Business Details
9 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Expert Sports & Exercise Medicine in Canberra & Wollongong
Dr. Stephan Praet is a Consultant Sport and Exercise Physician with dual international qualifications in Australia and the Netherlands. With over two decades of experience in clinical practice and research, he specializes in musculoskeletal injuries, concussion management, chronic disease rehabilitation, and pre-participation screening for athletes. His expertise extends to advanced treatments like neural prolotherapy and evidence-based exercise prescription, informed by his academic roles at the University of Canberra and research collaborations globally. Dr. Praet combines cutting-edge medical research with practical clinical applications to support both elite athletes and individuals seeking to maintain active lifestyles. His work at the Australian Institute of Sport and private practice in Canberra and Wollongong underscores his commitment to integrating sports medicine with broader health outcomes.He holds a PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology and has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications, ensuring his practice remains at the forefront of medical innovation. Dr. Praets approach emphasizes personalized care, leveraging his background as a former competitive athlete to address patient frustrations and recovery challenges. His services cater to diverse needs, including injury rehabilitation, cardiovascular risk assessment, and nutraceutical interventions, delivered across multiple locations in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.
Services
Sports Injury Rehabilitation
Concussion Management
Pre-participation Screening
Chronic Disease Management
Nutritional Advice
Medical Imaging
Prolotherapy
Exercise Prescription
Healthy Ageing Assessments
Cardiopulmonary Testing
Details
- Year established: 2017
Highlights and features
- Dual international accreditation in sports medicine from FEBSM and FACSEP.
- Extensive experience at the Australian Institute of Sport and global research collaborations.
- Specialized treatments including neural prolotherapy and advanced musculoskeletal diagnostics.
- Personalized care informed by clinical research and athletic experience.
- Services available across multiple locations in ACT and NSW.
Associations and certifications
- European Board of Sports Medicine (FEBSM)
- Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (FACSEP)
Services
Sports Injury Rehabilitation
Specialized rehabilitation programs for musculoskeletal injuries, including tendinopathies and bone stress injuries. Utilizes advanced diagnostics and treatments like ultrasound/MRI and prolotherapy. Tailored to athletes and active individuals for optimal recovery.
Concussion Management
Comprehensive assessment and management of concussion symptoms, focusing on safe return-to-play protocols. Combines clinical expertise with evidence-based strategies to address cognitive and physical recovery needs for athletes of all levels.
Pre-participation Screening
Mandatory cardiovascular and musculoskeletal evaluations for athletes starting high-intensity sports. Includes stress testing and risk assessment to ensure safe participation, particularly for those over 35 or with health concerns.
Chronic Disease Management
Exercise prescription and medical support for chronic conditions like diabetes, heart failure, and mitochondrial disorders. Focuses on improving fitness and quality of life through tailored rehabilitation programs and nutraceutical interventions.
Neural Prolotherapy
Minimally invasive treatment for chronic myofascial pain and TMJ dysfunction using dextrose injections. Targets nerve-related discomfort with Lyftogt P.I.T. techniques, offering relief for patients unresponsive to conventional therapies.
People
Dr. Stephan Praet
Consultant Sport & Exercise Physician
Dr. Praet is a Fellow of FEBSM and FACSEP with a PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology. He has over 15 years of experience in sports medicine, including roles at the Australian Institute of Sport and the University of Canberra. His research focuses on musculoskeletal imaging and exercise prescription for chronic diseases.
Questions
What services does Dr. Praet offer for athletes?
Dr. Praet provides injury rehabilitation, concussion management, pre-participation screening, and performance optimization. He specializes in musculoskeletal diagnostics and treatments like prolotherapy.
Do I need a referral to book an appointment?
Australian residents require a referral from a GP for Medicare rebates. Without a referral, appointments are available but may not be eligible for refunds.
Where are Dr. Praet's clinics located?
Clinics operate in Canberra (Bruce and Kingston, ACT) and Wollongong (Thirroul and Fairy Meadow, NSW), with fortnightly services in the latter locations.
What research has Dr. Praet contributed to?
He has authored 40+ peer-reviewed papers on exercise physiology, focusing on metabolic syndrome, cancer cachexia, and musculoskeletal imaging. He also co-led the global GAP4 trial on prostate cancer and exercise.
How are urgent appointments handled?
Urgent bookings are available on Monday mornings in NSW and Tuesday mornings in ACT for weekend injuries or concussion assessments.
Reviews (4)
Gus Meijer
Jan 13, 2020
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After a terrible fall on my face I had strain and pain in my neck and shoulders. Stephan treated me 3 times with neuro-prolotherapy. After the first treatment my neck and shoulders felt relieved immediately. After 2 more treatment spread out over a few weeks the positive effect is really remarkable!
Chileanchinch
Jan 07, 2020
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After 26 years of chronic pain from TMJ pain Ive been released from the daily pain I had become accustomed to. I had braces to correct my teeth alignment, years of Physiotherapy , reduced stressors in my life and had become increasingly worried about the daily intake of pain meds. I finally can wake up and not worry how much pain I will be in that day. I cried after my first treatment from the emotional release. Highly recommend Dr Stephan Praet who took the time to understand my history and magically knew where to target the injections (which werent painful).
Joel Mallett
Oct 31, 2019
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I found Dr Praet by Googling 'prolotherapy Canberra'. He treated me for a chest/rib condition that required patience and precision. I was impressed by how he explained things and found the right spots. Dr Praet is very friendly and knowledgeable and he also takes the time to make sure he get the best outcome for you. I plan to see him more in future.
Patrick Cole
Jun 03, 2019
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I came to see Dr Praet about chronic neck instability due to a whiplash injury. I approached Dr Praet as I had found he was practicing prolotherapy which only a few in Canberra do. We first tried a round of trigger point injections to eliminate musclular/fascial tissue issues. These did not provide much relief. Dr Praet is very knowledgeable and fantastic to deal with as a patient. He enteretained and considered all my ideas about the underlying cause of my discomfort. Dr Praet subsequently organised a series of CT guided Prolotherapy injections in to my upper cervical spine by Dr Malcolm Thomson
