The Pure Pod — Sports & Exercise Medicine

It is expected that 50% of people in the UK born after 1960 will get cancer. With so many of us likely to be afflicted by the disease, Pure Sports Medicine are on a mission to inform patients how they can return to a higher quality of life both during and after acute treatment.  A cancer diagnosis brings a range of side effects and experiences. Some survivors experience complications for years aft...

Debates over sustainable and safe weight loss have renewed in recent years, following the widespread use of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy. A University College London survey found that roughly one-point–six million adults in the UK took weight loss drugs between January twenty-twenty-four and twenty-twenty-five — around ninety percent of patients accessed these products th...

HYROX has exploded in popularity over the past few years. According to the sport’s official website, there were more than 40 global races in 2023, attracting over 90,000 athletes to test themselves in a gruelling exercise race. Each race is held over eight kilometres, with participants running between eight different exercises including a fifty metre sled pull and push, burpees and standing rowing...

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are one of the most dreaded injuries for athletes across all sports and disciplines. Crucial in stabilising the knee and facilitating explosive movement and quick changes of direction, a tear to the ligament often requires surgery and lengthy rehab to return the patient to their previous level of mobility and to stave off long-term pain and instability.   Recent...

The ever-increasing waitlists for treatment within the NHS are constantly in the news. Long-term conditions including musculoskeletal ailments, rheumatological conditions, the treatment of overweight patients and those with diabetes, as well as patients recovering from cancer have some of the longest waiting periods. That lack of access to care is creating worsening health outcomes for millions of...

Triathlons are the ultimate test for the inter-disciplinary athlete. Combining running, swimming and cycling, these races offer a unique challenge. Not only do you need a high-level of fitness, but managing the different physical expectations in the build-up to race day requires careful planning and meticulous preparation.  How do you manage and mitigate injury risk across three disciplines with d...

We’re deep into Marathon prep season. The London Marathon, at the time of recording, is just six weeks away. We know many of you will be on top of your training plans, but you’ll likely still want to know all the tips and tricks for finishing the race at your very best. That means nailing your running routine, your strength and conditioning programmes, your diet, your hydration, and maybe most imp...

Did you commit to a New Year’s Resolution in 2025? A 2024 survey by Yougov found 27% of Britons have set themself a goal to coincide with the turn of the year. Three of the top five were pertaining to physical wellbeing and performance. Some 17% of respondents wanted to get fitter and exercise more; 16% wanted to lose weight; 7% wanted to be more healthy in general.  Keeping momentum is difficult....

According to the Ski Club of Great Britain, the UK has 1.8m active skiers, defined as those who have participated in the sport in the previous 12 months. For many active holidaymakers, jetting off to the slopes in the midst of the miserable winter months is a boost to their mental and physical wellbeing; unless they spend too much time at the apres-ski of course.  Winter sports aren’t a pursuit th...

Training over the winter months can prove difficult. A 2022 survey by Noom found that a fifth of UK adults exercise less as temperatures drop. Where motivation lacks, sometimes, fitness challenges or goals can help to increase activity. However, jumping into physically exerting training regimes can produce its own problems.  Long distance running is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the...

Multiple studies show that women’s pain is often undertreated compared to men; for example a study by the American Heart Association found that women waited 29% longer to be evaluated for heart attack when reporting chest pain.  This often means conditions such as Menopause, Endometriosis or pelvic health are under discussion in the public realm, or worse yet, mistreated on a patient-by-patient ba...

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to treatment involves professionals from a range of fields to produce a comprehensive recovery plan for an athlete or patient.   This has become common practice in the treatment of many different illnesses and conditions. Studies have shown that MDTs lead to better outcomes for cancer patients, and it can reduce older peoples’ need to seek in-patient treatme...