The Hampden National Stadium Sports Health and Injury Clinic in Glasgow was formally opened by Sir Alex Ferguson today.
The Clinic celebrated its official opening almost a year to the day when it first began offering the very best in sports medicine treatment and facilities to the public seven days a week.
And the Clinic has made remarkable progress in that time. It now employs six full-time and five sessional staff and over 5000 patients have received treatment in its first 12 months.
While well known names from the world of sport - from UK athletics star Lee McConnell to World Cup referee Hugh Dallas - have used the facilities there, the vast majority of clients to the Clinic have been non-elite sportsmen and women - those who exercise for fun and for health and fitness
And although it is based at the home of Scottish football, the Clinic is multi-sport. It is reckoned that they have seen athletes from twenty different sports, plus it has specialised equipment and access for disability athletes.
Sir Alex Ferguson returned to his native Glasgow and the home of his first senior football club, Queen9s Park, to make the formal opening and the Manchester United manager was full of praise for the level of expertise and standard of equipment available at the Clinic.
'I think this Clinic is a marvellous addition to the sporting facilities of the whole region,' said Sir Alex. 'It is a credit to Hampden and Glasgow and it is good to hear that so many sportsmen and women of all abilities have benefited from what is here.'
Dr. John MacLean, the Clinic's Medical Director, is delighted at the progress made in the past 12 months. 'I think we have surpassed our most optimistic expectations,' said Dr. MacLean.
'We have had a huge cross-section of different people in for treatment and a large proportion of our new business comes from recommendations from patients who have been here and appreciated the expertise that they have received. That is enormously satisfying.'
The Clinic is about to expand into the area of health and fitness exercise packages. Those who have not exercised for some time and would-be exercisers will be assessed and screened for the risks of exercise and assisted in planning a fitness programme.
These packages will include heart examination, blood pressure assessment, lung function assessment, dietary assessment, blood and urine tests as appropriate and conclude with a formal cardiovascular and fitness treadmill test which is the gold standard method of assessing risk and fitness for exercise.
Heart screening is also carried out at the Clinic with echocardiography, which aims to assist in the prevention of sudden death in young sportspeople.
'These new packages will move the Clinic into new areas for fitness,' says John MacLean. 'While the assessment and re-habilitation of injured athletes will remain our primary aim, it is good to widen the scope of the Clinic.'
For an appointment at the Hampden National Stadium Sports Health and Injury Clinic call 0141 616 6161