Page Title: Joints Muscles and Soft Tissue Injections
Subtitle: Targeted injections to reduce pain and support rehabilitation after sports injuries
Meta Title: Joints Muscles and Soft Tissue Injections
Meta Description: Consultant led targeted injections for sports injuries affecting joints muscles tendons ligaments and bursae using ultrasound or X ray guidance where appropriate.
URL Slug: joints-muscles-soft-tissue-injections
Joints muscles and soft tissue injections are targeted treatments that aim to reduce inflammation, calm pain, and improve movement when an injury affects a joint, tendon, ligament, bursa, or muscle. These injections are often used to support rehabilitation by making movement more comfortable, allowing a structured recovery plan to progress safely.
Home > All Treatments > Sports Injury > Joints Muscles and Soft Tissue Injections
Overview
Sports injuries can involve more than one structure at the same time. A joint may be painful because of inflammation within the joint lining. A tendon may be painful because of overload and irritation. A bursa may become inflamed and restrict movement. Muscles can tighten in response to pain and create secondary trigger points that amplify symptoms.
Targeted injections aim to deliver medication precisely to the structure responsible for symptoms. This helps avoid unnecessary treatment and supports rehabilitation by reducing pain and improving confidence in movement. In many cases, ultrasound guidance is used to improve accuracy and safety, particularly when treating tendons, bursae, and deeper soft tissue structures. Fluoroscopy X ray guidance may be used for some joint injections depending on the area being treated.
Who this treatment helps
Joints muscles and soft tissue injections may be considered for people with:
• Persistent pain after a sports injury that has not settled with rest and guided rehabilitation
• Joint inflammation or flare ups affecting movement and training progression
• Bursitis causing pain and restricted range of motion
• Tendon irritation where pain is limiting loading and physiotherapy progress
• Ligament related pain when inflammation is contributing to symptoms
• Muscle spasm or localised soft tissue pain contributing to altered movement patterns
• Pain that prevents return to sport or normal activity despite appropriate conservative care
A consultation is needed to confirm the likely pain source and whether an injection is appropriate.
What are joints muscles and soft tissue injections
These injections are procedures where medication is delivered directly into or around a specific structure, based on diagnosis and examination findings. Depending on the condition and the target area, your consultant may use:
• Local anaesthetic to temporarily calm pain and confirm the pain generator
• Steroid medication in selected cases to reduce inflammation and settle flare ups
• Other supportive options depending on the structure involved and clinical indication
Your consultant will explain what is being injected, why it is being used, and what results are realistic for your specific condition. The aim is to use the least invasive option that may provide meaningful benefit while supporting rehabilitation.
What to expect during the procedure
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Consultant assessment and confirmation of the target structure and planned approach
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Positioning to allow safe access to the joint or soft tissue area
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Skin cleaning and local anaesthetic to reduce discomfort
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Ultrasound or X ray guidance where appropriate to improve accuracy
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Needle placement into the joint or near the targeted soft tissue structure
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Injection of the medication
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Brief monitoring before discharge
Most injections are performed as a day case and the procedure time is usually short.
After the procedure
After an injection, you may experience:
• Temporary soreness at the injection site
• A short period of numbness or heaviness if local anaesthetic is used
• Gradual improvement over several days if steroid is used, sometimes up to two weeks
• Advice to reduce heavy activity for a short period while allowing symptoms to settle
Your consultant may recommend a structured rehabilitation plan to make the most of the symptom improvement. This often includes progressive loading, mobility work, strengthening, and technique adjustments to reduce recurrence.
Benefits
• Targets the specific structure causing symptoms
• May reduce inflammation and pain and improve movement
• Can support physiotherapy by improving comfort with rehabilitation exercises
• May help confirm the pain generator when used diagnostically
• Minimally invasive with short recovery time
• May reduce reliance on medication in selected cases
Possible risks and side effects
These injections are generally safe when performed by experienced clinicians. Possible risks and side effects may include:
• Temporary increase in pain or flare up for a short period
• Bruising or soreness at the injection site
• Temporary numbness or weakness depending on the area treated
• Infection, rare
• Bleeding, uncommon
• Allergic reaction to medication, uncommon
• Very rarely irritation of nearby nerves or structures
Your consultant will discuss individual risks based on the injection site and your medical history.
When to consider other options
If symptoms do not improve, or if the injury pattern suggests a different driver, your consultant may discuss:
• Updated imaging or further diagnostic assessment
• Alternative targeted procedures
• Regenerative options such as PRP in selected cases
• Rehabilitation adjustments and load management strategies
• Specialist referral if structural treatment is required
Safety note
Please inform your consultant if you take blood thinners, have diabetes, allergies, active infection, are pregnant, or have had previous reactions to steroid or local anaesthetic. You may need someone to accompany you home depending on the medications used.
Arrange a consultation to confirm the pain source and discuss whether targeted injections are appropriate for your sports injury.