Propel Sports and Orthobiologics
10401 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 104Bethesda, MD 20814
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
For referring physicians
How do I refer a patient to Propel?
The referral pathway
Four steps from your referral to a consult note back in your inbox.
- 1.
Send the referral
Fax (301) 664-1148 or email frontdesk@propelsportsortho.com. Include the reason for referral, recent notes, and any imaging reports. Or call (301) 200-9025.
- 2.
We contact your patient
Our team reaches out to schedule, confirms insurance details, and books the physician whose expertise matches the problem.
- 3.
Evaluation with ultrasound
Your patient gets a full exam and, when useful, diagnostic ultrasound at the first visit, so a working diagnosis and plan come quickly.
- 4.
Consult note back to you
You receive a consult note with findings, the plan, and any procedures performed. For complex cases, our physicians are glad to speak with you directly.
Which physician to route to
Both physicians treat most tendon, joint, and sports problems. Some services sit with one specialist.
Route to Dr. Gruner
Sports Medicine · Orthobiologics · Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Chronic tendinopathy needing percutaneous tenotomy (Tenex) or calcific tendinitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome for ultrasound-guided release
- Trigger finger release
- Chronic exertional compartment syndrome for ultrasound-guided fasciotomy
- Young throwers with elbow overload
Route to Dr. Chen
Sports Medicine · Pain Medicine · Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Neck and back pain, radiculopathy, stenosis, and pain after spine surgery
- Neuropathic pain, CRPS, neuroma, and nerve injury (including EMG/NCS)
- Arthritic or tendon pain for nerve ablation, joint denervation, or nerve modulation
- Migraine, occipital neuralgia, and trigeminal neuralgia
- Spasticity, limb loss, and phantom limb pain
Either physician
- Knee, hip, shoulder, hand, and foot arthritis
- Rotator cuff, gluteal, patellar, and Achilles tendinopathy; small partial tendon tears
- Tennis and golfer's elbow; plantar fasciopathy
- Candidates for PRP, BMAC, or microfragmented adipose tissue
- Frozen shoulder and nerve entrapment
Routing by condition
Referral and records contacts
For records requests, send a signed release to the fax or email below. For a physician-to-physician conversation, call the office and ask for Dr. Gruner or Dr. Chen.
- Phone
- (301) 200-9025
- Referral fax
- (301) 664-1148
- Referral email
- frontdesk@propelsportsortho.com
Referral FAQs
- Which Propel physician should I refer to?
- Route spine, headache, neuropathic pain, nerve ablation, and neurologic rehabilitation to Dr. Chen. Route Tenex, ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release, and exertional compartment syndrome to Dr. Gruner. Most tendon, joint, and sports injuries can go to either physician; if you are unsure, send the referral and we will route it.
- Do you perform surgery?
- No. Propel is a non-surgical practice. When a patient needs surgery, such as for a complete tendon rupture or progressive nerve compression, we tell the patient and coordinate referral to a surgeon, keeping you informed.
- Will my patient come back to me?
- Yes. We treat the musculoskeletal problem you referred and send your patient back to you for ongoing care, with a consult note after the evaluation and updates after any procedure.
- What should go to the emergency department instead?
- Suspected fractures with deformity, hot swollen joints with fever, new loss of bladder or bowel control, rapidly progressing weakness, and sudden severe headache need emergency evaluation, not an outpatient referral.
Opening December 1, 2027
Ready to get back in motion?
We are scheduling new patients now. Book an evaluation to find out what is causing your pain and how to treat it.
Bethesda, MD 20814