Charleston Sports Medicine Offers Orthobiologics

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Jan. 5, 2015 - PRLog -- Injured athletes do not like to stay out of the game for long.   However, they often try to work through the pain that could be holding them back from their greatest potential.   Orthobiologics is becoming the choice of treatment among elite athletes.  Charleston Sports Medicine has highlighted orthobiologic procedures with a detailed explanation and listed the services provided on their website:  www.charlestonsportsmed.com.

Orthobiologics are substances that orthopaedic surgeons use to help injuries heal more quickly. They are used to improve the healing of broken bones and injured muscles, tendons,and ligaments. These products are made from substances that are naturally found in your body. When they are used in higher concentrations, orthobiologic substances help speed up the healing process. Some key benefits associated with orthobiologic conservative therapies include minimizing impact of degenerative disease, all procedures are completed in the office as an outpatient and recovery is more rapid than surgery. Portions of Orthobiologic Treatments are covered by insurance.

  Some athletes are also considering advanced stem cell procedures as a minimally invasive approach to pain.  Charleston Sports Medicine provides this treatment for their patients.    Amniotic Allograft (Amniotic Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Allograft) is an option for treatment of joint/tendon pain for patients seeking alternatives to surgery. Proven results of stem cells procedures such as allografts include patients with tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis. Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ADMSC) is another procedure using stem cells to help primarily Osteoarthritis of the hip, knee and shoulder.  These advanced stem cell procedures are highlighted on the website:  http://www.charlestonsportsmed.com/amniotic-derived-mesen....

Charleston Sports Medicine also specializes in an Orthobiologics treatment known as “platelet rich plasma” or PRP. PRP therapy for inflamed tendons has been used to treat such injuries as tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis.


PRP is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. The concentrated platelets found in PRP contain large reservoirs of bioactive proteins, including growth factors that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. These bioactive proteins initiate connective tissue healing: bone, tendon and ligament regeneration and repair, promote development of new blood vessels, and stimulate the wound healing process.

To prepare PRP, a small amount of blood is taken from the patient. The blood is placed in a centrifuge, which spins and automatically produces the PRP. The entire process takes less than 15 minutes and increases the concentration of platelets and growth factors up to 500%. When PRP is injected under ultrasound guidance into the damaged area, it stimulates the tendon or ligament, triggering a healing cascade. As a result, new collagen begins to develop. As this collagen matures, it begins to shrink causing the tightening and strengthening of the tendons or ligaments of the damaged area. Results are often seen after one injection, however, sometimes it requires several therapies, scheduled six weeks apart.  Here is a link to a video to learn more:  http://www.charlestonsportsmed.com/services/orthobiologic....

Charleston Sports Medicine is the preeminent center for sports medicine in South Carolina. The orthopedic services treat the full range of muscular and skeletal issues resulting from disease or injury to bones, ligaments, joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves.  At the Daniel Island, South Carolina Charleston Sports Medicine facility, prevention and treatment share equal emphasis. Board Certified and fellowship trained in sports medicine, Bright McConnell, III, MD is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in knee, elbow and shoulder injuries. Known for using the latest non-invasive procedures, Dr McConnell pairs orthopedic surgery experience with bone densitometry, cutting edge orthobiologics and age management credentials.

In addition,  Charleston Sports Medicine offers a unique combination of conservative therapies, a center for bone health, and advanced sports performance testing, as well as renowned orthopedic surgery services for issues such as tennis elbow, knee injury and torn rotator cuff problems and tendonitis. They employ the most modern treatment methods and technologies including Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, in-office x-ray, ultrasound and Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA).  For more information, call 843-284-5200.