Dominic
Davenport
Consultant
Orthopaedic
Surgeon
Your Hip & Knee Specialist
Sports injuries & soft tissue reconstruction
As someone with a specialist Master's degree in Sports and Exercise Medicine, I have a particular interest in helping active individuals return safely to sport and exercise.
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Expertise in sports injury management

Whether you're a competitive athlete, enthusiastic runner, weekend golfer or simply enjoy keeping active, a sports injury can have a significant impact on your performance, confidence and everyday life. Injuries to the ligaments, cartilage, tendons and muscles of the lower limb can make it difficult to continue the activities you enjoy and, if left untreated, may increase the risk of further injury or long-term joint damage.

As a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with a specialist Master's degree in Sports and Exercise Medicine, I have a particular interest in diagnosing and treating sports injuries affecting the hip, knee and lower limb.

This dual background allows me to look beyond structural joint problems that may sometimes require surgical treatment, and also consider the wider functional, biomechanical and load-related factors that often contribute to pain and injury.

It also means I have a strong understanding of the demands placed on the body through training schedules, competition and the pressure to perform; whether at elite or professional level, or simply to maintain recreational sport for enjoyment, fitness and mental wellbeing.

This broader perspective is particularly important in active individuals and sports-related conditions, where effective treatment is not only about addressing the injury itself, but also about optimising movement, recovery and training load to support a safe and confident return to activity at the right level for each individual.

With any sports injury, successful treatment starts with an accurate diagnosis.

During your consultation, I will take the time to take a full history and understand how your injury occurred, followed by a clinical assessment to look at your movement and function.

If required I will order scans to confirm the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Once we have a clear diagnosis, I will work with you to develop a personalised treatment plan based not only on the injury itself, but also on your sporting goals, lifestyle and long-term goals.

Many soft tissue injuries respond extremely well to specialist rehabilitation; where surgery offers the best opportunity for recovery or return to sport, I will explain your options clearly and guide you through every stage of process.

Conditions

I regularly see patients with these conditions

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are two of the main stabilising ligaments within the knee.

ACL injuries are particularly common in sports involving twisting, pivoting or sudden changes of direction, such as football, rugby, skiing and netball, while PCL injuries are more often associated with direct impacts or high-energy trauma.

Symptoms typically include pain, swelling, instability and a feeling that the knee may 'give way'.

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury, activity level and future sporting goals, and may include specialist rehabilitation or ligament reconstruction surgery for those wishing to return to higher levels of sport.
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) provide stability to the inner and outer sides of the knee.

These ligaments are commonly injured during contact sports or following a twisting injury. Depending on the severity, patients may experience pain, swelling, tenderness and instability when walking or changing direction.

Many collateral ligament injuries heal successfully with bracing and physiotherapy, although more complex injuries involving multiple ligaments may require surgical reconstruction.
Femoral stress fractures are small cracks in the thigh bone (femur) that develop gradually due to repetitive loading and insufficient recovery time, rather than a single traumatic injury.

They are most commonly seen in runners, endurance athletes and military personnel, particularly when training loads increase rapidly or recovery is inadequate.

Symptoms often include deep, persistent pain in the groin or thigh that worsens with weight-bearing activity and improves with rest.

Early diagnosis can make a huge difference to management and recovery, as continuing to train on a femoral stress fracture can lead to progression of the injury - sometimes then requiring surgical intervention.

In most cases, treatment typically involves a period of relative rest or non-weight bearing, followed by a carefully structured rehabilitation programme to safely return to activity.
Soft tissue injuries affecting the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the lower limb are among the most common reasons for patients to seek specialist sports medicine advice.

Whether you have sustained an acute muscle tear, a recurrent hamstring injury, calf strain or chronic soft tissue problem, early diagnosis and appropriate management are key to achieving a successful recovery.

My focus is on restoring strength, mobility and function while helping you return safely to sport and reducing the likelihood of future injuries.
The menisci are specialised cartilage structures that act as shock absorbers between the thigh bone and shin bone, helping to protect the knee during movement.

Meniscal tears can occur following a sudden twisting injury or gradually through age-related degeneration.

Symptoms may include pain, swelling, clicking, locking or difficulty fully straightening the knee.

Treatment ranges from physiotherapy and rehabilitation to arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery, with meniscal repair being the preferred option wherever possible, in order to preserve the natural cartilage and maintain long-term joint health.
Running places repetitive forces through the hips, knees and lower limbs, making overuse injuries particularly common in both new and experienced runners.

Problems such as iliotibial band syndrome (ITB syndrome), patellofemoral pain, stress injuries, tendinopathy and muscle strains can all develop when training loads exceed the body's ability to recover.

My approach is to identify not only the injury itself but also any contributing factors such as training errors, biomechanics, muscle weakness or footwear, helping runners recover fully and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Hip and groin pain is particularly common in sports involving sprinting, kicking, twisting and rapid changes of direction.

Conditions such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), labral tears, adductor injuries and athletic groin pain can significantly affect performance if left untreated.

Because many hip and groin injuries produce similar symptoms, accurate diagnosis is really important. I provide comprehensive assessment to identify the underlying cause and develop an individual treatment programme that may include rehabilitation, injection therapy or surgery where appropriate.
Healthy tendons are essential for strength, power and efficient movement.

Overuse, repetitive loading or sudden increases in training can lead to tendon injuries such as patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee), quadriceps tendinopathy or hamstring tendon injuries.

These conditions often develop gradually and can become persistent if not managed appropriately.

Treatment focuses on identifying the underlying cause and may include structured rehabilitation, load management, biomechanical assessment and, where appropriate, image-guided injection therapies to support recovery.
Tibial stress fractures are overuse injuries affecting the shin bone (tibia), commonly seen in runners and athletes involved in repetitive impact sports.

They occur when the bone is repeatedly stressed/loaded without adequate time to recover, leading to small cracks that can worsen if not managed appropriately.

Patients usually experience localised pain along the shin that initially appears during exercise but may progress to pain during everyday activities or even at rest if the condition is more advanced. Early recognition is important to prevent progression into more significant fractures.

Treatment focuses on reducing impact loading, allowing the bone to heal, and gradually rebuilding strength and conditioning through a structured rehabilitation programme.

Sports injury treatments

My focus is not simply on treating the injury but understanding your sporting goals and helping you return to activity with confidence.

ACL and PCL reconstruction Complex, multi ligament reconstruction Meniscal repair Arthroscopic surgery Collaborative rehabilitation with trusted local specialists Return-to-sport assessment
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Let's get you moving with confidence again.

If you're experiencing hip pain, knee pain, a sports injury, or would like advice about joint replacement or injection treatments, I would be pleased to help.
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