As far as exciting (and useful) sports go, martial arts are gaining in popularity. From Tai Kwon Do to Jujitsu, young and old are enjoying the strength, discipline, coordination and flexibility training that they offer. However, a factor that we need to be aware of is...

Sports people are often reminded to warm up, cool down, and practice good form when exercising. When we’re in our twenties (and assume that we are immortal and invulnerable) we may ignore this sage advice and throw ourselves around courts and fields with abandon....

Whether you love karate, squash, golf, gymnastics or rugby – the chances are good that you have seen or experienced knee trauma in the form of an ACL tear. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the ligaments within the knee which connect the tibia and the...

Whether you’re an athlete or a stay-at-home mum, you may well have experienced foot and ankle tendonitis. Indeed, foot pain can be caused by any number of things including badly fitting shoes, a broken or sprained toe, bunions or arch strain. And all too often we...

Our knees are the most commonly injured joints in our bodies. Sportspeople, in particular, are extremely prone to suffering a knee injury at least once during their sporting life. Ligament damage forms the bulk of all sports injuries to knees, and it’s not hard to see...

Tendons are the tough fibres that connect your muscles to your bones. Most tendon injuries happen near joints, such as your shoulder, elbow, knee or ankle. A tendon injury may seem to have happened suddenly, but they are actually usually the result of repeatedly...

Making an orthopaedic appointment can be a little frightening, especially if you haven’t seen an orthopaedic surgeon before. The very word “surgeon” can be scary, as it implies seeing someone who’s going to tell you that you need an operation. Very often, however,...

Every part of the body, from the least significant to the obviously important, has its own special role - you know what they say, the nose can’t run and the feet can’t smell! Seriously though, at the first sign of trouble in the hands or fingers, timeously checking...

South Africa is a paradise for golfers. With great weather and magnificent courses – on the coast, inland, in the bush and in the Berg – it’s no wonder there were over three and a half million rounds of golf registered on the handicap system last year! With all the...

Sports Medicine is one of the newest fields of medical specialisation in South Africa. It’s a branch of medicine that deals primarily with the treatment and prevention of sports- and exercise-related injuries. Also referred to as Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM),...

If you love playing sport – be it at school level, socially, competitively or professionally – you’ll know how frustrating it is when you pick up an injury. Sometimes, even a seemingly small injury can keep you out of action for a couple of weeks. This is why...