Sports & Exercise Medicine

Located at the Smith Road Medical Centre (2^nd Floor) the clinic is operated by a team of specialists including physicians who are trained in sports medicine and pain management, as well as orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and nutritionists. All members have an advanced training and an in-depth knowledge of an athlete’s distinctive physical needs, and they work together to deliver holistic customised care to address these unique needs which can involve preventing injuries, boosting nutrition, exercise planning, rehabilitation, and recovery after an injury.

The Sports Medicine Clinic will be able to diagnose and treat injuries including tendonitis, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, arthritis, knee bursitis, rotator cuff tears, ligament tears (ACL, PCL), achilles tendon tear, ankle instability and a range of fractures, sprains and strains.

Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8am – 12pm

To book an appointment please contact, 244-7739. No referrals are required.

Sports-related back and neck injuries are very common and can range from the milder degrees such as strains, to the more severe such as fractures. If you receive a hard or sudden blow to the neck, you may suffer a neck fracture or a tear in the ligaments if the neck is flexed for extended periods of time. If you suspect that you may have a neck or back injury, it is vital that you see a specialist to prevent any further damage to the cervical spine.

Similar injuries also affect the back. A common back injury is injury of the lower back, which often occurs in many contact sports. Be wary if you are playing sports that require weight-loading and motion in conglomeration (such as weightlifting) or the use of constant bodily impact (such as running). Make sure that you always stretch the muscles and ligaments of the back before and after physical activity to warm up the muscles and prevent injury.

Many shoulder-related sports injuries relate to dislocation. Fractures of the shoulder can also occur by falling on the shoulder quite hard or in an awkward position. The shoulder is a very mobile joint, which means it is very susceptible to dislocation, tears and fractures. A common shoulder tear that occurs in heavy lifting sports is a Superior Labral Antero-Posterior (SLAP) tear, which occurs if the arm is bent forcefully inwards, backwards, or twisted at the shoulder. Make sure that you complete exercises targeted at strengthening the shoulder muscles to avoid such injuries, should you be at risk of contracting them.

When playing contact sports (or any sport for that matter), you are at risk of injuring the hand, wrist or elbow, simply due to the physical requirements of athleticism. Injuries of the hand, wrist and elbow can vary in a variety of situations, depending on how the injury occurred and the severity of it. The overuse of the hands or making other repetitive motions can result in hand, wrist or elbow pain. Symptoms of an injury in these areas include pain that lasts longer than 48 hours, trouble picking up objects or a loss of movement. Such conditions may result in physiotherapy, bracing and painkillers provided by a medical professional. Be sure that, if you have an injured hand, wrist or elbow, do not ignore it, as prolonged ill-treatment can result in further damage to the area and the need for surgery.

If you find that after playing sports there is disruption in how easily your knee joint moves, you most likely have a sports injury. One of the most common knee injuries is a torn meniscus. The meniscus is the cartilage that separates the shin bone from the thigh bone. Symptoms of torn menisci include knee pain, stiffness, inflammation, or trouble in extending the knee fully. In severe cases, a torn meniscus may require surgery, however, the injury usually heals on its own with sufficient rest and ice compresses. Be sure to avoid activities that involve pivoting or twisting of the knee, such as in sports like tennis or basketball, as such aggressive movements put you at the most risk of a meniscus tear.

Another common (and more serious) knee injury is an ACL injury – a sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL is one of the main ligaments in the knee, and it can tear if you perform sports that require lots of agility, jumping and changes in direction. One of the main causes of an ACL tear is landing in an awkward position from a jump or receiving a direct hit to the knee. Recovery includes rehabilitation exercises and programmes to regain strength in the ACL. In severe cases, an ACL injury may need surgical repair.

If the bone, ligament or tendons in the ankle have been damaged, this is what’s known as an ankle injury. Ankle sprains, strains and fractures often occur around the ankle joint, which has tendon muscles to stabilise the joints and allow for movement. You can suffer a fracture if you suffer a break in one or more of the delicate ankle bones, or a sprain if you feel that your ankle was stretched forcefully or ‘rolled’. You can also suffer from inflamed tendons known as tendinitis. If you are experiencing severe pain in the ankle as a result of sports, be sure not to repeatedly over-stretch the ankle- this can lead to microscopic tears that worsen over time and never heal.

Hip injury, pain or inflammation is not something that is uncommon among athletes. You may have a hip injury if you experience symptoms such as swelling of the hip, muscle spasms, weakness when climbing stairs or a limp. Hip sprains and strains occur if the hip ligaments or the muscles are torn. Sprains and strains can range from mild to the more severe. For instance, a Grade III hip strain means that the muscle or tendon is completely torn, and the hip cannot hold up one’s weight. A Grade I strain means that there is mild hip pain and the hip still functions normally, however there are still microscopic tears. Stretching the hip muscles regularly may help reduce your risk of injury and the amount of pressure on the hip joints. Make sure that you speak to a specialist if you have reoccurring hip injuries and are not sure how to cope with them.