The ACT Badminton Open, held on 12–13 September 2026, brought together badminton athletes from across Australia for an energetic weekend of competition in Canberra. Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic was proud to attend the event and provide physiotherapy services to athletes throughout the tournament.

Physiotherapists Oli Rosendahl and Nick Stamatiou attended the event, setting up a stall where they had the opportunity to meet badminton players, coaches and members of the ACT badminton community. The atmosphere throughout the weekend was energetic and welcoming, with athletes travelling from around Australia to compete, including players who have previously held the number one Australian badminton ranking.

For Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic, the event was a valuable opportunity to support athletes and learn more about the physical demands of badminton.

What physiotherapy services were provided at the ACT Badminton Open?

During the tournament, the physiotherapy team provided massage therapy and sports taping to badminton athletes.

These services can be used in a sporting environment to help athletes manage areas of muscular tightness, provide support to certain body regions and assist with preparation for or recovery from physical activity.

Sports taping may be used for a variety of purposes depending on an individual's presentation and the physiotherapist's assessment. Massage therapy may also be used as part of an athlete's broader approach to managing training and competition demands.

Importantly, these services form only one part of an overall approach to managing sporting injuries and physical concerns.

What injuries are common in badminton?

Badminton involves repeated jumping, lunging, rapid changes of direction and overhead movements. These demands can place stress on different areas of the body, particularly when training or competition loads increase.

At the ACT Badminton Open, some of the main concerns seen by the physiotherapy team included:

• Wrist injuries and discomfort

• Patellar tendinopathy

• Achilles tendinopathy

• Shin splints

• Plantar fasciitis

• Shoulder tightness

• Rotator cuff-related injuries

The cause and appropriate management of these problems can vary considerably between individuals. A physiotherapy assessment can help identify factors that may be contributing to symptoms and determine whether physiotherapy is appropriate.

Why can badminton place stress on the body?

Badminton may appear relatively low-impact compared with some contact sports, but competitive play can be physically demanding.

Players can repeatedly accelerate, decelerate, lunge and jump while also performing rapid overhead movements. This combination requires coordination between the feet, legs, trunk, shoulders, arms and wrists.

Some areas may experience greater demands depending on a player's playing style, training history, previous injuries and overall workload.

For example, repeated lunging and jumping can contribute to increased loading through the lower limbs, while overhead shots require repeated movement of the shoulder and upper limb.

Understanding these demands can be useful when considering badminton injury prevention, rehabilitation and return to sport.

Supporting Canberra's badminton community

Attending the ACT Badminton Open was about more than providing services during a tournament. It was also an opportunity for the Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic team to connect with the local badminton community and gain a better understanding of the athletes and people involved in the sport.

The welcoming attitude of the badminton staff and athletes made the weekend particularly enjoyable, and the team appreciated the opportunity to be involved.

For athletes in Belconnen, Canberra and surrounding ACT suburbs, having access to physiotherapy can be one component of managing an injury and working towards a return to the activities and sports they enjoy.

Looking ahead

Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic is excited to build upon its partnership with ACT Badminton and looks forward to attending future badminton events and tournaments.

The ACT Badminton Open provided a great opportunity to meet athletes from across Australia and support them throughout a busy weekend of competition.

If you are experiencing a sports-related injury or physical concern that is affecting your badminton or other activities, you can contact Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic to discuss whether a physiotherapy assessment may be appropriate for you.

Belconnen Physiotherapy Clinic is looking forward to building its partnership with ACT Badminton and supporting the badminton community at future events!