Winter Sports Injuries & Stem Cell Therapy: Can This Treatment Help?

While being involved in a sport is a great way to stay active during the winter time, there is always a potential risk for injuries. When an injury occurs, many athletes worry about which method of treatment is best for their active lifestyle. At Dr. Burke Orthopedics, we understand that winter sports players want to treat their injuries while still being able to play their favorite game, so we’ve laid out some common injuries and how stem cell therapy may be able to help:

What are Some Common Winter Sports Injuries?

Some of the most common injuries associated with winter sports include:

Knee Injuries: Your knees absorb most of the shock as you move, and when performing more strenuous activities like running, the amount of shock they absorb increases. This can easily lead to an overuse injury. Additionally, a fall when practicing or playing your sport can lead to a painful knee injury. Two of the most common knee injuries winter sports players experience are torn ligaments and tears in the meniscus.

Elbow Injuries: Winter athletes are often at risk for elbow injuries, especially those involved in games that require repetitive throwing or swinging motions. Lateral epicondylitis, also called “tennis elbow” is an example of an overuse injury of the elbow that may be experienced by winter athletes. While the name may seem as though this injury is limited only to tennis players, it is actually an injury that affects tendons that connect muscles in the wrist and fingers to the elbows and can be experienced by any athlete that frequently uses their elbows to throw.

Hip Injuries: Winter sports that involve a lot of running can eventually lead to painful overuse injuries for athletes. Greater trochanteric bursitis, a kind of hip bursitis, is quite common in those involved in sports that require heavy running. The trochanteric bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a lubricating cushion between the tissue that connects the hip to the top of the shin bone experiences rapid wearing down in those that run often, leading to this painful overuse injury.

How Can Stem Cell Therapy Help These Winter Sports Injuries?

Stem cell therapy is a wonderful option for many athletes, as there is no down-time or invasive surgery that can hold them back from playing their favorite sport during the winter. Stem cells posses the amazing capability to regenerate cartilage, tendons, and even muscles affected by these common overuse injuries. Depending on what kind of tissue the body needs most, the stem cells transform to help rebuild and regenerate tissues to help reduce pain and restore mobility.

Stem cell therapy is becoming quite popular among both professional and non-professional athletes, as the treatment can provide relief from overuse injuries while also keeping them in the game. To learn more about stem cell therapy in Pearland, Texas, give Dr. Burke Orthopedics a call at (713) 436-3488.