ACL reconstructions (ACLR) have been the primary treatment for ACL injuries for the past three decades. Recent advancements in imaging technology, such as MRI scans, and the surge in sports participation have significantly increased the prevalence of ACLR procedures.

An overuse injury occurs when a particular body part is subjected to repeated stress or strain without sufficient recovery time. This can occur in tissues like muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments. After exercise, tissues adapt to become stronger. An overuse injury occurs when tissues don’t have enough time to adapt before the next workout, resulting in cumulative tissue damage that exceeds the tissue’s threshold, causing pain and dysfunction.

There is always an exciting buzz this time of year as Wimbledon hits the UK. All eyes turn to South-West London as the best tennis athletes of the world come to slog it out in the heat to try and get their hands on that grand slam title.

At the same time many of us pick up a tennis racquet and have a hit, although usually with more modest ambitions…

Low back pain is common in adults. With various factors such as age, work, stress levels, sleep, exercise, and previous injuries all playing a role. However, when looking at active teenagers, low back pain shouldn’t be seen as ‘normal’. With their rapidly growing body, and immature bone density, it is important to rule out a bone stress injury, which can progress to a stress fracture.

We hear all of the time that our runners feel tight after runs, and feel the need to constantly stretch their muscles. Although they feel a little better afterwards, their muscles feel tight again the next morning and it seems like Groundhog Day. This tightness can be extremely common when someone has started running after a long time off, or when their mileage starts to build.

Whether you are just starting with running or are an experienced runner, having good information when you run is imperative to both performance and to injury management. In this blog I will run you through why it is important and what to look out for.

Hypermobility is present in up to 15% of the population in one form or another. Hypermobility means your joints can move beyond the normal range of motion. Being extra flexible is an advantage in activities such as swimming, dancing, or gymnastics. Most flexible people don’t experience pain or symptoms due to their flexibility. However, others can experience symptoms, and this is when being “flexible” or “double-jointed” can become problematic. In a small percentage of cases, joint hypermobility is just a symptom of a much larger syndrome, such as Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome and Marfan’s Syndrome, just to name a couple.

I’ve seen a large amount of new or returning runners present to clinic this year, and with this an increased injury risk can come. One of the more common issues can be plantar fascia pain / plantar fasciitis. In this blog I’ll give you a couple of quick tips to help manage your pain.

Groin pain can be tricky to manage because it can have multiple causes and often occurs with hip pain. Due to the multiple factors and potential structures influencing groin pain, it can be difficult to know which path to go down in its management.

It is hard to prepare for mountain conditions. Contrary to popular British belief, it doesn’t get especially cold in England and it is rather flat, so even cycling up Hertfordshire Hills to replicate altitude training. You can however make a huge difference to your performance on the slopes and reduce your risk of injury by mixing up your training and making it a little more specific to skiing.

Running as a recreational sport is still in its relative infancy and is constantly evolving – an evolution that has been turbocharged by the fact we can all get real-time feedback from smartwatches and smartphones.

However, despite the range of data available, opinion is divided about running shoes with some advocating for lightweight shoes in line with the minimalist theory of ‘less is more’, while others believe firmly that a running shoe should provide plenty of cushioning and support.

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years, brings with it a series of physical and emotional changes. While this phase may present challenges, incorporating regular exercise into your routine can significantly ease the transition and enhance overall well-being. In this blog, we will explore the numerous benefits of exercise during menopause and discover how staying active can empower women to embrace this new chapter of life with vitality and confidence.

Osteitis Pubis refers to a non-infectious, inflammatory overuse syndrome affecting the symphysis pubis and surrounding soft tissues such as musculature and fascia, mainly in subjects partici­pating in strenuous athletic activities. It can also occur in post-partum women or following certain lower abdominal surgeries.

It may surprise you to learn that around 25 – 30 players will have missed the 2023 Women’s World Cup because of an ACL injury, and of the 736 players who went to the tournament, around 25% will have ruptured at least one of their ACLs during their career.

Seems high, doesn’t it?

Endurance sports has become increasingly popular over the past few years. This may have been helped by the flexible working in many sectors, meaning that millions of workers in the UK now have an extra few hours during the week to exercise. Participating in Triathlons or Ironman events require dedication to three separate disciplines: cycling, running, and swimming. The training can be grueling, requiring hours of training every week, including strength sessions, running and cycling sessions which can be quite long, and frequent trips to the pool.

Running is an amazing way to maintain health, and improve cardiovascular function. You can do it anywhere, even on holiday or far away from built up areas that have gyms. you can have, but by all means do not need any fancy, expensive equipment to run. Comfortable clothing, paired some supportive shoes, and you’re set to run. However, with the increase of running in the UK, so has increased the prevalence of running-related anterior knee pain.

When someone pulls a hamstring, it may often just be the first in a never-ending story of recurrent injuries for years to come. A pulled hamstring for a chess player will have a minimal effect on their life, but a pulled hamstring for anyone who runs can be significantly limiting, and a frustrating injury to recover from.

Whether it is your late twenties, or your early forties, you will reach a point where you feel that you are getting weaker, year after year. This can happen even in active individuals, but is most common in people who don’t do regular, structured exercise. The term sarcopenia, describes the process of the decrease in muscle mass, attributed to ageing.