Rest is part of the plan
Short blocks of exercise with planned breaks, so you leave with energy for the rest of your day.
Exercise physiologist for motor neurone disease in Sydney
Exercise physiology for motor neurone disease
Gentle, paced exercise to help you stay comfortable and keep doing what matters, with adjustments as your needs change.
Living with MND can make energy precious. We start with what you want to keep doing, like getting to the garden or managing your morning routine. Then we plan exercise that supports that goal without leaving you exhausted.
We work alongside your neurologist and MND care team. Your family or carers can join in whenever you would like.
A free 15-minute call about your goals and whether we can help. It's a conversation, not an assessment.
Paced for your energy
Sessions are planned around fatigue, with rest built in.
130+ families
Sydney families have worked with our exercise physiologists and physiotherapists.
At home, on your terms
We come to you and bring the equipment.
Movement for daily comfort and routine with MND
Exercise will not cure MND or strengthen muscles that MND has already weakened. What exercise can do is help you use the strength and movement you have for the activities that matter most. You choose the focus, and it can change over time.
Comfort and movement
Gentle stretching and range-of-movement work that may ease stiffness and make sitting or resting more comfortable.
Daily routines
Keeping up the parts of your day you want to do yourself, like getting dressed, moving from bed to chair or walking to the letterbox.
Staying active, safely
Low to moderate exercise, like a stationary bike or light strength work, set within limits that suit you.
Energy for the people you love
Saving energy for the outing, the visit or the family event that matters, and planning exercise around it.
Pace each session around your energy
Fatigue is common with MND, and pushing through it rarely helps. We plan each session around your energy that day, keep the intensity sensible and finish before you are spent. As your needs change, we adjust the exercises, goals and support.
A check-in every visit
We ask how you slept, how yesterday went and how you feel right now, then adjust the session before we start.
Exercise that changes with you
Exercise you do yourself, movement we help you with, or gentle stretches we guide, depending on what suits you at the time.
Goals that shift when they need to
We review goals regularly. Over time the focus may move from building a routine to staying comfortable and doing what you enjoy.
How exercise fits alongside your MND care
Exercise physiology is one part of your care. Here is how we work alongside the people already supporting you.
Your neurologist and MND clinic
They lead your medical care. With your consent, we share what we're working on and follow their advice about exercise and safety.
Your physio, OT and speech pathologist
Your physiotherapist may lead breathing and positioning work, and your occupational therapist equipment and home set-up. We plan exercise to fit around theirs.
Family and carers
You decide who's involved. We can show a partner, family member or support worker how to help with exercises safely, and when to stop.
Your MND association
Your state MND association and MND Australia (1800 777 175) offer information and support for you and the people close to you.
An MND exercise plan that adjusts with your energy
You don't need a GP referral. You, a family member, support worker or support coordinator can get in touch. We'll reply within 2 business days. Then we'll work through the plan with you, one visit at a time.
Talk about what matters now
You tell us what you want to keep doing and what's getting harder. We look at your strength, movement, fatigue and the support you have around you.
Practise at a pace that suits you
We plan gentle exercise within limits that suit you and practise it together, with family or carers involved if you'd like.
Review and adjust as things change
We check how you're going every visit, update the plan when your needs shift and, with your consent, keep your care team informed.
Safety checks and when we pause exercise
With MND, more is not better. We avoid exercise that leaves you exhausted, sore or breathless for long afterwards, and we watch closely for fatigue. If something changes, like new trouble breathing, choking or swallowing problems, a fall or a fast change in your strength, we stop and ask you to contact your neurologist, GP or MND team. In an emergency, call 000.
Exercise physiology doesn't treat MND or replace your medical team, physiotherapist or occupational therapist. Before you start, it helps to share:
Your diagnosis, medicines and any advice from your neurologist about exercise- Any breathing, swallowing or cramping concerns
- How fatigue affects your days, and your best time of day
- Mobility aids, splints or equipment you use, and how you transfer
- Any falls or near misses in the past few months
- Who supports you day to day, and who you'd like involved
Supporting Sydney families for over 8 years
Drift Health has served Sydney for more than 8 years, and over 130 families have worked with our exercise physiologists and physiotherapists.
When you're living with MND, that experience should show up as patience: careful, paced exercise, honest talk about what it can and can't do, and a clinician who keeps listening as things change.
