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Tendon Clinic
Håkan Alfredson is an orthopaedic surgeon and a professor who specialises in the treatment on tendons. He has published close to 100 research articles and is a world renowned specialist. We are delighted that he has joined forces with us at Pure Sports Medicine and now conducts clinics at our City branch every six weeks.
The clinic and treatments offered are unique within the UK. Most orthopaedic surgeons will treat tendons but also other problems in the same region – for example the foot or knee. Professor Alfredson only treats tendons and his treatments are at the cutting edge of what the medical world knows in this area.
When Professor Alfredson sees you, he will take a brief history and will then examine you. He uses ultrasound to diagnose what is happening in your tendon. He will then take you through the results by showing you pictures, on screen, of your tendon and will discuss your treatment options.
The treatment you receive will depend on your particular diagnosis, but may include:
- Physiotherapy – eccentric exercises
- Ultrasound guided injections
- Minimally invasive surgery
There is good evidence to support eccentric exercises in those patients who have a diagnosis of tendinopathy. The treatment programme is 12 weeks. Due to the high level of evidence, Professor Alfredson will want you to have tried this programme, performed correctly, before he considers other options. If you have not responded well then he may consider injections or surgery depending on your presentation.
Professor Alfredson will spend time with you to make sure you understand your treatment options and so if you do have any questions you will be able to ask him at the appointment.
The clinic is assisted by Dr Lorenzo Masci, sports physician and Rebecca Christenson, physiotherapist with a special interest in tendons and published an article on manual therapy treatment of Achilles tendon. If you have any specific questions about the Tendon Clinic please contact Dr Lorenzo Masci on Lorenzo.masci@puresportsmed.com
What are tendons? They connect the muscle to the bone and have to withstand large forces
Common areas where tendons get injured:
Achilles tendon
Jumpers knee (patellar tendon)
Tennis elbow (wrist extensor tendon)
Golfers elbow (wrist flexor tendon)
Tendons can become painful even without an acute injury. The pain can build over time and may be a result of the tendon responding poorly to load. This may be as a result of too much load – like a lot of running, or too little in some individuals. Tendons can also be acutely injury by activities such as sprinting.
What happens to the tendon when it is injured? Tendons are not classified like other soft tissue injuries because they do not seem to follow a normal healing pattern. Instead they can develop an altered structure which makes then less able to cope with the load that is being applied e.g. from a sport.
How can we help? Tendons are not easy to treat and in the wrong hands, it can mean spending a lot of time out of sport without actually progressing. It is really important to get an accurate diagnosis as the treatment can be very different depending on what has happened to the tendon.
Our team of clinicians can ensure that you have an accurate diagnosis, which will be made by a combination of your history and an examination. You may also need an ultrasound scan, which can be performed on site. You will be then given an appropriate treatment programme and monitored throughout to ensure you are responding appropriately.
If you would like an appointment with Håkan Alfredson then please telephone 08447 700 800 and select 1 to book an appointment at the city. If you would like to speak to one of our clinicians first then please contact Lorenzo.masci@puresportsmed.com
Surgery information sheet
On the day of surgery, you will have a short appointment with Professor Alfredson at the City clinic for him to perform an ultrasound and make skin markings where he will operate. The appointment will be held at:
Pure Sports Medicine
41-47 Threadneedle Street
London, EC2R 8AR
Tel: 0207 382 0560
You will then have to fill out some paperwork for the surgery and will have the operation in the afternoon at the princess grace hospital
PRINCESS GRACE HOSPITAL
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-45 Nottingham Place
London
W1U 5NY
Tel: 0207 486 1234
Your surgery may be performed under local anaesthetic or general. If you have a general anaesthetic, you should not east or drink 6 hours prior to your scheduled time of surgery. You will need someone to take you home after the surgery and you will normally be in as a day case so can go home the same day.
Håkan Alfredson Published Articles:
- Color Doppler ultrasound findings in patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
- Color Doppler ultrasound findings in patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
- New regimen for eccentric calf muscle training in patients with chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy: Results of a pilot-study
- Treatment of Jumper´s knee: promising short-term results in a pilot study using a new arthroscopic approach based on imaging and histological findings
- Eccentric training in chronic painful impingement syndrome of
the shoulder: results of a pilot study - Sclerosing Polidocanol injections in mid-portion Achilles tendinosis:
remaining good clinical results and decreased tendon thickness at 2 year
follow up.