At LI Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, our physiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating sports injuries using nonsurgical methods. Because we want to reduce your pain and restore function as quickly as possible so you can get back into the game, we use a combination of both complementary and traditional treatments. One therapy we have found to be highly successful is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
At all four of our offices across Long Island, the focus is on enhancing the natural healing process by creating a plan individually tailored to meet your particular needs. No matter what your age or pre-existing conditions, our doctors are ready to diagnose and treat you with the customized treatment you deserve. Often, we recommend PRP therapy.
What Are PRP Injections?
When our doctors administer PRP injections, we use your platelets, a significant component of your own blood, to accelerate your body’s natural healing process. Platelets are well-designed for this purpose since they not only facilitate clotting but also contain concentrated growth factors that reduce inflammation and stimulate tissue repair.
How is PRP Produced?
A fairly simple process enables us to enrich your blood with platelets. First, we draw your blood. Then, the tiny cells that are your platelets are separated from the rest of your blood by being put through a centrifuge. When your blood emerges from the centrifuge, it is “platelet-rich,” containing 5 to 10 times more platelets than it did before. When this enriched blood is injected back into your body, you are functioning with a higher grade of fuel.
How PRP Injections Help to Heal Sports Injuries
PRP injections deliver growth factors directly to injured tissues, stimulating healing and promoting collagen formation. This regenerative therapy is effective for various sports injuries, enhancing recovery without surgery.
PRP Helps To Heal a Broad Range of Sports Injuries
Long Islanders are active in a great many sports, each one of which has its own set of injuries to contend with, whether from accidents or due to wear and tear. PRP injections are beneficial for just about all of them.
Golf Injuries
Golfers frequently suffer from the following sports injuries:
- Golfer’s Elbow (medial epicondylitis) causes pain and inflammation on the inside of the elbow due to repetitive swings.
- Rotator Cuff Injuries in the shoulders can strain adjacent muscles and tendons, leading to pain and limited shoulder mobility.
- Low Back Pain due to the rotational stress of their swings.
Tennis Injuries
Tennis players, like all athletic enthusiasts, may hurt just about any part of their body while running, hitting the ball, bending, reaching, or even jumping over the net. Common tennis injuries include:
- Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis) due to overuse of the forearm muscles can cause pain and inflammation on the outside of the elbow.
- Shoulder Injuries, such as rotator cuff tears and impingement syndrome.
Running Injuries
Multiple sports require running and, of course, running itself is an important, respected athletic activity. Running injuries are very common and include:
- Runner’s Knee (Patellar Tendonitis) is frequently the result of overuse, and causes pain and inflammation of the patellar tendon.
- Achilles Tendonitis occurs when the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel is overstretched, resulting in stiffness as well as pain. Running can stress the Achilles tendon, leading to pain and stiffness.
Soccer Injuries
Soccer players are prone to:
- ACL Tears due to sudden stops, changes in direction, and collisions with other players.
- Ankle Sprains, generally caused by twisting and/or playing on uneven terrain.
Football Injuries
Known to be a relatively risky sport, football can result in:
- Concussions due to high-impact collisions and tackles.
- Knee Injuries, e.g. ACL tears and MCL sprains due to the physical demands and sudden movements
- Shoulder Injuries, such as shoulder dislocations and rotator cuff injuries, are commonly caused by tackling and blocking.
Call Us Today To See How PRP Can Help Your Sports Injury Heal
As specialists in sports injuries and in the administration of PRP, the talented doctors of Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine are ready to provide you PRP in addition to a wide range of holistic treatment options. Contact us to learn more about innovative therapies you may not yet be aware of and how they can benefit you and accelerate healing. Whatever the nature or severity of your sports injury, we can likely shorten your path to recovery.