What muscle injuries does Dr Wells treat?

Dr Wells treats hamstring strains and tears, calf muscle injuries (gastrocnemius and soleus), quadriceps tears, groin and adductor strains, muscle contusions, compartment syndrome (acute and chronic exertional), DOMS management, and recurrent muscle injury assessment and prevention.

How do I know if my muscle strain needs imaging?

Clinical assessment can often grade a muscle injury, but MRI provides the most accurate information about injury severity, location, and prognosis - particularly for high-grade tears and injuries near the muscle-tendon junction or proximal attachment. Dr Wells will assess your injury clinically and arrange imaging when it will meaningfully change your management or return-to-sport timeline.

Why do I keep re-injuring the same muscle?

Recurrent muscle injury is often a sign that the initial injury was not fully rehabilitated - the muscle may have healed with scar tissue, strength or flexibility deficits remain, or the underlying biomechanical factors that caused the injury were never addressed. Dr Wells provides comprehensive assessment to identify these risk factors and prescribe targeted rehabilitation to break the reinjury cycle.

Can PRP help with muscle tears?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is used in selected cases of significant muscle tears to support healing, particularly for grade 2-3 injuries and proximal hamstring tears. The evidence is evolving, and Dr Wells will discuss whether PRP is appropriate for your specific injury as part of a comprehensive management plan.

Muscle Injuries | Dr Wells

Understanding Muscle Injuries

Muscle injuries range from minor strains that settle within days to significant tears requiring months of structured rehabilitation. They are one of the most frequent presentations on the Sunshine Coast - particularly hamstring strains in field sport athletes and calf tears in recreational runners across Noosa and Caloundra. Getting the grading and diagnosis right at the start directly affects how quickly and safely you can return to activity.

Common Muscle Injuries

Hamstring strains & tears - The most common muscle injury in running and kicking sports. Severity ranges from minor fibre disruption (Grade 1) to complete tears (Grade 3). Location within the hamstring complex affects treatment and prognosis.
Calf injuries - Including gastrocnemius tears (common in tennis and sprinting) and soleus injuries (common in running). Often underestimated in terms of recovery time.
Quadriceps strains & contusions - Strains from sprinting or kicking; contusions (cork/dead leg) from direct impact in contact sports. Early management significantly affects recovery.
Groin strains (adductor injuries) - Common in sports involving change of direction, kicking, and lateral movement. Often require careful assessment to differentiate from other sources of groin pain.

Recurrent Muscle Injuries

If you're experiencing repeated muscle strains in the same location, specialist assessment can identify contributing factors - such as residual scar tissue, strength deficits, training load errors, biomechanical issues, or premature return to sport - and develop a targeted prevention strategy.

My Approach

Accurate grading using clinical examination and imaging (ultrasound or MRI) guides realistic recovery timelines. I develop structured rehabilitation plans with your physiotherapist, including criteria-based progression through stages of recovery. Return-to-sport decisions are based on objective measures - not just time - to minimise re-injury risk.

When to Seek Assessment

Acute pain during sprinting or kicking
Significant bruising after injury
Unable to walk normally after strain
Recurrent strains in same muscle
Muscle injury not improving after 2 weeks
Palpable defect or gap in muscle

Get Your Muscle Injury Right

Book a consultation for accurate grading, specialist management, and a structured return-to-sport plan

Book Appointment Call (07) 5415 0428