Chris El-Hayek
Sports Physiotherapist Sydney

Chris has extensive expertise offering physiotherapy services to athletes in a range of high performance sports.

Chris takes a holistic, movement-focused approach to treatment, promoting active therapy to improve physical, mental, and social well-being.

Treatment of a wide range of sport-related injuries.

He has been able to assess and treat multiple athletes with a wide range of sport related injuries. His core values have enabled him to successfully implement programs that have minimised injury rates and enhanced athletic qualities.

Chris founded Optimise Sports Physiotherapy from a lifelong passion for movement, injury recovery, and helping others. Recognising that past injuries increase future injury risk, Chris advocates for proactive care through strength and conditioning.

Chris’ Qualifications

Bachelor of Physiotherapy
ASCA Level 2 Professional Strength & Conditioning Coach
APA Level 2 Sport & Exercise Physiotherapist
FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine
Sport Medicine Australia Level 2 Sport Trainer
FFA ‘B’ Licence in Football Coaching

Extensive physiotherapy expertise.

Football NSW – Head of Physiotherapy and Strength & Conditioning (2021 – Present)
Overseeing physiotherapy and S&C across multiple high-performance programs, including:

NSW squads at the National Youth Championships (Boys & Girls) / Emerging Socceroos & Matildas Championships
Elite Girls Institute Program / Sapphires Program
Talent Support Programs and elite identification matches

Macarthur FC – A-League Men’s First Team Physiotherapist (2023 – 2024)
Delivered elite physiotherapy services for professional athletes during the A-League season.

Central Coast Mariners FC – Head Physiotherapist, Men’s Senior Academy (U20s & U23s) (2024 – 2025)
Responsible for injury management, prevention, and performance optimisation for academy-level players.

Optimise Sports Physiotherapy

The Journey So Far…

Physiotherapy is something I have always admired and have grown with my entire life. Being a passionate football player as well as runner, I have had every injury you could imagine. It was always the help of a physio, from an early age, that helped me get back to doing what I loved. As a young teen, I was always so invested in the rehabilitation programs I was given. This led me to research and develop a strong understanding of the nature of my injuries and what was needed to optimally recover.

Due to these firsthand experiences, I realised I wanted to help people with their rehabilitation journey as well. As such, I knew that Physiotherapy was the perfect profession for me. It would allow me the opportunity to share my knowledge to assist people in achieving their rehabilitation goals.

Furthermore, I have learnt that a significant risk factor for injuries is having a history of injuries. Therefore, taking steps to minimise them from occurring, is just as critical as rehabilitation. For this reason, I believe it is important we remain proactive about our health through adequate strength & conditioning. This will allow us to move better, feel better and perform better.

I established Optimise Sports Physiotherapy & Performance with the aim of providing a holistic approach to health care. I am passionate about exercise and sport, as I believe this is so important to our quality of life not only physically, but socially and mentally. For this reason, I encourage active therapy as part of my comprehensive treatments. After all, movement is so critical for our body to repair and feel better.

Chris El-HayekSports Physiotherapist Sydney