What we need to know about biological therapies for sports injury management

Written in association with: Mr Muhammad Adeel Akhtar
Published:
Edited by: Conor Lynch

Sports injury management is the latest topic up for discussion today at Top Doctors UK. Here, in this article below, esteemed consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Muhammad Adeel Akhtar, explains what biological therapies for sports injury management are, and outlines the various different types of biological treatments available for such injuries today.

What is meant by biological therapies for sports injury management?

Biological therapies are a promising new approach to sports injury management. These therapies use the body’s own natural healing processes to promote tissue repair and regeneration.

 

What are the different types of biological treatments currently available?

There are several different types of biological therapies that are currently being used in sports medicine, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, stem cell therapy, and growth factor therapy.

 

What is PRP therapy?

PRP therapy involves the injection of concentrated platelets into the injured area. Platelets contain growth factors that help to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. Stem cell therapy involves the use of stem cells to regenerate damaged tissue.

 

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into many different types of cells, making them a powerful tool for tissue repair. Growth factor therapy involves the use of growth factors to promote tissue regeneration and repair.

 

How effective are these biological therapies?

Several studies have shown that biological therapies can be effective in treating sports injuries. For example, a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research found that PRP therapy was highly effective when it came to treating chronic tennis elbow. Another study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that stem cell therapy was extremely effective in treating rotator cuff tears.

 

What are alternative treatments for sports injuries?

In addition to these therapies, there are other treatment options available for sports injuries, including physical therapy, medication, and surgery. Physical therapy can help to improve range of motion and reduce pain and inflammation. Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help to reduce pain and inflammation. Surgery may be recommended for more severe injuries.

 

To schedule in an appointment with Mr Muhammad Adeel Akhtar today, just head on over to his Top Doctors profile.

By Mr Muhammad Adeel Akhtar
Orthopaedic surgery

Mr Muhammad Adeel Akhtar is a leading Edinburgh-based consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon. Mr Akhtar is highly experienced in a wide range of orthopaedic procedures, such as knee replacement surgery, knee meniscal tear surgery, knee arthritis treatmentsports injuries management, hip arthritis treatment and hip replacement surgery.
 
Mr Akhtar has shown his dedication to lifelong education throughout his career, continuously training and improving his skills. He first received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of the Punjab in Pakistan, before going on to complete extensive training in the UK. He received his MRCSEd from the Royal College of Surgeons in 2006, and an MD from the University of Edinburgh in 2015. He completed his basic surgical training in Yorkshire and his specialty training in trauma and orthopaedics at the Northern Deanery. Mr Akhtar has also completed several prestigious fellowships, for example, his fellowship on “Lower Limb Arthroscopy, Arthroplasty and Osseointegration” in Sydney. He has been trained in biological therapies from the Academy of Regenerative Medicine, and has received a postgraduate diploma in Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery from the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Glasgow.
 
Currently, Mr Akhtar practices at the Spire Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh, and Kings Park Hospital in Stirling. He is also a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon for the NHS. At his practice, Mr Akhtar treats all types of knee and hip injuries and conditions, with a focus on knee and hip replacement surgery. He also specialises in sports medicine, having successfully completed the Diploma in Sports and Exercise Medicine from the Royal College of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland and is a member of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine UK
 
In addition to his clinical work, Mr Akhtar is a dedicated medical educator. He is an honorary senior lecturer at the School of Medicine of the University of St Andrews, University of Edinburgh and a tutor at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He has also extensively published in medical literature, in different peer-reviewed scientific journals and is currently undertaking a prestigious research fellowship funded by the Chief Scientist Office Scotland on the role of digital health in managing patients with end stage lower limb arthritis.  

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