Adrian Kan
BScHons (Sport & Exercise Science) | DPhysio | PhD Candidate
Physiotherapist & Clinical Researcher | Gold Coast, Queensland
PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION
Registered Physiotherapist
AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) | Registered since June 2022
ABOUT Adrian Kan
Adrian Kan is a Gold Coast-based physiotherapist and clinical researcher with a specialisation in knee rehabilitation, sports injury management, and musculoskeletal conditions. He holds a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Bond University and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Bath (UK), and is currently undertaking a PhD at Bond University focused on optimising non-operative management for knee osteoarthritis in active adults.
In clinical practice, Adrian works across Bond Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine and Palm Beach Physio & Sports Rehab. Alongside his clinical caseload, he collaborates with Gold Coast Knee Group — a specialist orthopaedic practice — delivering structured rehabilitation programs and evidence-based return-to-sport testing for athletes recovering from knee injuries, particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
Adrian co-directs the Healthy Knee Program, a multidisciplinary initiative for individuals living with knee osteoarthritis. He also contributes to the next generation of physiotherapy clinicians as an academic tutor and research supervisor at Bond University, and serves as a Senior Research Officer with Queensland Health.
As a published researcher, Adrian has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed studies in journals including the American Journal of Sports Medicine and Journal of Arthroplasty. His research spans ACL reconstruction outcomes, total knee arthroplasty prehabilitation and rehabilitation, and the role of lifestyle modification in knee osteoarthritis management. He has presented at both the World Physiotherapy Congress (Tokyo, 2025) and the Australian Physiotherapy Association National Conference (Brisbane, 2023), and contributed to the APA's inMotion magazine and podcast.
Areas of Clinical Expertise
Knee rehabilitation — ACL reconstruction, total knee arthroplasty, and patellofemoral conditions
Non-operative management of knee osteoarthritis, including exercise prescription and lifestyle modification
Prehabilitation for patients preparing for knee surgery
Multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs for active adults with chronic knee conditions
Sports injury management and return-to-sport testing
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) — Bond University - 2026 – 2030 (in progress)
Research focus: Optimising Non-Operative Management for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multi-Modal Approach for Active Adults Wishing to Continue Physical Activity.
Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) — Bond University - 2020 – 2022
Professional entry-level clinical doctorate in physiotherapy.
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science — University of Bath, UK - 2015 – 2019
Four-year honours programme with a 12-month industry placement. British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) endorsed. Subjects included Human Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Functional Anatomy, Human Biomechanics, Clinical Biomechanics, Sport Psychology, Neuroscience, and Statistics.
Clinical & Academic Roles
Bond Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine — Physiotherapist
Gold Coast, Queensland | Current
Clinical physiotherapy across sports injury, musculoskeletal, and knee rehabilitation presentations.
Palm Beach Physio & Sports Rehab — Physiotherapist
Gold Coast, Queensland | Current
Private practice physiotherapy with a focus on sports and musculoskeletal conditions.
Gold Coast Knee Group — Rehabilitation & Return-to-Sport Specialist
Gold Coast, Queensland | Current
Collaborates with specialist orthopaedic surgeons to deliver post-operative rehabilitation programs and return-to-sport testing for patients recovering from ACL reconstruction and knee surgery.
Co-directs a multidisciplinary program for individuals with knee osteoarthritis, integrating exercise, lifestyle modification, and patient education.
Queensland Health — Senior Research Officer
Current
Contributes to clinical research within the Queensland Health system with a focus on musculoskeletal and rehabilitation medicine.
Bond University — Academic Tutor & Research Supervisor
Gold Coast, Queensland | Current
Teaches and supervises physiotherapy students as part of Bond University's Doctor of Physiotherapy program.
Conference Presentations & Professional Contributions
World Physiotherapy Congress — Tokyo, Japan | June 2025
Podium Presentation: "Does the Addition of a Lateral Extra-Articular Procedure to a Primary ACL Reconstruction Result in Superior Functional and Clinical Outcomes? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials"
E-Poster Presentation: "Exercise and Lifestyle Modification for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis"
Australian Physiotherapy Association National Conference — Brisbane | September 2023
5×5 Presentation: "Exercise and Lifestyle Modification for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis"
Australian Physiotherapy Association — Podcast
Featured guest discussing published research on the addition of lifestyle modification in the conservative management of knee osteoarthritis, alongside Dr Thorlene Egerton and Ali Gibbs.
Australian Physiotherapy Association — inMotion Magazine | May 2026
Contributed an evidence-based article exploring key considerations in ACL reconstruction rehabilitation, covering adolescent care, graft selection, psychological readiness, and return-to-sport decision-making.
RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
Adrian's published research sits at the intersection of clinical physiotherapy and orthopaedic rehabilitation. His work addresses three of the most common and high-impact knee conditions seen in clinical practice: ACL injury, total knee arthroplasty, and knee osteoarthritis. All publications are indexed on PubMed.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Does the Addition of a Lateral Extra-Articular Procedure to a Primary ACL Reconstruction Result in Superior Functional and Clinical Outcomes? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials | Lead Author
American Journal of Sports Medicine | September 2025 | View on PubMed
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials examining whether adding a lateral extra-articular procedure (such as a lateral tenodesis) to primary ACL reconstruction improves rotational stability and reduces the risk of graft rupture.
The Addition of Preoperative Lifestyle Modifications to an Exercise Program on Patient Outcomes Following Total Knee Replacement Surgery When Compared to Usual Care: A Systematic Review | Lead Author
Musculoskeletal Science and Practice | June 2024 | View on PubMed
A systematic review examining how prehabilitation — specifically the combination of structured exercise and lifestyle modifications — can improve post-operative outcomes for patients undergoing total knee replacement.The Addition of Lifestyle Modification to Exercise for the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | Contributor
Musculoskeletal Science and Practice | September 2023 | View on PubMed
A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the added benefit of lifestyle modification — beyond exercise alone — in the conservative management of knee osteoarthritis.
Stratification of Outpatient Physical Therapy Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Knee Arthroplasty Physical Therapy Pathways (KAPPA) Non-Randomised Controlled Trial | Contributor
The Journal of Arthroplasty | July 2024 | View on PubMed
A controlled trial examining stratified outpatient physiotherapy pathways following total knee arthroplasty, with a focus on optimising rehabilitation efficiency and patient outcomes.
Pre-operative Pain Catastrophising and Resilience Correlate with Function and Pain Outcomes Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review | Contributor
Musculoskeletal Science and Practice | June 2024 | View on PubMed
A systematic review investigating the relationship between psychological factors — including pain catastrophising and resilience — and functional outcomes following total knee replacement.
Honours & Awards
Executive Dean's Award — Bond University, August 2021 | Awarded for academic excellence
Vice Chancellor's List — Bond University, 2021 | Placed on the 2021 Vice Chancellor's List for academic achievement
Vice Chancellor's List — Bond University, 2022 | Placed on the 2022 Vice Chancellor's List for academic achievement
ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adrian-Kan
All publications indexed on PubMed. Profile current as of June 2026.
Location
9/1 Fielding Street, Currumbin
Conveniently located in the heart of Currumbin, next to Currumbin Medical Centre and just over the Thrower Drive bridge