Sports Medicine at Charlottenlund Private Hospital

 What is sports medicine?

Sports medicine covers conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system that are caused by strain rather than disease: tendon inflammation and tendon injuries, bursitis, overuse injuries at tendon attachments, muscle injuries and joint problems following an injury. According to the Danish Health Authority’s specialty description [link: https://www.sst.dk/vidensbase/sundhedsvaesenets-rammer/specialeplanlaegning-for-sygehusvaesenet/gaeldende-specialeplan/intern-medicin-reumatologi], strain-related conditions affecting the joints, muscles, back and bones fall under rheumatology, which is why they are assessed and treated by rheumatology specialists. The term sports medicine is misleading in one respect: most patients are not athletes, but people with an overworked shoulder, knee, heel or elbow.

The boundary with rheumatology [link: https://www.charlottenlund-privathospital.dk/reumatologi] is fluid. A swollen ankle may be a sprain or an arthritis flare; heel pain may be an overuse injury or inflammation where the tendon attaches as part of axial spondyloarthritis [link: https://www.charlottenlund-privathospital.dk/reumatologi/rygsoejlegigt]. The advantage of sports medicine being provided by rheumatology specialists is that both possibilities are clarified during the same examination.

When is sports medicine relevant?

A sports medicine assessment is relevant for pain in the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle or heel that has developed after training, an injury or a period of increased strain and has not gone away with rest. This also applies to recurrent overuse injuries, joint pain where it is unclear whether the cause is an injury or arthritis, and when your GP or physiotherapist would like an ultrasound scan or an assessment of whether an injection or injection therapy is appropriate.

What examinations and treatments are available?



What symptoms does osteoarthritis cause?

Typical signs include pain during activity and when starting to move after a period of rest. The pain often decreases once the joint has warmed up and then worsens again with prolonged activity. Stiffness after rest is short-lived  - usually less than half an hour – unlike the prolonged morning stiffness associated with inflammatory arthritis. The joint may creak or grind, feel thickened and gradually lose mobility. In the fingers, hard nodules may develop at the end and middle joints and at the base of the thumb; in the knees and hips, pain is often noticeable when climbing stairs, sitting down and standing up, and walking on uneven surfaces.

During a flare-up, the joint may swell, become warm and hurt even at rest, and it can then be difficult to distinguish osteoarthritis from inflammatory arthritis or crystal arthritis. Osteoarthritis does not cause fatigue, fever or elevated inflammatory markers – if these are present, they may indicate another condition that requires further assessment.

What causes osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis develops when the load placed on a joint over time exceeds the cartilage’s ability to repair itself. According to the treatment guidelines, age, hereditary predisposition, being overweight, previous joint injuries and joint misalignment are the most important risk factors. Excess weight places particular strain on the knees and hips and significantly increases the risk.

Previous meniscus or cruciate ligament injuries and fractures close to a joint can lead to what is known as secondary osteoarthritis. Heavy physical work involving repeated strain also plays a role, whereas ordinary exercise – including running - does not cause osteoarthritis in healthy joints.

How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?

The assessment has two purposes: to confirm osteoarthritis and to rule out inflammatory arthritis, crystal arthritis or other causes requiring different treatment. The medical history – which joints are affected, the pattern of pain in relation to activity and rest, the duration of stiffness and previous injuries – together with a clinical examination of joint mobility, swelling, warmth and bony growths is usually sufficient to make the diagnosis.

Ultrasound scanning can show cartilage changes, bony growths and fluid in the joint and can identify inflammation of the joint lining if the condition has flared up.

Blood tests measuring inflammatory markers and tests for rheumatic disease are performed when there is uncertainty about the diagnosis or when joints are swollen and warm. In osteoarthritis, these tests are normal. If an X-ray is required, the specialist will make a referral. Changes seen on X-ray are used to confirm the diagnosis and assess severity, but they do not determine treatment – treatment depends on the patient’s symptoms and level of function.

How is osteoarthritis treated?

Osteoarthritis cannot be removed, but symptoms and function can often be improved significantly. According to the treatment guidelines, basic treatment consists of information about the condition, structured exercise to strengthen the muscles around the joint, and weight loss for patients who are overweight – measures that reduce pain and improve function for most people.

Anti-inflammatory medication that reduces pain and inflammation can be used during periods of flare-up. If there is swelling and fluid in a single joint, an ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection may help reduce the flare-up.

Hyaluronic acid injections into the joint are offered as part of sports medicine. Their effectiveness is debated in clinical guidelines, and the treatment is therefore offered following an individual assessment and as a supplement to exercise, not as a replacement for it.

In cases of severe osteoarthritis with significantly impaired function, patients are referred for an orthopaedic surgical assessment with a view to joint replacement. At Charlottenlund Private Hospital, assessment, diagnosis, advice regarding exercise and weight management, medical treatment, ultrasound-guided injections and other injection treatments are provided on an outpatient basis.

When should you see a rheumatologist?

A rheumatological assessment is relevant when joint pain persists despite exercise and reduced strain, when it is unclear whether the condition is osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis – for example, in cases of swollen, warm joints, morning stiffness lasting more than half an hour or elevated inflammatory markers found by the GP – when several joints are affected, when a joint repeatedly flares up, or when an assessment for injection treatment is required.

Osteoarthritis in younger people without a known previous injury should always be investigated.

Assessment and treatment at Charlottenlund Private Hospital

Assessment and treatment are provided by specialists in rheumatology and take place on an outpatient basis. The initial consultation typically lasts 20–30 minutes; ultrasound scanning is performed by the specialist, and blood samples can be taken on the same day if there is uncertainty about the diagnosis.

If osteoarthritis is confirmed, a plan is prepared for exercise, medical treatment and any relevant injection treatment, and the patient is followed by the same specialist.



Most patients attend through private health insurance; insurance companies typically require a referral from the patient’s GP and prior approval before an appointment is booked. Self-paying patients do not require a referral, and prices are available in the price list.

Appointments can be booked online 24 hours a day or by calling 44 98 19 21 Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 14:00. Outside telephone opening hours, the digital telephone assistant Anna can book, cancel and reschedule appointments.