Category Archives: Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: Purpose & Effectiveness

You may have heard about athletes like Tiger Woods getting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to help heal an injury. These shots, which are based on your own blood, are increasingly being used to treat sports injuries and to help wounds heal after surgery. Some doctors even use it as a cosmetic procedure to target signs of aging, such as wrinkles. But does it work? Heres what to keep in mind.

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood thats mostly made of water and protein. It lets red and white blood cells and platelets move through your bloodstream. Platelets are a type of blood cell that makes your blood clot. They also play a role in healing.

Doctors may use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on injuries or damage to tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints, and skin.

To collect plasma, a doctor draws blood from your body and uses a machine to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood. Then the doctor numbs the area of your body being treated with PRP injections. Once youre numb, the doctor uses a needle to inject your plasma into the area of your body being treated.

For example, if youre being treated for a muscle injury, your doctor would inject plasma into several locations in that muscle. In some cases, doctors use ultrasound technology during injections to make sure theyre targeting the right area. PRP injections usually take about 30 minutes, though it depends on the area youre targeting.

Once platelets are in the area thats being treated, they break down and release growth factors, which are compounds that help cells repair and renew. This is thought to trigger your bodys healing process.

PRP injections are used to treat torn tendons, tendinitis, muscle injuries, arthritis-related pain, and joint injuries. Theyre becoming more common for cosmetic procedures, too. For example, dermatologists and hair replacement experts use PRP injections to treat a type of hair loss called androgenic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern baldness, which affects men and women. And some dermatologists provide PRP treatments for the face. (You may have heard these called a vampire facial.)

More studies are needed to see what conditions PRP can work on. So far, research shows that it speeds healing after injury or surgery for certain conditions, like torn tendons. In addition to helping injured tissue heal, some studies show PRP injections curb pain and boost mobility for people with rotator cuff injuries. PRP injections appear to reduce hair loss in people with male or female pattern baldness. But its not clear whether facial PRP injections ease visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and sagging skin.

It can take several weeks for PRP injections to start working. For some conditions, particularly those affecting the hair or the skin, it may take up to 6 months to notice the full effects. For some conditions, including hair loss, you may need to repeat the procedure to maintain the results.

Youll likely need to stop taking certain medications that thin your blood, like aspirin and ibuprofen, before you get PRP injections. You may also need to take a break from certain vitamins or supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids. Your doctor can tell you exactly what you need to do to prepare for these shots.

PRP doesnt usually cause major side effects. But because it involves drawing blood, youll want to make sure you eat before the procedure. That will help you avoid feeling lightheaded when you get PRP injections.

After the shot, you shouldnt wash the area that was treated for 48 hours. You might notice some soreness and bruising in the area that received injections. If you feel sharp or intense pain, let your doctor know.

PRP injections may or may not be covered by your health insurance, so check your plans details. If youre getting it for cosmetic reasons -- for example, PRP injections for hair loss -- your insurance probably wont cover it. Treatment can cost $250 to $1,500 a session, and you may need several sessions to see results.

You cant get PRP injections if you have:

You should only get PRP injections from a licensed doctor.

SOURCES:

Hospital for Special Surgery: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP).

Johns Hopkins Medicine: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP).

Cedars-Sinai: Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Platelet-Rich Plasma for Cosmetic Facial Procedures Promising Results, but Evidence Has Limitations.

American Academy of Dermatology: Is platelet-rich plasma the secret to younger-looking skin?

PLOS ONE: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Treating Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Randomized Control Trial with Synchronous Observational Cohort.

The rest is here:
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: Purpose & Effectiveness

Business beat – The Spokesman-Review

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 18, 2020

Spokane Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, a division of Columbia Surgical Specialists, has hired Brittany Martin, MSN, APRN, FNP-C. Martin graduated magna cum laude from Whitworth University and WSU College of Nursing, then completed graduate studies at Gonzaga University and graduated with honors. She is a Spokane native and worked at Columbia Surgical Specialists through her graduate studies. Martin will provide various in-office procedures, including Botox/Dysport injections, filler treatments, miraDry treatments, platelet rich plasma injections and intense-pulsed light therapy. She also will assist with post-op appointments.

Paul Merritt has been appointed as the CEO of Fatbeam, a fiber-broadband internet provider in the Coeur dAlene and Spokane areas. He has nearly 20 years experience in the telecom industry. Merritt recently served in the hyperscalers-business segment for Lumen, formerly CenturyLink, managing strategies for product and solution development and sales performance. Prior to his role at Lumen, Merritt directed all aspects of daily-sales operations for cloud, software, and infrastructure vertical teams at Zayo. He also has served as the regional vice president for Comcast Business and has held various positions with XO Communications, Qwest (CenturyLink), Redapt and Allstream.

Spokane Home Builders Association has hired Jennifer Thomas as the membership services director and Beth Hanson as office manager. Thomas previously worked with SHBAs advertising agency, QUINN, where she headed the digital advertising team. She has also been a strategist for multiple Spokane businesses. In her new role, Thomas will oversee member services, such as recruitment and retention efforts and member benefit programs. Hanson previously worked for Douglass Properties, serving nine years as a property manager and four years as the accounts payable processor, assistant to the financial controller and senior property manager. In her new role, she will handle office operations, database management and financial oversight. She will also serve as a staff liaison for the Finance and Education Committees and the Remodelers Council.

Numerica Credit Union has been honored as Outstanding Community Lender for the U.S. Small Business Administrations Seattle District, which includes all of Washington state and North Idaho. The award recognizes the community bank or credit union which closed the most standard SBA loans in the district during the SBA fiscal year, which ran from October 2019 to September . The award only measures traditional SBA 7 (a) loans, which provide assistance to small businesses. Loans and relief provided by banks and credit unions due to COVID-19 legislation, such as Paycheck Protection Program loans, were not included in the U.S. Small Business Administrations count of standard SBA loans for this award. Numerica is headquartered in Spokane Valley and has more than 158,000 members in Central and Eastern Washington and North Idaho. It manages $2.9 billion in assets.

Inland Empire Property Watch has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association. The NHWA is an organization that was founded in 2009 with the goal to create and maintain high-industry standards for Home Watch and absentee homeowner services throughout the United States and Canada. Home Watch is a visual inspection service for homes and other properties available to property owners who are not physically present to oversee their property. Inland Empire Property Watch is owned by John and Shari Miller who reside in Wilbur, Washington. Originally from Skagit Valley, Washington, they moved to Eastern Washington in 2012 and worked at Lake Roosevelt, where they operated the Keller Ferry and managed the Keller Ferry Marina and Campground for several years.

After meeting many seasonal residents in the area, they recently decided to open Inland Empire Property Watch.

The business serves Wilbur, Davenport, Republic, Seven Bays and Grand Coulee. Accreditation through NHWA ensures that owners and operators of Home Watch service providers have passed criminal background checks; maintain insurance coverage for general and professional liability and proper bonding; display truthful website and advertising content; and adhere to the NHWAs code of ethics and mission statement. NHWA also checks on the providers consumer complaints.

Plenty of us will be happy to see 2020 in our rear-view window come Jan. 1.

Read more:
Business beat - The Spokesman-Review

Global Platelet Rich Plasma Market Recent Trends and Developments, Challenges and Opportunities, key drivers and Restraints over the Forecast Period…

Global Platelet Rich Plasma MarketIndustry Trends and Forecast to 2027 New Research Report Added to Databridgemarketresearch.com database. The report width Of pages : 350 Figures: 60 And Tables: 220 in it. The report makes available an overview of the industry which is gaining momentum in the last few years. The market report uses a range of steps for collecting, recording, analysing and interpreting market data to make this report all-inclusive. It also offers an outline of the industry that might promote interest among prospective investors, large corporations and everyday users who could participate in the next big opportunity or make their lives just a little easier. The Global Platelet Rich Plasma Market report comprises of the list of leading competitors, strategic industry analysis and the insights of key factors influencing the industry.

Global Platelet Rich Plasma Market is expected to rise from its initial estimated value of USD 182.10 million in 2018 to an estimated value of USD 519.83 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 14.01% in the forecast period of 2019-2026. This rise in market value can be attributed to the increasing usage of platelet rich plasma therapy in therapeutic areas.

Get Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-platelet-rich-plasma-market

Global Platelet Rich Plasma Market by Type (Pure p Platelet-Rich Plasma, leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma, pure platelet-rich fibrin, leukocyte-rich platelet-rich fibrin), Origin (Allogeneic prp, Autologous prp, Homologous prp), Application (Orthopedics, Dermatology, Dental, Cardiac muscle injury, Nerve injury, others), End-user (Hospitals & Clinics, Research Institutions), Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends & Forecast to 2026

Competitive Analysis:

Global platelet rich plasma market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of platelet rich plasma market for global, Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East & Africa.

Key Market Competitors: Global Platelet Rich Plasma Market

Few of the major competitors currently working in the Platelet Rich Plasma market are T-Biotechnology (Turkey), Arthrex, Inc (U.S.)., Terumo BCT, Inc. (U.S.) , EmCyte Corporation (U.S.), DePuySynthes (U.S.), Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc (U.S.), Stryker (U.S.) , Glofinn OY (Finland), Dr. PRP America (U.S.), AdiStem, Ltd. (Australia), Arteriocyte Medical Systems, Inc. (U.S.), CellMedix Holdings, LLC (U.S.), Exatech, Inc (U.S.) . Cesca Therapeutics, Inc. (US), Nuo Therapeutics, Inc.(US), Regen Lab SA (Switzerland),. Cytomedix Inc. (US), China Biologic Products Inc. (CHINA), CSL Ltd.(Australia) , Biotest AG(Germany) , Among Others.

Market Definition: Global Platelet Rich Plasma Market

Platelet rich plasma is used in surgical procedures to repair augment tissue and enhance repairing of soft tissue. Platelet rich plasma therapy relieves pain by promoting long lasting healing of musculoskeletal conditions and it is used for treatment of arthritis, tendonitis, ligament sprain and tear.

Market Drivers

Market Restraints

Grab Your Report at an Impressive 30% Discount! Please clickHere@https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-platelet-rich-plasma-market

Segmentation: Global Platelet Rich Plasma Market

Key Developments in the Market:

Reasons to Purchase this Report

Customization of the Report:

Note: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.

About Data Bridge Market Research:

Data Bridge Market Researchset forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.

Contact:

Data Bridge Market Research

US: +1 888 387 2818

UK: +44 208 089 1725

Hong Kong: +852 8192 7475

Email:Corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com

Read more:
Global Platelet Rich Plasma Market Recent Trends and Developments, Challenges and Opportunities, key drivers and Restraints over the Forecast Period...

Walking The Tight Rope With Dinelson Lamet | RotoGraphs Fantasy Baseball – fangraphs.com

Stability is important in fantasy baseball, especially when it involves early-round picks. When we talk stability it can mean two things. It can mean stability of health or stability of skill set. With your early-round picks you of course want players with very few holes in their skills and players who stay on the field. I now present you with someone who teeters on a tight rope with both health and skill set: Dinelson Lamet.

Feeding off his late surge in 2019 Lamet came into 2020 like a tiger eyeing down its prey. He pounced on the competition lighting a fire from within and produced a phenomenal 2.09 ERA, .086 WHIP, and 27 K-BB%. A fantastic season for sure. He was able to have an elite season by changing his pitch mix and throwing his slider over 50% of the time. A true Patrick Corbin blueprint.

Lamets slider could arguably be called the best pitch in baseball. Last season it produced a .197 wOBAcon, 23 SwStr%, and 19.7 pVAL. It induced weak contact, created whiffs, and was utilized to perfection. It was utilized so well that his 19.7 pVAL was the highest of any pitch in baseball. The next closest was Marco Gonzales fastball which had a 14.3 pVAL (love me some Marco). Overall a great pitch. One small flaw to point out about Lamets slider is his command.

All over the place. It looks like he wants to push it low and away but he was only able to achieve that 40% of the time, a percentage that ranks second-worst in the league. Whats crazy is that even when he leaves it in the heart of the plate it still produces great results. Opposing hitters only had a .068 ISO and .103 wOBA against it. Compare that to Kenta Maedas slider which had a .524 ISO and .456 wOBA when left in the same location. That is clearly a testament as to how good his slider is that even when he misses, it doesnt matter. Im curious as to if that can continue.

Next up is his four-seam fastball, a pitch he threw 37% of the time. Meaning his slider and fastball make up for 91% of his pitches, making him a two-pitch pitcher (problem number one). The fastball took some big strides this year compared to last season.

Dinelson Lamets Fastball

This shows you the chain reaction of Lamets four-seam development. The velocity rose over one mile per hour causing an uptick in vertical movement. Because of the increased movement hitters werent able to jump on it like the season before. Although the overall 2020 numbers arent exactly great compared to the league average, they were good enough to elevate his game.

If you stopped right there everything seems great for Lamet besides the obvious caveat of only having two pitches. Here is the problem with Lamets new increased velocity. In the month of August, his fastball averaged 97.2 MPH. In all five of his starts it sat over the 97.0 mark. Come September his fastball average 96.9 MPH. Only two of his five starts did he eclipse 97.0 MPH. The way I interpret this is Lamet knew it was a short season, he knew he could push his velocity and it eventually started to normalize on him.

On the chart you can see the massive decline as the season went on. But you see where it climbs back up towards the end of the season? For two starts in September he pushed it back up to 97 MPH and what do you think happens when you push your arm too hard? In his last start of the year Lamet was pulled with bicep tightness.

The bicep issue turned into an elbow issue, symptoms of biceps and elbow injuries can show up in similar ways. Since there is no ligament damage the Padres decided to go the PRP (platelet-rich plasma therapy) route. This is a big issue because not only has Lamet needed Tommy John surgery in the past but pitchers who have had PRP injections have ended up needing the surgery anyway. Look no further than his former teammate Garrett Richards.

This makes Lamet a major injury risk, but lets say he takes the shots and it works. How will he be able to push his fastball velocity for an entire season? We have to expect regression on his fastball and when that happens you get the 2019 version of Dinelson Lamet. That leaves you with a 4.07 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 24 K-BB% from your likely SP2.

Does taking a player in the first four rounds who is walking on a tight rope sound like someone youd like to roster? With a current overall ADP of 65 and as the 24th pitcher off the board Dinelson Lamet becomes a spine-chilling acquisition. Reaching the other side is unlikely and falling one way or the other seems evident.

Here is the original post:
Walking The Tight Rope With Dinelson Lamet | RotoGraphs Fantasy Baseball - fangraphs.com

Insiders Advice: Prevent Shoulder Surgery With These 5 Options (12/17/20) – Southeast Missourian

Thursday, December 17, 2020

The shoulder joint is the most mobile and least stable joint in your body. The more mobile a joint is, the less stable it is; and the more stable a joint, is the less mobile it is. If a joint is functioning properly, it will not degenerate or cause pain.

When a joint stops functioning correctly, it breaks down and becomes painful, causing us to not move it as much. This results in it becoming dehydrated and reduces joint space, causing damage, degeneration, and pain.

The most common shoulder issues are degeneration and rotator cuff injuries.

Traditional medical treatments include steroid injections, medications, and surgery, which focus on reducing the pain, symptoms, and have inherent risks and downtime. They also dont focus on restoring the function of the joint to stop the damaging process.

Sign up for Daily Headlines

Get each day's latest first thing in the morning.

Here are some of the functional medical treatments available at PC Medical Centers:

1. PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections Plasma is injected into the shoulder joint, improving the healing response and function of the joint as well as increasing the joint space.

2. Regenerative Medicine injections High in Mesenchymal Stem Cells, this injection helps tissues regrow and heal.

3. Lidocaine and Sterile Solution injections Adds fluid to the joint and increases the joint space, improving the ability to move the joint.

4. Physical Therapy PT helps improve joint stability by improving the muscle tone around the joint.

5. Chiropractic Care Helps improve joint mobility by adjusting the joint, which improves the function.

Other options include Laser Therapy, Acupuncture, Myofascial Release (muscle work), and nutrition. Our goal is to get the patient back to doing what they would like, with little to no downtime. We assess the patient, identify the functional limitations, and create a personalized plan to restore the function to the joint.

Call 573-335-9188 by the end of December to schedule your free consultation with PC Medical Centers.

Original post:
Insiders Advice: Prevent Shoulder Surgery With These 5 Options (12/17/20) - Southeast Missourian

Facts you should know about Osteoarthritis – The New Indian Express

Express News Service

KOCHI: Osteoarthritis, commonly known as OA, is a joint disease caused by the disintegration of cartilage in a joint in the body. It is primarily found in weight-bearing joints such as the ankle and knee but also arises in joints of the hand as a result of daily activity. Knee joint OA is a progressive disorder. The degeneration of the articular cartilage (white tissue that protects bones from rubbing against each other) causes knee pain, stiffness and a weakened joint structure.

While cartilage serves as a natural cushion between the bones, synovial fluid lubricates and supplies adequate oxygen to the joint, facilitating smooth joint motion in a healthy individual. Over time, the cartilage weakens and becomes thinner, resulting in roughness around the joint. As this develops, pain and swelling of the knee come into play, making everyday movements such as walking or sitting laborious. Stage one OA is minor and is usually accompanied by minimal pain or discomfort. The joint looks normal on x-ray.

In stage two, bone deposits called Osteophytes grow in number around the joint as the cartilage weakens further. Stiffness aggravates, especially after the person stays in a sitting position for long periods of time.Moderate OA or stage three is when day-to-day activities such as walking, running, bending and kneeling cause distress owing to loss of cartilage and inflammation. As OA advances into the severe stage four, symptoms are very prominent. Cartilage breaks down, joint fluid reduces, diagnosis shows bone against bone contact and even walking becomes painful.

To boost overall joint health, an anti-inflammatory diet may be followed. This includes antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, extra virgin olive oil and low-fat dairy products like cheese, milk and yogurt which are high in vitamin D and calcium. Excess body weight can increase pressure around the knee joint and, in turn, cause inflammation.

Immediate pain relief for OA is possible with standard medications such as Paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, superficial creams, etc. To reduce unbearable pain, direct steroid injections have also been employed in the past. PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma is a newly-found regenerative therapy that is extremely effective for knee OA. When PRP is injected into the joint, its dose is certified according to need.

The technique has been proven to greatly reduce knee pain and stiffness, gradually bringing back ease of movement to the patient. This process, combined with other medicines and physiotherapy, triggers the natural healing tendencies of the patients blood.Severe cases of OA are treated with surgeries such as total knee replacement (TKR) or high tibial osteotomy (HTO).The author is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Regencare, Kochi.

More:
Facts you should know about Osteoarthritis - The New Indian Express

Garrett Richards is the epitome of a risk-reward free agent – Bless You Boys

Free agent righthander Garrett Richards is one of the most successful what could have been stories of the past decade. Eye-popping stuff sabotaged by a lengthy injury history have made him a staple on lists of buy low candidates in fantasy baseball over the past few seasons. Yet despite it all, hes still put together a nice career thus far in the majors. The Detroit Tigers are in a situation where they can afford to place a small bet here, and Richards may offer more bang for your buck than any free agent out there.

Of course, theres a good reason why hes potentially available to a non-contender like the Tigers at this point in his career. While hed be a fascinating project to gift to new pitching coach Chris Fetter, Richards is something of a wild card at this point due to a mishandled elbow injury. Hes as likely to miss half the season as to give you 25 starts. Of course, you can pick up seemingly durable pitchers and get the same result, as the Al Avila led Tigers have proven repeatedly.

The odyssey of Garrett Richards elbow began in 2016. After three full seasons in the majors for the Los Angeles Angels, he was coming off a 2015 season in which he spun 207 13 quality innings and appeared to be coming into his own as a durable young starting pitcher who might be a tweak or two from stardom. Unfortunately, he suffered a partial tear to his UCL early in 2016 and missed most of the season. The solution would normally be Tommy John surgery, but Richards and the Angels, desperate to get back to the playoffs, elected instead to try platelet rich plasma injections. The hope was to use that treatment in combination with rehabilitation and get him back on the mound in 2017 rather than losing the whole season to surgery. This, like many decisions about pitchers the Angels have made in recent years, turned out terribly.

Richards ultimately made just six starts in 2017. He suffered a nerve issue in his biceps the first week of the season, and while imaging seemed to indicate that his UCL was undamaged, a string of related issues kept him off the field most of the season. Things seemed more promising in 2018. Richards came into the season apparently healthy, upped his breaking ball usage, and was posting the best strikeout rates of his career. It all came undone during a July 10th start against the Seattle Mariners. His UCL finally blew out and there was no other recourse than to finally undergo Tommy John surgery well over two years after the initial injury occurred.

Richards became a free agent after the 2018 season, and the San Diego Padres offered a two-year speculative deal hoping hed be fully healthy in time for them to cash in with him in 2020. Richards got back on the mound for a few innings late in the 2019 season, and miraculously his stuff was intact. He wasnt great for the Padres in 2020, but its par for the course to have some struggles returning from Tommy John surgery. What was encouraging was the fact that he was able to make 10 starts, stay healthy, and look pretty good at times. The Padres decided to put him in the bullpen in September in preparation for a super-reliever role in the postseason, but a 4.03 ERA, 4.28 FIP performance returning from Tommy John surgery is still fairly strong.

One of the wilder parts of this whole saga is that Richards has basically looked unchanged throughout. His fastball velocity has held up consistently despite the injury issues. His calling card, and the reason hes consistently of interest to pitching honks, is the elite spin rates he produces on his fastball, slider, and curveball, and those metrics have also remained elite throughout the injuries as well. His physical ability remains relatively undiminished.

Apart from the injury history, the one relative weakness for Richards has been the underwhelming movement on his fourseam fastball. In 2020, he averaged 95.1 mph, with a spin rate of 2626 rpms. Only 11 starters with 300 fastballs registered in Statcast this season threw harder. Only Trevor Bauer posted a higher average spin ratewhich is a story in itselfthan Richards did. Yet hes never managed anything like the kind of whiff rates produced by the Justin Verlanders and Max Scherzers of the power stuff set. Richards fastball spin is actually quite inefficient, as he checks in with well below average vertical and horizontal movement.

In an era when strikeouts rule, a fastball that doesnt generate many whiffs just isnt going to be highly valued, but in Richards case that can also be a little deceiving. His fastball does produce plenty of weak contact. Even in seasons when the average exit velocity of fastballs put into play spiked for him, he still gives up little power because his heavy, weird fourseamer is hard to lift with authority. Over the last four seasons combined, hitters have posted an ISO of just .155 and six total home runs against it. In some ways, Richards fastball is actually reminiscent of Spencer Turnbulls heater, another fourseamer with above average spin rate, but which somehow moves more like a power sinker.

Richards backs the fastball with a nasty pair of breaking balls. The slider is his main out pitch, checking in at 88.5 mph with a spin rate of 2893 rpms, premium spin rate for that class of pitch. Over the years hes really leaned into the slider and at this point he throws fastballs or sliders over 90 percent of the time. He does have a fairly monstrous curveball in his back pocket as well. He spins the curve in with an average of 3299 rpms, which is best in its class level spin rate as well. Each has well above average depth and Richards gets a lot of whiffs with each of them.

In recent years he hasnt commanded either pitch quite as well, leading to the occasional meatball, but overall his control has never been a problem. He doesnt issue that many free passes, but he hasnt always had consistent command and bite on his stuff either. The hope would be that with Richards now finally beyond his elbow issues, his old home run suppressing ways may return with sharper command.

This is actually a pretty good time for the Tigers to take a risk on an oft-injured but talented pitcher. His case is a bit of an extreme, but betting on pitchers returning to form in their second season following a return from Tommy John is a smart move, assuming said team isnt pinning their whole playoff hopes on it. Richards will still draw offers from contending teams, so it isnt a particularly likely fit, but if Al Avila could manage to add him to the rotation for 2021, suddenly the pitching staff has a chance to be pretty interesting. If things went well, theyd also have a pretty good trade chip.

Of course, the issue we havent addressed is fitting Richards into the rotation. MLB Trade Rumors projects a contract of two years, $16 million. That should easily be within range of the Tigers budget even assuming theyd like to add a veteran to both the outfield, the infield, and to address the catcher position. On a yearly AAV basis, Richards would cost roughly as much as Matt Boyd and Michael Fulmer would make in arbitration combined over the next two seasons. Of course he has more upside than either, and is less risky in terms of injuries than Fulmer.

On paper, the Tigers 2021 rotation is Spencer Turnbull, Matt Boyd, Michael Fulmer, Casey Mize, and Tarik Skubal, but apart from Turnbull there are questions marks with the whole group. And as we laid out a few weeks ago, even if all five current starters are healthy and perform relatively well, theyre still not going to provide the Tigers nearly enough innings to get through the season. Figuring out how to manage workloads is obviously now A.J. Hinch and Chris Fetters job, and theyre well aware the Tigers are going to need more pitching to avoid pushing their young prospects unwisely.

