BE FOLLOWED POST- SURGERY WITH THE AIM OF RETURNING THE PATIENT TO THEIR NORMAL LEVEL OF ACTIVITY AND SPORT

A STRICT REHABILITATION PROGRAMME SHOULD

THE AUTHORS T Dr Nat Padhiar MSc PhD FCPodS of London

SportsCare graduated in podiatry from Chelsea School and pursued a career in podiatric sports medicine and podiatric surgery. In 1999 he was awarded a Doctor of

their normal level of activity and sport. Most patients are encouraged to use crutches to allow partial mobilisation, without overloading the repaired tendon during the initial healing phase. Despite the success of surgery and the focus of early rehabilitation, it is sensible to assume that patients may take between 9 months and a year to return to full function. With the availability of less invasive techniques, the period of rehabilitation may be reduced in the future, but no studies have yet investigated this in such a cohort.

References Reference list can be accessed online at http://bit.ly/PadhiarAchillesPt2

TEST YOUR LEARNING

n What is the scientific evidence that injection therapy for Achilles tendinopathy can cause the tendon to rupture? n All the injection therapies have very similar outcomes (around 85%) so does it actually matter what substance you put in, or is it the needling itself that has the therapeutic effect?

Philosophy degree in the field of orthopaedics and sports medicine from St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary at London University. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine (CSEM), Queen Mary at London University. He is a keen sportsman who enjoys playing cricket and tennis and taking part in endurance sport (32 marathons to date). In his professional capacity he has been part of the medical team at various sporting venues. He is appointed by LOCOG as an Expert Medical Volunteer and Lead Clinician for Podiatry for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Dr Tom Crisp MBBS FFSEM of London SportsCare is a full time Specialist in sport and exercise medicine, being the second doctor in the UK to be placed on the Specialist Register of General Medical Council as a sports physician. Tom started working in sports medicine in 1982 when he opened a sports injury clinic in Chelmsford in the local physiotherapy clinic and acted as team doctor to Essex Cricket Club. In 1986 he gained a Diploma in Sports Medicine at Royal London Hospital (now Queen Mary College at University of London) and travelled to Moscow with the England Hockey team soon after. He has attended many sporting venues and is now a member of the International Medical Commission of FISU (International University Sports Federation) supervising World Games and Championships around the world in many

Mr John King MBBS FFSEM FRCS of London SportsCare is at present Emeritus Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine (CSEM) at The Royal London Hospital. He founded (in 1981) and developed the current CSEM and remained the Director of The Academic Department of Sports Medicine until 2003. He is also an examiner in Sports Medicine of The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, and an Academic Associate at The University of London Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials, Queen Mary College, He is the past Chairman of the British Association of Sports and Medicine (BASM), an external adviser to the Bath Distance Learning Course for Doctors in Sports Medicine, a Member of the LINK Program Medical Committee in Biomedical Materials (DTI), and a Board Member of the National Sports Medicine Institute. He has over 100 peer-reviewed publications to his name including books and research papers.

Dr Otto Chan MBBS FRCS FRCR of London

SportsCare was appointed at The Royal London Hospital in 1993 and dedicated his career to teaching and advancing emergency, trauma, musculoskeletal and intervention radiology. He now works solely in the private sector and is based at BMI London Independent Hospital with his main

interest in musculoskeletal and sports radiology. He is one of the leading radiologists in this field and has lectured extensively across the globe. He is very much in favour of a multidisciplinary team approach to patient management, providing excellent opportunities for teaching, research and cutting-edge innovation. He is also the author and co-author of many peer-reviewed papers and books. He has a simple motto – Treat every patient as if they were a member of your family!

Correspondence to: Dr Nat Padhiar at nat.padhiar@virgin.net or to London SportsCare, London Independent Hospital, 1 Beaumont Square, London E1 4NL.

10 sportEX medicine 2010;46(Oct):6-10