Sports and exercise medicine in a family practice
Staying active is one of the most powerful “medicines” we have – for heart health, mental wellbeing, diabetes control, weight, sleep and overall quality of life. But injuries, pain or multiple chronic conditions can make it hard to know how to exercise safely.
At Kenneth Tan Medical Clinic, sports and musculoskeletal care is part of our family medicine practice. In addition to core Family Physician training, Dr Tan has completed a postgraduate diploma in Sports Medicine, providing extra skills in assessing sports injuries, prescribing exercise and understanding how sport and physical activity interact with medical conditions.
We are not an orthopaedic surgery centre and do not perform operative procedures. Our focus is on:
- safe exercise and activity prescription (especially if you have other medical conditions),
- careful assessment and early management of common sports injuries, and
- deciding when imaging or referral to physiotherapy, sports physicians or orthopaedic surgeons is needed.
How GP-led sports medicine differs from specialist care
Sports Medicine Physicians and Orthopaedic Surgeons play a crucial role when:
- there is a clear structural problem that may need surgery (e.g. major ligament tears, unstable fractures, advanced joint damage),
- complex, high-level athletes need detailed performance and return-to-competition planning, or
- advanced procedures and interventions are required.
A Family Physician with sports medicine training complements – not replaces – this by focusing on:
- First-contact assessment for common sports and activity-related problems, so you don’t have to decide which specialist to see before being assessed.
- Integration with your chronic diseases, medications and overall risk (for example diabetes, heart disease, asthma, obesity, osteoporosis, depression), ensuring that any exercise or rehab plan is safe for your whole body, not just the injured joint.
- Everyday athletes and active patients – from people starting exercise after a long break, to “weekend warriors”, students, office workers and seniors wanting to stay mobile.
- Long-term follow-up in the community, so we can see how you progress, adjust your plan and keep an eye on related issues such as weight, blood pressure and mood.
We aim to manage what can be safely handled in primary care, and to make targeted, timely referrals to sports physicians, physiotherapists or orthopaedic surgeons when there are red flags or when recovery is not going as expected.
Conditions we commonly assess and manage
We see a broad range of sports and musculoskeletal problems, including:
- Acute sprains and strains – ankles, knees, wrists, fingers and other joints after sports, falls or mis-steps.
- Overuse injuries and tendinopathies – for example tennis elbow, rotator cuff–related shoulder pain, patellofemoral pain, Achilles or plantar fascia problems, shin splints and other training-related pains.
- Back and neck pain – non-traumatic neck or lower back pain, “pulled” muscles, stiffness from prolonged sitting or lifting, and many posture or work-related issues.
- Joint pains with activity – knee, hip, shoulder and ankle pains that arise or worsen during or after exercise, walking or climbing stairs.
- Musculoskeletal pain related to work or daily life – office ergonomics issues, repetitive strain, caregiving-related pain, and “weekend warrior” injuries.
- Exercise in special populations – people with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, arthritis or older age who wish to start or increase exercise safely.
Where there is trauma with high-energy mechanisms, obvious deformity, inability to bear weight, suspected fracture or severe neurological symptoms, we will advise urgent imaging and/or referral.
Sports medicine services we provide in the clinic
Within a family practice setting, our sports and musculoskeletal care typically includes:
Detailed history and clinical examination
Understanding how the problem started, what makes it better or worse, your sport or activity pattern, past injuries and existing medical conditions.Working diagnosis and initial management plan
Explaining in plain language what is likely going on (e.g. sprain, muscle strain, tendinopathy, mechanical joint pain), what structures are involved and what to expect in terms of healing time.Exercise and activity prescription
Designing safe and realistic exercise plans:- starting or restarting exercise when you have chronic conditions,
- modifying training loads after injury,
- gradually returning to sport, and
- using exercise as “medicine” for weight, diabetes, heart health and mental health.
Basic rehabilitation guidance
Early advice on relative rest vs. movement, simple home exercises, stretching and strengthening, so you are not immobilised longer than necessary but also do not overload the injury.Decisions about imaging and referrals
Ordering appropriate imaging (e.g. X-rays, and when needed, referral for ultrasound or MRI) to clarify diagnoses when indicated, and referring to physiotherapists, sports medicine specialists or orthopaedic surgeons when:- there are red flags or significant structural concerns, or
- you are not improving as expected with conservative care.
We work closely with physiotherapists and other allied health professionals, and will often recommend formal physiotherapy when a structured rehab programme is likely to improve your outcome.
Why this helps if you have other medical conditions
Many people who want to exercise more – or who get injured when they start – also have one or more chronic conditions, such as:
- diabetes or pre-diabetes,
- high blood pressure or high cholesterol,
- heart disease or a history of stroke,
- asthma or other chronic lung disease,
- obesity, joint problems or osteoporosis,
- anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions.
In these situations, a purely “orthopaedic” or sport-only perspective may miss important considerations such as:
- safe heart rate and intensity zones,
- medication timing around exercise,
- risk of hypoglycaemia or blood pressure spikes,
- bone strength and fall risk,
- fatigue, sleep and mood.
As Family Physicians, we routinely manage these conditions. Sports and exercise advice from our clinic is therefore context-aware – it takes into account your whole health picture, not just the injured area.
What to expect at a sports medicine consultation
A typical consultation will involve:
Understanding your goals
Whether it is to get back to a specific sport, complete a particular event, lose weight, manage pain at work, or simply be able to walk without discomfort.History and examination
We ask how and when the problem started, what movements or loads aggravate it, and how it affects daily life. We then perform a structured musculoskeletal examination of the affected area and related joints or muscle groups.Discussion and plan
We explain the likely diagnosis, outline treatment options, and discuss:- activity modifications and timelines,
- simple exercises you can start with,
- whether imaging is needed now or only if symptoms persist, and
- whether a referral (e.g. to physiotherapy or orthopaedics) is advisable at this stage.
Follow-up
We plan a review to see how you are progressing. If you are improving as expected, we may advance your rehab and activity. If not, we may reconsider the diagnosis, arrange imaging or refer you on.
You do not need to be an “athlete” to see us – if your pain or injury is stopping you from moving comfortably in daily life, it is worth having it assessed.
Book a sports and musculoskeletal consultation
If you have a sports injury, persistent joint or muscle pain, or would like advice on how to exercise safely with existing health conditions, we are happy to help.
You can book an appointment online or call us to speak with our staff.
If the issue is related to a specific sport or activity, bringing along your footwear, equipment or videos of your movement (if you have them) can sometimes be helpful during the assessment.