If your sports injury is stopping you lead a full and active life, then minimally invasive regenerative treatments could help you enjoy your life the way you want to.
The term ‘sport injury’ refers to any injury that is obtained during exercise normally as a result of improper form and technique, lack of conditioning or over-training. Repetitive motions can cause wear and tear which can lead to extreme discomfort and injuries that need medical attention.
- What are the common types of sports injuries?
- What is an acute and chronic sport injury?
- What are the most common sport injuries?
- What are the common treatments for sports injuries?
- How can I avoid/prevent sports injuries?
- When should I see a specialist?
- Why have a consultation at the Regenerative Clinic?
- What treatments does the Regenerative Clinic offer?
What treatments does the Regenerative Clinic offer?
Our renowned medical team provides a range of treatments for sports injuries, from the traditional to the innovative:
Orthopaedic braces and splints protect, stabilise, support and correct injuries or abnormal alignment through the process of rehabilitation and recovery.
Orthopaedic splints and braces are used to:
- Alleviate pain and discomfort from a chronic condition
- Prevent further injury
- Aid healing for osteoarthritic care and post-operative care
For pain relief, injections can be more effective than an oral medication because they deliver medication directly to the exact anatomic location that is generating the pain. Typically, a steroid medication is injected to deliver a powerful anti-inflammatory solution directly to the area causing pain.
This is an effective and well-researched procedure that’s a potential alternative to surgery. It takes advantage of the blood’s natural healing properties to reduce pain and improve joint function. It uses a specially concentrated dosage of platelets prepared from your own blood to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone. Treatment is administered via an injection and depending on the injury two to six injections may be required, performed at weekly intervals. Patients usually see their symptoms improve within four to six weeks of having the injections. PRP is a safe treatment option which, because your own blood is used, carries no risk of allergic reaction. Read more clinical evidence supporting PRP here.
This treatment involves a selective filtration of your blood which harnesses Monocytes and their reparative properties for sporting injury and soft tissue damage.
In the degenerated tendons, Monocytes contribute to the repair of the damage by promoting the release of enzymes that help remove the damaged parts and consequently help the formation of a new matrix to promote the healing of the tendon. They perform a similar function in muscle injuries and promote the repair of damaged muscle fibres as a result of injury. There is some evidence to show these cells reduce inflammation in joints and have a beneficial effect in inflammatory forms of arthritis. Read more.
This day case treatment is exclusively offered to our patients. It combines the benefits of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy with Lipogems®, a pioneering procedure that uses your body’s own adipose (fat) cells to treat pain and inflammation. AMPP injections are minimally invasive and are carried out under ultrasound guidance. Altogether the procedure takes about an hour to perform with a minimal recovery time of around three hours. As well as being a potential alternative to surgery, AMPP can also aid post-surgery recovery.
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) is a non-surgical, minimally invasive, regenerative treatment that harnesses the natural ability to heal the body through the assistance of biological growth factors. BMAC utilises the regenerative stem cells collected from bone marrow to aid in the acceleration of healing moderate to severe osteoarthritis and tendon injuries. Read more here.
What are the common types of sports injury?
A sprain injury
A sprain and a strain are very similar. The most obvious difference being that a sprain affects the ligaments, and a strain affects the tendons. A sprain is the overstretching or twisting of ligaments commonly caused by trauma or impact. Ligaments are fibrous connective tissues conjoining two bones/cartilage. Pain, bruising, restricted mobility, and swelling are common occurrences after spraining a joint. Sprains can be treated with substantial rest and ice the affected area. A pharmacist may also be able to suggest a cream or tablet which may help alleviate pain and reduce swelling. Paracetamol may alleviate pain and Ibuprofen may reduce swelling. It is advised that you wait 48 hours after your injury before taking ibuprofen.
A strain injury
A strain is the overstretching or twisting of a muscle or tendon, commonly caused by over-stressing muscles. Like ligaments, tendons are fibrous connective tissues however ligaments connect two bones or cartilage whereas tendons connect muscle to bone. Tenderness, swelling, bruising, muscle spasm/cramps, restricted mobility and muscle weakness are common symptoms. The treatment of strains is identical to that of sprains.
