Russell Smelter

BHSc. (Path & Pharm), BAppSc., GradDipEd., BHSc. & MPhyPrac., APAM.

After graduating from the University of Adelaide in Health Sciences, Russell worked in education in Australia and the United Kingdom as a teacher of Physical Education, Health and Sciences. Russell is a true sporting enthusiast with coaching experience in AFL, soccer, badminton, volleyball, rugby union, rugby league, basketball, cricket, softball and climbing. Russell continues to enjoy working with students and has successfully worked with elite junior athletes who have since turned professional.

Russell is now head physiotherapist at Old Xavierians Football Club managing all injuries and trainers. He has worked with a variety of high level sporting teams including Victorian Premier division AFL and rugby union teams, and he has also accompanied sporting tours within Australia and overseas. Russell is passionate about working with his clients to rehabilitate them back to their sport(s) of choice by optimising their functional biomechanics to improve performance.

Russell also has a strong interest in helping patients rehabilitate through neck and back injuries to get them back to the activities that they enjoy. Russell strongly believes in empowering his patients through education of their condition and working in partnership with his patients to achieve the best possible outcomes. His interests in physiotherapy include;

• Adolescent and paediatric health
• Back and neck pain
• Sport specific injuries
• Biomechanics analysis
• Rehabilitation exercise programs
• Dry needling

Russell enjoys spending time with his young and growing family, golf, swimming, restaurants, good coffee and watching any and all sports!