Patient Information:
Common Physiotherapy Conditions
1. Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury of the forearm tendons where they attach to the outer part of the elbow. It commonly affects people who perform repetitive wrist and gripping movements — not just tennis players.
Symptoms: Pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow, worsened by lifting or gripping.
How physiotherapy helps: We guide you through progressive loading exercises to restore tendon health, improve grip strength, and reduce pain. In stubborn cases, shockwave therapy can be beneficial.
Self-management tips:
– Modify or reduce aggravating activities
– Ice the elbow after intense use
– Avoid heavy lifting with a straight arm
Prevention: Regular forearm and shoulder strength training, grip technique review, and pacing of repetitive tasks.
2. Knee Pain in Tennis Players (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Patellar Tendinopathy)
Due to the demands of directional changes, lunges, and explosive movement, knee pain is a frequent complaint in tennis. Common causes include patellofemoral pain and tendon overload.
Symptoms: Pain around or beneath the kneecap during squatting, lunging, or prolonged sitting.
How physiotherapy helps: We assess your biomechanics and muscle control. Treatment focuses on improving quadriceps and glute strength, mobility, and knee loading tolerance. Shockwave therapy may be useful in cases of tendinopathy.
Tips:
– Strengthen your quads and hips
– Avoid training through sharp knee pain
– Progress your loads gradually
Prevention: Include single-leg strength training, balance drills, and gradual exposure to lunging and jumping activities.
3. Common Injuries in Squash
Squash is fast-paced, dynamic, and rotational — all of which make it great for fitness, but also a risk for certain injuries.
Most common injuries include:
– Achilles tendinopathy
– Rotator cuff strains
– Lower back pain
– Groin strains
– Ankle sprains
How physiotherapy helps: We assess your technique, movement control, and strength. Rehab includes mobility drills, muscle retraining, and sport-specific conditioning.
Tips:
– Warm up thoroughly
– Incorporate hip and core strength exercises
– Maintain ankle and calf mobility
Prevention: A structured pre-season strength programme, load monitoring, and good recovery habits.
4. Hamstring Injuries – BAMIC Classification & Early Rehab
Hamstring injuries are common in sprinting sports like hockey and football. The British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC) system grades these injuries by site and severity (e.g. Grade 2b = moderate central tendon injury). This allows for precise rehab planning.
Symptoms: Sudden pain in the back of the thigh, especially during sprinting or kicking, with bruising or weakness.
How physiotherapy helps: We follow the “long and strong” approach — focusing on restoring full hamstring length and loading capacity. Early rehab begins with low-load exercises and progresses based on strength testing and flexibility metrics.
At our clinic, we measure:
– Hamstring flexibility
– Strength across ranges
– Sprint mechanics (if applicable)
Prevention:
– Include Nordic hamstring curls and eccentric exercises
– Sprint regularly in-season
– Address any pelvic or lumbar imbalances
5. Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains — especially of the lateral ligaments — occur when the foot rolls inward unexpectedly. Without proper rehab, they can lead to chronic instability or repeat injury.
Symptoms: Swelling, bruising, pain on the outer ankle, and trouble weightbearing.
How physiotherapy helps: We guide you from swelling management through to strength, proprioception, and dynamic balance retraining.
Tips:
– Begin gentle ankle circles and calf pumping early
– Don’t ignore pain during walking
– Use support or taping if needed during return to sport
Prevention: Regular balance and agility work, strong calves, and footwear suited to your sport.
6. Lower Back Pain (Non-specific and Sports-Related)
Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking physiotherapy. In active individuals, it’s often due to muscle imbalances, movement inefficiencies, or overuse.
Symptoms: Dull or sharp pain in the lower back, stiffness in the morning or after activity, sometimes with referred pain into the buttocks or thighs.
How physiotherapy helps: We identify the root cause — whether that’s hip stiffness, weak glutes, or poor spinal control — and build a structured rehab plan.
Rehab focus:
– Strengthening your core, glutes, and trunk
– Improving hip and spinal mobility
– Educating you on safe movement strategies
Prevention: Cross-training, mobility work, and strength development reduce flare-ups and build resilience.
7. Cervicogenic Headache (Headache Originating from the Neck)
Cervicogenic headaches arise from dysfunction in the upper neck joints, muscles, or posture. They’re commonly linked to screen use, desk work, or stress.
Symptoms: Dull or pressure-like headache, often starting at the base of the skull and radiating to the front. Neck stiffness and tenderness are typical.
How physiotherapy helps: We address neck joint mobility, postural control, and strength. You’ll learn how to move confidently without aggravating your neck.
Tips:
– Take regular movement breaks from seated work
– Improve your ergonomic setup
– Build neck and upper back strength
Prevention: Avoid prolonged static positions and incorporate regular mobility and postural strength exercises.
8. Achilles Tendon Pain
Achilles tendinopathy is a degenerative condition of the tendon connecting the calf to the heel. It develops gradually with overload and inadequate recovery.
Symptoms: Morning stiffness, pain during or after running or jumping, and tenderness mid-tendon.
How physiotherapy helps: We guide you through a progressive loading programme to strengthen the tendon. Shockwave therapy can aid healing in stubborn cases.
Exercise tip: Begin with calf raises on the floor, progress to slow eccentric heel drops off a step.
Prevention:
– Maintain calf strength
– Avoid rapid increases in running or jumping volume
– Ensure a proper warm-up before training
9. Rotator Cuff Injuries (Tendinopathy, Strain, or Impingement)
The rotator cuff muscles stabilise the shoulder and are commonly injured in overhead or repetitive tasks. This may present as tendinopathy, impingement, or weakness.
Symptoms: Pain with lifting the arm, reaching overhead, or lying on the shoulder. Weakness or stiffness may be present.
How physiotherapy helps: We improve rotator cuff strength, shoulder blade stability, and thoracic mobility. Gradual loading is essential for tendon healing.
Tips:
– Avoid painful overhead lifting early in rehab
– Strengthen the rotator cuff and scapular muscles
– Improve posture and shoulder movement control
Prevention: Regular strength training for shoulders and upper back, along with shoulder mobility drills.
10. Common Injuries in Field Hockey Players
Field hockey combines sprinting, agility, stick handling, and frequent rotation — leading to a unique injury profile.
Typical injuries include:
– Hamstring strains (often BAMIC Grade 2a or 2b)
– Groin strains
– Knee pain (patellar tendinopathy, PFPS)
– Ankle sprains
– Lower back pain
– Shoulder or wrist overuse injuries
How physiotherapy helps: We provide sport-specific rehab, objective testing, and help guide your return to play safely. Programmes focus on resilience, not just recovery.
Tips:
– Include sprinting, change-of-direction, and strength drills
– Prioritise hip mobility and core control
– Load manage during congested match schedules
Prevention: A strong foundation in flexibility, stability, and strength is the best defence against injury.
