Sports injury clinic – treating sports injuries with physiotherapy
The physios in our sports injury clinic are used to seeing a wide range of sports injuries, reflecting the many sporting opportunities in the area. In addition to assessing and treating sports injuries ourselves, we have close links with many sports physicians in London who we can refer clients to if necessary.
We will take a careful history and understand how your injury happened and the problems it is causing for you before carrying out a full examination. We will then discuss the treatment options with you and also consider your goals before we agree on a treatment plan with you.
Our treatments commonly include manual therapy for soft tissues and joint mobilisation and a programme of tailored rehabilitation exercises. If more specialist help is needed, our podiatrist can help identify and resolve problems that may be related to foot posture and biomechanics and our massage therapists are excellent at helping with soft tissue tension and pre- and post-event treatments.
If you are training for an event we strongly advocate having a screening assessment first. As your training progresses the stresses and strains on your body become much tougher and this is when niggles start to appear. By having an assessment at the start we can identify any areas of weakness – be they stiff joints, tight muscles, weak muscles or just a poor technique – and help you put them right before you sustain an injury that could interrupt your training or even the event.
* The qualified and experienced physiotherapists in our sports injury clinic can deal effectively with a wide range of sports injuries
* Highly reviewed treatments with top ratings in Facebook and Google Reviews from local patients who have visited our Barnes sports injury clinic
* We have male and female physiotherapists who can provide the best treatment for sports injuries if you have a preference (see our staff page for more information on qualifications, registration and experience)
* Whether you want to come to our clinic for a look around, an assessment or to book a treatment with one of our sports injury specialists, just give us a call on 020 8876 5690 and we will help to organise it.
Causes and types of sports injuries
Exercise and sport are generally good for the body and with proper precautions and preparation, sports injuries can usually be avoided. Apart from the physical interaction in some sports and not having the appropriate protective equipment, the most common causes of sports injuries may include:
- Poor training practices
- Being in poor general health
- Improper warm-up or stretching practices before a sporting event or exercise
Common sports injuries include:
- Joint injuries (knee, shoulder, ankle)
- Muscle injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Dislocations
- Fractures
- Achilles tendon injuries
- Pain along the shin bone
How can I prevent a sports injury?
- Develop and follow a fitness plan that includes cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and flexibility.
- Exercise all the different muscle groups during your programme.
- Warm up before playing sport or exercising. Stretching exercises improve the ability of muscles to contract and perform, reducing the risk for injury.
- Cool down properly after exercise or sports. It should take twice as long as your warm-ups!
- Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion.
- Rest when tired. Avoid exercise when you are tired or in pain.
If you do sustain a sports injury, make sure you assess the damage and undertake adequate rehabilitation before resuming strenuous activity.
There is a good article on sports injuries, avoiding and treating them on the NHS website here
You can see more about our sports rehab services here