Back Pain
Acute back pain, persistent back pain, sciatica and stiffness that won't budge — whether it started lifting something, sitting too long, or seemingly out of nowhere.
General Physiotherapy Hervey Bay
General Physiotherapy That Helps You Get Back To Living
Whether it's back pain, neck pain, a sore shoulder, an old injury that keeps flaring up or something that just doesn't feel right — we'll help you understand what's going on and build a practical plan to get you moving again.
Pain and injuries are frustrating. They show up at the worst time, hang around longer than you'd like, and quietly change what you do day to day.
We hear the same things all the time — waking up stiff, not being able to train the way you want to, struggling through a day at work, avoiding hobbies you used to enjoy, wondering whether something serious is going on, or feeling like you've tried everything and nothing has really worked.
Physiotherapy isn't just about chasing pain around the body. It's about understanding why things became sore in the first place, and then helping you become more capable and confident again so it's less likely to keep coming back.
What Is General Physiotherapy?
General physiotherapy is the assessment, diagnosis and management of problems involving your muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves and the way you move. If something hurts, doesn't move well, or keeps letting you down — it usually falls under this umbrella.
Depending on what we find, treatment may involve a mix of:
- Clear education about what's going on (no scare tactics, no over-complicated explanations)
- Targeted exercise to rebuild strength, mobility and tolerance
- Hands-on therapy where it's genuinely useful
- Activity modification so you're not constantly poking the sore spot
- Strength and mobility work to address the underlying drivers
- A proper rehabilitation plan with milestones, not just a list of exercises
Every person is different. Two people with the same diagnosis can need very different plans, and that's why we'd rather take the time to understand your situation than hand you a generic protocol.
Conditions We Commonly Help With
Neck Pain
Neck pain, tension headaches and that desk-related stiffness that creeps in by mid-afternoon. We look at the neck, the upper back and the way you load it day to day.
Shoulder Pain
Rotator cuff irritation, impingement, weakness and overhead pain — common in tradies, swimmers, lifters, and anyone who's just been guarding the shoulder for a while.
Knee Pain
Arthritis, sporting injuries, post-operative rehab and the kind of niggling pain that flares up on stairs or after a long walk. Strength and load tolerance are usually the missing pieces.
Hip Pain
Hip arthritis, gluteal and hamstring tendon pain, and movement restrictions that change the way you walk or train.
Sports Injuries
Sprains, muscle strains and return-to-activity rehab. The goal is getting you back to your sport — not just pain-free, but resilient enough to stay there.
Persistent Pain
Pain that simply won't settle and is starting to affect everyday life. We take the time to understand the full picture and build something realistic.
With neck pain, we don't just chase the sore spot. By addressing upper cervical alignment, we manage tension headaches and jaw restrictions too — learn more on our TMJ & Jaw Physiotherapy page. For stubborn knee and hip issues — particularly in active adults pushing back into running, lifting or competitive sport — view our Sports Physiotherapy page for advanced athletic injury management. Coming back from an operation? Take a look at Pre & Post-Surgical Rehabilitation. And if you're an older adult focused on strength, balance and independence, our Geriatric Physiotherapy service is built specifically for that.
We Keep Things Simple
Our process isn't complicated, because it doesn't need to be.
- Listen. We take time to understand you, what's been happening, and what you actually want to get back to.
- Assess. A thorough assessment to work out what's contributing to the problem — not just where it hurts, but why.
- Explain. You get clear answers in plain English, and a practical plan you can actually follow.
- Build Capacity. Evidence-based rehab and exercise to rebuild confidence and function, so your body can handle what life throws at it.
The point isn't to keep you coming back forever. The point is to help you understand your body well enough that you don't need us as often — and you know exactly what to do when something flares up.
Who We Help
We see all kinds of people — and the common thread is they want to get back to something. That might be:
- Office workers stuck at a desk all day
- Tradespeople whose bodies are their livelihood
- Active adults who hate being sidelined
- Recreational athletes chasing their next event
- Older adults wanting to stay strong and independent
- People recovering from surgery
- Anyone who just wants to move better
Why Choose The Physio Don?
You've got plenty of physios to choose from in Hervey Bay, so here's what we bring to the table:
- Doctor of Physiotherapy (Macquarie University)
- Bachelor of Exercise Science (Griffith University)
- More than a decade of clinical experience across private practice, sport and rehab settings
- Extensive postgraduate training in gerontology and healthy ageing
- An evidence-based approach — current research, sensibly applied
- Individualised treatment plans, not protocols
- Direct access to a premium strength and conditioning facility at LIFT for proper rehab loading
- Telehealth available if you can't get into the clinic
- Home visits for appropriate clients across Hervey Bay and the Fraser Coast
If any of that sounds like the kind of physio you've been looking for, we'd love to help you get back to feeling like yourself.
About Your Physiotherapist
Donovan Baker | Physiotherapist | Doctor of Physiotherapy | Bachelor of Exercise Science
With more than a decade of experience across private practice, aged care and community rehabilitation, Donovan combines physiotherapy, strength training and evidence-based exercise to help people move better and get back to doing the things that matter most.
He also has extensive postgraduate training in gerontology and healthy ageing and is the author of Getting Old Is Sh*t, a practical guide designed to help older adults stay strong, capable and independent for longer.
Ready to get moving again?
Book online or give us a call — we'll figure out what's going on and what the next step looks like.