A fracture
Despite the common misconception that a broken bone and fracture bone are different, they are not. There are many different categories of broken bones:
- A compound fracture – the broken bone pierces the skin.
- An oblique fracture – the bone breaks at an angle.
- A transverse fracture – the bone breaks horizontally.
- A comminute fracture – the bone has shattered (into 3 or more pieces).
- A greenstick fracture – the bone cracks but does not fully break.
Bones can fracture for multiple reasons. Stress or hairline fractures can be caused by repetitive fatigue of the muscles which support the musculoskeletal system. External force exerted on the bone that exceeds the force the bone can withstand will cause fractures. Infection or an underlying condition may cause the bone to weaken and make it more susceptible to breakage.
Fractures require medical attention. If the fracture is a result of major trauma or there is heavy bleeding, apparent deformation of the limb or joint, the bone piercing the skin or numbness in the extremities of the injured limb, call emergency services.
Fractures often require a cast and/or surgery. The broken bone is returned to its original position, possibly via surgery, to allow for faster recovery times. The limb is then immobilized using a cast, splint or surgery. A broken bone often takes 6-8 weeks to heal. Within this time, it is recommended that you rest and complete physiotherapy.
Stress fractures are normally the result of increasing the amount of exercise too fast and can be prevented by wearing the correct footwear, cross training and gradually increasing exercise levels. Normally diagnosed by x-ray scans, stress fractures can be treated by surgery or wearing a walking boot or using crutches to reduce the weight-bearing load.
A contusion
A contusion is more commonly known as a bruise and is the result of trauma which ruptures capillaries. The bruise will fade after a few days and can be iced or compressed if the bruising is accompanied by some swelling.
An open wound
An open wound is often referred to as a cut. There are many different types of open wounds, whereby the bodies internal tissues are exposed to the external environment:
- Abrasions: a wound caused by the friction between the skin and a rough surface (for example a scraped knee). Abrasions tend to have very little bleeding, however, is it important to properly disinfect the open wound to prevent any infections.
- Lacerations: a wound caused by a sharp object (like a knife.) Lacerations tend to be deep wounds accompanied by heavy bleeding.
- Avulsion: a wound caused by the violent tearing of skin (for example in an explosion).
- Puncture: a small wound in the soft tissues (like a splinter). Bullet wounds are also punctures and will bleed heavily if an important organ or vessel is punctured.
- Incision: a wound caused by a clean, straight cut. Incisions are usually accompanied by heavy, rapid bleeding and deep incisions could potentially damage the underlying muscles or nerves.
To treat an open wound, you can stop the bleeding by applying pressure. Once the bleeding has stopped you should clean the wound and disinfect the surrounding area. You may also dress the wound with a plaster or bandage.
A dislocation
A dislocation is when bones in a joint are forced from their normal position typically due to impact. Loss of mobility, swelling and discolouration are common symptoms of dislocation. If you believe that you may have dislocated a joint, seek medical attention immediately.
A doctor may need to reposition the joint if the dislocation is severe enough to the extent the joint will not naturally realign. Dependant on the severity of the pain and swelling, a local or general anaesthetic may be administered before the doctor attempts to manoeuvre and manipulate the joint. The dislocated joint may require surgery if the surrounding nerves, ligaments or blood vessels are damaged. After the bone is in the correct position, the doctor may immobilize the joint using a splint. The recovery time is dependent on the severity of the dislocation, however a few weeks.
What is an acute and chronic sport injury?
An acute injury
Acute injuries are sudden injuries that tend to be as a result of trauma. Acute injuries are immediately painful, and you may be able to visibly see discolouration or swelling. After acute injuries, capillaries (thin blood vessels) are broken and the blood supply and oxygen supply to the injured tissue is disrupted. The capillaries consequently leak blood and fluids into the surrounding tissues, causing swelling. The course of action depends on the severity of the injury.
A chronic injury
Chronic injuries are injuries that develop over time often due to a prolonged, repetitive, and often strenuous motion. Chronic injuries tend to ache at rest and are painful during activity.
What are the most common sport injuries?
