Your first appointment: what to expect at our Sydney clinic

Your first visit to Active Performance Clinic is a 60-minute initial appointment ($160 as of October 2024) that begins with a comprehensive assessment by our Master Practitioner, followed by hands-on treatment and a personalised plan of care. Please arrive about 10 minutes early to complete your paperwork, wear comfortable clothing, and bring any scans, reports or referral letters related to your condition. You can book online through Cliniko at any time.

Before you arrive

Once you book, you will receive a confirmation email with your appointment date and time, some helpful information and a link you can use to cancel if your plans change. If anything is unclear, call us on +61 416 533 542 or email ben@activeperformanceclinic.com.au.

We are at Suite 1405, Level 14, 22 Market Street, Sydney, in the heart of the Sydney CBD and about a five-minute walk from Town Hall Station. The clinic is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm, with Saturday appointments available by arrangement. We are closed on Sundays.

As a new client, please aim to arrive at least 10 minutes before your start time. This gives you time to complete a short health history form without eating into your treatment time.

What to bring

• Comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Shorts and a loose t-shirt work well.
• Any relevant medical references, such as scan results, specialist reports or a referral letter.
• A list of questions or goals. Jot down what you want to get out of treatment.
• Anything that helps your comfort, such as a favourite pillow or supportive cushion if you have one.

Underwear must be worn throughout the appointment, and your therapist uses towel draping so only the area being treated is uncovered at any time.

Your assessment

Every visit at Active Performance Clinic starts with a comprehensive assessment by our Master Practitioner. We talk through your history, what hurts and when, what you have tried and what you want to get back to doing. We then look at how you move, including posture, range of motion and any patterns or imbalances that may be contributing.

This matters because Active Performance Therapy is built on addressing the root cause of movement problems rather than just chasing symptoms. The assessment helps us understand which of three stages your body is in: injured or recovering, suboptimal, or optimal.

Your treatment

Based on the assessment, your therapist selects a combination of techniques from Active Performance Therapy that suits your needs on the day. This may include red light therapy, remedial massage, myofascial stripping, cupping, dry needling and targeted stretches or exercises.

Your comfort and consent come first. If you would like more or less pressure, a different technique or a break, just say so. Dry needling and cupping are only used with your agreement, and your therapist will explain what to expect before starting.

Before you leave, we set out your plan of care, including how often we recommend you return and what to do at home. Our approach follows three principles: Direct Symptom Relief, Supervised Training and Self-care Solutions. The aim is always to get you to a point where you can look after yourself.

Pricing and payment

Prices below are current as of October 2024.

• Initial appointment (60 minutes): $160
• Follow-up, short (45 minutes): $140
• Follow-up, standard (60 minutes): $160
• Follow-up, extended (90 minutes): $250
• Red light therapy add-on (20 minutes): $30
• Red light therapy stand-alone (20 minutes): $60
• Master Practitioner surcharge: $40, if you request your full treatment with our Master Practitioner

Payment is due at the time of booking or on completion of your appointment, and we accept cash, credit and debit cards, and electronic funds transfer. If you have private health extras cover, we recommend contacting your fund directly to confirm what is claimable, and our team can help you with any paperwork needed for reimbursement.

Cancellation policy

Please let us know as early as possible if your plans change so another client can use the time. Appointment cancellations must be made at least 48 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation fee. Cancellations within 24 hours may incur a fee of 50% of the booked service, and cancellations with less than four hours notice or a no-show incur 100%. These fees are applied at the discretion of the clinic. You can cancel using the link in your confirmation email, or by phone or email.

A note on urgent symptoms

We treat musculoskeletal pain and movement problems. If your symptoms include numbness or weakness in a limb, follow a significant trauma such as a fall or car accident, or come with fever or severe unexplained pain, please seek medical care first and book with us once you have been cleared.

When to book

If you are ready to get started, the quickest option is to book online through Cliniko at /booking, where you can choose a time that suits you, including early mornings before work. Most initial appointments include remedial massage as part of the treatment, and many of our clients first come to see us about neck pain or back pain from long hours at a desk.