Assessment
A detailed history, then a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a plan agreed with you, not handed to you.
What We Treat
Rugby Injury Treatment in London
Rugby is a collision game, so the hits land on the shoulder and AC joint, the knee, the hamstrings and the ankle. Our team, led by a clinician who works in professional rugby, rebuilds the strength and contact tolerance to get you back on the pitch, not just out of pain.
Book Online
- Self-referral; no GP letter needed.
Overview
Understanding rugby injuries
Rugby is a collision sport, and almost every injury comes down to one mismatch: a tackle, ruck or sprint asking more of a joint or muscle than it can currently withstand. Those loads arrive two ways, through contact (tackles, rucks and mauls driving shoulder, AC joint, knee and head injuries) and through high-speed running, which loads the hamstrings and ankles. The most common are:
- Shoulder and AC joint: the shoulder and acromioclavicular (AC) joint are commonly hurt in tackles.
- Knee: ligament injuries including the ACL, plus meniscal tears, follow twisting and awkward landings.
- Hamstrings: strains are among the most frequent and most recurrent injuries in the game.
Assessment starts with an accurate diagnosis and a clear read on what the injured tissue can handle right now. From there, a progressive, graded loading plan rebuilds strength, control and contact tolerance, so the next big hit lands on a structure that is ready for it. We judge readiness using criteria-based return-to-play, in line with the BJSM 2016 Bern consensus on return to sport: restored strength, limb symmetry and sport-specific function, not how an injury happens to feel on the day.
We are concussion-aware. A suspected concussion is removed from play and managed through a graduated return-to-play under medical guidance, in line with World Rugby and UK concussion guidance, and we never rush this. Going back before those markers are met is a recognised driver of re-injury.
Excellent
From 6 five-star Google reviews
Source: Google
David helped me when I started to have a strong tibia pain only 5 weeks before the marathon. I genuinely thought at some point that I wasn’t going to be able to do it and I did my PB!
After suffering with terrible back pain, Gus has helped me make huge improvements. Very professional and happy to explain the processes and treatments. Many thanks
Couldn’t recommend this physio team enough! They helped me recover from a knee injury 3 weeks before the London Marathon which I thought was going to prevent me from running it! Everyone was really friendly, supportive and genuinely cared about helping me reach my goal. Special thanks to Charlie, Gus, Brad and Stef!
I came to Dave with an ongoing injury that I’ve been struggling with for months! He helped sort it out straight away, also giving me some exercises to help target the area to get back to full strength. I’m now back to running pain-free already and training properly — I’ll definitely be recommending Kaizen Physiotherapy to my clients!
Gus worked miracles to get me running a marathon after being injured 6 weeks out. He worked out the issue really quickly and provided a clear and actionable plan to deal with it. The sports massages were the best I’ve ever had too — thanks Peggy! Can’t recommend Gus and Peggy enough.
I had such a positive experience working with Brad at Kaizen. He supported me through a meniscus tear and got me all the way back to running a half marathon and HYROX training. Everything was structured, progressive, and easy to follow, and I always felt like I was in safe hands.
Sports physiotherapy for rugby players can help to:
Draw on professional rugby experience
Our clinical lead works in professional rugby and is Head of Medical at London Welsh, and the whole team applies the same standards to club and social players. Assessment establishes which structure took the hit and what it can currently tolerate.
Rebuild the shoulder for the collision game
Shoulder and AC joint injuries are rugby's signature contact problems, driven by tackles, rucks and mauls. Progressive loading restores range, cuff strength and pressing tolerance, then tackling and contact drills are reintroduced in stages so the joint meets the game ready.
Rehabilitate knees and hamstrings
Knee ligament and meniscal injuries follow twisting and awkward landings, while hamstring strains are among the game's most recurrent problems. Both are rebuilt with graded loading and criteria-based milestones, with post-surgical rehabilitation available when an operation is involved.
Restore contact tolerance progressively
Match fitness in rugby includes collision tolerance as well as running. We stage the return from gym strength to controlled contact to full training, so the first big hit happens inside a plan instead of by surprise.
Manage concussion the right way
We are concussion-aware. A suspected concussion means removal from play and a graduated return under medical guidance, and we support the physical side of that pathway while symptoms are monitored. No match matters more than your brain.
Return you on criteria
Readiness is judged with criteria-based return-to-play, in line with the BJSM Bern consensus: restored strength, limb symmetry and rugby-specific function. That standard comes from the professional game, and it is applied at every level we treat.
Why it happens
What causes rugby injuries?
