Pickleball

America’s Newest Sports Craze

Pickleball is sweeping the nation and sweeping some of us off our feet. Known as the fastest growing sport in the United States, pickleball injuries have also increased at an alarming rate, resulting in some participants being sidelined to the spectator seats.

Although considered to be a low impact sporting activity, the fast paced action can result in a myriad of problems from simple sprains and strains, to more severe tendon and ligament tears. Common injuries which may occur include:

Shoulder - rotator cuff tears, tendonitis, bursitis
Elbow - pickleball/tennis elbow, tendonitis, tendon tears
Wrist/Hand - strain, tendonitis
Knee - patellar tendonitis, meniscal or ACL tears
Ankle/Foot - achilles injuries, plantar fasciitis
Hamstring - strain, tears

Forbes has estimated that pickleball injuries have resulted in $400 million in cost to Americans in 2023.*

Many of these injuries can be avoided by utilizing adequate warm up, cool down, stretching, and proper body mechanics.

Aside from OTC anti-inflammatories, RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation), and physical therapy - regenerative therapies (Platelet Rich Plasma and Stem Cell Treatment) are more likely to accelerate healing and recovery.

Call New Cell Centers at 732-780-2355 to find out how regenerative medicine can help you get off the bench and back into the game.

Treat Smarter, Heal Faster.

Dr. Michael O’Hara

*Resources: Bohannon M., Pickleball Injuries Cost Americans Nearly $400 Million This Year - And Seniors Are Hit Hardest. Forbes. June 26, 2023

Why New Cell Centers?

What sets us apart from the other guys?

I can write about this all day long, but today let’s examine how we, at New Cell Centers, process our regenerative products including stem cells and platelet rich plasma (PRP).

Most practices use centrifuges that would fit in nicely in a third world country. These machines produce one product the same way each time, every time.

At New Cell Centers, we use a state of the art computerized processing unit, which allows us to program a precise volume and concentration of the regenerative product specific to each individual’s needs. This unique system significantly improves the chances of a successful outcome for every patient and their particular injury. True customization for each patient.

Which would you prefer: a one-size-fits-all garment, or one tailored exactly for your needs?

~That’s a rhetorical question.

To Your Health And Happiness,

Dr. Michael O’Hara

Let’s Have A Conversation About Stem Cell Treatments

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What exactly are stem cells?

Stem cells are the body’s raw materials. These are the cells that can generate into different, specialized cells. The main concept is to use your stem cells to replace diseased or damaged cells, such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, etc. The ability of stem cells to regenerate tissue has been well documented. They have the ability to repair, restore, replace, and regenerate cells.

Stem cells can be cultivated from fatty tissue and bone marrow. These cells are filtered and centrifuged for a refined product. At New Cell Centers we use a computerized processing system to progress the final product to your specified needs. Image guidance with ultrasound or live x-ray (fluoroscopy) is used for the most precise and safe injection possible.

If you look up stem cell treatments on the internet you will be bombarded by outrageous and misleading information. In the Wild West that is the internet there are crazy claims of stem cells curing just about everything from ALS to cancer. The FDA is actively regulating these false claims and some of the questionable stem cell productions currently being marketed. The phrase “Caveat Emptor” (let the buyer beware) comes to mind.

At New Cell Centers, our board certified and fellowship trained physicians have the university training to expertly diagnose and treat your condition. From the thorough examination, expert collection and processing of the stem cells, to the image guided precise placement, our doctors ensure your health and well being are in the very best hands.

Some of the conditions treated with stem cells include: joint arthritis, herniated discs, shoulder rotator cuff tears/tendonitis, hip pain/tears, knee meniscal tears, tennis and golfers tendonitis, foot and ankle tendonitis/tears.

Let’s review the steps for a successful stem cell treatment:

  1. Expert physician (board certified, fellowship trained)

  2. Proper diagnosis (targeted physical exam, image studies)

  3. Real stem cells (bone marrow derived)

  4. Computerized collection and processing

  5. Image guided injection

  6. Tailored recovery/rehab protocol

  7. Return to the life you thought you left behind

Treat Smarter, Heal Faster,

Dr. Michael O’Hara

What Exactly is PRP?

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Let’s handle this step by step:

Step 1) The Diagnosis

Has the injury been diagnosed correctly? Has there been a focused history and physical exam performed by a board-certified physician? Did the doctor put their hands on the area of complaint and examine the injured area of the body thoroughly? What about imaging studies? Are there x-rays/CT scans/MRIs which correlate with the physical complaints? Did your physician see the films and read them personally?

Lots of questions. The diagnosis comes together much like pieces of a puzzle. The physician is the detective, and the clues need to be outlined properly; history of injury, symptoms, physical examination, imaging studies/testing.

Step 2) The Product

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PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. The platelets and growth factors in the solution comprise the healing elements in the blood. Blood is drawn from your vein and is concentrated by using a centrifuge. At New Cell Centers, we don’t use the same final product for everyone. What one person needs for their injury and pain, may not be what you need for your complaints. We utilize a computerized system to produce a specific amount and concentration of platelets in each finished product. The result is the best possible treatment for your individual condition. This sets us apart from other clinics, that do not possess this equipment to personalize your treatment. “One size fits all” is really not for everyone.

