Physiotherapist
Trent Cooksley
Shellharbour, NSW
“I want people to feel comfortable, understood, and confident in the plan we build together.”
About
Trent is a physiotherapist at RX Physiotherapy in Shellharbour.
He is calm, thoughtful, approachable and genuinely focused on helping people feel comfortable from the moment they walk in. His approach is centred on listening properly, meeting people where they are, and helping them move forward with a clear and realistic plan.
Trent works with a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, including shoulder, knee, lower back, neck and ankle injuries. He supports people of all ages and activity levels, from everyday pain and injury through to sport and training-related rehabilitation.
His approach is hands-on, structured and tailored to the individual. Trent is not focused on quick fixes or generic programs. He takes time to understand the person’s body, goals and barriers, then builds a plan to help them move with more clarity, confidence and strength.
Born and raised in Wollongong, Trent grew up immersed in sport. He played soccer with the Woonona Sharks and was involved in tennis, golf, swimming, footy, cricket and AFL. As a teenager, golf became his focus, earning him a place in the IAS Golf Program and later a college golf scholarship in Abilene, Texas.
Experiencing injuries himself, and seeing how physiotherapy helped restore his performance, shaped the way Trent now supports others through injury, rehabilitation and long-term recovery.
Profile
Credentials
Trent is a physiotherapist with a strong background in exercise science, human performance and sport.
After completing his Bachelor of Exercise Science and Human Performance at McMurry University in the United States, Trent went on to complete his physiotherapy training at the University of Sydney.
His combined background allows him to bring both a clinical and performance-based approach to physiotherapy.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Exercise Science and Human Performance — McMurry University, USA
- Master of Physiotherapy — University of Sydney
- Background in sport, exercise science and human performance
- Clinical interest in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports injuries, strength-based rehabilitation and long-term recovery
Common issues
Trent commonly works with people experiencing:
- Shoulder pain
- Knee injuries
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Ankle injuries
- Sports injuries
- Golf-related injuries
- Running and training-related pain
- Strength deficits
- Movement confidence issues
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Tendon injuries
- Post-injury rehabilitation
- Return-to-sport rehabilitation
- Gym-based rehabilitation
- Ongoing frustration with pain or reduced performance
Frequently asked questions
Why did you become a physiotherapist?
I became a physiotherapist because I know what it feels like to be injured and frustrated by your body.
Growing up around sport, I experienced injuries myself and saw how much the right support could change someone’s recovery, confidence and performance.
That shaped the way I treat now. I want people to feel listened to, supported and clear on what they need to do to get back to the things that matter to them.
Why do people usually see you?
People usually see me for sports injuries, shoulder pain, knee pain, back pain, neck pain, ankle injuries, gym-related pain and general musculoskeletal concerns.
Some people want to get back to sport. Others want to train without pain, work comfortably, or just feel stronger and more confident in day-to-day life.
My role is to understand what is holding them back and build a structured plan to help them move forward.
What is your treatment style?
My treatment style is calm, structured and individual.
I use hands-on treatment where appropriate, but I also focus strongly on education, exercise rehabilitation and helping people understand what is happening in their body.
The goal is to give people a clear plan, not just short-term symptom relief.
Do you work with sports injuries?
Yes. I work with a wide range of sports injuries and training-related issues.
My background in sport, exercise science and human performance helps me understand the demands of training, competition and return-to-performance rehabilitation.
What makes your approach different?
I take the time to understand the person, not just the injury.
That means looking at their goals, training history, lifestyle, pain patterns, strength, movement and what they want to get back to.
From there, I build a plan that is realistic, structured and specific to the individual.
What do you do outside the clinic?
Outside the clinic, I enjoy golf, surfing and catching up with friends.