio and the wide range of opportunities it can provide.
Outside of work, Angus enjoys playing golf, drinking coffee, travelling, playing rugby, and spending time with family and friends.
Lachlan Waters
Location: Wollongong
Qualifications: Bachelor of Exercise Science (UOW), Master of Physiotherapy (USYD)
Lachlan grew up in the Macarthur region playing a number of different sports and therefore incurring a number of different injuries. Through these injuries, Lachlan found himself at the physio fairly often, which prompted an interest in physiotherapy as a career.
He worked for a few years at another clinic before following his love of snow to Canada and worked as a Physio in the ski slopes.
On returning to Australia Lachlan started here at BaiMed and has since been involved with the Illawarra Steelers Rugby League Club and the St George Illawarra Dragons NSW Cup team.
Lachlan enjoys the opportunities that BaiMed offers professionally with development of his physiotherapy career under a supportive team with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Outside of work, Lachlan loves traveling, skiing and snowboarding, hiking and enjoying a coffee at the beach
Dean Zalunardo
Qualifications: Bachelor of Medical and Health Science (UOW) and Master of Physiotherapy (UTS)
Qualifications: Bachelor of Medical and Health Science (UOW) and Master of Physiotherapy (UTS)
Dean grew up in the small town of Griffith where his family owned a prune and orange farm. He played multiple sports competitively, with soccer always his sport of choice.
Dean later moved to Wollongong to attend UOW and complete his undergraduate degree in Medical and Health Sciences. Dean later completed his Master of Physiotherapy at UTS, graduating in 2021, before joining BaiMed in 2022.
Dean is also an accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach and Level 1 Sports Trainer.
Dean has an interest in treating sporting injuries and being part of the rehab process from managing an initial injury to returning to sport or work. Dean’s interest sparked from when he was growing up and experienced a lot of low back pain. Through his frequent physio visits he began to learn and experience the benefits of rehabilitation through exercise, education and self-management strategies.
Outside of work Dean enjoys going to the beach with friends, playing sport especially soccer and touch, reading, being outdoors and going to the gym.
3 Fun Facts about Dean:
- He grew up on an orange farm.
- He is the second oldest in a family of five kids.
- He can quote any Simpsons episode.
Benjamin Kearton
Position: Physiotherapist
Location: Kiama
Qualifications: Bachelor of Exercise Science (UOW), Masters of Physiotherapy (USYD)
Ben played competitive soccer locally for 22 years and social basketball, which stemmed his passion in sport and the rehabilitation process. He has a special interest in tendon injuries and sport injuries, particularly of the lower limb.
Ben appreciations being involved in the rehabilitation process, from injury to return to work, life and sport, and beyond to improved performance, functionality and injury prevention.
Ben has been a sports training for 3 years with Balgownie Football Club. Outside of work, Ben enjoys walking his blue heeler, Banjo with his fiancé Lisa, and keeping active by playing soccer, basketball and working out at the gym.
Rob Jamieson
Location: BaiMed Performance Centre
Qualifications: Bachelors in Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation at The University of Canberra
Rob grew up in Canberra and during his University degree he was exposed to a number of experiences in a variety of rehabilitation and performance settings. In 2015-2019 Rob worked apart of the Belconnen Magpies Football Club Strength, Condition & Rehabilitation team during Australian Rules Football Canberra First and Second grade competitions. During the 2017 season Rob completed an internship with Brumbies/ Vikings rugby with the performance analysis team. In 2018 he lived and worked in Canada with the Canadian Sports Institute Atlantic with Canadian Canoe and Kayak team, Female Canada Ice hockey athletes, Canada gymnastics athletes, Junior and Provincial Ice hockey, soccer, gymnastics, rugby athletes and Nova Scotia Hockey. In the 2018/19 season NRL season he worked as the Assistant Speed and Agility coach with the Canberra Raiders. In 2019 Rob worked alongside Chris Jaffery in the NRLW competition as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach for the St George Illawarra Dragons and most recently in 2019/20 he worked alongside Chris Jaffery in the NRLW nines competition as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach for the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Rob has a special interest in ACL’s due to the server impact it has globally. Outside of work you’ll find Rob spending time with his friends and family, enjoying the outdoors, hiking, camping fishing and exploring beaches aswell as keeping active by playing social sports and at the gym
Patrick Lancaster
athletic development to aged care.
Pat has been a part of the basketball community representing the Illawarra at a club, state, and
national level for 14 years. After playing at a variety of levels and sustaining multiple injuries his
passion for getting athletes back to performance grew!
Currently Pat working with the NBL1 Hawks and has been the lead EP for over a year.
His passion is seeing athletes develop along their timeline and get a chance to let sport takes them
around the world.
Aside from basketball Pat finds himself taking his dogs to the beach, going for runs or enjoying the
warmth of latte.
Harry Bignall
Location: Nowra, Kiama, Figtree.
Qualifications: Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology, Bachelor of Exercise Science, Certificate IV Allied Health Assistance
Harry grew up in the Southern Highlands where he played multiple sports including soccer and basketball. In 2019 he made the move to the Illawarra whilst completing his Exercise Science degree at University of Wollongong. Harry then went on to complete his Masters of Exercise Physiology through Charles Sturt University. During his studies Harry was part of the sports trainer team with BaiMed where he worked with local soccer and rugby teams.
Outside of work Harry enjoys playing golf, snowboarding, and exploring the south coast with his partner and their beloved dog Archie.