James Thompson – Physiotherapist

SANO Physio – Paddington’s runner-first physio clinic

At RunDais we’re forever hunting for specialists who truly get runners. That’s why we’re excited to feature SANO Physio in our directory. Clinic owner James Thompson (APA-titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist) has spent two decades keeping everyone from weekend Park runners to Aussie track stars healthy and fast. His simple north-star?

“Ad Sano – Towards Health.”

Below is everything SANO offer for runners in one place, in their own words wherever it matters most.

---

1 | Running Assessment – “your first step to optimal running”

SANO’s flagship service is an in-depth Running Assessment delivered in partnership with Run Pure:

“We’ve helped hundreds of runners recover from injury, build a strong body, improve technique and reach personal bests.”

Who it’s for

• Recently injured or plagued by niggles
• Chasing a technique overhaul to move more efficiently
• Building power & speed safely
• Unsure where to start with strength work

What SANO analyse

Biomechanical Check-point	What they’re looking for
Foot-strike pattern	Heel, mid-foot or fore-foot, and whether it suits your goals
Cadence	Steps-per-minute “sweet-spot” for efficiency & injury risk
Stride length	Matching distance covered to your build & event type
Posture & alignment	Head–shoulders–hips–knees symmetry in real time
Joint mobility & stability	Ankles, knees, hips range plus control under load
Muscle activation & imbalances	Weak links or over-dominant groups
Shoe wear patterns	How outsole scuff tells the injury story
Running surface habits	Adaptation to road, trail, track or treadmill

High-speed video captures it all so you leave with take-home clips, cues and a clear action plan.

Immediate interventions (often in the first session)

• Posture & cadence cues
• Targeted drills and activation exercises
• Personalised strength & mobility program
• If needed: physio manual therapy, massage, active release or joint mobilisation

👉 Book your Running Assessment now

---

2 | Isometric Strength Testing – “you can’t improve what you can’t measure”

SANO partner with Brisbane-born tech pioneers VALD to quantify force and asymmetries with:

• Dynamo hand-held dynamometry – push/pull numbers benchmarked to population data.
• Dual Force Plates – ground-reaction force and bilateral symmetry.

“Isometric testing allows for a precise evaluation of strength at specific joint angles, providing detailed information about muscle function and potential imbalances.”

Why runners love it

• Targeted injury prevention – catch side-to-side deficits before they flare as shin splints, ITB syndrome or tendon pain.
• Performance ceiling – learn if it’s your glutes, calves or hamstrings limiting top-end speed.
• Progress tracking – objective data every re-test, not just “feel”.

The output feeds straight into a Tailored Program built by your physio for strength, stability and speed.

👉 Book ISO testing

---

3 | Restore · Function · Perform – the SANO rehab model

1. Restore – hands-on treatment, load management, early activation to get you out of pain.
2. Function – rebuild movement quality so “pain-free” becomes “capable”, whether that’s chasing kids or hilly long runs.
3. Perform – structured, date-driven programming to smash PBs, marathon debuts or age-group podiums.

Appointments blend in-clinic sessions, TeleHab exercise programming and optional group rehab classes for extra accountability.

---

4 | Massage Therapy – recovery right next door

SANO’s wellness partner City Cave Paddington is literally adjacent, so remedial or deep-tissue massage slots sync perfectly with your physio plan:

• Reduce inflammation & DOMS
• Decrease muscle tension – relax body and mind
• Boost circulation for faster healing and better session-to-session freshness

Private health rebates available onsite.

👉 Book a massage

---

5 | Meet James Thompson – “running mechanics obsessive since the U10s”

• APA Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist
• Bachelor of Physiotherapy • Diploma Sports Medicine
• 20 years across elite sport, military & private clinics
• Passion specialities: running injuries, foot/ankle, tendinopathy, masters athletes, low-back & pelvic pain

“I visited the library at age ten to find a book on how to run faster. That curiosity never stopped.”

James has treated nationally and internationally ranked runners across track, XC, triathlon and ultra-trail – but he’s equally driven to help everyday athletes hit their own ‘next level’.

---

6 | Logistics & Booking

• Location: Latrobe Terrace, Paddington (easy undercover parking, multiple bus routes).
• Tele-health available for interstate or time-poor runners.
• Initial physio consults: 45–60 min – plenty of time for history, assessment & first treatment.
• Follow-ups scheduled inside one week; online options for longer rehab phases.

Ready to “restore, function, perform”?

👉 Secure your appointment at SANO Physio

---

7 | Full-Service Physiotherapy – what to expect in the clinic

James is a hands-on physio. Here’s exactly how a standard physiotherapy block at SANO Physio unfolds:

“Expect to feel at ease. At SANO, you’re in the safest hands.”

Initial assessment (45-60 min)

• Comprehensive injury history & health background
• Detailed physical testing to pin-point the true driver of pain
• Clear diagnosis and first round of treatment before you leave

Follow-up within one week

• Agreement on a personalised rehab roadmap
• Referrals for scans or sports-med specialists if needed (MRI, X-ray, GP, orthopaedics)

Rehab pillars

1. Goal-setting – every plan reverse-engineered from your performance or lifestyle target.
2. TeleHab exercise app – video demos & progress tracking so home sessions are crystal clear.
3. Blended care – one-on-one physio, optional group rehab classes, plus massage, EP or podiatry partners when useful.
4. Online reviews – long-term or post-surgical cases can switch some visits to tele-health to save travel time.

Everything is delivered under the clinic’s Restore → Function → Perform framework, meaning you don’t just get pain-free – you get better than before.

Ready to start moving towards health?

👉 Book your physiotherapy session at SANO Physio

---

Why we recommend SANO to the RunDais community

• Runner-specific expertise – assessments & tech chosen only for the demands of running.
• Evidence + experience – VALD metrics meet 20 years of coaching & clinical insight.
• Whole-journey philosophy – pain-free ➜ movement capacity ➜ peak performance, not a quick patch-up.

Whether you’re rebuilding from an injury or chasing a sub-3 marathon, James and the SANO team have the tools, data and passion to keep you moving towards health, and the finish line.