Advanced diagnostic ultrasound and image-guided treatment at Pro Sports Medicine

Pro Sports Medicine provides consultant-led musculoskeletal radiology for sports injuries, joint problems and complex musculoskeletal conditions at our specialist clinic in Cardiff.

The service is led by Dr Julian Chakraverty, a fellowship-trained Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist and Lead Doctor for Bath Rugby.

Julian combines specialist expertise in musculoskeletal imaging with extensive experience working in professional sport. This provides patients with access to the same high standards of diagnostic assessment and clinical decision-making required when managing elite athletes.

Our consultant radiology service connects advanced imaging directly with treatment, rehabilitation and return to activity through the complete PSM Pathway.

Specialist musculoskeletal diagnosis

A clear diagnosis is the starting point for effective treatment.

Musculoskeletal conditions can be difficult to manage when symptoms, clinical examination and previous imaging do not provide a complete explanation. Consultant assessment can be particularly valuable for persistent injuries, complex presentations or cases where previous treatment has not been successful.

Your consultation may include:

• Review of your symptoms and injury history
• Specialist musculoskeletal assessment
• Advanced diagnostic ultrasound
• Dynamic examination during movement
• Review of previous imaging
• A clear explanation of the findings
• Advice on treatment, further imaging or rehabilitation

Where appropriate, ultrasound-guided treatment may also be discussed

Advanced diagnostic ultrasound

Diagnostic ultrasound provides real-time imaging of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and surrounding soft tissues.

Unlike static imaging, ultrasound allows structures to be assessed dynamically while you move, contract a muscle or reproduce the position associated with your symptoms.

The service can help investigate:

• Muscle and tendon injuries
• Tendinopathy and tendon tears
• Ligament injuries
• Rotator cuff and shoulder problems
• Joint swelling and inflammation
• Bursitis
• Cysts and soft-tissue lumps
• Nerve irritation or entrapment
• Calcific tendinopathy
• Hip and groin pain
• Abdominal wall and inguinal-region symptoms

When another investigation such as MRI, X-ray or CT would be more appropriate, Julian can advise on the most suitable next step.

Specialist sports injury imaging

Julian specialises in orthopaedic and sports medicine imaging and works across Premiership rugby, professional football, county cricket and elite athletics. He is the Lead Doctor for Bath Rugby and has also provided medical support to Bristol City Football Club and the Gibraltar Football Association.

This professional-sport experience is particularly valuable when assessing:

• Acute muscle injuries
• Recurrent soft-tissue injuries
• Tendon and ligament problems
• Injuries affecting training availability
• Complex return-to-play decisions
• Persistent symptoms despite rehabilitation

The objective is not simply to identify an abnormality on a scan. It is to determine whether the imaging findings explain your symptoms and how they should influence treatment and rehabilitation.

Athletic groin and inguinal ultrasound

Groin pain can involve several overlapping structures and may be difficult to diagnose using clinical examination alone.

Specialist ultrasound can assess the abdominal wall, inguinal region, adductor tendons and surrounding soft tissues. Dynamic scanning may also be used while you move or increase abdominal pressure.

This may be helpful for:

• Persistent athletic groin pain
• Suspected inguinal disruption
• Adductor-related groin pain
• Abdominal wall injuries
• Ilioinguinal-region symptoms
• Pain during running, kicking or changing direction
• Symptoms associated with coughing or abdominal loading

The term “sportsman’s hernia” is often used to describe several different causes of groin pain. Consultant assessment helps identify which structures are involved and whether rehabilitation, further imaging or surgical opinion is required.

Ultrasound-guided procedures

Ultrasound guidance allows Julian to visualise the treatment area, needle and surrounding structures throughout a procedure.

Depending on the diagnosis, available treatments may include:

Hydrodilatation for frozen shoulder

Hydrodilatation is used in selected cases of adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder. Fluid is introduced into the shoulder joint under image guidance to distend the restricted capsule.

The procedure is normally followed by a structured rehabilitation programme to restore movement and function.

Barbotage for calcific tendinopathy

Ultrasound-guided barbotage may be considered for persistent calcific tendinopathy of the shoulder.

The procedure is used to break down and lavage calcium deposits within the rotator cuff tendon when the deposit is suitable for intervention.

High-volume tendon injections

High-volume image-guided injections may be considered for selected persistent tendon problems, particularly Achilles or patellar tendinopathy.

Suitability depends on the diagnosis, ultrasound findings, previous treatment and the wider rehabilitation plan.

Joint and soft-tissue injections

Julian can also perform accurately targeted image-guided injections into selected joints, bursae, tendon sheaths and other soft-tissue structures.

His recorded clinical practice includes image-guided joint, cyst and bursal injections as well as shoulder hydrodistension procedures.

Access to advanced injection treatments

Where clinically appropriate, patients can access the wider range of injection treatments available through Pro Sports Medicine, including:

• Corticosteroid injections
• Hyaluronic acid injections
• Platelet-rich plasma injections
• nStride APS injections
• Arthrosamid injections for knee osteoarthritis

Some advanced procedures are delivered by other appropriately qualified clinicians within the PSM multidisciplinary team.

Injection therapy is not recommended automatically. Your diagnosis, previous treatment, medical history and rehabilitation requirements will all be considered before any procedure is advised.

MSK Radiology at PSM
Led by Dr Julian Chakraverty

Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist
MBChB BSc (Hons) Ost Med PGDip SEM MRCS FRCR

Dr Julian Chakraverty is a fellowship-trained Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist specialising in:

• Musculoskeletal radiology
• Sports injury imaging
• Advanced diagnostic ultrasound
• Image-guided intervention

Julian completed core training in trauma and orthopaedic surgery before specialising in radiology. He also trained in osteopathy before completing his medical degree and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports and Exercise Medicine, awarded with distinction.

Alongside his clinical work, Julian is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Anatomy at the University of Bristol. He has published widely across orthopaedic, sports medicine and radiology literature and contributed to research validating the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification system.

[Meet Dr Julian Chakraverty]

Why choose Pro Sports Medicine?

Consultant-led expertise

Assessment and procedures are delivered by a fellowship-trained Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist.

Professional-sport experience

Julian’s role as Lead Doctor for Bath Rugby brings elite-sport standards of assessment and decision-making into the clinic.

Advanced diagnostic techniques

Access specialist ultrasound examinations, including dynamic athletic groin and inguinal-region assessment.

Complex image-guided procedures

Treatment options include hydrodilatation, barbotage, high-volume tendon injections and targeted joint or soft-tissue injections.

Integrated rehabilitation

Imaging and treatment can be connected directly with physiotherapy, strength rehabilitation and objective performance testing at PSM.

Book a Consultant Radiology Appointment

Access consultant-led musculoskeletal assessment, advanced diagnostic ultrasound and image-guided treatment at Pro Sports Medicine in Cardiff.

You do not need to be a professional athlete to benefit from professional-sport standards of care.

Telephone: 02920 762000
Email: info@prosportsmedicine.co.uk