Sports Injury Clinics in Medstead and Alton
Whether you’re a professional athlete or only participate in sports from time to time, sports injuries are an occasional hazard that can affect anyone participating in sports. Most minor sporting injuries such as strains, sprains and overuse injuries can be treated effectively with physical therapy, reducing pain and recovery time and allowing you to get back to your chosen sport as quickly as possible.
We offer treatment for sports injuries at our Medstead and Alton clinics, using a range of therapies including osteopathy, acupuncture and sports massage, and can give you help and advice on avoiding injury in future.
What Are the Most Common Sports Injuries?
Sports injuries typically break down into one of two areas. An acute injury can be thought of as a ‘one-off’ injury, for example as a result of crashing a bike or other contact or trauma, or a sudden muscle sprain or tear. A chronic injury is one that develops over time, generally through overuse of the effected area, where typically the condition develops gradually and the pain comes and goes at various times. These include the various types of tendonitis that are common to many people active in sports.
Some of the more common injuries we see at the clinic include:
- Sprains and strains – caused by an overstretching of either ligament or muscle. This may include anything from a slight overuse which will heal easily within a few weeks, or something more serious which affects daily life and requires more extensive treatment.
- Plantar fasciitis – inflammation of the plantar fascia which runs under the foot, causing pain in the heel when walking or running.
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow – inflammation of the tendons around the epicondyles, causing pain on the outside or inside of the elbow respectively.
- Runner’s knee – correctly known as patellofemoral pain syndrome, causing pain in the kneecap when running or walking
- Rotator cuff injuries – the rotator cuff is the group of muscles which stabilises and moves the shoulder, and can be damaged in sports which put strain on the arms and shoulders, such as boxing, racquet sports or weightlifting.
There are many others, and we are able to help with nearly all minor injuries (i.e. not broken bones) which have a musculoskeletal basis.
What to Do if You Have a Sports Injury
How you approach your sports injury can have a large effect on your recovery. For a long time the RICE acronym guided advice on dealing with a sports injury – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.
Whilst all therapists are agreed that an injured area requires rest to heal, and that compressing (i.e. with a bandage or elastic sleeve) and elevating the affected part of the body can also help, not all medical professionals agree that ice is therapeutic, and a new protocol for self treatment known as PEACE and LOVE has arisen, emphasising patient-empowering, psychological-based factors such as education and optimism.
If you are injured, rest the affected area and don’t try to simply carry on through the pain. You may find some gentle stretching or mobility exercises also help. See a physical therapist if the pain is severe or doesn’t go away within a few days, for an accurate diagnosis of your injury and to know what the most appropriate treatments – both self-treatments and in-clinic treatments – are for your particular case.
How We Treat Sports Injuries
We offer a range of effective sports injury treatments at our Medstead and Alton clinics, including osteopathy, acupuncture and sports massage. Our therapists are qualified and registered with all the relevant professional bodies such as the General Osteopathic Council and Institute of Osteopathy, and the Institute of Sport & Remedial Massage.
Osteopaths are first contact practitioners and we can assess your sports injury and refer your for further tests should that be necessary. At your first appointment we will give you an accurate diagnosis, explain to you the most appropriate treatment for your particular case, how long you can expect your recovery to take and whether you will need further sessions of treatment.
You can learn more on our what to expect page.
Returning to Sport
It is normal to want to return to your sport as quickly as possible, but many sports injuries are worsened by trying to get back to your activity too soon, and putting too much strain on your body before it is ready.
Obviously is is important to take it gradually and listen to your body, but sometimes tissue that has not yet completely healed can feel pain-free, making it more likely that you will suffer the same injury again.
Our therapists can guide you on reloading affected areas and getting back to your chosen sport as soon as possible. By using diagnostic methods such as palpation (feeling the affected area) and testing your strength and range of motion, we can give you accurate advice on how rehabilitated the affected area actually is, and help ensure you return to your sport safely.
