Your GP will probably ask you about how your injury happened, what kind of sport caused it and the level at which you were playing.
Physical examination
Your GP will examine the affected body part and ask you to move it in all directions so that they can assess your range of movement. If your GP thinks you may have a broken bone, you'll be referred for an X-ray.
If you have significant swelling around a joint, your GP may remove some of the fluid from inside the joint to see if it is blood stained. If it is, it could indicate that you have a torn tendon or cartilage.
Arthroscopy
Sometimes a device called an arthroscope is used to look inside a joint to check for damage. This is a small, flexible tube about the size of a drinking straw. It contains fibre optics which transmit and receive light signals.
The fibre optics can act as both a light source and a camera. This allows surgeons to illuminate the joint while at the same time sending images to a video screen or an eyepiece.
This procedure is known as an arthroscopy.
An MRI scan may be recommended if your GP suspects damage to your tendons, cartilage or ligaments.
