Dave is one of the pioneers of physiotherapists performing ultrasound and ultrasound guided injections. With 25 years of clinical experience as a Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in musculoskeletal care, Dave is owner and clinical director at Complete Physio Ltd, with extensive extended scope and advanced practice experience. Dave also holds a post as honorary lecturer at Brunel University teaching on post-graduate diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound guided injection module.

Dave was chairman of the professional network and national clinical interest group ‘Association for Chartered Physiotherapists with an interest in Orthopaedic Medicine and Injection Therapy’, which has recently merged with the Advanced Practice Physiotherapy Network . Dave has held an appointment as Specialist Adviser to NICE’s Interventional Procedures Programme reviewing evidence of safety and cost effectiveness for a range of musculoskeletal injection procedures.

Dave was one of the first physiotherapists in the world to be fully trained as an independent prescriber of medication. Dave was recognised for his contribution with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapist’s campaign to obtain independent prescribing rights and has represented his profession on national media. Dave also works as freelance lecturer and guest speaker and teaches at a number of higher education institutes on topics relating to pharmacology and medicines management, including previous podcasts here.

Clinically Dave has performed over 20,000 ultrasound guided injections since 2007 for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions and performs a number of advanced techniques including barbotage, hydrodistension and high volume procedures.

Dave brings together a unique blend of experience from private practice, sports, A&E, NHS and academia. Dave continues to be involved with a number of national committees and steering groups and is passionate about education of ultrasound and ultrasound guided injections.

Publications

Noblet, T., Jadhakhanb, F., Bennett, A., McCrum, C., O’Shea, S., Hensman-Crook, A., Barratt, P., Regan, P., Ronan, L., Baker, D. and Rushton, A., 2022. A multi-site prospective, observational study of physiotherapist independent prescribing activity in musculoskeletal clinics across seven healthcare locations in England. Physiotherapy, 114, pp.e24-e25.

Smith, C.B., Baker, D., Botchu, R., Cairns, M., Chester, R., Dean, B., Mast, R. and Lewis, J., 2023. Corticosteroid injections for non-spinal musculoskeletal conditions: Consideration of local and systemic adverse drug reactions and side effects. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 51(3), pp.217-232.

Smith, M., Innes, S., Wildman, S. and Baker, D., 2023. A proposed framework for point of care musculoskeletal ultrasound and ultrasound image-guided interventions by physiotherapists: scope of practice, education and governance. The Ultrasound Journal, 15(1), pp.1-13.