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Direct contact: tackles, rucks and mauls driving shoulder, AC joint and knee injuries
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High-speed running and sprinting loads, the usual mechanism behind hamstring strains
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Twisting, pivoting or awkward landings spraining the knee ligaments or tearing a meniscus
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Studs catching the ground or rolling on a planted foot, spraining the ankle
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Returning to contact too soon after a previous injury, leaving residual weakness or altered movement
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Training-load spikes in pre-season or congested fixtures without adequate recovery
At your first appointment we work out what is really holding you back, then agree the plan with you before you leave.
Your initial visit runs 45–60 minutes: a detailed history, then a thorough examination of movement, strength and the affected area. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis together.
Treatment starts the same day, and you leave with the first exercises of a plan built around your goal.
Better than yesterday. Kaizen means continuous improvement: small, repeatable gains, built session by session, until you are back to what you love and no longer need us.
- One team across five London clinics: Soho, Liverpool Street, Marylebone, Canary Wharf and Wimbledon Village, plus online appointments.
- Rated 5.0 on Google across 218 reviews.
- Founded in 2022 by David Thomas and Gus Hadonou. You see the same physiotherapist at every visit, so each session builds on the last.
Fees and insurance
Book online through Jane and self-refer, with no GP letter needed. If you are using private health insurance, check your policy first: some insurers ask for a GP referral before your first session.
- Initial assessment and treatment: £155 for a full 45–60 minutes
- Follow-up treatment: £93, with your plan progressed at each visit
- Sports massage: £115 for 60 minutes, £155 for 90 minutes
- Performance MOT & Screening: £300 for a 90-minute screen with force-plate testing and a written report
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Cigna, WPA and Allianz
Your journey
with Kaizen
Everything starts with a proper assessment. We find what is driving the problem, treat it, and build the strength that keeps it fixed, so you finish performing, not just pain-free.
Treatment
Hands-on care to settle symptoms and restore movement: manual therapy, with acupuncture, shockwave or soft-tissue work where they genuinely help. The first home exercises go with you the same day.
Rebuild
Progressive exercise that returns strength, control and load tolerance, from Reformer Pilates to strength and conditioning. Each follow-up reassesses against your baseline, so progress is measured rather than guessed.
Perform
Criteria-based milestones return you to work, sport and training. Discharge happens by mutual agreement once you can manage independently, with a Performance MOT available to catch the next weak link early.
We specialise in:
- Musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy
- Western medical acupuncture (AACP)
- Physiotherapy-led Reformer Pilates
- Specialist hand therapy and splinting
- Shockwave therapy for stubborn tendons
- Strength and conditioning for rehabilitation
- Running and gait analysis
- Performance MOT and movement screening
Treatment approach
How do we treat rugby injuries?
Sports Physiotherapy
Sports physiotherapy is the core treatment for almost every rugby injury: accurate diagnosis, graded loading and contact-tolerance rebuilding, with readiness judged against criteria-based return-to-play markers rather than how an injury feels.
See treatment detail →Strength & Conditioning
Structured strength and conditioning rebuilds the posterior-chain, shoulder and trunk capacity rugby demands, and high-speed hamstring loading is the best-evidenced defence against the recurrent hamstring strains that dominate the game.
See treatment detail →Sports Massage & Soft Tissue Therapy
Soft-tissue work helps manage the muscle soreness and tissue load of a contact, high-volume training week as an adjunct to active rehab. It supports recovery between sessions but does not replace the graded loading that drives return to play.
See treatment detail →FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
I've had a knock to the head. When can I play again?
If a concussion is suspected, you must come off and not return the same day. Recovery follows a graduated return-to-play, progressing one stage at a time as long as symptoms stay settled, under medical guidance and in line with World Rugby and UK concussion guidance. We never rush this; head injury is managed conservatively and medically first.
How do you treat a rugby shoulder or AC joint injury?
First we establish the diagnosis and severity, because AC joint sprains and rotator cuff or instability injuries are managed differently. Most respond to a graded programme restoring rotator cuff and scapular strength and contact tolerance, with imaging or a surgical opinion reserved for higher-grade or unstable injuries. We rebuild tackling confidence before clearing return to contact.
Why do hamstring strains keep coming back in rugby?
Hamstring strains are among the most recurrent injuries in the game, usually because players return to sprinting before strength and high-speed running capacity are fully restored. Our rehab uses progressive eccentric and high-speed loading and criteria-based clearance rather than discharging on how it feels, the best-evidenced way to lower re-injury risk.
When should I seek urgent help for a rugby injury?
Seek urgent help if a joint looks deformed, you cannot bear weight or move it, there is numbness or a cold, pale limb, or any loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, worsening headache or confusion after a head knock. Call 999 for these. Contact NHS 111 for severe pain or swelling that does not settle with a few days of self-care.
Related What We Treat
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Kaizen Physiotherapy & Performance • 111 Charing Cross Road, Soho, London WC2H 0DT
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks