Sports Doctor &

Musculoskeletal Medicine

Musculoskeletal medicine is a branch of medicine that specialises in the diagnosis and management of pain and dysfunction in the musculoskeletal system.

Sports doctors are fully qualified GPs who have a particular interest, further training and study in sports and musculoskeletal medicine – it’s not just for athletes! We are interested in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal pain, injury and dysfunction. We work with your goals in mind- helping you move more freely, without pain and reaching your performance goals; be it a walk around the park, 18 pain free holes, performing on the Opera House stage or the next Olympics. We work closely with you, allied health and other specialists, empowering you to manage your health. We have a range of strategies and treatments and we work closely with allied health and other specialists as needed to give you the best care with the fastest possible recovery times. We will also help you understand your body and how to prevent future injury.

We see all manner of musculoskeletal issues including acute and chronic pain from head to toe. It doesn’t have to have arisen from sport, and it may be as ‘simple’ as a sprained ankle, to a long standing chronic pain, to seeking how best to reach a particular goal, or to prevent a recurrent injury.

We work across all age groups from children through to the elderly. We take an active interest in your overall long-term health and performance goals and take a holistic approach.

Training load

Mental and Physical Health

Goals

Nutrition

Technique

Sleep

Shockwave therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment option that can be used for many types of injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. Shockwave therapy involves using an applicator to the skin to deliver high pressure waves to the target tissue (somewhat like a specialised massage machine). Shockwave therapy has been shown to stimulate repair of injured tissues and to reduce pain at the site of treatment.

Shockwave therapy is effective in the treatment of several conditions including, but not limited to:

Plantar Fasciitis
Calcific Rotator Cuff Tendinitis
Gluteal Tendinopathy
Achilles Tendinopathy
Patella Tendinopathy
Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Shin Splints
Poor or slow bone healing

Treatment typically involves 1-5 sessions with 1-2 weekly intervals between. No major preparation is needed prior to shockwave therapy and you can usually return to your usual activities immediately following treatment.

Common side effects include pain, redness and swelling at the site of treatment. It is overall considered a very safe treatment.

Please discuss with one of our sports doctors to see if shockwave therapy is a suitable treatment option for you

Sports Doctor

Dr Jason Lam

BDM, BMBS, DipChildHealth, MSportsMed, FRACGP

Jason has over two decades of experience working in the performing arts space at an elite level. He was formerly a professional dancer with Sydney Dance Company, Tasdance, Opera Australia amongst others before retiring and studying medicine at Flinders University in South Australia. His hospital training was as a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Registrar and Dermatology Registrar in the NT and NSW before moving to Melbourne.

He was the inaugural Crichton Dance Medicine Fellow at the Australian Ballet and Orchestra Victoria where he looked after dancers and musicians. Jason holds a Masters in Sports Medicine, a Diploma of Child Health and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practice and has undertaken further training in Sport and Exercise Medicine with the Australian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians.

In addition, Jason was the team doctor for the Sandringham Zebras VFL team, Carlton VFLW, Combat Sports Victoria and was part of the Medical Team at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 and was team doctor at the 2023 Trinbago Youth Commonwealth Games.

To get to know Jason more, click here.

See more

Jason is actively involved in medical education and research and has presented and published widely around dance medicine, hand injury, point of care ultrasound, medical education and chronic pain. Jason provides expert, comprehensive care to performers, athletes and anyone seeking to optimise their performance and be active. He works closely with physios, allied health and surgeons to keep artists healthy and performing at their best. Jason offers a holistic, collaborative approach to patient care and works closely with them to achieve their goals. Outside of medicine, he wrangles his toddler and fur babies with his wife, rides his mountain bike with more enthusiasm than skill and makes dreadfully pretentious short films

Dr Krishnan Rasaratnam

MBBS, SCHP, FRACGP

Krishnan has experience working with athletes of a variety of ages and levels in several different sports. In addition to musculoskeletal injuries, Krishnan is passionate about concussion management and education. Prior to moving into General Practice, Krishnan gained experience in Emergency medicine and Orthopaedics while working at Eastern Health. Krishnan is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practice having also completed the Sydney Child Health Program, the FIFA Diploma of Football Medicine and a Management of Sports Trauma Course. He is also currently undertaking further training in Sports and Exercise Medicine through a Masters of Sports Medicine. Krishnan is currently the team doctor for Sandringham Zebras VFL team, Northern Knights Football Club and is a medical officer with Western United Football Club. In addition, he has previously worked with the Northern Bullants Football Club, Victoria Thunderbolts NRL Team and as a medical officer with the AFLW.

To get to know Krishnan more, click here.

FAQ’s

No, but it can be helpful if you have seen someone before for your issue to bring any previous investigations, letters, and discharge summaries.

All initial sports medicine appointments require an extended 45-minute consultation.

We aim to provide timely and accessible care to patients, however understand that things can come up. If you need to cancel a sports doctor appointment, please do so at least 24hrs prior to your appointment. Otherwise, a cancellation fee equal to the full cost of the booked appointment will apply.

Please bring clothes which you are comfortable to be examined in – eg shorts and singlet. It is helpful to bring in your sport specific equipment, shoes, orthotics.

If you have any previous investigations; Xray, ultrasound, MRI reports, test results etc, previous letters from specialists or allied health, please bring them along or email to practice@bluffroardmedical.com.au

Publications

Dance Medicine Online Course at SEM Academy by the Australian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians
Pattern recognition of Clinical Syndromes related to Neuromusculoskeletal pain disorders Ed. Enrique Lluch Girbés and Carlos López Cubas. Zerapi S.C 2019
- Chapter 4.3 Clinical neuromusculoskeletal pain syndromes of the foot and ankle (page 235-295) Jason Lam, Susan Mayes, Ebonie Rio, Eamonn Delahunt, Jill Cook
AUSDANCE NSW’S RE-OPENING DANCE IN NSW COVID-19 GUIDANCE NOTES
Magnetic resonance imaging findings associated with posterior ankle impingement syndrome are prevalent in elite ballet dancers and athletes Baillie, Cook, Ferrar, Smith, Lam, Mayes Skeletal Radiology May 2021
Associations between clinical and imaging findings in posterior ankle impingement syndrome: A systematic review Baillie, Mayes, Lam, Ferrar, Cook Acta Radiologica April 2021
Early Active Vector Adjustable Skin Traction (EAVAST) for complex and unstable phalangeal fractures. Boer-Vreeke, Fairclough, Lam Bardoel. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor HandTherapie Nov 2020
Early Active Vector Adjustable Skin Traction (EAVAST) for Phalangeal Fractures. Dowd, Fairclough, Lam Hand vol 11, issue 1_suppl 2016