Theres been a lot of discussion among Tigers fans this offseason about what constitutes aggressive moves to get better versus simply spending on the top free agents. Sure, it could go wrong, but a minor two year investment doesnt constitute any real financial risk either. Richards is a pretty good example of a player who isnt particularly risky and has good upside. The Tigers will probably have to beat some other offers to land him, and they should.

Go here to read the rest:
Garrett Richards is the epitome of a risk-reward free agent - Bless You Boys

Las Vegas woman allegedly held ‘vampire facial’ parties while posing as nurse – New York Post

An unemployed Las Vegas woman posed as a nurse and gave unlicensed vampire facials to dozens of unwitting clients during illicit parties which left some patients with painful side effects or requiring medical attention, police said.

Maria Sabata Gutierrez, 49, was busted on Nov. 18 as officers executed a search warrant at her home, according to an arrest report obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Gutierrez admitted to detectives to administering the treatment designed to re-inject platelet-rich plasma into the skin to activate collagen cells.

She also disclosed selling medications she purchases from Mexico to patients, an arrest report states. She is currently unemployed and does these medical procedures on the side.

Gutierrez, who is identified in the arrest report as Maria DeJesus Gutierrez, told detectives she had been doing the procedures for the past year on roughly 50-60 patients for about $100 a pop, police said.

An investigation was launched by detectives after a woman showed up at a Las Vegas hospital in late September with swelling and pain on her face and bumps in her mouth, police said.

The woman told investigators she got the trendy skin procedure after a recommendation from a friend who attended one of Gutierrezs vampire facial parties illicit get-togethers that took place every other week since as March or April, police said.

After Gutierrez took blood from the customers arms, it was then placed into a machine that separated it before being re-injected into her face, the woman told police.

The treatment at a licensed medical facility typically costs about $1,000, investigators said.

In addition to the vampire facials, [the customer] was also getting a similar procedure with her blood being reinjected into her buttocks, the arrest report states. This procedure has [been] happening weekly and cost $100.

While holding the parties, Gutierrez always wore medical scrubs and a backpack containing a blood centrifuge and other supplies. She told a witness she previously worked for a medical office and did the procedures regularly, but lost her license, police said.

Gutierrez also told a doctor who contacted her after one of her patients went to a hospital that she got her equipment online from Mexico, police said.

She then told the doctor she had been operating out of her trunk, according to the report.

The doctor told Gutierrez to stop performing vampire facials and got in touch with police, prompting undercover detectives to later set up a meeting with her and arranged to get the procedure for $212, police said.

Gutierrez, who is facing charges including furnishing a dangerous drug without a prescription and acting as a medical practitioner without a license, has a preliminary hearing set for March. Her attorney could not be reached for comment Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

Read the rest here:
Las Vegas woman allegedly held 'vampire facial' parties while posing as nurse - New York Post

PRP vs Corticosteroid Injections Which is the Ultimate Solution – Farmington, CT – Patch.com

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

PRP vs Corticosteroid Injections Which is the Ultimate Solution for Joint Pain?

Injury is a part of life, it is a lesson and reminder of our limits, but you dont have to let pain stop you from living the life you want. Joint damage and its resulting pain are some of the most common injuries attended to by doctors. For all of the different injuries that exist, the field of medicine is making strides towards newer and improved solutions for joint rejuvenation and eliminating pain. Up until today, most physicians have been utilizing cortisone injections (and their derivatives) to treat a wide variety of ailments and traumas.

However, it is worth noting that repeated or frequent usage of cortisone injections can damage the tissues and cause unwanted side effects. Enter PRP, or platelet-rich plasma. PRP injections offer a viable alternative to corticosteroid injections, without all of the nasty side effects. Were going to briefly review an exciting medical study that pits the two against each other to measure their effectiveness. Which one will reign supreme? But first, lets define each.

Everybodys blood contains plasma in addition to red and white blood cells. They are important for forming blood clots. Plasma also contains growth factors, which are important for regenerative medicine in helping to regenerate and relieve your condition. By concentrating and reinserting plasma into the affected location of the body, your plasma is being transferred in great quantities to the part of the body its needed the most to jump-start the healing process. The growth factors stimulate cell growth to allow your tissue to repair.

