Treatment for sports injuries at our London clinic
Injuries can occur easily during sports, whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out in your sporting or fitness journey. We understand how frustrating an injury can be, and that you want to get back to your activity as quickly as possible. Fortunately most sports injuries respond well to treatment, and will recover fully with the right professional care.
Principal osteopath Gavin Smith is a former martial artist who has worked with some of the UK’s top athletes, and will aim to get you back to your sport as quickly as possible. At your first appointment we will give you an idea of how quickly you will be able to return to your sport, and provide you with a self-care plan of exercises you can do yourself to speed up your recovery process.
The sports injuries we typically see are either sprains and strains, or repetitive stress injures, both of which are ideal cases for osteopathic treatment.
Sprains and strains are caused by overstretching or overloading a muscle or ligament beyond its current capacity. You may feel an immediate pain when the injury occurs, and may experience tightness, soreness or inflammation in the affected area.
As the name suggests, repetitive stress injuries are caused by repeating the same movement, which over time causes inflammation and or structural changes in muscles or tendons. These include injuries such as tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis, many sprots injuries, and almost all running injuries are repetitive injuries. You can find more information on running injuries on our running injuries page . The principles in this article can be applied to almost any repetitivie stress injury.
We offer specialist treatment for sports injuries at our clinic in Holland Park, easily accessible from Notting Hill, Shepherd’s Bush, Ladbroke Grove and surrounding areas.
Booking is quick and simple using the booking system below. For very short notice appointments, you can also try us on 07958070680.
If you suffer a sprain or strain injury and are in pain, there are some quick and simple things that you can do to maximise your recovery.
Initially rest and protect the injured area, especially during the first three days. Compression and regular elevation are extremly helpful. For best results avoid antinflamitories or ice as these impead the healing process.
Many active/ sporting people are familier with the RICE (Rest Ice Compression and Elevation) protocol. The most current research suggests that ice can negatively impact the healing process, so this is not longer recomended; and RICE protocol has now been replaced with PEACE & LOVE protocol, which you can read about here.
Repetitive injuries can also be treated with rest (from aggravating activities), massage and gentle stretching, as well as specific strengthening exercise to encourage healing and improve tissue strength. Again, be careful not to overstretch and to allow yourself enough rest for the body’s natural healing to take place.
Your osteopath will be able to advise you on the best course of action and whether further professional treatment is required. Book a free 15-minute telephone consultation for the best advice in your particular case
Osteopathy uses a range of techniques to treat sporting injuries, including manipulation and mobilisation of joints, stretching, massage, myofascial release, and dry needling, depending on your specific indiviual needs. These hands-on techniques improve healing and range of movement, and promote the body’s natural healing process.
As you progress in your recovery your osteopath can also help you move through different stages of exercise and progressively loading the affected joints and muscles to rebuild strength. We can also give you advice on stretches, warm-ups and techniques to help avoid future injuries.
Although many sports injuries heal quickly, there are sometimes underlying causes such as weakness in certain muscles or connective tissues, joint restrictions, or inefficient movement patterns that lead to overloading of structures. In these cases an exercise rehabilitation programme can be used to improve the strength, movement or alignment of the affected area to help you regain full movement and strength before returning to sport.
Exercise rehabilitation aims to bring you back to full strength and optimal movement, and reduce the risk of re-injury through the use of progressive exercise and functional movements.
You can read more about exercise rehabilitation on our exercise rehabilitation page.
Gavin Smith MSc is an experienced Osteopath, Clinical Director of the Holland Park Osteopathic Practice, and lecturer and Clinical Supervisor at the London School of Osteopathy. He has worked with some of the UK’s top martial artists and sprinters, and also has an extensive background as a sports therapist and exercise coach.
Booking is quick and simple using the booking system below. For very short notice appointments, you can also try us on 07958070680.
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