Overhead Sports
Pain throwing, serving, or swimming
Rotator cuff irritation or impingement from repetitive overhead loading.
Sports Shoulder Specialist · Central London
A shoulder injury shouldn't sideline you
Specialist assessment for active people carrying a sports shoulder injury. Get a clear diagnosis from Mr Toby Baring and a plan built around getting you back to doing what you love.
Gym
Swimming
Tennis
Golf
Rugby
Cricket
Cycling
Climbing
No GP referral needed
Self-pay & insured
Three London hospitals
★★★★★ Doctify
Mr Toby Baring
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon · Shoulder & Elbow Specialist
20+
Years' experience
300–400
Procedures / year
5★
Doctify rating
3
London hospitals
Sound familiar?
Common sports shoulder situations
If your training, your game, or your sport is being limited by a shoulder issue, a specialist assessment is the right next step.
Gym & Lifting
Shoulder giving way on press or pull
Instability or labral issues that flare up under load, whether that's bench, dips or pull-ups.
Contact Sports
Dislocation, AC joint or stinger injury
After a fall or a collision, proper imaging and a proper assessment matter.
Racket Sports
Clicking, catching, or weakness mid-game
Often a labral or rotator cuff issue that gets misread as "just tendinitis".
Endurance / Cycling
Stiffness limiting position or distance
AC joint problems or chronic impingement holding back your training.
Any Sport
Injury that "won't heal" with rest
Structural damage rarely sorts itself out. A diagnosis is the first step to actually fixing it.
The goal
Back to full activity, not just functional
For active people, getting back to your sport isn't a nice bonus, it's the whole point. Your plan is built around the sport you play and the level you want to get back to, with realistic timelines and clear milestones along the way.
Start your assessmentGym
Overhead pressing and pull movements are common triggers for rotator cuff impingement and labral stress.
Swimming
High stroke volumes place repetitive load on the rotator cuff. Freestyle and butterfly are the most demanding.
Tennis
The serve puts extreme rotational stress through the shoulder. Impingement and rotator cuff tears are the typical outcome.
Golf
The swing stresses both the AC joint and rotator cuff, particularly where swing compensations have built up over time.
Rugby
Tackles, falls and direct contact make dislocations and AC joint injuries the most common presentations.
Cricket
Fast bowling demands sustained rotator cuff resilience. Overuse injuries and labral stress tend to build gradually.
Cycling
Falls are the primary cause. Clavicle fractures and AC joint separations are among the most frequent cycling injuries.
Climbing
Dynamic moves and sustained overhead loading stress the shoulder capsule and labrum in ways most other sports do not.
CrossFit
Kipping pull-ups, snatches and overhead squats are high-risk movements for impingement and labral tears.
FRCS
Royal College Fellow
FRCS (Tr&Orth)
About Mr Toby Baring
A consultant who specialises in exactly this
Mr Baring is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with over 20 years in shoulder and elbow surgery. He completed his doctorate at Imperial College London and trained in Nice with Professor Pascal Boileau, widely regarded as one of the world's leading shoulder surgeons.
He performs 300 to 400 specialist procedures a year and works only in this sub-speciality. Expect a proper assessment, a clear diagnosis, and a treatment plan built around the activity level you want to get back to.
"Every patient deserves a clear diagnosis and an honest conversation about their options."
MBBS · MRCS · MB(res) · FRCS
Imperial College London
Fellowship with Prof. Boileau, Nice
Honorary Lecturer, Imperial NHS
Your consultation
From assessment to back in action
A clear, considered pathway designed around your sport and your goals.
01
Specialist assessment
Full history, sport-specific examination, and a review of any existing imaging.
02
Imaging if needed
X-ray or MRI arranged where required to give a precise picture of the injury.
03
Clear diagnosis
Explained in plain language. You'll leave knowing exactly what's happening and why.
04
Return-to-sport plan
We talk through every sensible option together. Physio, injection, or surgery if it's the right call.
There is no obligation. The purpose of your first appointment is to understand your shoulder.
What patients say
Trusted by patients across London
"
From the first consultation I felt completely reassured. I left knowing exactly what was wrong and what my options were.
"
I'd been in pain for months. Mr Baring was thorough, calm, and completely honest about what I needed, and what I didn't.
"
He listened to every concern and gave me the confidence to proceed. The recovery was better than I dared hope.
Rated 5 stars on Doctify
Book your assessment
Ready to sort your shoulder and get back to it?
The team will be in touch to confirm your appointment and answer any questions you have.
- No GP referral required
- Self-pay and major insurers accepted
- Strictly confidential. Used only to process your enquiry.
Request an assessment
Typical reply withinone working day
Clinic locations
Three central London hospitals
One Welbeck
1 Welbeck StreetLondon W1G 0AR Get directions →
King Edward VII's Hospital
Beaumont StreetLondon W1G 6AA Get directions →
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital
60 Grove End RoadLondon NW8 9NH Get directions →
Remote consultations available where clinically appropriate.
Common questions
Questions active patients ask
- It depends entirely on the diagnosis and the treatment chosen. Mr Baring will give you a realistic timeline at your consultation, with milestones tied to the sport you want to return to.
- No. You can self-refer directly. If using private health insurance, check your policy as some require a GP letter.
- It depends on the injury. With instability or recent dislocation it's wise to avoid contact and overhead loading. With irritation-type problems, modified training is often possible. If you're unsure, err on the side of caution and mention it when you book.
- Not necessarily. Many shoulder problems are managed with physiotherapy, injection, or modified rehabilitation. Surgery is recommended only when conservative options are unlikely to deliver the outcome you need.
- Mr Baring is recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva, Cigna, Healix, Vitality, WPA, Allianz Care and others. Have your policy number and authorisation reference to hand when booking.
- Any existing X-rays or MRI scans, if you have them. You don't need to prepare anything else. Mr Baring will walk you through the rest at the appointment.
A shoulder injury that's holding you back deserves a specialist view.
Clear diagnosis. Honest options. Built around your return to activity.