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Unleashing Olympic potential with integrative therapies: Orthobiologic injections

Continuing our exploration of integrative therapies that athletes are embracing during the 2024 Summer Olympics, we turn our attention to orthobiologic injections. While cupping has gained popularity for its recovery benefits, orthobiologic treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and prolotherapy are becoming the go-to options for those looking to harness their body’s natural healing mechanisms. At Rowan Medicine, Dr. Alex King and Dr. Altamash Raja are pioneering these advanced treatments, helping athletes achieve and maintain peak performance.

Orthobiologic injections: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and prolotherapy Platelet-rich plasma Orthobiologic injection

Orthobiologic injections, such as PRP and prolotherapy, are cutting-edge treatments that use the body’s natural healing mechanisms to repair and strengthen tissues. 

What is PRP therapy?

PRP therapy involves extracting a small amount of a patient’s blood, separating the platelet-rich plasma from other blood components, and injecting them back into the injured area.

This plasma is rich in growth factors and proteins that promote tissue repair and reduce pain and inflammation. 
 
Benefits of PRP for athletes: 

  • Augmented Healing: PRP can enhance the healing process of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints.
  • Pain reduction and longevity: These therapies reduce pain and inflammation, allowing athletes to return to their sport more quickly while also promoting longevity and mitigating the risk of re-injury.

What is prolotherapy?

Prolotherapy involves injecting a dextrose solution into the area of the injured body part to stimulate a mild inflammatory response. This response prompts the body to repair and strengthen the damaged tissues.

Benefits of prolotherapy for athletes: 

  • Strengthened tissues: Prolotherapy can enhance the strength and stability of weakened joints and ligaments.
  • Chronic pain relief: Prolotherapy is particularly effective for chronic pain conditions that have not responded to other treatments. 

A Rowan Medicine physician’s perspective

Dr. Raja, specializing in non-operative management of musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries, utilizes orthobiologic injections and advanced ultrasound-guided procedures to treat joint, tendon, ligament, spine and muscle disorders. His expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound allows for precise diagnosis and targeted treatments, ensuring optimal outcomes for athletes. 

“Orthobiologics represent a promising frontier in sports medicine, offering innovative solutions for faster recovery and enhanced healing. By harnessing the body's natural regenerative capabilities, treatments like PRP have the potential to revolutionize how we treat sports injuries, ultimately extending athletes' careers and improving their overall performance,” he said. “Because we are using the individual’s own biologic factors, there is very little risk of adverse effects. One should note that there can be a brief period of increased pain since the first step of healing is an inflammatory process. One way to look at it is that PRP converts a chronic injury into an acute injury so the body can heal properly.”

To book an appointment, call: 856-566-7010.