Meet The Team
Founder
Benjamin Lustig
m.pHYSIO
Extensive clinical and worldwide experience in working with spinal pained patients since 2009. Researcher and presenter across many general and elite sporting organisations.
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ATHLETIC SPINE was founded by Benjamin Lustig out of personal experience and a need to help athletes afflicted with back pain return to training and sport.
Benjamin’s passion for working with back pained patients and athletes started in 2010, experiencing his own debilitating lower back pain during a heavy lifting competition.
He went from therapist to specialist trying to get answers, guidance and treatment without success. The lowest point was when a specialist said “you’ll never play sport again”.
This was the moment everything changed.
Not believing this to be true, Ben took matters into his own hands, finally finding practitioners and resources that helped him understand his pain and get back to sport and doing the things he loved.
Benjamin’s story is one of many athletes.
Athletic Spine is the culmination of thousands of practice hours, research and professional development all over the world and a genuine drive to help others. So that they never have the experience he had, all those years ago.
Academic History
2012 - Bachelor of health science – clinical Myotherapy
2019 – Masters of Physiotherapy Practice
Research & Publication History
Lower back pain in Australian CrossFitters: A national survey
Presentation History
2021 & 2022: Presenter - Analysis of Olympic Weightlifting for Clinicians (Melbourne, Australia)
2023: Presenter at SpineWeek 2023 (Melbourne, Australia)
2023: Learn.Physio Presenter - Core endurance testing for low back pained patients
2023: 11th interdisciplinary world congress on low back and pelvic girdle pain (Melbourne, Australia)
YOMITHA NAVARATNE
BHSc M. Physio
M. Sports Physio (in progress)
Experienced in working with spinal pained patients and all other regions of the body in both general and elite sporting clubs.
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Yomitha (Yomi) is a highly credentialed Senior Physiotherapist known for his goal-driven, active approach to rehabilitation. His expertise is rooted in maximizing human function—from elite sports recovery to complex spinal resilience—making him ideal for resolving chronic and acute back/neck issues.
Yomitha significantly advanced his expertise by completing a Master of Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy in 2025. This advanced qualification, combined with his undergraduate degree from La Trobe University, provides a comprehensive foundation in both acute injury management and long-term functional mastery.
High-Performance and Endurance Expertise
Yomitha’s commitment to high-level function is underscored by his work with athletes who demand high spinal stability and meticulous load management:
Elite Sports Roles: During his Master's, Yomitha gained invaluable experience during placements at the Melbourne Storm (NRL) and Cricket Victoria. He maintains a casual role with Cricket Victoria's pathways teams, providing him with current, cutting-edge knowledge in injury prevention and high-performance rehabilitation.
Endurance Sports Focus: He also has significant exposure to working with triathletes, endurance runners, and cyclists. This experience is critical for managing injuries related to repetitive strain and high-volume training loads, which translates directly to treating chronic or repetitive spinal conditions in the general population.
Active and Strength-Based Rehabilitation
Specializing in blending hands-on treatment with progressive, strength-based exercise programs (informed by his ASCA Level 1 Strength and Conditioning certification) to ensure robust and lasting outcomes for back and neck issues.
Expertise in Spinal Care
Yomitha applies these principles of load management, strength, and resilience to help every patient:
Load Management and Return to Function: Applying elite-sport principles to accurately manage the physical demands placed on the spine, ensuring a successful return to work, sport, or daily activities without recurrence.
Musculoskeletal and Post-Operative Care: Extensive experience in managing a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions and guiding patients through complex post-operative recovery for spinal surgery.
Yomitha believes the key to successful spinal health lies in empowering patients through movement and understanding, helping them not just recover, but surpass their previous level of function. Outside of the clinic, his personal history as a state-level cricketer and tennis player reinforces his passion for maintaining an active lifestyle.