MND exercise visits at home and nearby
Home sessions save the energy that travel and waiting rooms take, and your own chair and bed are close by if you need a rest. We bring the equipment. If you'd like to get outside, a nearby park can work too, and if it rains we can move to a sheltered spot or your home.
South West Sydney
Liverpool, Fairfield, Campbelltown and surrounding suburbs
Western Sydney
Blacktown, Parramatta, Penrith and surrounding suburbs
Inner West
Ashfield, Marrickville, Burwood and surrounding suburbs
CBD & inner city
Sydney CBD and nearby suburbs
The Hills & North West
Castle Hill, Kellyville and surrounding suburbs
South Sydney
Miranda, Cronulla, Sutherland and surrounding suburbs
A note from Victor
A note from Victor about protecting your energy
I'm Victor, Director and Head Exercise Physiologist at Drift Health. With MND, every bit of energy counts, and I want our sessions to protect it, not use it up.
We start by listening to what you want to keep doing, and to the people around you. Then we keep the plan gentle, honest and flexible, and change it whenever you need us to.
NDIS funding for your MND exercise support
Exercise physiology may be funded when it meets NDIS criteria, relates to your disability support needs and fits your plan. We work with self-managed and plan-managed participants. Our fees are in line with NDIS price limits, travel is charged, and we'll explain the service and costs before you book paid sessions.
Maintenance therapy
The NDIS describes maintenance therapy as support to keep your ability to do everyday tasks. It can be funded when it meets the criteria.
When your needs change
Let your support coordinator, plan manager or the NDIA know. We provide reports that describe what we've worked on and what has changed.
Self-managed or plan-managed
Drift Health isn't a registered NDIS provider, so NDIA-managed plans can't be used with us. Your plan manager can confirm what your plan allows.
Exercise and physiotherapy support from one team
Our exercise physiologists lead this work. Our physiotherapists are on the same team if pain, a joint problem or a change in how you move needs their input.
Victor
Director & Head Exercise Physiologist
Jennifer
Exercise Physiologist
Michel
Exercise Physiologist
Conan
Exercise Physiologist
Tony
Exercise Physiologist
Laura
Exercise Physiologist
Joey
Physiotherapist
Lucas
Physiotherapist
Answers to common questions about MND
Is exercise safe with MND?
MND Australia suggests exercise can help people with MND stay active when a health professional who understands MND supervises it and keeps the exercise within your limits. We avoid pushing to exhaustion, plan rest into every session and check in about fatigue each visit. Your neurologist's advice comes first.
Will exercise slow MND down?
We can't promise that, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Exercise can't strengthen muscles MND has already weakened. We aim to help you stay comfortable, use the strength you have and keep doing what matters to you. Your neurologist is the best person to ask about how MND may progress for you.
What if I'm too tired on the day?
Tell us. We can make the session gentler, switch to stretching and comfort work, or talk through how things are going. We plan around fatigue rather than push through it.
Can my partner or carer join in?
Yes, if you'd like them there. We can show them how to help with exercises safely between visits and which signs mean it's time to stop and rest. Decisions about your sessions stay with you.
Do you work with my neurologist or MND clinic?
With your consent, yes. We can share what we're working on and follow exercise advice from your neurologist, MND clinic, physiotherapist or occupational therapist. We don't replace any of them.
Can I use my NDIS funding?
It may be funded if your plan is self-managed or plan-managed and exercise physiology fits your plan and goals. Drift Health isn't a registered NDIS provider, so NDIA-managed plans can't be used with us. We also see private clients.
What if I was diagnosed after 65?
Aged care may help if you cannot access the NDIS. In June 2026, the Government announced priority access to Support at Home for older Australians with MND. To apply, contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422. Drift Health also works with Support at Home and private clients.
More information about progressive conditions
These pages cover related conditions and how our services work. If you're not sure which fits, a free call is a good place to start.
Talk about what you want to keep doing
Tell us what you want to keep doing, how fatigue affects your day and who supports you. We can discuss whether exercise physiology is a good fit now and how sessions could work at home.
- Talk through your goals and how your energy varies
- Ask how we'd work with your MND team and family
- Get clear answers on availability, fees and NDIS funding
A free 15-minute call about your goals and whether we can help.