PI
Specialization
Sports Medicine
Focus of research
Sports Medicine research is incorporated:Within the Amsterdam UMC through (1) the Amsterdam Movement Sciences (program Sports & Work) and (2) the Academic Center of Evidence Based Sports Medicine (ACES)
Internationally through the IOC Research Center for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health (at the Amsterdam UMC chaired by Prof. G. Kerkhoffs and Prof. E. Verhagen).
The research of J.L. Tol focusses on muscle & tendon injuries, risk factor identification and prevention of sports injuries and ankle injuries.
Muscle & Tendon Sports Injuries
The focus of research on muscles and tendons on the lower extremity muscles and Achilles tendon injuries covers the entire clinical workflow from injury to return to sports. It includes innovative therapies and new imaging modalities (in collaboration with Prof. M. Maas, Prof. G. Strijkers and Prof. A. Nederveen).
Both acute and chronic injuries are studied for which new imaging techniques (e.g. MRI DTI imaging) and rehabilitation and prevention protocols (e.g. re-injury risk acute hamstring) are developed by studying risk factors and injury mechanism. Within this research line, Tol has a strong back ground in conducting randomised controlled trials in the field of tendinopathy and regenerative medicine, including platelet rich plasma and cell therapy (published in NEJM and JAMA).
Risk factor identification and prevention of sports injuries
In compliance with the IOC Research Centers for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health, research projects aim on preventing tennis injuries, identifying risk factors for acute calf and hamstring injuries and developing new preventive strategies for muscle injuries.
Ankle injuries
This research line has a long history within the ACES departments. Tol’s current projects include the value of clinical and imaging parameters on clinical outcome and return to sports in low grade syndesmotic injuries. Our multi-center trial evaluates the efficacy of a regenerative therapy (platelet rich plasma) in post-traumatic ankle osteo-arthritis, which is a common and disabling injury in (retired) elite athletes.