Dr Joshua Saxton | Sports Osteopath Adelaide
Meet Josh
Dr Josh Saxton is both an Osteopath and Accredited Exercise Physiologist. As a sports osteopath in Adelaide, he blends hands-on treatment, exercise, and education to help people recover from pain, move better, and feel more confident in their bodies.
Josh works with patients of all ages and activity levels — from athletes and gym-goers through to office workers, parents, older adults, and anyone wanting to improve their health. His philosophy is simple:
“Manual therapy is the panel beater. Exercise is learning to drive. First we reset, then we retrain, and finally we reload.”
This structured approach means he can treat immediate pain while also building long-term resilience and strength.
What Josh Treats
Josh supports a wide variety of patients, tailoring care to each individual. Some examples of the issues he commonly helps with include:
Neck, upper back and shoulder pain
Low back and hip pain
Headaches linked to posture and tension
Sports injuries and return-to-gym programs
CrossFit, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Judo rehab
Movement pattern problems and performance plateaus
Workplace-related aches, stiffness, and postural strain
Mobility and recovery for older adults
These are just examples — Josh treats and manages much more. Whether it’s returning to sport, staying strong in the gym, moving comfortably at work, or simply keeping up with your kids, his goal is to reset the body and then build it back stronger.
Josh’s Treatment Approach
Josh uses a clear framework to guide every patient journey:
Reset – Hands-on osteopathic techniques such as soft tissue release, dry needling, Muscle Energy Techniques, and joint mobilisation. These help calm pain, improve movement, and prepare the body for change.
Retrain – Coaching better movement patterns through targeted exercises, rehab drills, and habit adjustments. This stage helps patients move well and reduce the risk of reinjury.
Reload – Building strength, resilience, and confidence so patients can safely return to their sport, gym training, or daily life without fear of setbacks.
He estimates his sessions are about 25% manual therapy, 35% exercise, and 40% education. For Josh, education is the cornerstone:
“My best treatment on my best day is still no match for someone’s habits. That’s why we focus on helping patients understand their body and make lasting changes.”
His Philosophy & Style
Josh believes the body is a connected system. Pain in one area often points to problems elsewhere, so he looks at the big picture rather than chasing symptoms. He’s influenced by the joint-by-joint theory, which highlights how stability and mobility alternate through the body’s joints.
But perhaps the most important part of his philosophy is partnership:
“I don’t fix you. I help remove the roadblocks and guide you, but you’re the driver of your own health.”
Josh also brings humour and warmth into his sessions, making treatment approachable and engaging. Patients often describe him as direct, funny, and supportive — someone who makes them feel comfortable while still getting results.
Life Outside the Clinic
When he’s not treating patients, Josh is usually on the mats or in the gym. He’s a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (training since 2015) and a black belt in Judo (20 years of practice). He also enjoys CrossFit and weightlifting to stay strong and resilient.
These sports give Josh first-hand understanding of athletic injuries and performance demands, which flows directly into how he supports his patients.
Outside of training, Josh enjoys family time with his partner Rosalind, their daughter Evie, and their dogs Marshall and Grond. Snow trips, outdoor adventures, and time at the park are his favourite escapes.
Case Example – Chronic Neck & Upper Back Pain
Josh often works with patients managing long-term pain following injuries. For example, one patient presented with chronic neck and upper back pain after a motor vehicle accident, having already tried several different providers and approaches.
In this situation, Josh applied his Reset → Retrain → Reload framework, combining hands-on care with targeted exercise and a structured plan of gradual progressions. To strengthen the rehabilitation process, he also liaised with a gym-based exercise physiologist so the patient could complete supervised sessions in a gym environment. This multidisciplinary approach ensured the patient had support both in and out of the clinic.
Over time, the patient was able to build comfort, mobility, and resilience. This case illustrates how Josh’s role is not just about treatment, but about designing a clear roadmap, coordinating care, and guiding patients through each stage of their recovery.
Frequently Used Techniques
Josh tailors every session to the individual, drawing from a wide range of osteopathic and exercise-based tools. Some of the techniques he uses most often include:
Soft tissue therapy – to release tension and improve circulation.
Dry needling – targeting trigger points to calm pain and restore movement.
Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) – using gentle muscle contractions to improve mobility.
Joint mobilisation and manipulation – restoring movement in stiff or restricted joints.
Balanced Ligamentous Tension (BLT) – subtle hands-on work to ease strain in the body.
Visceral mobilisation – addressing how organs and fascia influence musculoskeletal health.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation (IASTM) – using specialised tools to improve soft tissue mobility and reduce restrictions.
Exercise prescription – from rehab drills to strength programming for athletes.
This isn’t a complete list, but it highlights the blend of manual therapy, movement coaching, and education that Josh uses to support recovery and performance.
Qualifications
Josh has completed extensive study and professional development across osteopathy, exercise physiology, and rehabilitation. The list below is not exhaustive — just what he could remember off the top of his head:
Formal Education
Bachelor of Exercise & Sports Science (Clinical Exercise Physiology, Hons) — University of New England
Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathy) — Southern Cross University
Master of Osteopathic Medicine — Southern Cross University
Further Training
Functional Movement Systems: FMS Level 1, SFMA Levels 1 & 2, Y Balance Test, Clinical Education Series (Upper Limb, Cervical Spine, Lower Limb, Lumbar Spine)
Dry Needling: Introductory, Advanced, Masterclass (CPD Health Courses)
Visceral Manipulation Level 1 (Barral Institute)
Book with Dr Josh | Sports Osteopath Adelaide
Josh may be known as a sports osteopath, but he works with everyone — men and women, kids and adults, athletes and everyday movers alike.