If you play any sport, you
know that knee injuries are extremely common. Often, a tear of one ligament is
associated with other tears and strains so that recovery of knee stability and
sports performance can be a real challenge. Athletes who play soccer, basketball, field hockey, gymnastics,
lacrosse, skiing, snowboarding and volleyball are most susceptible to Anterior
Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries, while Medial Cruciate Ligament (MCL) injuries
are more often experienced in hockey and wrestling. This is a bit different
from knee problems experienced by people who participate in cycling, rugby,
running, swimming and water polo which generally lead to overuse injuries.
Acute injuries occur suddenly during an
activity. In athletes, the most common acute injuries are ACL and MCL sprains.
A sprain is the stretching or tearing of a ligament. An ACL injury can occur when an athlete changes direction quickly, stops
suddenly, or lands from a jump. MCL injuries often occur in contact sports when
the outside of the knee joint is struck. Overuse injuries are caused by a
repeated action or continuous pressure on the knee which can result in
bursitis, patellar tendinitis (“jumper’s knee”) or patellofemoral pain syndrome
(“runner’s knee”). What we know is that with ACL or MCL
surgery or even with minimally invasive arthroscopy procedures, biomechanical
instability can
result in a lack of performance for athletes. Even
when ACL or MCL repair is successful, patients often report that they still
suffer from pain and a loss of flexibility and are just unable to reach their
desired performance levels in sports and athletic activities.
Regenerative Orthopedic
Medicine for Rebuilding Knee Stability and Performance
By using highly targeted regenerative orthopedic medicine treatments
that might include stem cell and platelet rich plasma injections (PRP) directly
into the knee ligaments and tendons, it is possible to restore the knee to
normal function. Growth factors in these regenerative injections facilitate the
non-operative removal and repair of damaged tissue which allows stabilizing
muscles to strengthen. As a result, you can often return to the normal range of
motion and flexibility experienced before the knee injury occurred. These are
same-day procedures done in as little as an hour causing minimal discomfort and
virtually no down time. Often patients
experience decreased symptoms within one week but the full effect takes 2-3
months.
Drive
the Body’s Power, Return to ‘Body Strong’
To get help for knee
problems, restore strength, range of motion and stability or learn more about
Regenerative Orthopedic Medicine treatments including stem cells and platelet
rich plasma (PRP) injections, schedule a consultation with Daniel Southern,
M.D. by calling 203-702-6629 or visiting www.regenerativeorthopedicmedicinect.com,
Google+, www.facebook.com/DanielSouthernMD.