🏊♂️ Elite-Level Rehab for Swimmers.
Confidence for Parents
Everything you need to know about how our integrated rehab system gets your swimmer back faster, stronger, and with a lower risk of reinjury.
If your child has been injured while swimming, we know how frustrating and sometimes overwhelming it can be.
You want:
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The injury is treated properly
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To understand what’s going on
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To be confident they’ll return to training safely
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To know what it’s going to cost
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And ideally… to avoid going through it all again
That’s exactly why we built the Formidable Rehab Program — WA’s only physiotherapy-led rehab system designed exclusively for swimmers, fully integrating coaches, physios, and strength professionals.
Hear From World Record Holder Andy Donaldson
🧠 What Makes This Program Different?
Unlike general physio or rehab options, this program doesn’t guess or “wait and see”; we use a 5-stage rehab framework designed around measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), not vague timelines.
Why does that matter?
Because injuries heal at different rates, returning to training before key boxes are ticked is one of the main causes of re-injury.
We don’t leave it to chance. We test, we measure, and we progress when your child is actually ready.
🌀 The 5-Stage Formidable Rehab Framework
Stage 1
Relief
Calm things down
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Pain management, inflammation control, and early movement
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Often begins the same week as the injury
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Goal: Restore confidence and reduce pain quickly
Stage 2
Activation
Restore safe joint control
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Targeted physio-prescribed movements
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KPI: Can they achieve full pain-free range and basic control?
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Parent peace of mind: Early clarity on what’s going on
Stage 3
REBUILD
Lay a stronger foundation
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Strength training for the exact joints and movement patterns they need
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KPI: Demonstrate strength ratios between injured and non-injured limbs
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Sessions supervised by coaches trained in swimming-specific rehab
Stage 4
RECONDITION
Build fitness and performance capacity
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Increase strength, stability and endurance under load
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KPI: Meet our return-to-training readiness criteria
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At this point, they’ll feel better than before
Stage 5
RETURN TO PERFORMANCE
Back to full training
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Rebuild confidence in the pool
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Ongoing physio review + swim-coach integration
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Final KPI: Full training capacity with no symptoms
💡 Progress is individual. Some swimmers progress faster. Others take longer. The program moves at their pace, based on when they hit the KPIs, not just because the calendar says it’s time.
Adelaide McGillivray
🩺 Who Will Be Treating My Child?
Adelaide is the lead physiotherapist for the Formidable Rehab Program, and she’s not your average clinic physio.
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🎓 Holds a double degree in Exercise Science and Physiotherapy
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🏊 Former national-level swimmer with a deep understanding of the sport
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📍 On pool deck every Monday & Friday at different swimming clubs to support their coaches and programs.
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🔁 Provided seamless communication with gym and swim coaches so no information gets lost
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❤️ Special interest in swimming-specific injuries and long-term athlete development
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👥 Works with athletes from emerging juniors to elite open water champions
Because Adelaide is part of the same integrated Formidable team as your child’s strength coach and has regular access to your swim coach, everyone stays on the same page, from injury to return-to-performance.
💪 About Formidable Strength & Conditioning
For over 8 years, Formidable has delivered WA’s most advanced swimming-specific strength training system for swimmers, and we’re proud to now bring this into the rehabilitation space with programs that:
✅ They are built for the demands of swimming
✅ Help swimmers come back stronger than before
✅ Reduce the risk of chronic pain or repeat injury
✅ Support athletes at every level — from juniors to Masters
We’ve helped swimmers return from shoulder reconstructions, back injuries, overuse syndromes, and even career-threatening injuries.
💡 How Does Insurance Work?
We understand insurance can feel confusing and that’s often why families delay getting the right help.
Here’s what you need to know:
🛡️ How Does Insurance Work With This Program?
If your child is a registered swimmer with a Swimming WA or Masters WA club, they’re automatically covered under Swimming WA’s national insurance policy for injuries sustained during:
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Club training
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Competition
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Other sanctioned swim-related activities
But here’s the important bit:
Insurance won’t magically cover everything on its own.
It works when you follow the process properly and that’s where our system helps.
✅ What We’ve Set Up:
We’ve created a rehab program that aligns with the insurance system, so if you follow our process, you’ll have everything you need to make a successful claim and complete rehab with confidence.
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We’ll guide you through the reporting steps
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You’ll get documentation and injury certificates if needed
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We track progress and rehab milestones to ensure eligibility is maintained
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We’ll support you in lodging the claim, but it’s your responsibility to complete the paperwork and submit it
❗Common Mistakes to Avoid:
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Waiting too long to report the injury (do it ASAP — even if it seems minor)
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Forgetting to log the incident with your club or coach
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Assuming insurance covers rehab forever (there are limits, and they’re based on injury severity and progress)
👌 We’re Here to Help — But Not Do It For You
We’ve clarified the process, but you must follow it.
The good news?
It’s not complicated and if you stick to our system, it works.
For more detail, download our Insurance & Claims Guide, which walks you through every step.
Private Health Insurance
If you have private cover with extras:
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All 1:1 physio consults are eligible via HICAPS or direct claim
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You’ll receive itemised receipts and treatment notes
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Note: Most gym-based sessions are not covered unless supervised by a physio—that’s why our system keeps a physio involved every week.
We also provide a complete PDF Insurance Guide you can download with step-by-step instructions, FAQs, and example forms.
Common fears we hear from Parents:
❌ “I’m not sure if insurance covers it — we might just rest it.”
✅ We’ll confirm it for you and help you claim correctly.
❌ “It’s too hard to navigate.”
✅ Our admin and physio team help every step of the way.
❌ “I don’t want to waste time or money.”
✅ Our rehab is designed to get your child back in the water, safely and properly — avoiding more costly setbacks down the line.
