Assessments & Treatments for Sports Injuries

Springwood Sports Health, based in Springwood, QLD, is led by Howard Arbuthnot, a highly experienced clinician who holds a master's degree in acupuncture and is registered with AHPRA. Howard has been in private practice in Springwood for over 35 years, with a significant portion of that time spent working at the highest levels of elite sport, both in Australia and internationally.

A Clinician With Elite Sporting Credentials

Howard has provided sports medical support to Australian national teams across six Olympic Games, as well as at Commonwealth Games, World Championships, and a range of international tours. On the domestic front, he has delivered clinical services to the Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club and later the Brisbane Lions AFL Club across multiple seasons, working within high-performance environments where accurate assessment and effective treatment are non-negotiable.

Academically, Howard has presented in the areas of sports injury management and back care at Endeavour College (ACNM) in Brisbane, QLD, contributing to the professional development of practitioners in the broader field of sports and musculoskeletal health.

An Evidence-Based Approach to Injury Management

Howard's clinical philosophy is straightforward and consistent: apply the therapy or approach most likely to alleviate symptoms and promote recovery from injury. This means using the most current, evidence-based treatment within a one-to-one clinical setting, ensuring every patient receives care that is both clinically appropriate and individually tailored. There is no generic protocol applied to every presentation. Each patient is assessed on their own merits, and the treatment approach is selected accordingly.

The therapies Howard draws from include sports acupuncture, dry needling, soft tissue therapy, and exercise-based rehabilitation. The selection of which approach, or combination of approaches, to apply depends on the nature of the injury, how it is presenting on the day of assessment, and the clinical evidence supporting each option for that particular condition.

Treating a Wide Range of Sports Injuries

Springwood Sports Health provides assessment and treatment for a broad spectrum of sports-related injuries, including muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendinopathies, overuse injuries, joint pain, and soft tissue dysfunction across the body. Whether the injury occurred acutely during sport or has developed progressively over weeks or months, Howard will conduct a thorough assessment before recommending a targeted, individualised treatment plan.

Howard also works with patients during post-surgery rehabilitation, supporting recovery through hands-on therapy and progressive exercise to help restore strength, mobility, and function following orthopaedic procedures.

Our clinic treats patients of all activity levels, from elite and competitive athletes to recreational exercisers and those returning to activity after a period of inactivity or injury. The standard of clinical care remains the same regardless of whether the patient is a professional footballer or someone who has strained their back during a weekend run.

Do not let a sports injury hold you back; call Springwood Sports Health on (07) 3208 2066.