When injuries occur, sports physiotherapists are experts in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal injuries and they have a better understanding of return to sport requirements.. They employ a wide range of evidence-based techniques, including manual therapy, exercises, education and return to training, play or competition, to effectively treat acute and chronic sports injuries. Rehabilitation focuses not only on healing the injury but also on restoring function, strength, and mobility to ensure a safe and effective return to sport or physical activity. Physiotherapists also incorporate sport-specific exercises that replicate the movements and demands of the sport, helping to speed up recovery and reduce the risk of re-injury.

Sprains and Strains

• Ligament sprains (e.g., ankle sprains, ACL tears)
• Muscle strains (e.g., hamstring, quadriceps, or calf strains)

Tendon Injuries

• Tendonitis or tendinopathy (e.g., rotator cuff tendinitis, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinitis)
• Tendinopathies (e.g., tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow)

Overuse Injuries

• Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)
• Stress fractures
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner’s knee)

Joint Injuries

• Knee injuries (e.g., ACL, MCL, PCL injuries)
• Shoulder injuries (e.g., dislocations, rotator cuff injuries, labral tears)
• Hip injuries (e.g., hip flexor strains, labral tears)
• Elbow injuries (e.g., dislocations, fractures)
• Ankle injuries (e.g., sprains, fractures, Achilles tendon rupture)

Cartilage and Ligament Injuries

• Meniscus tears in the knee
• Labral tears in the shoulder or hip
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
• Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries

Bursitis and Inflammation

• Hip bursitis
• Shoulder bursitis
• Knee bursitis (e.g., prepatellar bursitis)

Back and Neck Injuries

• Muscle strains or spasms
• Herniated discs or slipped discs
• Whiplash from sudden impacts or trauma

Foot and Ankle Injuries

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Ankle sprains
• Foot fractures

Biomechanical Issues

• Postural imbalances affecting performance and contributing to injury risk
• Gait abnormalities
• Muscle imbalances that increase the risk of injury

Sports-Specific Injuries

• Tennis elbow (elbow pain from repetitive motions, common in racquet sports)
• Golfer’s elbow (pain on the inner elbow, common in golfers)
• Runner’s knee (pain in or around the knee joint, especially during running)
• Swimmer’s shoulder (shoulder impingement or rotator cuff issues common in swimming)

Sports physiotherapists aren’t only there to help with injuries—they can also help you perform at your best. By assessing your biomechanics, strength, and flexibility, physiotherapists identify areas of improvement that could help you run faster, jump higher, or lift more. They work with you to develop personalised training plans that optimise your physical performance, targeting specific muscle groups and improving movement efficiency.

Sports physiotherapists use a wide range of techniques to help patients. Some of the most common include:

• Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques to relieve pain, improve joint mobility, and enhance muscle flexibility.
• Exercise Prescription: Custom-designed exercise programs to restore strength, improve movement patterns, and increase flexibility.
• Sports specific movements: an example in running based sports a progressive landing, jumping, hopping program should be implemented as early as tolerable.