CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
Sports injuries
HCA UK has the expertise to diagnose a range of sports related sprains, splints and strains.
About sports injuries
Sports-related injuries are injuries that occur during sport or exercise. They can occur for a number of reasons,but are most commonly the result of a fall, heavy blow, using equipment incorrectly, not warming up properly, or pushing yourself too hard.
Injury mainly occurs in the muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues (tendons and ligaments).
Need to know
The most common type of sports injuries occur in the ankle, foot, wrist, thumb, knee, leg or back. They can be a sprain, strain or splint.
- A sprain: when a ligament is twisted, stretched or torn.
- A strain: when muscle fibres are torn (or pulled).
- A splint (such as shin splint): when the tissue around the bone is inflamed.
The most common symptoms of sports injuries
- Pain, tenderness, swelling and bruising of an area that occurs immediately while playing sport or exercising.
- Restricted movement or stiffness in the area that is affected In some cases symptoms may only occur several hours after you have played sports or exercised.
If you have severe pain or injury, you should visit your nearest Emergency department straight away.
If your symptoms are minor, you may be able to manage them yourself with pain relief, by resting the affected area and by applying an ice pack. If they don't improve in time, contact your GP or consultant for advice.
Sports injuries can be diagnosed in several ways. Your GP or consultant will discuss your symptoms with you. Tests they recommend may include:
- physical examination of the affected area to check for pain, swelling or restricted movement
- X-ray to check for torn tendons and ligaments
Treatment options for sports injuries depend on the type of injury you have and your overall health and fitness. These may include:
- physiotherapy
- to improve your range of movement, rebuild strength and regain flexibility
- steroid injections
- to relieve pain and inflammation
- surgery to repair torn ligaments such as knee ligament surgery
Our Sports injuries locations
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place St John's Wood NW8 9LE London
The Wilmslow Hospital
52-54 Alderley Road Wilmslow SK9 1NY Cheshire
Patient stories
Hear from past patients about their experience
Alan's story
Despite years of experiencing heart problems that just wouldn’t go away, Alan was apprehensive about having a surgical procedure. But with the expertise of his consultant and the latest cardiac technology, he decided to go ahead.
Andrew's story
“I couldn’t move my legs at all, and my arms only partially. But now I can walk six miles. I wouldn’t have got that without the physio team at The Christie Private Care, I simply wouldn’t have.”
How a second opinion helped uncover a hidden cardiac problem
Former Olympic swimmer, Adrian, was used to prioritising his physical wellbeing and continued to exercise regularly, keeping him in good health into his 60s. But when he got out of the pool one day, he noticed that something wasn’t right.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.