- Ankle sprains
- Hamstring strains
- Shin splints
- Pulled groin
- Knee injuries (Patellofemoral syndrome)
- Knee injuries (ACL tear)
- Achilles tendon rupture
- Hip flexor strain
- Rotator cuff injury
- Tennis elbow
- Sciatica
- Concussion
Ankle sprains
An ankle sprain often happens when the ankle joint rolls, twists or turns in uncomfortable way. This can stretch or tear the ligaments that hold your ankle joints together. It has been estimated that each year there are around 42,000 new severe ankle sprains in A&E departments around the UK.
Hamstring strains
A hamstring strain involves one or more of the 3 muscles that run up the back of your thing becoming overloaded. This overstretching of the muscle can also cause a tear. These injuries are common in sports with a lot of running, jumping and stopping and starting.
Shin splints
Shin splints are shooting pains that run down the shin (tibia bone) caused by excessive force on the tibia and the surrounding tendons or from bone fractures.
Pulled groin
A groin pull (strain) occurs when the inner thigh muscles are stretched or twisted.
Patellofemoral syndrome
Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a term that refers to any knee injury that causes pain.
It is commonly referred to as ‘runner’s knee’ or ‘jumper’s knee’. Most knee injuries are caused by overuse or trauma to the joint. Often worsening with exercise, pain while moving the joint or keeping the knee in a position for too long accompanied by cracking and popping sounds are the hallmark symptoms of patellofemoral syndrome.
Our treatments for patella femoral syndrome include PRP Therapy and Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (AMPP) injections. Read more on patellofemoral syndrome here.
ACL tear
An ACL tear is an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament, which is one of the major ligaments in the knee. ACL tears are common in people who play sports that involve suddenly stopping or changing direction or and jumping and landing, such as football, netball, basketball and skiing. With an ACL tear you may hear or feel a ‘pop’ in the knee, and your knee may become swollen and painful when bearing weight.
Our treatments for ACL injuries include PRP Therapy, Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (AMPP) injections and Steroid Injections. Read more on ACL tears here.
Achilles tendon rupture
An Achilles tendon rupture is a tear in the connective tissue that connects the muscle in the calf to the ankle. Complete severing of the Achilles tendon may result in surgery. You can recover from an Achilles rupture as soon as 2 weeks and as long 6 weeks, and with the aid of physiotherapy you can return to normal activity within 4-6 months.
Hip flexor strain
The hips flexors are a group of muscles that aid the upwards movements of the knee. A hip flexor strain occurs when the muscles are placed under too much stress from being torn, stretch or twisted during activity.
Rotator cuff injury
A rotator cuff injury is damage to the muscles and tendons that attach the head of the humorous (upper arm bone) to the shoulder socket, typically causing pain that makes it difficult to reach behind your back and arm weakness. A rotator cuff injury tends to be the result of progressive degeneration of the tendon tissue or prolonged, repetitive overhead activity. The most common rotator cuff injuries are:
- A rotator cuff tear – wear and tear of the tendons.
- Tendinitis – inflammation (swelling) and irritation of the tendons.
- Bursitis – the bursa (small fluid-filled sac that protects the rotator cuff) becomes irritated.
Our treatments for shoulder injuries include PRP Therapy and Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (AMPP) injections.
Tennis/golfer’s elbow
Tennis/Golfer’s elbow is pain in the upper forearm when lifting, twisting or bending your arm or grasping small objects, often as a result of muscle overuse. Tennis/Golfer’s elbow is caused by the weakening of the tendons.
Our treatments for tennis/golfers include PRP Therapy, Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (AMPP) injections, Monocytes and Shockwave Therapy. Read more on tennis/golder’s elbow here.
Sciatica pain
Sciatica is pain or numbness caused by the irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve starts in the spine, running through the pelvis, thigh and into the foot. Sciatica pain is normally only experienced through one side of the body. A slipped disc (whereby a disc bulges out and presses on the nerve) is the most common cause of sciatica.
Our treatments for sciatica pain include PRP Therapy, Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (AMPP) injections and Steroid Injections. Read more on sciatica here.
Concussion
A concussion is a result of trauma (blow, hit) to the head that may affect brain function. The brain moves within the skull, stretching and damaging the brain cells causing temporary weakness alongside chemical changes. Common symptoms of a concussive brain injury include headaches, memory loss, ringing in the ears, vomiting, nausea and dizziness.
