Dr. R.J. (Robert-Jan) de Vos MD, PhD
Introduction
My scientific career focuses on imaging and treatment of tendon injuries. In 2010, I successfully defended my PhD thesis on imaging and treatment of chronic Achilles tendinopathy. The findings had major impact on daily clinical practice of physicians working in musculoskeletal medicine and resulted in a JAMA publication with >550 citations. During my residency Sports Medicine from 2010 to 2014, I continued to perform research in this field. I also performed a clinical fellowship at the leading Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports medicine hospital (Doha,Qatar). In this leading IOC-research centre, I participated in study projects on muscle injuries and chronic tendon injuries. In July 2014, I was appointed as a scientific researcher at the department of Orthopedics and Sports medicine at the Erasmus MC. I participate in several national and international scientific advisory boards. I supervised 3 PhD students and I am currently supervising 5 PhD students on projects related to prevention and treatment of sports injuries. I am also leading an international consensus process on outcome measures in Achilles tendinopathy. I have published more than 90 international peer-reviewed scientific articles and have been assigned as Associate professor in 2021 at the Erasmus MC.
At the Erasmus MC, I am coordinator of the [Academic Tendon Clinic]
Education and career
During my sports medicine training, I performed two years of basic clinical training in orthopedics, emergency medicine, general surgery, cardiology, pulmonology and general medical practice in Medical Centre Haaglanden. Subsequently, I had 18 months of sports medicine training in Medical Centre Haaglanden at the sports medicine outpatient department. During my clinical fellowship at the Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine hospital in Doha, Qatar, I had athlete care responsibilities in the sports medicine outpatient department and screening department for 6 months. Since July 2014, I was appointed as a scientific researcher at the department of Orthopedics and Sports medicine at the Erasmus MC. Currently, I am supervising 4 PhD students on projects related to prevention and treatment of sports injuries. I supervised 3 PhD students and I am currently supervising 5 PhD students on projects related to prevention and treatment of sports injuries. I am also leading an international consensus process on outcome measures in Achilles tendinopathy. I have published more than 90 international peer-reviewed scientific articles and have been assigned as Associate professor in 2021 at the Erasmus MC.
Other positions
Medical consulent SBV Excelsior Rotterdam Football Club
Associate editor British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM)
Guest editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine for special Dutch issues (2014 and 2018)
Chairman of the national multidisciplinary guideline ‘Achilles tendinopathy'
Member of the national multidisciplinary guideline ‘Achilles tendon rupture'
Member of the Task force scientific agenda Dutch Sports Medicine
Scientific advisor for clinical tendinopathy trials of Novartis
Review panel member of the European Science Foundation (ESF)
Review panel member of the Quality Foundation of the Dutch Federation of Medical Specialists (SKMS)
Review panel member for the Dutch healthcare organization (Zorginstituut Nederland) on the implementation of PRP injections for epicondylar tendinopathy as insured treatment
Member organizing committee of the annual Rotterdam Marathon Sports Medicine Congress
Author of UpToDate modules on pathophysiology and management of tendinopathy
Current research projects
The next step towards the prevention of running related injuries (SPRINT trial)
Treatment of Achilles tendinopathy – a living systematic review and network meta-analysis
Normative values for Achilles tendons on ultrasound and calf muscle strength (REVEAL trial) -> https://www.erasmusmc.nl/nl-nl/patientenzorg/trials-meedoen-aan-onderzoek/reveal-studie
Finalized research projects
High-volume injection therapy in chronic midportion Achilles Tendinopathy HAT trial
Preventing injuries in runners with Evidence-Based tailored online advice INSPIRE trial
Exercise therapy for patellar tendinopathy evaluated with advanced UTE-MRI JUMPER trial (English) or JUMPER project (Nederlands)
Platelet Rich plasma Injection Management for Ankle osteoarthritis study (PRIMA trial)
Research on molecUlar and Biomechanical Interactions in CONnective tissue disorders (RUBICON trial)
Other positions
Medical consulent SBV Excelsior Rotterdam Football Club, Associate editor British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), Guest editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine for special Dutch issues (2014 and 2018), Chairman of the national multidisciplinary guideline ‘Achilles tendinopathy', Member of the national multidisciplinary guideline ‘Achilles tendon rupture', Member of the Task force scientific agenda Dutch Sports Medicine, Scientific advisor for clinical tendinopathy trials of Novartis, Review panel member of the European Science Foundation (ESF), Review panel member of the Quality Foundation of the Dutch Federation of Medical Specialists (SKMS), Review panel member for the Dutch healthcare organization (Zorginstituut Nederland) on the implementation of PRP injections for epicondylar tendinopathy as insured treatment, Member organizing committee of the annual Rotterdam Marathon Sports Medicine Congress, Author of UpToDate modules on pathophysiology and management of tendinopathy.
Key Publications
de Vos RJ, Weir A, van Schie HT, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Verhaar JA, Weinans H, Tol JL. Platelet-rich plasma injection for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010; 303(2): 144-9.
van der Vlist AC, van Oosterom RF, van Veldhoven PLJ, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, Waarsing JH, Verhaar JAN, de Vos RJ. Effectiveness of a high volume injection as treatment for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2020; 9; 370: m3027.
Breda SJ, Oei EHG, Zwerver J, Visser E, Waarsing E, Krestin GP, de Vos RJ. Effectiveness of progressive tendon-loading exercise therapy in patients with patellar tendinopathy: a randomised clinical trial. Br J Sports Med 2020; 55(9): 501-509.
Cloosterman KLA, Fokkema T, de Vos RJ, Visser E, Krastman P, IJzerman J, Koes BW, Verhaar JAN, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, van Middelkoop M. Educational online prevention programme (the SPRINT study) has no effect on the number of running-related injuries in recreational runners: a randomised-controlled trial. Br J Sports Med. 2022; 56(12): 676-682.
van der Vlist AC, Winters M, Weir A, Ardern CL, Welton NJ, Caldwell DM, Verhaar JAN, de Vos RJ. Which Treatment Is Most Effective for Patients With Achilles Tendinopathy? A Living Systematic Review With Network Meta-Analysis of 29 Randomised Controlled Trials. Br J Sports Med. 2020; 55(5): 249-256.
de Vos RJ, van der Vlist AC, Zwerver J, Meuffels DE, Smithuis F, van Ingen R, van der Giesen F, Visser E, Balemans A, Pols M, Veen N, den Ouden M, Weir A. Dutch multidisciplinary guideline on Achilles tendinopathy. Br J Sports Med. 2021; 55(20): 1125-1134.