Step 3) The Injection

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Every injection performed by our physicians at New Cell Centers is image guided- what does that mean? In short, all injections are “guided” to the correct injured area using ultrasound or x-ray (fluoroscopic) guidance. This ensures proper placement and delivery of the PRP.

There is no “where does it hurt - stick the needle in - and cross your fingers.” Our physicians are double board certified and expertly trained in image guided techniques to pinpoint the affected area and precisely deliver the PRP product.

At New Cell Centers there is clearly a process to ensure you receive the best possible results. The devil is in the details.  Let’s get you in for an appointment to determine if this is the right treatment for you.

Treat Smarter, Heal Faster,

Dr. Michael O’Hara

The Shoulder Surgery Alternative

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Let’s have a discussion about the rotator cuff. Most of us have heard the term, but what is it exactly? The rotator cuff of the shoulder is actually made up of four muscles: the subscapularis, teres minor, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus. They help with shoulder movement, range of motion, and stabilization of the joint. These muscles attach to the bones of the joint by fibrous tendons. When these tendons tear, due to trauma, you may feel pain, tenderness upon movement, difficulty sleeping on the affected shoulder, and reduced range of motion. The diagnosis of a RCT (rotator cuff tear) is made through a focused physical exam and imaging studies, such as a MRI arthrogram.

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Initial treatment is the usual; rest, ice, elevate (RICE), and then physical therapy. Surgery is recommended for a complete RCT to reattach the tendon to the bone; however, most tears are partial in nature and are best treated with precise imaging guided regenerative therapies including stem cells and PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). The end goal is to heal the injured area rather than cause further degeneration with surgical trauma. No invasive surgery, no extensive down time or lost days of work. A guaranteed faster return to activity and sports.

Live Your Best Life,

Dr. Michael O’Hara


Resources:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6281528/

  2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2331205X.2019.1628883

 What is a Torn Meniscus of the Knee and How is it Treated?

The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage which serves as a cushion in the knee joint between the thighbone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia). There are two menisci in each of the knees (medial and lateral).

The meniscus can be torn by a forceful twisting or rotation of the knee.  The resultant injury causes swelling, stiffness, and pain.  Often the knee will have difficulty in movement and range of motion, especially in extension of the knee. This can limit not only sports and athletic endeavors, but even simple, everyday activities.

 
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In the first few days, treatment involves rest, ice, and elevation.  Over the next few weeks, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy are utilized.  A common mistake at this stage is for the injured party to attempt to “work through the pain”, resulting in extension of the tear and further injury.  A meniscal tear is identified through a targeted physical exam and an MRI.

For years doctors have advocated injecting steroids into the knee to reduce inflammation.  After multiple injections, however, the steroid further damages the cartilage contributing to progressive degenerative and arthritic changes in the joint. Although steroids have short term anti-inflammatory effects, they do not promote healing or recovery of the damaged tissue.

Arthroscopic surgery of the knee joint is frequently recommended to remove the tissue which has been torn from the meniscus. This results in further weakening the structure of the knee and promotes arthritic changes as well.

There are studies in the literature which show meniscal regeneration using stem cells and other regenerative therapies.  One can therefore avoid medications and steroid injections, which do not promote healing, but rather just place a temporary band aid on the underlying problem.

One can also forego the instability and degeneration of the knee caused by surgical intervention.

Regenerative therapies involve the use of your own body’s stem cell cells and platelet rich plasma to naturally heal damaged tissue and promote tissue regeneration and growth. Here at New Cell Centers, we have successfully treated athletes with meniscal tears with return to full activity through regenerative medicine and without the need for surgery.  A complete history, physical examination, and MRI review by one of our fellowship trained doctors is the first step.

Image guided regenerative treatment is then followed by a structured rehabilitation program to return you to your top form.

Live Your Best Life,

Dr. Michael O’Hara

Resources:

  1. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546520981704

  2. Effects of intra-articular administration of autologous bone marrow aspirate on healing of full-thickness meniscal tear: an experimental study on sheep.
    Duygulu F, Demirel M, Atalan G, Kaymaz FF, Kocabey Y, Dülgeroğlu TC, Candemir H.Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2012;46(1):61-7. doi: 10.3944/aott.2012.2762.
    PMID: 22441454

  3. Potential use of mesenchymal stem cells in human meniscal repair: current insights.
    Pak J, Lee JH, Park KS, Jeon JH, Lee SH.
    Open Access J Sports Med. 2017 Mar 23;8:33-38. doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S113018. eCollection 2017.
    PMID: 28356779 Free PMC article. Review.

  4. The Meniscus Tear: A Review of Stem Cell Therapies.
    Jacob G, Shimomura K, Krych AJ, Nakamura N.
    Cells. 2019 Dec 30;9(1):92. doi: 10.3390/cells9010092.
    PMID: 31905968 Free PMC article. Review.

  5. In Vitro Repair of Meniscal Radial Tear With Hydrogels Seeded With Adipose Stem Cells and TGF-β3.
    Sasaki H, Rothrauff BB, Alexander PG, Lin H, Gottardi R, Fu FH, Tuan RS.
    Am J Sports Med. 2018 Aug;46(10):2402-2413. doi: 10.1177/0363546518782973. Epub 2018 Jul 12.
    PMID: 30001494