Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Elite Joint Solutions offers expert treatment to support recovery from common MSK conditions. Hyaluronic Acid injections help reduce joint pain and improve mobility by restoring natural lubrication. A safe, repeatable treatment for long-term relief from arthritis and joint conditions.
Why Choose a Hyaluronic Acid Injeciton
Hyaluronic Acid What is it
What Are They? Hyaluronic acid injections have been used for several years to manage joint pain, particularly in osteoarthritis and following joint-related surgery. The injection contains components naturally found in healthy joint fluid, which help lubricate the joint and improve movement, potentially reducing pain and stiffness. More recently Ostenil has developed a product called "ostenil Tendon" which is used to treat tendon injuries such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis and patella tendonitis. Are They Available on the NHS? Currently, hyaluronic acid injections are not licensed for routine use on the NHS. This is mainly due to the high cost of the medication and clinical trials showing outcomes that are comparable to corticosteroid injections, which are significantly more affordable—often over 30 times cheaper. That said, there is some evidence suggesting hyaluronic acid may provide longer-lasting relief, especially at the six-month mark, when compared to steroids. However, the validity and strength of these studies remain under debate.
What Are the Benefits & Risks
What Are the benefits Hyaluronic acid injections are very safe when compared to other injections such as steroid injections. Their is no risk of rupturing the tendons with Hyaluronic acid injections which adds a significant benefit. It also means that we can inject the tendons or joints immediately as the risks involved are minimal. Because Hyaluronic acid injections are safe you can have as many as you want. This is a significant limitation with steroid injections due to the risks involved. What Are the Risks? One of the advantages of hyaluronic acid injections is their low risk of long-term side effects. Because the substance mimics the natural components of joint fluid, there is no strict limit on the number of injections you can receive over time—unlike corticosteroids, which require careful monitoring due to potential systemic effects. Potential risks include: Infection (as with any injection procedure) injection soreness, which typically resolves within a few days Efficacy and safety of intraarticular hyaluronic acid and corticosteroid for knee osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis - PubMed
Hyaluronic Acid vs Steroid injection
Why consider a Hyaluronic Acid injection vs a Steroid inejction There are several reasons why a hyaluronic acid injection may be recommended instead of, or after, a steroid injection. Firstly, if steroid injections have not provided sufficient relief, a hyaluronic acid injection may be a useful alternative. Some patients experience improved short-term pain relief as well as longer-term benefits compared with conventional steroid injections. Another advantage is the lower risk of side effects. This is particularly important when treating conditions around tendons. Steroid injections can weaken tendon tissue and, in rare cases, increase the risk of tendon damage or rupture. Hyaluronic acid does not carry this risk, making it a safer option for injections around tendon structures. Repeated or long-term exposure to steroids can also be associated with systemic side effects, including osteoporosis, adrenal dysfunction, and renal complications. Hyaluronic acid injections do not carry these risks because hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found within joints and soft tissues, where it helps with lubrication and shock absorption. Because of this favourable safety profile, hyaluronic acid injections can be repeated if required, allowing ongoing symptom management without the concerns associated with repeated steroid use.
Our Unique Procedure Explained Anaesthetic Guided injections
At Elite Joint Solutions, what sets us apart is our experience and precision.With over 10 years in injection therapy, we pride ourselves on delivering highly accurate treatments, targeting the right structure efficiently to minimise discomfort and maximise results. Our clinical expertise also means we can often diagnose the problem through a thorough assessment alone—saving you time, money, and unnecessary scans that don’t always change early treatment decisions.We also offer anaesthetic-guided injections in more complex cases. This involves numbing a specific structure and reassessing your movement shortly after. If your pain settles immediately, it helps confirm the true source of your symptoms—something that even MRI or ultrasound scans may not detect, especially when dealing with subtle inflammation.If you’d like to learn more or discuss whether this approach is right for you, feel free to get in touch.
Which Product Should I choose
At Elite Joint Solutions, we determine our treatments based on both clinical experience and the best available scientific evidence.For this reason, we do not partner exclusively with a single supplier. Instead, we work with multiple trusted companies and select the products that we believe offer the best outcomes for our patients.We currently partner with Ostenil and Biolevox. Each company provides specialised products that are particularly suited to different joints and musculoskeletal conditions.By working with more than one provider, we are able to choose the most appropriate product for each specific condition and area of the body, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.Below is a brief overview of the products we use and the conditions they are most commonly recommended for.
