What interventional treatments are available?
When alongside a well-structured exercise and rehabilitation plan, appropriately used interventions can help to effectively restore function and improve pain in many cases. Ultrasound guidance is typically used not only to ensure an accurate diagnosis, but more importantly, to ensure placement of the intervention exactly where it is needed. This increases the likelihood of targeting the correct area, as well as minimising any discomfort.
While there are many other types of interventional treatments available, the most common ones we perform include:
Cortisone
Cortisone is a potent anti-inflammatory hormone commonly used for conditions with a significant inflammatory component. In many cases, pain limits rehabilitation and recovery. By introducing cortisone to an irritated tendon, for example, it can help reduce pain, allowing you to progress with strengthening exercises that promote healing and improve tissue capacity.
Cortisone can also be effective in treating conditions like bursitis or soft tissue impingement (such as after an ankle sprain with persistent loss of range), directly targeting and resolving the source of pain.
Iron Infusions
Up to 30% of female athletes have suboptimal iron levels. Research has shown that, even before symptoms like fatigue or anemia set in, performance and recovery is negatively impacted. Ensuring iron levels are not just within the ‘normal’ range, but are optimised is important regardless of activity level. We believe that all people deserve to be at their best, and the suggested AIS guidelines can be considered for all active individuals, not just elite athletes.
Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a therapy that uses your body’s own platelets to promote healing and tissue regeneration. The platelets release growth factors and cytokines that attract stem cells and others to the injury site. This promotes cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation, which are crucial for tissue repair. PRP is commonly used to treat osteoarthritis and soft tissue injuries such as chronic tendinopathy and ligament tears. A crucial difference between cortisone and PRP, is that PRP treatment is aiming to heal and restore function. Unlike cortisone, PRP has no harmful effects to cartilage or tendons, and can be a better long-term choice in more chronic or degenerative conditions.
Please note, this service is only available at our Goodwood location. Please contact our team directly if you would like to book in for this service.
Hyaluronic Gel Injections
Viscosupplementation / hyaluronic gels are a synthetic version of Hyaluronan that our joints produce naturally. Often used as part of osteoarthritis treatment, these injections have been shown to not just reduce arthritis progression (i.e. a partial protective effect for further OA development), improved function and pain is often noted for up to 12-14 months.
While OA management is complex and has multiple facets to effective management, there are options such as the gel injections to help keep you active and comfortable in situations where joint replacements are not required. While there are multiple hyaluronic gels available, choice is often tailored to your particular type, and can be combined with PRP and other adjuncts as well.