Dr James Thing
Consultant in Sports & Musculoskeletal Medicine
About James Thing
Specialty: Consultant in Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine, with clinical interests in hand and wrist injury, upper limb injury and pathology, and lower limb tendon disorders
Conditions seen: sports injuries, knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, clicking joints, frozen shoulder, shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, tendon injury, Achilles, patellar, ankle and peroneal tendinopathy, tibialis posterior tendinopathy, plantar fascia problems, osteoarthritis, ligament damage including knee collateral and anterior cruciate ligament injury, degenerative meniscal tears
Tests, treatments and procedures: diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound scans, ultrasound-guided injections including steroid and hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, shoulder hydrodistension for frozen shoulder
Often consulted by patients with: a sports injury, joint or tendon pain that is not improving, shoulder stiffness, repetitive strain symptoms, or osteoarthritis needing non-surgical management
Patient ages seen: 12+
Also: British Athletics Event Lead Doctor; pitch-side doctor for Harlequins Rugby; player tournament doctor for the Lawn Tennis Association; worked at the 2012 London Olympics; Associate Editor of the British Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine
Language: English
Dr James Thing is a Consultant in Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine at Welbeck’s Orthopaedics centre in London. He assesses and treats sports injuries and a wide range of musculoskeletal problems, with particular interests in hand and wrist injuries, upper limb conditions and lower limb tendon disorders. His practice includes knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, clicking joints, frozen shoulder, shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, osteoarthritis, ligament injuries and degenerative meniscal tears.
Dr Thing also has particular expertise in tendon problems, including Achilles, patellar, ankle, peroneal and tibialis posterior tendinopathy, as well as problems affecting the plantar fascia. He uses diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound to assess musculoskeletal injuries and offers ultrasound-guided injections, including steroid and hyaluronic acid injections, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. He also performs shoulder hydrodistension for frozen shoulder.
Alongside his practice at Welbeck, Dr Thing undertakes a weekly NHS musculoskeletal ultrasound and radiology list at the Royal London Hospital, part of Barts Health. He is British Athletics Event Lead Doctor, coordinating medical care for the Anniversary Games and Diamond League events, works as a pitch-side doctor for Harlequins Rugby, and acts as a player tournament doctor for the Lawn Tennis Association.
Dr Thing has extensive experience in elite sport, including working as a Sport and Exercise Medicine doctor at the 2012 London Olympics. He is also an Associate Editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Expertise
- Hand and Wrist Injury
- Upper Limb Injury/Pathology
- Lower Limb Tendon Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and Ultrasound-Guided Injection
- Knee Collateral Ligament Injury
- Degenerative Meniscal Tears
- Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Peroneal Tendinopathy
- De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
- Tennis Elbow
- Golfer’s Elbow
- Shoulder Impingement
- Acromioclavicular Joint (ACJ) Problems
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
- Rugby and Athletics Medicine
Overview
- Age of patients seen
- 12+
- Qualifications
Dr James Thing qualified as a General Practitioner in 2010 before undertaking four years of specialist registrar training to become a Sport and Exercise Medicine Consultant in 2014. His specialist training included the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court, the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) and Barts Health.
Qualifications:
General Practitioner (2010)
Sport and Exercise Medicine Consultant (2014)
- Languages spoken
- English
- Online profiles
- Research highlights
Dr Thing has contributed to research and medical publishing in sport and exercise medicine, with articles published in the British Medical Journal. He has also contributed to the development of national guidelines for exertional heat stroke and is an Associate Editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
- Professional memberships
British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM)
Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine
Royal College of General Practitioners
Consultations and services
Appointments are available at 1 Welbeck Street, Marylebone, London W1G 0AR.
Enquire online or call 020 3653 2002.
- Self-pay available from £330
- Health insurance
- 30 mins consultation
- Self-pay available from £250
- Health insurance
- 30 mins consultation
Insurers covered
Tests & treatments
Conditions & symptoms
Locations
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Frequently asked questions
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves injecting a concentrated preparation of your own blood platelets into an injured tendon or joint to promote healing. Dr Thing typically considers PRP for chronic tendon conditions such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, and patellar tendon problems that have not responded to physiotherapy alone. He performs the injection under ultrasound guidance to ensure precise placement.
Frozen shoulder is diagnosed through clinical examination and a diagnostic ultrasound scan to assess the joint capsule and rule out other causes of shoulder pain. Dr Thing offers shoulder hydrodistension, a procedure where fluid is injected under ultrasound guidance to stretch the tightened capsule and restore movement. It's often combined with a structured rehabilitation programme for the best results.
A specialist review is commonly considered where an injury has not improved after several weeks of physiotherapy, where there is significant swelling or instability, or where a diagnostic ultrasound is needed to confirm the nature of the injury. Dr Thing provides ultrasound diagnosis and can often administer an ultrasound-guided injection at the same visit. His experience as a doctor for elite sportspeople, including at the 2012 London Olympics and with the Harlequins rugby team, informs his approach to returning patients to activity safely.
Yes, ultrasound-guided injections can deliver anti-inflammatory medication or PRP therapy directly to the affected tendon, improving accuracy and outcomes compared with unguided injection. Dr Thing uses real-time ultrasound to guide the needle to the area of damage in the common extensor or flexor tendons, and combines injections with a tailored rehabilitation programme that addresses the underlying biomechanical factors.
Non-surgical management of knee osteoarthritis can include ultrasound-guided steroid or hyaluronic acid injections to reduce pain and improve joint function. Dr Thing assesses the knee with diagnostic ultrasound to determine the degree of joint involvement and to guide treatment decisions. He also advises on exercise-based rehabilitation and weight management, aimed at slowing progression and delaying or avoiding the need for surgery.