Overuse throwing injuries in skeletally immature athletes--diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

The number of skeletally immature athletes participating in organized sport is near an all-time high. For nearly half a century, the medical community has investigated the link between shoulder and elbow injuries with repetitive throwing. Despite substantial literature and research, several controversies still exist, including when to begin throwing breaking pitches. Furthermore, despite introduction of pitch recommendations for youth baseball, misconceptions, poor understanding of, and adherence to these guidelines persist. High-velocity and high-volume throwing and throwing while fatigued are significant risk factors for injury. Improved awareness and adherence to throwing guidelines should limit the number of injuries. Proper identification and treatment of injuries when they do occur can allow our skeletally immature athletes to safely return to overhead sports activities.

Where do injectable stem cell treatments apply in treatment of muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries?

Treatment options for muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries span a constantly evolving spectrum. For years, treatments focused on symptomatic relief. Closer scrutiny of symptomatic treatment suggests that the provision of transient relief of symptoms may have caused more harm than good. Cortisone injections provide a trade-off of short-term relief for poorer long-term outcomes. When conventional treatment failed, patients have faced limited options including surgery, which has increased risk and limited efficacy. Regenerative injections offer a more robust option for soft tissue disease. Basic science and clinical studies show conflicting results to support the use of platelet-rich plasma injections for soft tissue disorders, and even fewer trials have focused on injectable stem cells with limited findings. Additional studies are needed to determine the potential benefits of this regenerative therapy.