Diagnosing sports injuries

While some injuries will be easy to diagnose, either by seeing or feeling the injured area, others may be more difficult. More obvious injuries include dislocations and superficial injuries such as cuts and grazes. More complex injuries such as soft tissue damage, some fractures and overuse injuries; these injuries may have no visible symptoms and will often require an examination. All patients with a suspected injury should be examined thoroughly by a professional; many will also need tests which may include x-rays, CT or MRI scans.

During the examination a doctor will also ask questions relating to the patient’s medical history; this will help to identify any underlying issues or possible causes of the injury and ensure the right diagnosis is made. Following an initial diagnosis the patient may be referred to a specialist in order to ensure the diagnosis is correct; subsequently, the specialist will draw-up a suitable care pathway for the patient.

Sports Injury Testing and Diagnosing Guide Index:

Find a Sports Injury Clinic


- OR -

Latest Articles