What are the common treatments for sports injuries?
Acute injuries:
Within the first 3 days of an acute injury we would recommend the RICE treatment.
- Rest – Resting the injured area will kick start the healing process as well as prevent any further damage being done to the already weakened area.
- Ice – Swelling (inflammation) is caused by the leakage of fluid by ruptured capillaries. The cold ice causes the capillaries to constrict (narrow), preventing further spillage and therefore swelling as well as numbing the pain of the injury. We would recommend applying ice for 15 minutes, using a cloth, and then allow your skin to return to its natural temperature before reapplying.
- Compression – Wrapping a bandage around the injured area will prevent a build-up of fluid and therefore reduces swelling. Compression will also limit the motion of the injured area, providing support and pain relief.
- Elevation – lifting the injured area above your heart will reduce swelling as the fluids will flow down and drain away.
Chronic injuries:
- Heat – Applying heat to the injured area increases the blood flow and relieves the muscles of tension. Increased circulation allows for a larger supply of oxygen and nutrients to support the healing process.
- Medicine – over the counter anti-inflammatory pain killers such as Asprin or ibuprofen may provide temporary relief
- Physiotherapy – a doctor may recommend you perform specific exercise to strengthen and rehabilitate the injured area.
How can I avoid/prevent sports injuries?
There are multiple actions that could be taken to help prevent sports injuries from occurring. Wearing the correct equipment for your sport is key – supportive shoes and properly fitted protective equipment is essential to prevent injury. Time taken off from the sport is highly recommended. This day off per week, or month off per year, allows your body to recover. Similarly, during exercise you should take regular water breaks to remain hydrated and allow your body to rest, preventing overexertion.
Daily conditioning exercises and stretching exercises should be incorporated into your fitness regime to allow your muscles to strengthen and remain flexible. Proper technique should always be practiced minimising the risk of injury.
When should I see a specialist?
If any of these symptoms are experienced immediately after an injury, we advise that you seek immediate medical attention :
- Severe swelling and pain
- Visible deformities – large lumps, bent limbs
- Popping or crunching sounds when you move the injured area
- Inability to support any weight on the injured area
- Instability in a joint
- Trouble breathing
- Dizziness
- Fever
If none of these symptoms are experienced then we would advise that you rest, ice, compress and/or elevate the injured area.
If after a some time has passed and the pain or swelling is still experienced then we advise that you seek medical attention or contact the team of orthopaedic consultants at the Regenerative Clinic.
Why have a consultation at the Regenerative Clinic?
Our innovative range of treatments goes beyond what’s available on the NHS. As well as providing a full opinion on your sports injury and deciding when to intervene with treatment that includes all the traditional non-surgical and surgical options. Our experienced consultants will also assess your suitability for our alternative biological therapies, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Monocytes Therapy, nSTRIDE Autologous Protein Solution and Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (AMPP).
Who will my consultation be with?
Your consultation will be with one of our orthopaedic specialists and will last approximately 30 minutes. You may be asked to attend for a diagnostic scan (MRI/X-ray), prior to your appointment.
As well as undertaking an examination, our specialists will take details of your medical history and discuss your symptoms. They will also detail all your treatment options and cover their potential benefits and risks.
Our expert team comprises of highly experienced surgeons, sports medicine doctors and physiotherapists who are committed to delivering a high level of care and the correct treatment option so you can quickly get back to moving around.
What is the autologous biological approach and when should it be considered?
Autologous means ‘from the same person’ rather than from a donor. Essentially, your own cells are used to encourage healing. With this type of treatment, there’s a dramatic reduction in the risks of the rejection, infection or contamination that come with using material from someone else. The innovative therapies we offer are based on this idea. If you’ve found traditional treatments aren’t helping your pain, of if you’re looking for a possible alternative to surgery, then this approach is one to consider.
Clinical evidence
Biological treatments are pioneering procedures and we’re continuously monitoring and recording its effectiveness. Patients undertaking these treatments are asked to complete pre-operative and post-operative questionnaires.
The information obtained from these questionnaires allows us to monitor your progress and it also contributes to our evidence-based database and other global studies on biological treatments. All information gathered is anonymised.