Dr Julian Widdowson
Consultant
Sports & Exercise Medicine
SPORTS & EXERCISE MEDICINE
Top London sports & exercise medicine and rehabilitation experts
At Schoen Clinic London we offer a rapid access service for sports injuries and musculoskeletal (MSK) problems. Whether you are a professional athlete or enjoy a kick-around in the park, a sports injury is frustrating, painful and debilitating. Our team of Sports and Exercise Medicine specialists provide rapid assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for patients experiencing sports injuries or MSK problems affecting their physical activity.
Sports injuries acute and chronic
Almost any part of the body can be injured, including the muscles, bones, joints and connective tissues (tendons and ligaments).
At Schoen Clinic London we see and treat most sporting injuries including:
- Elbow, hand and wrist sports injuries: Skier’s thumb, golfer's elbow and tennis elbow
- Shoulder sports injuries: AC (acromioclavicular) joint and rotator cuff injury, shoulder instabilty
- Foot and ankle sports injuries: Achilles tendinitis and tendinopathy, and heel pain (also known as plantar fasciitis).
- Knee injuries: ACL tears, MCL / LCL ruptures; runner’s knee, Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome and jumper’s knee, anterior knee pain, patello-femoral maltracking
- Shin splints and stress fractures
- Hip sports injuries: groin pain, hamstring tendinopathy and hip impingement
- Neck and back pain sports injuries: disc-related injuries, facet joint injuries and sciatica
- Sprains and strains
With state-of-the-art diagnostics equipment and a team of highly skilled experts at your disposal, Schoen Clinic London is the best place to resolve your sports-related injury.
Sports injuries can be caused by:
- an accident – such as a fall or heavy blow
- not warming up properly before exercising
- using inappropriate equipment or poor technique
- pushing yourself too hard
UK’s leading sports and exercise medicine specialists physicians
Our dedicated team can assess both recent sports injuries and longstanding conditions including ligament, muscle, bone and tendon injuries as well as spinal and limb pain. The service can be accessed as part of an integrated diagnostic and treatment programme or as a separate service.
Our leading specialist team of internationally experienced sports exercise medicine physicians work in multidisciplinary teams together with our sports physiotherapists, spinal consultants, orthopaedic surgeons and other allied health professionals. Our aim is to deliver the highest level of care to all involved with sport and exercise at any level to the same standards we provide to elite athletes. The team sees a wide spectrum of patients, from professional and amateur athletes to individuals with common MSK conditions. They can help patients achieve their personal or training goals, optimise performance and prevent sports injuries in the future.
What you can expect from our sports medicine service
Rapid assessment
You will be offered a choice of two options depending on the nature and status of your injury:
- Physiotherapy appointment: Injuries are often first assessed in our Physiotherapy Department, where the majority are treated without the need for further investigation or medical treatment. Our team are all chartered sports physiotherapists with specialist experience in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries, and can refer for imaging or to one of our consultants, if necessary
- Consultant appointment: We can also directly book you in with one of our consultant sports physicians. Their expertise stems from the professional world of sport, including Premier League football teams, England Rugby Football Union, Wales Rugby Union, Professional Cycling teams, Royal Ballet School, the London Olympics, Commonwealth games, London Broncos RFL Team and GB Hockey - giving you the best chance of recovery and rehabilitation.
Our service at a glance
- Access to sports physicians, physiotherapists, orthopaedic consultants and radiologists
- Same day assessment
- Diagnostic tests including X-ray, ultrasound, MRI and blood tests where appropriate
- Treatment tailored to your individual needs
- Evaluation of the underlying causes of injury in order to help prevent future problems
- Access to technical assessments including 4D gait scanning, S-3 check (stability, symmetry and sensorimotor), spinal isotonics and isokinetics
- Physiotherapist on-call during opening hours to give advice
- Advice on appropriate training methods and regimes
- Liaison with coaches/trainers where appropriate
Sports injuries treatment
The right rehabilitation plan combined with the latest technologyWe offer a comprehensive range of evidence-based treatments depending on the nature of your problem and your individual needs. These could include:
- Shockwave therapy
- Physiotherapy or exercise therapy
- Injection therapy – Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), cortisone, or hyaluronic acid.
- Pain management
- Surgery
Though surgical intervention is not always necessary, sports injuries do benefit from immediate treatment so that swelling and inflammation of soft tissues are minimised. The correct advice from the start ensures a quicker return to sport and less chance of re-injury. We will provide the appropriate rehabilitation process to ensure you return to your sport or activity fitter and stronger than prior to the injury.
Sports injuries prevention and diagnostics through state-of-the-art equipment
Our specialist team also offer advice on the prevention of sports injuries and exercise or training programmes such as Park runs, cycling, team sports, marathons and skiing. We offer a range of diagnostic assessments to technically measure your physical well-being, help identify any future or current causes of problems or pain, namely abnormalities in movement, spinal stiffness or muscle wastage, and even strengthen those areas.
4D body scan
The 4D body scan dynamically measures your spine, posture, foot pressure and movement to help identify any lower limb and spinal irregularities which may be causing pain or impacting performance.
Spinal isotonics
It measures your spinal range to indicate any areas of stiffness or imbalance. For training, the equipment can be set allowing patients to exercise safely within controlled parameters, providing real-time feedback on progress.
Isokinetic
It assesses muscle function to help identify any imbalances between muscle groups and the potential for injury.
Compartment pressure test
This test is performed to assess the presence of exertional compartment syndrome as a cause of lower leg or calf pain.
Ultrasound diagnostic assessment by our Sport Physicians during your consultation.
In addition to preventative measures, our specialists can also advise on training methods and dietary support. They will design and deliver individual strategies to help improve your health and performance. These will be focused on correct movement, strength, power, endurance and injury prevention management. The team will work with you to achieve your goals, liaising with coaches/trainers where appropriate.
Sports & exercise medicine - our team