Sport and exercise medicine

Sports medicine of course concerns the treatment of professional and competing athletes, and many of our sports and exercise medicine consultants work closely with elite sportspeople, helping them with everything from optimising their cardiovascular performance to recovery from traumatic injuries. But you don't have to be a leader in your chosen sport to benefit from our sports and exercise medicine services.

Fitness is important for everybody. According the World Health Organisation (WHO), exercise has health benefits for hearts, bodies and minds. WHO says that physical activity contributes to preventing and managing diseases such as cardiovascular illnesses, cancer and diabetes. Therefore, it's important that you can keep fit and treat any conditions that prevent you from undertaking regular exercise.

Our programmes are evidence-based and we use learnings from our experts' original research to ensure all of our patients get the best care we can offer. Whether you're a full-time athlete or a part-time hobbyist, we're here to help you reach peak performance.

If you are finding yourself unable to partake in sports or exercise as you used to, one of our specialists can help you to identify what's causing your problems, and we offer rapid access to any tests or scans you might need to aid diagnosis. If necessary, our sports and exercise consultants can refer you onwards to specialists from other disciplines, for example orthopaedic surgeons or rheumatologists.

If you have suffered an injury that is keeping you from the sport you love, our multidisciplinary team can help to treat the initial injury and they'll also support you through your recovery, helping you get back on your feet faster and optimising your outcomes.

Sport and exercise medicine at Circle Health offer treatment for a wide range of disorders and conditions, including:

• Sprains and ruptures of muscles and ligaments
• Bone fractures
• Tendon injuries
• Musculoskeletal disorders and conditions
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease
• Stress and mental illness
• Obesity
• Asthma

Musculoskeletal injections

Sometimes your doctor will decide to use steroid injections to treat your condition. The injection contains a small amount of steroid, which should reduce soreness and inflammation in the area causing you discomfort. These injections can be given under a local anaesthetic to minimise pain.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound

A musculoskeletal ultrasound scan uses high frequency wave sounds to create images of your bones and muscles. Ultrasound cannot be heard by the human ear, but can be detected using a machine called an ultrasound scanner.

The ultrasound waves are delivered by a small handheld sensor, which is similar to a microphone. Some cold gel will be applied to your body - this enables the sensor, which is passed over your skin, to pick up sound waves.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Cardio refers to your heart, and pulmonary refers to your lungs - so cardiopulmonary exercise testing is a way of measuring how well they function with your muscles during physical activity.

This test takes place on a treadmill, and your heartrate, how you breathe and how much oxygen you need is documented. Your blood pressure will be taken and electrodes attached to your chest to monitor your heartrate.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing can help give your doctor a better understanding of your body's reactions to exercise, and its current limitations.

To book your initial consultation, call our dedicated team of advisors, or take advantage of our easy online booking system.

Sometimes treatment will be covered by your private health insurance, but not always. Speak to your provider directly to see what's covered in your policy.

If you want to pay for your own treatment, you can either pay in full or take advantage of our flexible payment options, which allow you to spread the cost over a period of up to five years.

Our self-pay customers benefit from fixed-price packages, meaning you'll know exactly what you're going to pay before you book your surgery. Your initial consultation and early diagnostic tests won't be included, but the cost of any procedures and hospital fees are, and so is your aftercare programme. There are no hidden costs down the line.

• Flexible appointment times and locations to fit your routine
• The freedom to choose which hospital and consultant suit your needs
• Personalised, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• World-class experts with experience working in elite sport settings
• Multidisciplinary teams led by consultants who can easily refer you to other onsite specialists
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help you spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about the treatments our sports specialists can offer, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in May 2023. Next review due May 2026.

1. Physical activity, World Health Organization
2. Sport and exercise medicine, NHS