Cornwall’s first "sports medicine" clinic has opened its gym and consultation room in Penryn.

ProCare Sports Medicine, based at Jubilee Wharf, is the only physiotherapy clinic in Cornwall which solely treats people involved in sport and fitness.

Founder, Andrew McCauley, from Swanpool, Falmouth, is a sports scientist and senior NHS physiotherapist who has worked in top London hospitals; he is also a sports and conditioning leader who trains other physiotherapists in Cornwall.

Andrew is one of a small number of "sports medicine" practitioners in the UK (a medical speciality focused on the prevention and treatment of injuries caused by sports and fitness). He describes the clinic as “forward-thinking, joined up treatment,” adding: “ProCare Sports Medicine was born out of the frustrations felt by athletes and active people who wanted better access to sports medicine specialists in Cornwall. Before we set up ProCare, you had to be involved in elite sport or be semi-professional to get access to this level of treatment – not any more.

“We prioritise active people with goals; we mix strength and conditioning with sports science and physiotherapy to keep you active while you’re injured, and injury-free while you’re training. We believe that you don’t have to be a professional athlete to be treated like one. We want everyone to be active and believe in the philosophy that exercise is medicine.”

The ProCare clinic has its own gym, consultation rooms and video movement analysis and playback equipment. The clinic offers sports physiotherapy, to diagnose and treat injuries while training other parts of the body, and athletic development, to improve performance and prevent future injuries.

Emma Stepto, one of the UK’s top distance runners, from Cornwall Athletic Club who won the runbritain Grand Prix last year and came 14th in the Virgin Money London Marathon 2014, cut the ribbon at the official opening night.

Originally from Ireland, Andrew worked in London as a physiotherapist for five years including St Bartholomew's Hospital and Royal London Hospital, before moving to Cornwall as an NHS extended scope practitioner, a senior clinician with advanced assessment skills, specialising in hips, knees and shoulders, and working closely with surgeons, physiotherapists and GPs.

He set up ProCare in September 2014, with a clinic inside Tremough Campus gym, then moved into his own premises at Jubilee Wharf in June.