What is a Sports GP?

A Sports GP is a General Practitioner who has additional qualifications in the assessment, diagnosis and management of sports and musculoskeletal injuries. As well as being a General Practitioner, Dr Barr is a qualified musculoskeletal physiotherapist and therefore has extensive training and experience in managing sports and exercise related injuries.

Who does a Sports GP see?

A Sports GP will see patients of all ages and activity levels. They typically will manage conditions such as:

Acute and chronic sports injuries

• Muscle strains
• Joint sprain
• Fractures (acute and stress)
• Tendinopathy
• Groin pain (e.g. osteitis pubis)

Adolescent injuries

• Heel pain (e.g. Sever’s disease)
• Knee pain (e.g. Os-good Schlatter’s disease)
• Patella-femoral pain
• Apophysitis

Concussion

• Sports related concussion
• Workplace related concussion

Degenerative diseases

• Osteoarthritis
• Degenerative tendinopathy
• Spinal spondylosis

Overuse or repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Shoulder impingement/bursitis
• Tennis/golfers elbow
• Achilles tendinopathy
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

Workplace Injuries

• Work related physical injuries

Neck and Low back pain

• Spinal radiculopathy
• Disc pathology
• Acute wry neck
• Stress fractures

What does a Sports GP do?

A Sports GP can be a valuable resource in various ways to individuals involved in sports or physical activities. Here are some ways a Sports GP can help you:

Injury Assessment and Diagnosis

If you experience an injury, a sports GP can assess and diagnose the problem. They have expertise in sports-related injuries, including sprains, strains, fractures, and overuse injuries. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.

Ultrasound Guided Injections

A sports GP can utilise ultrasound to help guide injections such as corticosteroid or local anaesthetic into joints or around tendons and nerves as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Treatment Planning

Once an injury is diagnosed, a sports GP can develop a personalised treatment plan. This may include physiotherapy, medications, rehabilitation exercises, or in some cases, specialist referral for surgical intervention. They can guide you through the recovery process.

Rehabilitation

Sports GPs work with allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists, to create rehabilitation programs to help you regain strength, flexibility, and function after an injury. They monitor your progress and make adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.

Management of Chronic Conditions

If you have a chronic medical condition, such as osteoarthritis, a sports GP can help you manage these conditions in the context of your physical activity level.

Return-to-Play Clearance

After an injury, a sports GP can provide guidance on when it's safe for you to return to your sport or physical activity. They conduct thorough assessments to ensure that you've fully recovered and are at a reduced risk of re-injury.

Injury Prevention

Sports GPs can provide guidance on preventing injuries. They may assess your biomechanics, training techniques, and equipment to identify potential risks and recommend strategies to minimise them.

Do I need a referral to a Sports GP?

No, you don’t need referral. Sports GP’s are a primary point of care and therefore an appointment can be made directly through the clinic without a referral.