Monday, September 11, 2017

Rebuilding Knee Stability and Performance

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.