Conditions that we treat

• Tennis / Golfers Elbow

• Hamstring Tendinopathy

• Plantar Fasciitis / Heel pain

• Achilles Tendinopathy

• Patella (Knee) Tendinopathy

• Trochanteric (Hip) pain syndrome

An initial assessment with one of our specialist team involves a 60 minute initial consultation. This will include an examination exploring the history of the injury, possible causes including biomechanics assessment, and its relation to your to physical activity and or your specific sport. Part of the diagnostic process may include further investigation by MRI or Diagnostic Ultrasound scanning.

If a tendinopathy is diagnosed, one of the primary interventions is a specific rehab exercise program. This is coupled with reviewing your specific training load. Incorrect exercises and inappropriate training loads can significantly aggravate the problem. Getting your training load right and performing the correct rehabilitation exercises can help to allow many tendinopathies to be resolved, allowing individuals to return to their normal levels of performance.

Advanced Treatment for Tendinopathy Pain

It is important to note that the majority of tendon problems do not require surgery. Unfortunately, in a significant number of cases exercises alone will not resolve tendinopathy cases, especially when the problem has been going on for some time. In these cases we introduce additional treatment methods, always starting with treatments that involve no injections and no surgery.

For the first time in Cardiff, Pro Sports Medicine tendon clinic brings together a group of clinicians with significant experience in elite sport and expert skills in diagnosing and treating tendon conditions. We use the latest techniques and treatment technology including;

Musculoskeletal (MSK) Diagnostic Ultrasound

Musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound is an injury diagnosis assessment technique that uses sound waves to create images of muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints throughout the body.

MSK ultrasound serves as an excellent imaging tool and is extensively utilised as an assessment technique by sport and exercise medicine professionals, offering an objective method to confirm clinical examination findings. We use diagnostic ultrasound for imaging examination of the various tendonopathy conditions and associated tissues. 

Our sports and musculoskeletal specialists are fully trained in MSK diagnostic ultrasound. They will utilise this assessment modality to complement their clinical findings, to offer patients a more accurate diagnosis and therefore a more targeted treatment and rehabilitation plan.

Shockwave Therapy 

Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT) is a procedure where shock waves are passed through the skin to the injured part of the body being treated, using our Swiss Dolorclast® Shockwave Unit.

The shockwaves are mechanical and not electric. They are audible, low energy sound waves, which work by increasing blood flow to the injured area. This initiates an inflammation-like response in the injured tissue, accelerating the body’s healing process by increasing cell generation and dissolving calcium deposits.

Shockwave therapy can be very successful in patients who have failed to respond to conservative treatment of tendon pain. The combination of shockwave therapy and a graded tendon re-loading rehab program with our physiotherapists is recommended to give increased treatment benefits. You will usually require a course of up to six treatments, 7 to 10 days apart. 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have deemed this procedure to be safe. Studies have shown shockwave therapy be an effective treatment for a number of common issues such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, patella tendon and achilles tendon tendinopathy injuries. 

Anti-gravity treadmill –

The Alter-G is an Anti-Gravity Treadmill that is can reduce bodyweight to as low as 20% of normal, allowing longer periods of training activity with less joint and tendon stress.

With stubborn tendinopathies, people can face a long road of recovery before being able to move and exercise with ease and confidence. The Alter-G enables clients to begin the graded loading process safely and efficiently to stimulate healing and increase confidence. 

Non-conservative intervention for Tendinopathy Pain

For those individuals who do not improve with rehab and conservative treatment, further options are available. We work in collaboration with leading specialists who can also offer diagnostic ultrasound scans when needed, as well as non-surgical options including orthobiologic injections.

In addition we can advise on the most appropriate surgical intervention techniques and leading surgeons in this field.