DAVID BEAKLEY

Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist, MACP

David Beakley is an APA Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist with over two decades of experience. Originally hailing from Tasmania, David obtained a Bachelor of Science from Monash University before completing his Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne. He then went on to complete a Master of Sports Physiotherapy at LaTrobe University.

From 2008 – 2022 David worked full-time in professional cricket, initially in the U.K. with Derbyshire County Cricket Club and later with Australian Men’s and Women’s Cricket Teams travelling and competing all over the world.  From 2015 – 2022 he was the lead physiotherapist for the Australian Men’s Cricket Team, helping them ascend to be the number one ranked Test and ODI team in the world, as well as winning and retaining the Ashes in several home-and-away campaigns and winning the T20 World Cup in Dubai in 2021.

David has extensive experience in injury prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, particularly as it applies to lower back, foot/ankle and shoulder injuries. He has been instrumental in the development of scientific research, workload management and injury prevention strategies for cricket and has worked closely with coaches and players to ensure they are performing at their best.

David is a passionate advocate for continuing education and has completed several postgraduate courses in sports physiotherapy, as well as recently completing Deakin University’s world-renowned Master of Business (Sports Management) degree.

David’s dedication and commitment to his profession have earned him a reputation as one of the leading sports physiotherapists in the world. He is highly respected by his peers and is sought after by athletes and teams from around the world. His purpose now is to help athletes be successful and achieve their sporting dreams, while having the time of their lives doing it.

In his free time, David enjoys spending time with his young family in Mount Martha, watching the mighty Hawthorn Hawks in the AFL, playing golf and experiencing all that the beautiful Mornington Peninsula has to offer. Now that he’s no longer travelling the world with sporting teams, David enjoys giving back to the local community and has recently taken on the role of Head Trainer/Coordinator at Mount Martha Junior Football Club.

Publications

Farhart, P., Beakley, D., Diwan, A. et al. Intrinsic variables associated with low back pain and lumbar spine injury in fast bowlers in cricket: a systematic review. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 15, 114 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-023-00732-1

Kountouris, A., Sims, K., Beakley, D., Saw, A. E., Orchard, J., Rotstein, A., & Cook, J. L. (2019). MRI bone marrow oedema precedes lumbar bone stress injury diagnosis in junior elite cricket fast bowlers. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(19), 1236-1239.

Sims, K., Kountouris, A., Stegeman, J. R., Rotstein, A. H., Beakley, D., Saw, A. E., & Cook, J. L. (2020). MRI bone marrow oedema signal intensity: A reliable and valid measure of lumbar bone stress injury in elite junior fast bowlers. Spine, 45(18), E1166-E1171.

Sims, K., Kountouris, A., Orchard, J., Beakley, D., & Saw, A. (2017). The relationship between cricket fast bowling workload and lumbar stress fracture. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 20, 41.

Vickery, W., Duffield, R., Crowther, R., Beakley, D., Blanch, P., & Dascombe, B. J. (2018). Comparison of the physical and technical demands of cricket players during training and match-play. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 32(3), 821-829.

Orchard, J. W., Kountouris, A., Sims, K. J., Orchard, J., Beakley, D., & Brukner, P. (2015). Change to injury profile of elite male cricketers in the T20 era. NZJ Sports Med, 42(1), 13-7.

Blanch, P., Orchard, J., Kountouris, A., Sims, K., & Beakley, D. (2015). Different tissue type categories of overuse injuries to cricket fast bowlers have different severity and incidence which varies with age. South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 27(4), 108-113.