The shoulders, knees, and elbows are particularly vulnerable to overuse injuries. Rotator cuff tears, for example, are a common overuse injury of the shoulder. Each year, surgeons perform over 75,000 rotator cuff repair surgeries in the United States alone.
In the dynamic field of sports medicine, innovative therapies like biologic injections using platelet-rich plasma, or mesenchymal cells can enhance healing, and help patients recover faster from overuse injuries.
These regenerative therapies support your body’s natural ability to heal itself. Here at Advantage Orthopedics in Dublin, Ohio, board-certified shoulder, knee, and elbow surgeon Thomas Joseph Kovack, DO, combines conventional treatments with cutting-edge regenerative therapies to provide comprehensive care for overuse injuries. If you've been struggling with nagging pain, consider exploring regenerative options, biologically enhanced injections may be just what you need.
Overuse injuries develop gradually due to repeated stress on a particular joint or muscle group. They’re common in athletes, active individuals, and those with physically demanding jobs. You’re also more likely to develop an overuse injury as you age. Conditions like tendonitis, bursitis, and stress fractures fall under this category, and they can affect joints like the shoulder, elbow, or knee.
These injuries occur when the body doesn't have enough time to repair itself between activities, leading to micro-damage that builds up over time. While many overuse injuries can heal with rest and physical therapy, some linger, or fail to respond to these conventional treatments. That's where biologically enhanced injections can make a difference.
Biologically enhanced injections are part of a broader field known as regenerative medicine, which focuses on harnessing the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Dr. Kovack uses two of the most common forms of these injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and mesenchymal cellular therapy.
PRP treatment involves drawing a small amount of your blood, then processing it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets before injecting the PRP into the injured area. Platelets are a concentrated source of growth factors that promote tissue repair and reduce inflammation, making them an ideal treatment for overuse injuries.
Mesenchymal cellular therapy uses stem cells, often harvested from your own bone marrow or fat tissue, to promote tissue regeneration. When injected into the affected area, stem cells can differentiate into the specific types of cells needed for healing, such as tendon, ligament, or cartilage cells.
These injections work by enhancing your body’s natural healing response, helping to repair damaged tissue more efficiently than it might on its own.
If you’ve been nursing an overuse injury and haven’t found relief through more traditional methods, biologically enhanced injections could be a game-changer. One of the main benefits of these treatments is that they address the underlying cause of the injury rather than just managing symptoms. The growth factors and regenerative cells in these injections can significantly reduce recovery time, helping you get back to your regular activities sooner.
Because biologically enhanced injections use your body’s own cells or blood components, the risk of allergic reactions or complications is low. The recovery time is relatively short, meaning you can often resume physical therapy or light activity shortly after treatment.
At Advantage Orthopedics, we take a personalized approach to treating overuse injuries. Following a comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Kovack will create a comprehensive treatment plan. Regenerative therapies can be used alongside other treatments. In cases where the damage is more severe and surgery is the most appropriate course of action, biologic injection therapy can accelerate healing and support recovery.
If you're tired of dealing with the limitations of an overuse injury, it may be time to explore biologically enhanced injections. Our providers are here to help you understand your options and determine the best course of action for your recovery. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward accelerated healing and a better quality of life.
