Olympian Sharron Davies MBE gives an update on her knee osteoarthritis journey - 2 years from her treatment with Arthrosamid®

We were delighted that Arthrosamid® Brand Ambassador Sharron Davies joined us to address delegates at a pioneering new educational event – the Citius Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Meeting sponsored by Contura Orthopaedics on Tuesday 24th September. The conference brought together a group of over 70 Healthcare Professionals (HCPs), from Sports and Exercise Medicine Consultants, Orthopaedic Surgeons and Physiotherapists to Podiatrists, GPs and premiership football club team doctors, invested in understanding more about “joined up” approaches to improve patient experiences and outcomes from rehabilitation and recovery.

Following an opening address from Sports and Exercise Medicine Consultant Dr George Bownes from the Fortius Clinic and Citius Retreats, James Bayes-Garrould, Contura Orthopaedic’s Strategic Partnership Manager for London delivered a presentation to start a conversation around treatment options for knee osteoarthritis (OA) to enable greater patient choice. This incorporated an introduction to the heritage of Arthrosamid® and its journey to become established as an innovative treatment for knee OA, backed by robust, peer-reviewed data.

Invitees were then given a unique insight into Arthrosamid Brand Ambassador, MBE Sharron Davies’s experiences of knee OA, unveiled during a lively and inspiring Q&A session with Dr George Bownes. The event was also attended by two of London’s leading Physiotherapists Charlie Goodchild and Nick Guth who have partnered with Contura Orthopaedics to create a pioneering new exercise rehabilitation regime – available free to all as part of our commitment to help patients “Move freely, live fully”. For more information and to access this new programme, visit our Resources page here.

Jonny Rawlinson, European Sales Director, Direct Markets for Contura Orthopaedic Ltd comments, “We’re thrilled to have been invited to sponsor this educational initiative and absolutely concur with Dr George Bownes’ commitment to changing the landscape for sports and exercise medicine in the UK with this collaborative, educational approach for like-minded healthcare professionals. Working together, utilising specialist skills and knowledge, experts can develop a holistic approach to treating joint problems such as knee osteoarthritis. Improving patient choice and access to innovative new treatments and combining this with exercise rehabilitation very much aligns with Arthrosamid’s patient campaign “Move freely, live fully”.

“It was an honour to hear Sharron’s story in her own words and to see the powerful impact this had on the audience. To learn about the struggles of one of Britain’s sporting legends due to the pain and discomfort caused by an injury which led to knee OA was humbling – and her journey to recovery is inspiring. The response from attendees was very encouraging, with many positive conversations and enquiries following the educational presentations and Sharron’s testimonial.”

To round off the evening, clinicians and colleagues came together to network and discuss positive ways of working together. The Arthrosamid® team was joined by Sharron Davies to answer questions form key opinion leaders about her 2-year treatment journey and her positive experiences with Arthrosamid®.

Broadcaster and former Olympic swimmer, Sharron Davies MBE was treated with Arthrosamid® in September 2022, when her consultant suggested she had the injection (which at the time was then new to the UK) to help ease the pain in her knee caused by Stage 4 osteoarthritis.

Sharron, 61, says; “I’m always keen to talk about my treatment experiences to help give health professionals an insight into the reality of living with knee osteoarthritis. Whilst rehabilitation is an ongoing part of the recovery process, I’m delighted with the progress as I’ve made so far. From struggling to walk longer distances without pain and constantly rubbing my knee – I’ve now reached a point, post-injection, when I’m no longer preoccupied by pain. Arthrosamid® has enabled me to return to my former active lifestyle; walking the dogs, strength and conditioning training in the gym, cycling and following my stint pool-side presenting at the Paris Olympics, clocking up my steps by walking miles around the City. In fact, my knee seems to be holding up well enough for me to have thoughts of planning a ski-trip! I know I will eventually need a knee replacement, but this treatment could buy me more time and delay having surgery.”

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