Sports & Watersports Physiotherapy
Injury treatment and return-to-sport rehabilitation, including the shoulder and ankle problems the coast produces more of than anywhere else.
- Session
- 45–60 minutes
- Home visits
- Available across the coast
- Based in
- Nyali
What we treat
- Kitesurfing and windsurfing shoulder injuries
- Diving-related shoulder and neck problems
- Beach running injuries, Achilles and calf especially
- Ankle sprains and instability
- Football and rugby injuries
- Return to sport after ligament surgery
Coast-specific injuries
Some of what we see here you would rarely see in Nairobi.
Beach running is harder on the calf and Achilles than any road surface, because soft sand absorbs the elastic energy a firm surface returns to you. Running on the tideline compounds it: a sloping beach loads one leg quite differently from the other, which is why one-sided problems are so common in people who always run the same direction.
Kitesurfing and windsurfing load the shoulder overhead and under tension for sustained periods, which the rotator cuff tolerates badly when it is not conditioned for it. Diving adds heavy tanks carried awkwardly on land, which causes more shoulder and neck complaints than the diving itself.
How we approach it
Assessment of the whole chain, because the painful structure is rarely the cause. Then progressive loading appropriate to the tissue, and a return to your sport against measurable criteria rather than a feeling.
If you are here on holiday with limited days left, say so. We will focus on what can realistically be achieved in the time and what you should do when you get home.
Related conditions
Where we offer this
Common questions
Why does running on sand hurt my calves and Achilles?
Soft sand removes the elastic return you get from firm ground, so the calf and Achilles do considerably more work per stride. Add the camber of a sloping beach, which effectively makes one leg longer, and you have the two commonest causes of coast running injuries.
I hurt my shoulder kitesurfing. How long until I am back?
Depends on the structure involved. Most rotator cuff irritation settles in six to twelve weeks with proper loading. We will give you a realistic range after assessing it, not the number you want.
Can you treat me at my hotel?
Yes. Holiday injuries are common here and we see plenty of guests along the coast strip.
Book a physiotherapist on the coast
Clinic appointments in Nyali, or a physiotherapist at your door from Mtwapa to Diani. Same-week slots.