Sarah Thong
Accredited Exercise PhysiologistSarah is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist at MTP Health’s St Leonards clinic, where she helps people recover from injury, rebuild strength and get back to the activities and sports they love.
A lifelong interest in sport, injury and recovery
Her interest in the field started early. PDHPE was her favourite subject at school, and a lifelong love of sport — she tried nearly everything before settling on touch football and netball — gave her a firsthand understanding of injury and recovery.
Time spent rehabilitating with physiotherapists and strength and conditioning coaches sparked a genuine fascination with how the body responds to injury and adapts through rehabilitation, and set her on the path she’s on today.
Individualised, evidence-based rehabilitation
Understanding the whole person
Her approach combines the biopsychosocial and the biomechanical. She takes the time to understand each patient as an individual — their presentation, goals, history and how they respond to exercise — then tailors rehabilitation so it’s both appropriate and genuinely effective.
Building trust
At your first appointment, she’ll focus on getting to know you and building a trusting relationship, understand why you’ve come in, and run the right assessments to establish a baseline you can track progress against.
A plan that fits you
From there she’ll map out an individualised plan, whether that’s one of MTP’s programs — Restore, Momentum or Freedom — or one-on-one sessions.
Consistency is key
Her one piece of advice? Consistency is key.
Getting to know you and establishing a baseline
At your first appointment, she’ll focus on getting to know you and building a trusting relationship, understand why you’ve come in, and run the right assessments to establish a baseline you can track progress against. From there she’ll map out an individualised plan, whether that’s one of MTP’s programs — Restore, Momentum or Freedom — or one-on-one sessions.
From younger athletes to older adults
She has a particular soft spot for younger athletes looking to build capacity and return to sport with confidence, as well as older adults working to maintain their strength, independence and quality of life.
More than personal training
An evidence-based approach
As she’s quick to point out, exercise physiology isn’t personal training: it’s an evidence-based approach grounded in a real understanding of the physiology behind musculoskeletal conditions.
Meeting you where you’re at
If you’re feeling nervous or unsure in the gym, Sarah will meet you where you’re at, adjusting intensity or picking a quieter time so you feel comfortable and supported.
Rehabilitation across different stages of life
Sarah works with a wide range of knee conditions, including ACL and meniscal injuries and osteoarthritis, alongside shoulder, foot and ankle presentations. She has a particular soft spot for younger athletes looking to build capacity and return to sport with confidence, as well as older adults working to maintain their strength, independence and quality of life.
Education and accreditation
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise Physiology), University of Sydney
- Accredited Exercise Physiologist (ESSA)
Beyond the clinic
Outside the clinic, Sarah practises what she preaches — she loves functional fitness and has recently taken up road biking. You’ll also find her reading, hunting down good coffee with friends or down at the beach. One thing that might surprise you: she lived in Hong Kong for five years during primary school, where learning Mandarin every day was compulsory (though she admits not much has stuck!).
Book an appointment with MTP Health
Take the next step with the MTP Health team and book an appointment at a time that suits you.