Birmingham Circle Hospital 07912 301582 
Birmingham George Rd 07912 301 582 
London 020 3595 1231 
Stratford Upon Avon 07912 301 582 
Kenilworth 07912 301 582 

SPORTS INJURIES  

One of the remits of Mark's NHS commitments at the University Hospital Birmingham was to develop the musculoskeletal (MSK) and trauma service from a podiatry perspective. 
 
As part of this development Mark has been heavily involved in the management of musculoskeletal lower limb injury and his proven track record in non elite and elite sport combined with his experience in male and female subgroups and sporting injury in youngsters provides a unique level of experience in sports injury management. 
 
Mark works with experts from other professions such as physiotherapy, sports medicine and orthopaedics in regard to musculoskeletal management and this has allowed an holistic approach to lower limb problems. Involving key specialists at the right time is crucial in optimising outcomes for the injured athlete. 

Mechanical Assessment & Management 

Mark continues to work in elite sport, predominantly in football and netball and works at both a domestic and national level within these sports groups for both senior mens and womens teams. 
 
See video across which is an introduction to the Sports & Exercise (Football specific) Masters module for the University of Birmingham. Mark has taught on this module for a number of years, delivering education and working as a mentor for Masters students who are looking at research on foot and ankle specific areas. 
 
It is from working within MSK injury where Mark is convinced that effective management of the sports population is in being able to identify and address the multifactorial reasons as to why people are either injured or whose injuries fail to resolve following trauma. 
 
Effective management for musculoskeletal complaints covers orthotic provision, the role of footwear, soft tissue length and strength and proprioceptive work. 
 
The assessment and management plans also include an assessment of the strength and control mechanisms within the lower limb and an in depth assessment of movement patterns and landing mechanics. 
 
The role and the commitment of the injured patient is also instrumental in returning to sport and therefore compliance to the management plan is essential in effective management. 
 
Running injuries make up the largest percentage of Mark's caseload of sports population and understanding the structure of a running program is fundamental in returning a runner back to activity. 
 
Given the volume of information from various sources, there are competing theories to the most appropriate way of managing these sporting groups. 
 
Mark's experience of working with sporting populations has provided a framework of management options that covers mechanical predisposition, footwear selection and structured running programs in both male and female groups and also how these concepts apply to developing youngsters. 

Orthotic Management 

Orthotic management provides a baseline mechanical input in regard to overuse problems in the lower limb.  
 
Orthotic intervention in isolation rarely will address either the acute or more commonly chronic problems presenting in general musculoskeletal clinics.  
 
The role of orthotic intervention is to provide an appropriate mechanical environment to allow injured or overused structures to repair. 
 
Orthoses work alongside a specific footwear strategy and this is a component part of the consultation process in regard to the key elements of effective treatment.  
 
If your condition requires designing an orthoses as part of your treatment plan then we can build an orthoses within 7-10 days of your initial consultation. 
 
 
 

Injection Approach 

Mark's Masters thesis looked at injection techniques for chronic heel pain. The thesis was designed to develop a specific technique for dealing with non responsive heel pain. 
 
This approach utilises tissue proliferation as an instrumental theme behind tissue repair, using specific solutions to generate a response in an injured tissue. 
 
This alongside appropriate soft tissue work in terms of length and strength plus proprioceptive work can be the defining factors for sports people to return to their activities. 
 
Injectable solutions range from high volume inert solutions through to steroids and it is crucial to understand if injections and the different types of injections have a role to play in the management of your injury. 
 
If you are considering injection therapy as an option and would like to discuss the suitability then we can cover this during a clinical consultation. Please contact to make an appointment.