sensation Bruce Smith , and even the King of Spain among his clients . `` I just think he understands the athletes , the significance of the injuries and he 's able to deal with the personalities that go along with these injuries , '' Hargreaves told CNN . Watch Owen Hargreaves talking about his recovery Â '' Steadman works with a team of 75 doctors who have together repaired some 16,000 knees . He has developed pioneering knee treatments , including `` micro-fracturing , '' which involves making a small hole in a patient 's bone to draw out marrow blood , allowing the patient 's own stem cells and growth factors to make new cartilage . Dr. Steadman says the secret to healing athletes is letting them do what they do best . `` I became convinced early in my career that mobility was important and immobility was a bad thing . `` I was one of the first ones to say , ' I do n't think we 'll use casts , we 'll work on braces , we 'll try to get motion back ' , '' he told CNN . Owen Hargreaves has about a
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It only takes one injury to end an athlete 's career . Anything that impairs an athlete 's performance could mean they 're no longer good enough for the top flight -- that 's why the best athletes need the best treatment if they 're to recover from injury . Owen Hargreaves -LRB- L -RRB- in action before his career was cut short by tendonitis . Manchester United star and England international footballer Owen Hargreaves is known for his versatility and exceptional work rate , but in 2008 his season was cut short by tendonitis . Hargreaves , 27 , was told he would need surgery on both knees to save his career . That 's when he decided to travel to the small mountain ski village of Vail , Colorado , to meet the `` knee whisperer '' -- Dr Richard Steadman . Steadman became fascinated with the way the knee functions and how it can be injured during his university days playing American football . Now known as `` Doctor Steady , '' Steadman is knee specialist to the stars , counting Real Madrid ace Ruud van Nistelrooy , American football