Dr Polly Baker
Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine
MB BChir MA (Cantab) MRCP FFSEM Dip USS
Specialises in
I see patients of all ages with the aim of returning them to sport, work or leisure activities safely and quickly by providing a bespoke management and rehabilitation plan.
I provide a one-stop service for musculoskeletal problems, sports and other injuries by performing diagnostic ultrasound scanning within the consultation as appropriate. I work as part of a multidisciplinary team including physiotherapy, podiatry and other allied health professionals to ensure the patient is treated holistically.
I also deliver clinically guided and ultrasound guided injections to reduce pain and facilitate rehabilitation.
I work across a variety of areas including elite sport, military and private practice. I currently work as a doctor for the LTA and also the All England Lawn Tennis Club for the Wimbledon Championships. These roles involve management of injuries and also COVID compliance with regards to tournaments and players.
I have worked for the military at Stanford Hall, tertiary rehabilitation centre, leading their tendinopathy service and developing their COVID rehabilitation service.
My practice includes the diagnosis and management of a broad range of issues such as neck related headaches, concussion, shoulder pain including rotator cuff disease, impingement, frozen shoulder and instability, elbow and wrist pain.
I also treat spinal pain including thoracic and lumbar including sciatica, hip and groin pain, Knee pain including overuse injuries and those that are acute/ traumatic, ankle and foot pain.
Historically, I’ve also been involved with a variety of other elite sports, such as Northampton Saints rugby, Arsenal Women FC, Chelsea academy, and GB handball. Involvement with the GB handball team led to my current position in Team GBs medical performance team.
I am a pitch-side instructor for the Rugby Football Union.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Dr Polly Baker at Spire include:
Sports and exercise medicine
- Epidural injections
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT)
- Joint manipulation treatment
- Joint pain treatment (joint injections)
- MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging scan)
- Pain management
- Trigger finger release
- Ultrasound scan
- X-ray
Other treatments
- Acupuncture
- Chronic fatigue and fatigue management
- Chronic pain management
- Corticosteroid injection
- Diagnostic ultrasound scan
- ESWT for tendinopathies
- Exercise induced asthma
- High volume injections for tendinopathies
- Hydrocortisone injection
- Intraarticular injection
- Plantar fasciopathy/ fasciitis
- Sports injury rehabilitation
- Ultrasound guided hydrodistension for frozen shoulder
- Ultrasound guided injection - guided steroid and hyaluronic acid injection
Get in touch
Important information about Covid-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
Additional information
Clinical interests
Headache
Lumbar spine disorders
Magnetic resonance imaging
Musculoskeletal imaging
Nutrition
Obesity
Osteoarthritis
Paediatric orthopaedics
Pain management
Pain relief
Rehabilitation
Soft tissue injury
Sports and exercise medicine
Sports injury
Sports medicine
Ultrasound
Qualification and professional memberships
Professional memberships
Member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
Fellow of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine
Professional leadership
Research lead for Brighton Marathon
Research chair for British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
Research and publications
I am actively involved in research with a particular interest in tendinopathy and the effect of exercise on the heart. I have published on both subjects.
As part of my role within BASEM I am co-editing the March 2019 British Journal of Sports Medicine organising the 2019 Spring BASEM conference.
Articles
Personal profile
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with the family and staying as active as possible (I often find the two occur simultaneously). I played tennis to a high level and now continue to play for fun.
Contact information
| Telephone | Insured 01892 741 242 Self-pay 01892 741 150 |
| Private secretary | Becki Russell |