Ostenil Tendon
For small tendon injuries such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and De Quervain’s tendinopathy, shoulder tendonitis we commonly recommend Ostenil Tendon.
This product contains 40 mg of hyaluronic acid in a 2 ml solution, which provides sufficient volume to surround and bathe the affected tendon. Hyaluronic acid helps to reduce friction, support tendon healing, and improve movement, which can lead to long-term pain relief and improved function.
By delivering the treatment directly to the affected tendon, it can help create an optimal environment for recovery while reducing ongoing irritation and inflammation.
Biolevox
For larger joints such as the knee, we often recommend Biolevox HA.
This product offers two key advantages:
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High hyaluronic acid content – It contains 120 mg of hyaluronic acid, which increases the potential for the solution to coat and lubricate the entire joint, particularly in cases where osteoarthritis is more widespread.
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Larger injection volume – The injection comes in a 4.8 ml solution, which allows for greater distribution of the hyaluronic acid throughout the joint space, helping to improve joint lubrication and potentially enhance symptom relief.
By using a product with both a high concentration and larger volume, we aim to maximise joint coverage and therapeutic benefit, especially in larger joints such as the knee.
Ostenil Plus
For smaller joints such as the elbow, hand joints, and joints of the foot, we often recommend Ostenil Plus.
This product is particularly well suited to smaller joints for two main reasons:
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Appropriate injection volume – The volume of the injection is well matched to the size of smaller joints, allowing effective treatment without overfilling the joint space.
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Contains mannitol – Mannitol is included to help stabilise the hyaluronic acid and reduce oxidative breakdown, which may also help limit swelling and inflammation that contribute to joint pain, particularly in osteoarthritis.
These features make it a reliable and well-tolerated option for treating pain and stiffness in smaller joints.
Ostenil Tendon / Biolevox
For larger tendon injuries such as patellar tendinopathy and Achilles tendinopathy, we commonly recommend Ostenil Tendon or Biolevox HA.
These products contain 40 mg and 44 mg of hyaluronic acid respectively in a 2 ml solution, which provides sufficient volume to surround and bathe the affected tendon.
Hyaluronic acid helps to reduce friction within the tendon sheath, support the healing environment, and improve movement, which can lead to long-term pain relief and improved function.
By delivering the treatment directly to the affected tendon, the injection helps create an optimal environment for recovery while reducing ongoing irritation and inflammation.
Conditions we Commonly Treat with Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a condition characterised by pain on the outside of the elbow. Data from the mid-2000s showed that over 10% of patients with tennis elbow who received a steroid injection were worse off at one year. It is thought that the weakening effect steroids can have on tendons may be a contributing factor. For this reason, I recommend considering a hyaluronic acid injection for this condition, as it does not carry the same risk of tendon damage.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a leading cause of heel pain. Due to the risk of steroid injections causing damage to the surrounding soft tissues, I recommend a hyaluronic acid injection for this condition. If effective, hyaluronic acid injections can be repeated regularly, unlike steroid injections, which are typically limited due to their potential tissue-weakening effects.
Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of knee pain, particularly among older adults, and it can be very debilitating. If steroid injections are no longer providing relief, and you are not yet ready to consider knee replacement surgery, hyaluronic acid injections may be a suitable option. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the joint that helps to lubricate movement and maintain joint homeostasis. By supplementing this, injections may help improve pain and function.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is a condition characterised by pain at the back of the heel. There is strong evidence to suggest that steroid injections around the Achilles tendon can increase the risk of tendon rupture. This is thought to be due to the weakening effect that steroids can have on tendon tissue. For this reason, I recommend considering a hyaluronic acid injection for this condition, as it does not carry the same risk of tendon damage.
De Quervains
You can consider a hyaluronic acid injection for dequervains to help settle your pain in physio or medications are not helping.
Other Conditions we recommend treating with hyaluronic acid.
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Patella Tendinitis
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Shoulder Impingement
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Rotator cuff
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Ankle Arthritis
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Toe / foot Arthritis
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Hamstring tendinopathy / tendinitis
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Golfers elbow
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Shoulder Arthritis