Dr Glen Rae Director & Consultant Sports and Exercise Medicine
Professional sport experience since 2001 and regular non sporting musculoskeletal clinics since 2007. Sunderland AFC’s Senior Doctor for 20 years and current England’s Men Cricket Doctor.
Dr Glen Rae
MBChB, MSc, DipSEM, MFSEM
Experience in Elite Sport
Since Dr Glen Rae qualified as a medical doctor at the University of Leeds he has worked within professional football since 2001. He was appointed by Roy Keane, as the first full time Sports Medicine Doctor and Head of the Medical Department at Sunderland AFC in 2008.
He has worked in a range of professional sports, including as Chief Medical Officer for Durham CCC and as Head of Sunderland AFC’s Medical and Sport Science Department for over 20 years. He continues to care for jockeys at Newcastle racecourse.
Internationally, he was the FA Team Doctor for the U20 World Cup-winning team in South Korea in 2017 and is currently the England Senior Men’s red and white ball Team Doctor.
Our Philosophy
"The same professional, dedicated and proactive approach to care is given to everyone regardless of the level that they compete at. Our aim is to enable you to return to your desired activity level or sport as soon as possible without recurrence of your injury or ailment."
Alongside professional athletes he works with amateur and non-athletic patients, across the North East of England.
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Qualifications and Memberships
Dr. Rae continues to engage in professional development to remain at the forefront of sports medicine.
- MBChB Medical degree Leeds University
- Member of the Royal College of General Practice qualified GP
- Diploma Sports and Exercise Medicine (Distinction) University of Bath
- MSc Sports and Exercise Medicine (Merit) University of Bath
- Member of the Faculty Sports and Exercise Medicine (UK)
- PGCert Musculoskeletal Ultrasound – Teesside University
Research and Interests
Publications
Improving patients understanding of hip and knee arthroplasty: a prospective study of the role of experienced, dedicated nurse practitioners in the pre-admission settling.
Clinical Governance Bulletin 2004; 5(1):6-8.
Practical approach to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in athletes.
Primary Care Respiratory. 2013;22(1):122-125.
Physiotherapist prescribing in lower back pain: A case study.
Nurse Prescribing 2015; 13(2):561-564
Assessment of Energy Intake and Energy Expenditure of Male Adolescent Academy-Level Soccer Players during a Competitive Week.
Nutrients 2015, 7, 8392-8401
Active Rehabilitation Following Acute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.
Physiotherapy. 2021:O54 Vol 114, Suppl 1, E43-33
The effectiveness of hydrodistension and physiotherapy following previously failed conservative management of frozen shoulder in a UK primary care centre.
Musculoskeletal Care. 2019:18(242)
Retrospective cohort study of the South Tyneside Exercise Referral Scheme 2009-14: predictors of dropout and barriers to adherence.
Journal of Public Health 2016:39(4)
A study of the physical activity of supporters of professional sport.
British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016:50:22)e4.8-e4
The British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification grading system as a predictor of return to play following hamstrings injury in professional football players.
Physical Therapy in Sport. 2022;58(12). DOI 10.1016/j.ptsp.2022.08.002
Posters
Clinical assessment versus MRI findings in the grading of hamstring injuries in professional football.
Br J Sports Med 2014;48:1582
Dr GC Rae, Supervising Clinician.
Review of the long term effects of a career in professional football on hips and knees.
Global Congress on Medicine and Health in Sport, San Francisco, USA 2013
Rae GC, Dhand R.
Metro walk: exercise levels of metro users, an opportunity for increasing activity?
British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017;52(8)
Respiratory health in professional jockeys: A hurdle to optimum performance?
BASEM, Glasgow 2018
Recent Presentations
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Return to Play - Who should make the decision?
International Sport Science and Sports Medicine Conference, University of Northumbria. August 2013.
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Foot and Ankle Injuries – presentation and workshop
SEM Symposium. Newcastle United, St James Park. June 2014
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The Diagnosis and Management of Pars injuries
Northern Sport and Exercise Medicine Conference. March 2026.
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Opportunities for Sport Scientists within professional sport
University of Northumbria Open Day
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Shoulder Pain
GP Educational afternoon, South Tyneside Region. September 2013
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Tendinopathy
GP Educational evening, RCGP North East Group. November 2014
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Sports and Exercise Medicine- Career options
Undergraduate SEM Society, University of Durham. February 2015
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Diagnosis and Management of Knee Problems
GP Educational afternoon, Sunderland Commissioning group. October 2015
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How to diagnose and treat tendon problem
Undergraduate SEM Society, Newcastle University. March 2016
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Injectables in musculoskeletal Medicine
MSc Physiotherapy, Teesside University. May 2023.
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Ultrasound guided musculoskeletal injections
MSc Physiotherapy Course, Teesside University. April 2024.
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Return To Sport
Sport Science Department, University of Newcastle. September 2024.
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From Leeds Medical School to a Headingley Test Match - A career journey
Undergraduate SEM Society, University of Leeds. June 2025.
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Is a Career in Sports and Exercise Medicine for you?
Undergraduate SEM Society, Sunderland University. January 2026.
Research Projects
Hypovitaminosis D within Professional football
MSc Research Module, University of Bath MSc SEM course. Supervised by Dr Emma Stevenson, Reader at University of Northumbria.
The correlation between growth and agility within a football academy
Joint research work between Sunderland AFC and University of Northumbria
Exercise Induced Bronchoconstriction
Joint research between Sunderland AFC and University of Northumbria
Does clinical input within an NHS exercise referral program help to reduce dropout rate?
Joint research between University of Northumbria and MSK CATS, South Tyneside Foundation Trust. Awaiting Publication
Elite Sports Experience
Professional Sports Organisations
Professional Endorsements
"He is an integral part of the backroom staff team... By demonstrating excellent medical knowledge and with his experience of working at the highest levels of professional sport players and myself are always reassured by his diagnosis."
Aidy Boothroyd
Football Manager
"Incredibly professional and caring during tough times. Whether it be illness or injury... Glen is always there."
Graham Onions
England Professional Cricketer & Professional Cricket Coach
Professional Accreditations
Registered Member of
Contact Sports Medicine North East Today
Significant experience working within professional sport and in treating musculoskeletal conditions for all ages.
Sunderland
0191 418 8687