Returning to sport after an injury
For each common injury: what happens, the stages of your return, strengthening exercises and the signs that mean you should see a professional.
- Achilles tendonPain and stiffness in the tendon at the back of the ankle, often stronger on waking or at the start of the…
- Adductors and groinPain in the groin or on the inner thigh, aggravated by changes of direction, kicking a ball or sprinting.
- Ankle sprainAfter a sprain: pain and swelling around the ankle, a feeling of instability when bearing weight…
- Biceps tendinopathyPain at the front of the shoulder or in the upper arm, aggravated by lifting, pulling or throwing.
- Calf or quadricepsPersistent pain or tightness in the calf or the front of the thigh, sometimes appearing suddenly during an…
- Carpal tunnel syndromeTingling, numbness or pain in the thumb, index and middle finger, especially at night or when gripping…
- Chronic groin and pubic painPain at the front of the pelvis and in the groin, gradual in onset, aggravated by kicks, sprints and changes…
- Fingers (pulley, climbing)Pain at the base of a finger (often the ring or middle finger), sometimes after a snap while climbing, worse…
- Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)Pain on the inner side of the elbow, aggravated by gripping, pulling or bending the wrist.
- HamstringsPain at the back of the thigh, sometimes sudden during an acceleration (pulled muscle), followed by stiffness.
- Herniated discPain in the lower back that sometimes goes down into a buttock or leg, aggravated by bending, coughing or…
- Hip and gluteus medius (tendinopathy)Pain on the outer side of the hip, aggravated by sleeping on that side, on stairs or standing for a long time.
- Iliotibial bandPain on the outside of the knee, sometimes up to the hip, which appears after a certain time of running and…
- Knee sprain (ligaments)Pain and swelling of the knee after a twist or a blow, with a feeling of instability or giving way.
- Lower back (lumbar)Pain in the lower back, often on one side, which may increase when sitting for a long time or bending forward.
- Meniscus (knee)Pain on the inside or outside of the knee, sometimes with locking, clicking or swelling after exercise.
- Metatarsalgia (forefoot)Pain under the front of the foot, at the toes, aggravated by pushing off the forefoot or walking barefoot.
- Neck (cervical)Stiffness or pain in the neck, sometimes up to the shoulder or head, aggravated by turning the head or after…
- Patellar tendon (jumper’s knee)Pain just below the kneecap, aggravated by jumping, accelerating and downhills.
- Plantar fasciitisPain under the heel or the arch of the foot, often sharp on the first steps in the morning or after a period…
- Posterior tibial tendonPain on the inner side of the ankle and the arch of the foot, sometimes with a flattening arch, aggravated by…
- Runner’s kneeDiffuse pain around or behind the kneecap, often on stairs, downhills or after sitting for a long time with…
- Shin splintsPain along the inner edge of the shin bone, often at the start of an outing. It may ease with the warm-up and…
- Shoulder (rotator cuff)Pain at the front or side of the shoulder, especially when raising the arm, throwing or swimming, sometimes…
- Stress fracturePain localised on a precise point of a bone (shin, foot, hip), which increases on impact and may persist at…
- Tennis elbowPain on the outer side of the elbow, which increases when gripping the racket or lifting an object.
- Unstable or dislocated shoulderThe feeling that the shoulder pops out, slips or gives way, sometimes after a dislocation, especially with…
- WristPain on the top or side of the wrist, aggravated by weight-bearing, strokes or tight grips.
General information, currently being reviewed by healthcare professionals. It replaces neither a diagnosis nor the advice of your doctor or physiotherapist.