sticks - Podesta Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute

HOW
“
OFTEN DO YOU
GO THROUGH
A PAIR OF
STICKS”
Michael Gardner
RHYTHMIC PHYSICIAN
Luga Podesta, MD
cal treatment for the chronic,
painful, and debilitating softtissue injuries that can afflict
musicians on a daily basis.
Orthobiologic therapy is a
cutting-edge treatment that
utilizes the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Platelet-rich
plasma (PRP), also known as
autologous blood component
(ABC) therapy, accelerates
healing of the tissue it is injected into without subjecting the
patient to significant risk.
Blood is made of several different cells including red blood
cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Platelets are
responsible for blood clotting in
the presence of a cut or when
tissue bleeds. However, we now
know that when activated in
the body, platelets release proteins called growth factors that
can accelerate the regeneration
of tissue. By
concentrating these
platelets and
then delivering them into
damaged or
LUGA PODESTA is
injured muscle,
an assistant clinitendon, or ligcal professor of
physical medicine
ament tissue,
and rehabilitawe are able to
tion, practicing
deliver a high
orthopedic sports
medicine.
concentration
14
of these growth factors that
can dramatically enhance tissue
healing and recovery.
PRP treatment works best
for muscle, ligament, and
tendon sprains/strains that
have not responded to more
conservative treatment, including rotator cuff injuries, elbow
instability, tennis and golfer’s
elbow, hamstring and hip
strains, knee sprains and instability, patellar tendinosis, ankle
sprains, achilles tendinosis, and
plantar fasciitis.
Prior to receiving PRP, the
patient must not have used any
anti-inflammatory medications
such as ibuprofen, naproxsyn,
Advil, Aleve, or Celebrex for
four weeks. PRP treatments
are typically performed in the
medical office where blood is
drawn from the patient and
placed in a special centrifuge,
where the platelets are concentrated and separated from the
red blood cells by spinning the
blood at very high speeds for
15 minutes. The red blood cells
are discarded, and the resulting platelet concentrate is used
for treatment. While the blood
is spinning in the centrifuge,
the painful area is anesthetized
with local anesthesia medications. The PRP concentrate is
then injected into the tissue to
be treated under direct dynamic
years
 None
“Maybe once a
month. I switched
to oak recently and that’s made a
big difference.”
Platelet-Rich Plasma
We now have a nonsurgi-
 19
 9
ORTHOBIOLOGIC
THERAPY IS A
CUTTING-EDGE
TREATMENT
THAT UTILIZES
THE BODY’S
NATURAL ABILITY
TO HEAL ITSELF
Alex Curtis
 30
 15
years
 Stagnant
“Once a week if I
practice three to
four times a week. If I’m playing
live, then maybe two pairs a night.”
Nick Kane
 14
 2
years
ultrasound guidance. The entire
treatment, from blood draw to
injection, takes 30 minutes.
After the procedure has
been completed, an ice pack
is applied and the patient is
discharged. Anti-inflammatory
medications need to be avoided
for two to three months after
completion of the PRP injection.
Most cases typically respond to
a single treatment. However,
for more chronic or advanced
cases, multiple treatments may
be necessary.
To get maximum benefit
from the treatment, and to
help prevent re-injury, a specially designed home-based
rehabilitation and exercise
program is incorporated into
your treatment. This helps the
newly developing connective
tissue to mature into healthy
and strong muscle, tendon, or
ligament fibers.
 No Reason
“Probably
monthly.”
Mike Gunn
 50

 Renegade,
Sleight Of Hand,
Jimmy Williams
Band
“At least three or four gigs if
you can go without breaking
them. And they lighten up over
those gigs so they’re a little
easier to use.”
Andrew Haut
 16
 2.5
years
 None
“Once a week. I’m
practicing a lot.”
This month’s P.O.V. conducted at the
Todd Sucherman/Jimmy DeGrasso
clinic at San Jose Pro Drum
DRUM! May 2010 drummagazine.com
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3/11/10 11:43:00 AM