A valuable tool for treating inflammation. This corticosteroid is a synthetic version of a natural hormone called cortisol. Cortisone is used to treat inflammatory conditions, including autoimmune diseases as well as joint swelling and pain. Its natural counterpart, cortisol, is produced by the bodys adrenal glands. This hormone suppresses the immune systems inflammatory and allergic responses. The synthetic derivative cortisone mimics the action of cortisol but tends to achieve a more powerful as well as exposing the patient to potentially greater side effects.

In a 2020 Study by the Journal of Orthopedic Surgery and Research, 40 patients were treated for osteoarthritis. Half of the group were treated utilizing cortisone injections, while the other half had PRP injections. Results were monitored throughout the treatment period, and up to one year after the final injection.

Ultimately, no adverse reactions were noted in either group. However, heres where things get interesting. In the corticosteroids group, pain relief and improvement was observed up until week 15. After week 15, the CS patients actually started regressing with pain creeping up on them once again.

Contrast this with the effects of the PRP group, who observed pain relief for up to 30 weeks following the final injection. Additionally, the PRP group vastly outperformed the Corticosteroids group in several metrics relating to flexibility and pain levels. This study proves the clinical efficacy of PRP and presents it as a superior option over corticosteroids for not only pain relief, but regeneration of the tissues and the restoration of activity levels.

Regenerative Therapy on Better CT

Are you struggling with chronic pains? Have you tried corticosteroid injections with temporary or minimal results? RNP Regenerative Medicine offers better alternatives! Our tailored treatment programs are customized to your needs. We offer PRP injections along with post-injection therapy programs to enhance our patients recoveries as well as their lives. Dr. Roshni Patel has 15 years of experience in treating patients with interventional pain management and regenerative medicine for joint therapy. Call or book an appointment online to learn more about what treatment is right for you.

Continued here:
PRP vs Corticosteroid Injections Which is the Ultimate Solution - Farmington, CT - Patch.com

What is Osteoarthritis and what are the symptoms? – Monitor

By:Dr. Carissa Kirk DHR Health Orthopedic Institute

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease and a major cause of pain and disability in adult individuals. The etiology of OA includes joint injury, obesity, aging, and heredity. OA signs and symptoms include articular cartilage degradation, osteophyte formation, subchondral sclerosis and synovial hyperplasia, and the signaling pathway(s) controlling these pathological processes that can accelerate the process. Currently, there are no interventions available to restore degraded cartilage or decelerate disease progression.

The knee joint is a hinge type synovial joint that predominately allows for flexion and extension (and a small degree of medial and lateral rotation). Its function is to bear weight, perform physical activity and exhibit a joint-specific range of motion during movement. During OA development, the entire joint organ is affected, including articular cartilage, subchondral bone, synovial tissue and meniscus. Although OA primarily affects the elderly, sports-related traumatic injuries at all ages can lead to post-traumatic OA. Currently, apart from pain management and end stage surgical intervention, there are no effective therapeutic treatments for OA to prevent or halt its progression. The most common risk factor for OA is age. Patients with obesity develop OA earlier and have more severe symptoms, higher risk for infection, and more technical difficulties for total joint replacement surgery. In addition to the increased biomechanical loading on the knee joint, obesity is thought to contribute to low-grade systemic inflammation through secretion of adipose tissue-derived cytokines, called adipokines.

Major clinical symptoms may include: Pain after overuse, after long periods of inactivity, or at the end of the day Stiffness in the morning or after periods of rest Bony enlargements in the middle and end joints of the fingers (which may or may not be painful) Joint swelling Limited range of motion that may go away after movement Clicking or cracking sound when a joint bends Muscle weakness around the joint Joint instability or buckling (knee gives out)

Nonpharmacologic interventions may include: Patient education Heat and cold Weight loss Exercise Physical therapy Occupational therapy Unloading in certain joints (eg, knee, hip)

Pharmacologic interventions may include: Analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, Tylenol or NSAIDs Intra-articular injections, which may include a corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid [HA] or hyaluronan) or a biologic agent such as platelet-rich plasma [PRP] Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate

Ultimately when non-invasive treatment options fail to resolve and/or alleviate some of the symptoms associated with OA, invasive procedures may include: Arthroscopy Osteotomy Fusion Arthroplasty

If you or someone you know would like more information on osteoarthritis, please call the DHR Health Orthopedic Institute at (956) 362-6683.

Read the original post:
What is Osteoarthritis and what are the symptoms? - Monitor