Low back pain is one of the most common conditions seen by physiotherapists. 

While many patients recover from an acute episode, recurrence remains a significant challenge; around 70 per cent of people experience another episode within the following year. 

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A recent clinical trial led by Professor Joanne Kemp FACP (left) at La Trobe University has examined the outcomes of two different exercise-based, physiotherapist-led interventions for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome. 

Physiotherapy in Australia is growing rapidly, both in numbers and in the breadth of what our profession contributes to Australians’ health. 

As of March 2026, Australia has more than 50,000 registered physiotherapists, while the APA represents close to 37,000. 

We are approaching the size of the psychology profession and are on track to become Australia’s third-largest regulated health profession. 

To borrow a line from Uncle Ben in Spider-Man, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ 

Physiotherapists prescribe behaviours every day: exercise, walking, pacing, symptom monitoring, sleep routines and gradual return to valued activities. 

These recommendations may be clinically sound but they still have to survive real life.