Neil Kumar - Orthopedic Surgeon Sports Medicine

With the increase of year-round sports and sports specialization, ACL tears are becoming more and more common. Young athletes of all ages can be affected by this serious sports injury.

Orthopedic surgeons across the world have partnered with FIFA, the international soccer association, to develop training programs designed to help reduce the chances of ACL injuries. These programs can be essential additions to training for all athletes of all sports.

Want to learn more? Visit FLSportsDoc.com to learn all about various Sports Injuries and find Patient Education links for prevention programs!

My Knee Hurts: Alternatives to Knee Replacement

“My knee is worn out and the only option is a knee replacement.”
While knee replacement is an incredibly successful surgery for the treatment of end-stage arthritis in older patients, the mechanical implant does not last forever (15-25 years). There may be another option—cartilage restoration.
Cartilage is a smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones. It protects, cushions, and allows our bones to glide over each other very smoothly. This surface can be in different ways, causing pain and swelling. Let’s compare the knee joint to your lawn. The cartilage is like the green grass, while the soil is the like the bone that keeps the cartilage healthy. While walking on a pristine lawn is incredibly comfortable, having a few bare spots (cartilage defects) or pot holes (combination cartilage and bone defects) can be painful.
Some small cartilage injuries can be treated without surgery. Non-surgical treatment initially focuses on RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) for the first 3 days to decrease pain and swelling. Physical therapy helps to regain full motion and strength of the muscles that stabilize the knee joint. Injections (steroid/cortisone or gel-based) can also be used to decrease pain.
When non-operative treatments fail, surgery can help improve symptoms. The main surgical options include cleaning up torn cartilage or promoting cartilage healing.
Chondroplasty is an arthroscopic (minimally invasive) procedure that smooths out and cleans up loose and damaged cartilage in the knee. It can be beneficial when the cartilage is partially damaged. Think of it like mowing the lawn to make sure the grass is even in your yard.
Microfracture is also an arthroscopic procedure that stimulates the growth of new cartilage. Stem cells from the underlying bone marrow come to heal the area of diseased cartilage. Think of it like aerating your lawn to allow nutrients to get to the grass.
MACI is an option for larger areas of cartilage injury. This is a two-step procedure where healthy cartilage is grown in a laboratory and then placed back into your knee to repair the damaged area. This is similar to taking your best seeds and planting and fertilizing a bare area.
Finally, cartilage transplantation is an option for very large areas of cartilage damage. This is similar to taking pre-grown sod or turf and laying the entire roll over the bare area of lawn.
The field of cartilage restoration and knee preservation is a cutting edge, quickly evolving field. The goal is to decrease pain, improve function, and to either eliminate or delay the need for a knee replacement. If you or your family member is experiencing significant knee pain, swelling, or dysfunction; or if you would like to discuss cartilage restoration options, we would be happy to see you. Here’s to a healthy lawn and even healthier knee!

Thanks to CORA physical therapy and the US Professional Tennis Association for a great conference yesterday and the opportunity to speak about Shoulder Labral tears and SLAP lesions!
https://flsportsdoc.com/sports-injuries/shoulder-education/

I'm pleased to now have office hours in Plant City to better serve my patients in the Plant City/Lakeland area!
Don't let a sports injury take you out of the game.
Visit http://www.FLSportsDoc.com or call 813-684-3707 to schedule an appointment!

Hillsborough County, Florida Government Official Website of Hillsborough County, Florida Government

10 tips to prepare for that marathon run! https://www.sportsmed.org/aossmimis/members/downloads/InMotion/mobile/index.html

Summer-2018-In-Motion Summer-2018-In-Motion

Back to school means back to school sports!

No matter your sport of choice, injuries are an unfortunate part of athletics. Each sport has its own set of common injuries, from simple sprains to major tears. As you get ready for another year of excellence on the court, on the field, on the diamond, or in the pool, learn more about your sport at https://flsportsdoc.com/sports-injuries/ . To all the student-athletes, good luck this year!


https://flsportsdoc.com

Sports Injuries Education Documents Knee, Elbow, Shoulder, Ankle & Hip Browse patient educational information by sports injuries or by the joint affected. These were developed by Dr. Kumar for his surgery patients.

With summer heating up, so does the risk of heat-related illness. If you’re an outdoor athlete, make sure you know the signs and symptoms of heat illness and, most importantly, the steps to prevent it.

Preparing your body before, during, and after workouts and competition is especially important this time of year. Stay safe! ☀️

https://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/STOP/STOP/Prevent_Injuries/Heat_Illness_prevention.aspx

https://flsportsdoc.com/

www.sportsmed.org

Training for the next World Cup? Here are some tips about common soccer injuries!
https://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/STOP/Prevent_Injuries/Soccer_Injury_Prevention.aspx

Soccer Injuries | Soccer Injury Prevention & Treatment

Spring edition of In Motion by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
Learn more about biking, lacrosse, youth baseball, and yes even trampoline(!) injuries.
https://www.sportsmed.org/AOSSMIMIS/members/downloads/InMotionArchives/2018Spring.pdf

https://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/STOP/Prevent_Injuries/Swimming_Injury_Prevention.aspx

Swimming Injuries | Swimming Injury Prevention & Treatment Swimming injury prevention information. Tips on preventing swimming injuries and identifying overuse and trauma injuries in kids.

📚 Learn More about Ankle Injuries including Achilles Tendonitis & Ankle Sprains
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Ankle Injury Education from Dr. Kumar - Brandon Orthopedic Associates Educational information for Ankle Sprain and Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Ankle, for patients of Dr. Kumar and Brandon Orthopedic Associates.