Sports Injuries

What is a Sports injury?

Sports injuries can happen in many ways. They may result from a sudden accident, fall, or impact, or they can develop gradually from repetitive strain or overuse. Other common causes include:

  • Inadequate warm-up
  • Poor technique or body mechanics
  • Inappropriate footwear or equipment
  • Overtraining or pushing beyond your limits
  • Lack of recovery time between training sessions

These injuries can affect any part of the body, and their severity can range from mild strains to more serious damage requiring specialist care.

Common Sports Injuries

If you feel pain during exercise or sport don’t ignore it, you should stop the activity immediately. Whether your injury is new or ongoing, continuing to exercise can worsen the damage and slow down your recovery. Early assessment and treatment are key to preventing long-term problems and getting you back to full activity as quickly and safely as possible.

Common Sports Injuries We See:

If you’re dealing with a sports injury, our Physiotherapists can help you recover safely and effectively with tailored treatment and rehabilitation plans.

Characteristics/Clinical presentation

Sports injuries can present in a variety of ways, depending on the type and severity of the injury.

Common symptoms include:

  • Immediate pain at the time of injury
  • Tenderness when touching the affected area
  • Swelling or inflammation
  • Bruising or discolouration
  • Restricted movement or joint stiffness
  • Muscle weakness or a feeling of instability

In some cases, symptoms may not appear right away. It’s not uncommon to feel fine during or immediately after activity, especially in competitive settings, because adrenaline can temporarily mask pain. Symptoms may become noticeable several hours later or the next day.

Clinical diagnosis

With any sports injury, it’s normal to experience some degree of pain or discomfort. While minor injuries often improve with rest over a day or two, certain signs suggest the need for professional assessment.

Seek further help if you experience:

  • Bruising or swelling that persists beyond 1–2 days
  • Ongoing or worsening discomfort
  • Inability to bear weight on a limb
  • Restricted movement or loss of normal function

These may indicate a more serious injury that should be assessed by a Physiotherapist, who can offer a clear diagnosis and develop a tailored treatment plan.

If you suspect a severe injury; such as a fracture, dislocation, or head trauma, go to your nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) department for immediate care.

Treatment for Sports Injuries

If your symptoms are persisting or not improving with rest, we recommend booking a Physiotherapy appointment with one of our experienced practitioners.

At Comfort Health, your appointment will include:

  • A review of your medical history and training habits to identify contributing factors
  • A clear diagnosis based on clinical assessment
  • A personalised treatment plan tailored to your individual needs and goals
  • A programme of rehabilitation exercises and expert advice to support a safe and effective recovery

Our aim is to help you heal properly, prevent re-injury, and return to your sport or activity as quickly and safely as possible. In some cases, to fully diagnose the injury and guide treatment, we may recommend a Diagnostic Ultrasound Scan. This allows us to assess soft tissue structures in real time and provide a more accurate diagnosis.

Here at Comfort Health

At Comfort Health we offer a comprehensive range of treatments including Sports Massage, Physiotherapy and Acupuncture, and a variety of other services designed to support recovery from all types of sports injuries. If you’re looking for a clear diagnosis to guide your treatment, we may recommend a Diagnostic Ultrasound Scan to accurately assess the extent of your injury.

For chronic tendon issues such as Achilles Tendinopathy and Patellar Tendinopathy, Shockwave Therapy has proven to be a highly effective treatment option.

Our experienced therapists have worked with athletes from a wide range of sporting backgrounds — including runners, triathletes, squash and cricket players, golfers, rugby players, footballers, and dancers, to name just a few.

If you think you could benefit from treatment by one of our expert practitioners book in online here.