The Capital Orthopaedics team is made up of highly experienced sports medicine professionals. Led by renowned orthopaedic surgeon Mr Simon Moyes, our consultant surgeons, radiologists and physiotherapists offer in-depth diagnoses and minimally invasive treatments.
With decades of expertise in treating athletes and professional sportspeople, we know how to get you back to your activity in the quickest time possible, with increased resilience against future injury.
To book an appointment with a Sports Medicine Specialist in London, contact us here.
From impact injuries to strains, sprains and overuse injuries, our team has longstanding experience in dealing with the broad range of injuries sustained on the rugby field.
Our sports injury clinic is dedicated to getting both professional and recreational rugby players back to fitness quickly, with minimal intervention and with resilience against future injury.
Offering fast-track consultations and diagnoses, the Capital Orthopaedics team gets you on your treatment programme and back to strength and fitness in the quickest time possible. Some common rugby injuries we treat include:
The main joint in your shoulder (glenohumeral joint) is made up of the ‘ball’ at the top of your upper arm bone (humerus), and the socket in your shoulder blade (glenoid). This joint can get wrenched out of place during tackles or rucking and through an impact – stretching or tearing the ligaments, tendons and muscles that stabilise it.
A dislocation can cause damage to other structures in the shoulder, including the cartilage that lines the socket (labrum) and the bones themselves. The joint at the top of your shoulder (AC joint) can also get dislocated – typically in a fall on an outstretched arm. Dislocation / subluxation is very painful and can lead to ongoing instability and arthritis, if not treated correctly.
A thorough diagnosis is key – treatment depends on damage to other structures in the shoulder. Most cases require surgical reconstruction with arthroscopic surgery – certainly if you’ve had more than one dislocation.
A very common injury among rugby players, the slim, curved collarbones (clavicles) are susceptible to breaking from a side or front impact. Breaks can be a simple crack across the bone, or can be displaced. The clavicle attaches to the top of the shoulder blade at the acromioclavicular (AC) joint – many collarbone fractures also cause damage to this joint.
Most collarbone fractures are treated with sling immobilisation and rest and painkillers, followed by physiotherapy to build up the muscles around the shoulder. Severely displaced bones may require surgery to fix them together. We also offer injection therapies to help stimulate healing.
The ligaments that support and stabilise your knee joint can be stretched or torn as a result of a violent twisting action or a powerful impact.
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligaments (MCL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) are all at risk of damage in rugby – with its fast changes of direction and high impact in tackles, rucks and falls. Ligament damage leads to pain and instability in your knee joint, and the potential for ongoing knee problems such as bursitis and arthritis.
A thorough diagnosis is vital for effective treatment of knee ligament injuries, as other structures in the knee are often damaged during a ligament tear – including the meniscus, articular cartilage and the bones themselves.
In rugby players, if ligament is ruptured, our surgeons will usually carry out keyhole surgery to repair the ligament. Stretched knee ligaments (knee sprain) may be effectively resolved with non-surgical treatments including splint / brace immobilisation, injection therapies and shockwave therapy to stimulate healing, along with physiotherapy to restore strength and flexibility.
Another common rugby injury that we treat is an ankle sprain. While many people tend to ignore a sprain, it is vital to get a diagnosis and proper treatment in order to return to the sport. A stretched or torn ligament can lead to instability and ongoing problems in the ankle such as arthritis and bone spurs.
Ankle sprains in rugby are often severe due to the force going through the ankle. A thorough diagnosis including an MRI scan is needed to see the extent of the damage and provide the right treatment. Some sprains can be resolved with rest / immobilisation in a splint or brace, plus anti-inflammatories, followed by physiotherapy to build up strength and prevent re-injury.
Torn or badly stretched ligaments may require reconstructive surgery to restore stability and enable return to rugby. Our injection therapies are offered as part of the rehabilitation programme to stimulate healing in the joint, and reduce inflammation.
The powerful movements and stop-start nature of rugby make even the strongest players susceptible to muscle strains. These can be relatively minor, or can be serious enough to keep you off the rugby field for months.
A careful diagnosis is important – as other injuries may represent a muscle strain. Most muscle strains can be treated with physiotherapy, cellular injections to encourage healing and reduce inflammation, massage and shockwave therapy. Torn muscles may require longer healing processes or surgery to repair the damage.
Based in three central London locations, we offer state-of-the-art diagnostics, dedicated physiotherapy studios and top orthopaedic surgeons to ensure you get the best treatment for your rugby injury.
Our experienced sports medicine team is focused on you back to your sport quickly, with resilience against further injury.
For more information or to book an appointment with a sports medicine expert, contact us here.
The Capital Orthopaedics team is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries in professional athletes and recreational sportspeople alike. Our dedication to getting the pros back to full strength and fitness in the quickest time possible crosses over to all of our patients.
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