Sports injuries are common among football and basketball players and weekend athletes alike. The most frequent are anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, meniscus tears and ankle sprains.
Treatment aims to get you back to sport safely and to lower the risk of re-injury and early arthritis, with physiotherapy or surgery when it is needed.
When is it needed?
- The knee feels unstable or "gives way"
- Rapid knee swelling after a twisting injury
- The knee locks or will not fully straighten
- Ongoing pain that keeps you off the field
What to expect
- 01Careful examination and MRI where needed
- 02A conservative or surgical plan matched to the injury and your activity level
- 03Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction when indicated
- 04A staged rehabilitation programme back to sport
Recovery
Full return to sport after ACL reconstruction usually takes 6 to 9 months of structured rehabilitation; meniscus repairs often recover sooner.