Sports Injury & Performance

Sports Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation in Tottenham Court Road, London

Diagnosis, graded loading, and criteria-based return-to-play for sports and overuse injuries in recreational and elite athletes alike — led by Kaizen founder David Thomas, whose elite-sport career spans Chelsea FC, professional rugby, and Team GB, and delivered by HCPC-registered, Chartered physiotherapists.

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Sports physiotherapist assessing an athlete's injury during a return-to-play rehabilitation session at Kaizen Physiotherapy & Performance

The short answer

What this treatment is

Sports physiotherapy is the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries caused by sport and physical activity — from acute hamstring and ankle injuries to overuse problems like tendinopathy and stress reactions. Every plan begins with a clear diagnosis and an honest understanding of the demands of your sport. We then progress you through a graded loading programme that rebuilds capacity in the injured tissue, rather than simply waiting for pain to settle. The decision to return is criteria-based, not calendar-based: we follow the principles of the British Journal of Sports Medicine 2016 return-to-sport consensus, treating return-to-play as structured risk management against tested strength, movement, and sport-specific benchmarks. Led by founder David Thomas, our aim is to return you to your sport ready to perform — and to reduce the risk of the same injury recurring.

Areas treated

What's included

Led by founder David Thomas — elite-sport background across Chelsea FC academy, professional rugby, and Team GB athletes
Clear, hands-on diagnosis of acute and overuse injuries before any treatment begins
Graded loading rehabilitation that rebuilds tissue capacity, not just symptom relief
Criteria-based return-to-play following the BJSM 2016 return-to-sport consensus
Treats recreational and elite athletes to the same Chartered, HCPC-registered standard
Self-referral — book online via Jane, no GP referral needed

Boundaries of practice

What's not treated

Good practice means saying no when indicated:

Suspected fracture or significant bone injury after acute trauma — requires imaging and medical review before loading
Inability to bear weight after an acute lower-limb injury, or a joint that locks, gives way, or is grossly swollen — needs assessment and possible referral first
Signs of infection (fever, hot swollen joint) or a suspected deep vein thrombosis in a limb — requires urgent GP or hospital review
Head injury or suspected concussion sustained during sport — follow graduated return-to-play guidance under medical supervision, not standard rehab
Sudden severe calf, chest, or limb pain with swelling or breathlessness — seek urgent medical care, not physiotherapy

Patient journey

What to expect

Consultation & preparation

Wear loose, comfortable sports clothing that lets us assess the injured area — shorts for lower-limb problems, a vest top for shoulder issues. Bring any prior scan reports or insurer authorisation, and note your training and competition schedule. Book through our Jane page and arrive a few minutes early to complete a brief intake form.

During treatment

Step 1 — Diagnosis and load history

A first appointment covering your injury, training and competition load, prior injuries, and the specific demands of your sport. Objective testing includes range of motion, strength, special tests, and movement analysis. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a realistic picture of what recovery will involve.

Step 2 — Settle symptoms and protect healing

Early management to control pain and swelling and protect healing tissue, using manual therapy, advice on relative rest, and load modification. We rarely recommend complete rest: the goal is to keep you moving within tolerance while the injured tissue is at its most sensitive, setting the stage for progressive loading.

Step 3 — Graded loading and capacity building

A structured, progressive programme that rebuilds strength, control, and tissue tolerance to the level your sport demands. Loading is advanced as you meet objective milestones, then layered with sport-specific movement, speed, and change-of-direction work. This is the core of evidence-based sports rehabilitation and the stage most home-managed injuries skip.

Step 4 — Criteria-based return-to-play

We clear you to return against tested benchmarks — strength symmetry, hop and movement tests, and sport-specific demands — following the BJSM 2016 return-to-sport consensus, which frames the decision as shared risk management rather than a fixed timeline. We also build in ongoing prevention work to reduce the risk of the injury recurring.

Aftercare

You leave with a written summary, your working diagnosis, and a tailored loading programme to follow between sessions. Expect some manageable soreness after early sessions; we explain what is normal and what is not. We reassess against objective milestones at each visit and adjust your programme as strength, control, and confidence return.

Pricing

Transparent, all-in pricing

Initial Assessment

Price on enquiry

Follow-up Treatment

Price on enquiry

Written and medically reviewed by David Thomas , Founder & Chartered Physiotherapist · HCPC-registered · MSc · Chartered Society of Physiotherapy · Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM).

FAQ

Common
questions

Do I need a GP referral for sports physiotherapy?

No. UK physiotherapists are first-contact practitioners, so you can self-refer and book directly online through our Jane page at kaizenphysio.janeapp.co.uk. If you are claiming through private health insurance, your insurer may require a GP referral first, so check your policy. Self-funded patients never need a referral to see us.

How soon after a sports injury should I be seen?

Ideally within the first few days. Early assessment gives you an accurate diagnosis, rules out problems needing a scan or referral, and lets us begin appropriate loading sooner. Prompt, guided rehabilitation generally leads to a more reliable recovery than waiting and resting, which often delays return and raises re-injury risk.

How do you decide when I can return to sport?

We use a criteria-based approach, not a fixed timeline. Following the British Journal of Sports Medicine 2016 return-to-sport consensus, clearance depends on objective benchmarks — strength symmetry, movement and hop tests, and your sport's specific demands — treated as shared risk management. Returning to time alone is a leading cause of re-injury.

Can you treat both recreational and elite athletes?

Yes. We treat City professionals returning to weekend running or five-a-side and competitive athletes alike, to the same Chartered, HCPC-registered standard. Founder David Thomas brings an elite-sport background spanning Chelsea FC academy, professional rugby, and Team GB athletes. Your programme is scaled to your sport, your goals, and your training load.

What sports injuries do you treat?

We treat acute injuries such as hamstring strains, ankle sprains, and ligament injuries, and overuse problems including tendinopathy, stress reactions, and recurrent joint pain. Treatment combines accurate diagnosis, hands-on care, and graded loading. We also assess running and movement mechanics to address why an overuse injury developed in the first place.

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Kaizen Physiotherapy & Performance • 111 Charing Cross Road, Tottenham Court Road, London WC2H 0DT

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Appointments typically available within 1–2 weeks