Some of Australia’s top athletes have lent their support to a new social media campaign from the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) to highlight the increased risk of sports injuries after the long COVID-19 lay off.

Sydney Kings basketballer Brad Newley, Australian Opal Lauren Nicholson and Australian Diamonds netball squad members Jamie-Lee Price and Kiera Austin have put together a series of return to sport warm up and exercise videos with their team physios.

Gabby Frost was told to be "careful of your boobs" while playing Aussie Rules football, but a lack of education and appropriate chest protection is leading to a growing, yet still taboo, injury problem in women's contact sport.

As gym doors reopen, physiotherapists are warning us to take it easy as we start working out again. 

Sports clubs and players are being urged to ensure they are match fit before they hit the court or field as coronavirus restrictions ease and Australians return to normal life.

While many Australians have been walking, running and cycling to maintain their fitness during quarantine, physiotherapists are warning this doesn’t mean they’re ready to go straight back into a local footy, netball or soccer game.

A recent Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport paper co-authored by Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) members Associate Professor Ilana Ackerman and Dr Joanne Kemp has shown that sports-related knee injuries more than doubled the likelihood of knee replacement surgeries up to 15 years later.