Injection therapies (sports medicine)
Injection therapies for sports injuries
HCA UK sports medicine consultants use a range of injection therapies to help minimise damage caused by sports injuries.
About injection therapies in sport
These are used in peripheral joints and around tendons and also for spinal conditions and weak ligaments.
Need to know
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What happens during an injection? icon plus
Corticosteroid injections are used to treat joint inflammation (synovitis) in the shoulder, knee and hip, triggered by a sports injury.
A scan will determine the exact point of injection and the radiologist may remove excess fluid with a needle if your joint is swollen. They will inject corticosteroid and local anaesthetic into your joint (or the soft tissue surrounding it) using the ultrasound to guide them.
PRP injections involve taking your blood using a small needle, separating the platelet-rich part of the blood and injecting it back in to promote healing. This can be used to treat conditions such as tennis elbow and hamstring injuries. -
How to prepare icon plus
Corticosteroid injections typically take around 10-15 minutes. As this is a routine procedure, little preparation is needed. It uses local anaesthetic, which means you’ll be awake but won’t feel any pain.
PRP injection therapy is quick and generally painless (although you may find it uncomfortable).
Injections are often combined with a rehabilitation programme, including physiotherapy, to aid your return to sport and help prevent any further injury. -
After your injection icon plus
As the local anaesthetic wears off after corticosteroid injections, your joint may feel sore. This can last for a few days, but you'll start to feel the benefits after around five days. It can take a week or two to take full effect.
Sometimes the injection may produce a 'steroid flare', temporarily irritating the joint lining. Very rarely, you may experience severe pain, which can be a symptom of an infection.
It’s very rare to experience adverse side effects or reactions after PRP injections, as you are being treated with your own blood. You may notice a little redness or soreness around the treated area, but this should clear up quickly.
Our sports medicine consultants
Our locations
From complex sports injuries to diagnostic tests and physiotherapy, we provide exceptional sports medicine care across our network of hospitals, outpatient centres and specialist clinics.
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The Portland Hospital
205 - 209 Great Portland Street
London W1W 5AH
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The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place
St John's Wood
London NW8 9LE
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Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH)
170 Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T 7HA
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Outpatients and Diagnostics at 30 Devonshire Street
30 Devonshire Street
London W1G 6PU
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HCA UK City of London - 31 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HT
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London Hand and Wrist Unit
Lodge Road
London NW8 7JA
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London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2PR
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London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2PR
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The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road
London
SW1W 8RH
Book an appointment
Our team can help with any enquiries or you can make an appointment with one of our experienced consultants.
Call us today
020 7079 4344