Spire Healthcare Orthopaedic Surgeon Rhys Williams takes a look at how Cardiff Blues player Nicky Robinson tackled the hurdles posed by his recent injury and offers advice on how we can all prevent and minimise the damage a sporting injury can cause.

With Wales still basking in the glory of the Grand Slam triumph, it's more important than ever to keep our players on the pitch. If an injury occurs, the whole team suffers and it is vital that players recover in the fastest time possible.

This was certainly the case for Nicky Robinson, who has made a welcome return to play in the recent 20-0 win against Edinburgh after a four month absence due to an unusual 'kicker's injury'. Nicky had been in pain and unable play since the impact of kicking a rugby ball tore the flexor muscle in his hip.

Rhys Williams says, "As Nicky's surgeon, my priority was to make sure that the muscle was quickly repaired to its full strength so that we could get him back out there on the pitch kicking with confidence.

"We used a recently developed technique to reconnect the damaged tendons to the pelvis. By inserting small metallic 'anchors' into the bone, we were able to create a very strong bond with the muscle while keeping tissue damage to a minimum."

While the injury that Nicky sustained is quite unusual, there is a range of related injuries that are far more common among both professional and amateur sportspeople.

Children and young players tend to have weak points around strong muscle groups, and because their bones are still developing, it is important not to push themselves beyond their physical limits. On the other end of the spectrum, mature players who may be just as fit as they have always been will find that their tendons are not as strong as they once were.

Rhys continues, "As with any significant injury, surgery is only the first step towards recovery - an equally important element of treatment is the rehabilitation process. Everyone's body is different, and it is important to strike a balance between pushing your physical boundaries to build up your strength and giving your muscles the rest and relaxation they need to heal.

"In Nicky's case, factors like his level of fitness, the physical demands of the position he plays and his need to return to the pitch as quickly as possible were important in planning his rehabilitation programme."

Rhys worked closely with Cardiff Blues physiotherapist, Tim Atter, business director at Vale Healthcare, in order to set realistic targets for Nicky's recovery.

The aim was to gradually build up Nicky's strength without overloading muscle groups at any one time, so careful planning with a qualified physiotherapist and regular reviews to monitor progress were an essential element of his rehabilitation.

Rhys says, "Anyone recovering from an injury should make sure that their training in the aftermath is constantly evolving to adjust to their changing needs. You should definitely seek the advice of an expert if in doubt, as you're only setting yourself up for more problems if you are putting yourself under unnecessary strain.

"It's also important to be prepared for setbacks. Nicky pulled a hamstring during sprint training, which added a couple of weeks to his recovery time. But when faced with a complication, a good mindset is just as important as how you are treated."

The real key to Nicky's rapid recovery was his professional approach to his rehabilitation. He worked hard, took the advice given by the Vale Healthcare team on board and constantly maintained a positive attitude to overcome the challenges of being injured and to get his body back up to full strength.

Rhys continues, "My advice to everyone who is involved in a sporting activity is to make sure you always devote enough time to a thorough warm up and cool down. This way, you will ensure that your body is at its peak condition and physical exertion will put less of a strain on you."

"If you do sustain an injury, make sure you address the problem early and seek the advice of specialists like those we have here at Vale Healthcare if in any doubt about the extent of the damage. Balance your training with rest and relaxation and you will soon find your way on the road to recovery."

Nicky Robinson siad, "It's great to be back out on the pitch again. Since my treatment, I have found that I can kick with no pain whatsoever, which has removed the last of my inhibitions and I hope that this will be the start of some really great playing for me. I would like to thank Rhys and Tim for all work they put in, getting me ready to go back on the pitch"

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