Sports injuries at Parkside Hospital

For those that have an active lifestyle and are regularly involved with exercise and sports, picking up a sports-related injury can be almost inevitable. Falling awkwardly and twisting a knee, overstretching or tearing a muscle or ligament, or snapping a tendon can leave you on the sidelines and out of the game for a frustratingly long time.

If you are suffering from a sporting injury then we can help, with specialist orthopaedic diagnosis and treatment for all kinds of exercise-related problems; from tennis elbow and runner’s knee to strains and sprains, fractures and concussion.

Our highly experienced sports physicians, orthopaedic specialists and surgeons can offer you the attention you require at every stage, throughout diagnosis, treatment and aftercare. They are supported by a range of respiratory physicians and neurosurgeons should your condition require them.

In order to pinpoint the cause of your injury as quickly and accurately as possible, our services includes X-ray scans and the latest MRI and CT scanning technology. Once the diagnosis has been made, our orthopaedic specialists can recommend what further steps towards treatment you might need to take.

Treatments could include acupuncture, re-aligning a dislocated shoulder, treating a foot or ankle fracture or repairing damaged tendons. We also offer minimally-invasive keyhole surgery, including surgery for any type of ligament such as an ankle ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction.

Alternatively, a non-invasive approach such as shockwave therapy could be an option. This treatment can provide healing and pain relief for various conditions including tendon inflammations in the hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, Achilles and the sole of the foot.

Our team also includes musculoskeletal physiotherapists, a strength and conditioning coach, and a sports massage therapist to help you return to your chosen sport in as short a time as possible.

To aid the rehabilitation process further, podiatrists and dieticians will offer advice on methods you could use to avoid similar injuries in the future and stay in peak condition. We can even offer gait analysis to optimise your balance and correct alignment of the weight bearing joints.

At Parkside Hospital we can treat all manner of sports injuries, beyond those that have been mentioned here. Please give us a call to discuss your individual requirements.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Ski injury clinic

If you have been injured while skiing, our expert team of sports physiotherapists and physicians can provide you with fast and effective treatment to get you back out on the slopes as quickly as possible. And at our Ski Clinic, we also have the experience and expertise to treat, and advise, both amateurs and top professionals.

If you suffer a skiing injury it’s likely you will first be treated by a resort doctor. On your return, bringing any relevant x-rays or paperwork, our team can provide you with the support and tailored treatment you need to get you back skiing injury-free as quickly as possible.

If your skiing injury should require more complex treatment, our team of expert sports physicians can provide you with individually designed support in rehabilitation, sports physiotherapy and post-operative care, helping you to progress through any recovery period.

The five most common skiing problems are:

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) injuries
• Shoulder dislocation
• Concussion
• Skier’s thumb.

At our weekly Ski Clinic, our team can not only treat and guide you through recovery and rehabilitation, but also help build your confidence and support your progress if you are returning from injury. Our expert sports physicians can offer you help and advice from January to April.

We can treat all skiers, whether you are a first-timer or professional, and can support your progress towards our Return from Injury Day – at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead.

The Ski Clinic’s expert team can also provide advice, and training, that will increase your all-round fitness and help protect you against injury.

The ski-specific programme includes:

• Cardio exercise – Topping up lung endurance together with interval training such as spinning, or running
• Strength and conditioning – Exercises that will help you adapt to demanding conditions, and combat fatigue
• Flexibility and balance – Crucial elements in avoiding injury, with exercise to help your muscles work more effectively

Our Ski Clinic experts can also provide advice on how you can choose the right equipment – just as important as your fitness in avoiding injury.

Manage your risk by:

• Taking time to select your gear
• Adjusting your ski bindings correctly
• Choosing your correct ski
• Tuning your skis every 6-8 days
• Not using pole straps
• Wearing a helmet

This service is run in conjunction with Wimbledon Clinics.