Kobe Bryant undergoes a PRP surgery on his knee - NBA Update
According to sources, Los Angeles Lakers super star Kobe Bryant went through a new kind of surgery on his nagging knee, nearly a month ago.
The procedure which took place in Germany heals the injuries through platelet-rich plasma therapy or PRP. The PRP procedures are less complicated in comparison to the other knee surgeries. However, this procedure has yet to develop
a consensus, as many physicians still consider it an unproven science.
The 32 years old veteran, whose performance was not up to the mark in the playoffs, was thought to be struggling because of his knee issue. Because of an arthritic joint in his right knee, the shooting guard had to sit out most
of the Lakers work out sessions last season.
His playing minutes and shooting also received a major hit and Kobe’s was sparingly used by Phil Jackson in the first round series against the New Orleans Hornets for the very same reason. This issue though is not new as Kobe
had gone through three surgeries on his knee, since 2003.
Bryant declined to comment about the procedure, but in May after getting routed by the Dallas Mavericks he said, "Last year I had [knee] surgery. The year before that, we played deep into June so I didn't have a chance to grind
like I would like to, but this summer I have that chance." Kobe didn’t mention about PRP procedure, but apropos his knee, he added that "there's another level that I feel like I can get to."
The procedure which Kobe had gone is peeking up, but the World Anti Doping Agency and U.S. Anti Doping Agency has raised many questions regarding its validity. Over the years, these agencies have conducted numerous debates on PRP
to draw a conclusion whether it is inequitable for athletic enhancement or not. Eventually, they reached a accord last year that this process is fair, if it is not mixed with human-growth hormone or insulin.
Allan Mishra, an orthopaedic surgeon who runs PRP procedures and is also a professor of orthopaedic surgery at Stanford University Medical Centre told that, "Right now, the data is immature,” and “There is a lot of cool stuff going
on, but I temper that by saying we have a lot more work to do before it is definitive."
The PRP is a simple solution and the procedure takes an hour to complete. Given the small amount of blood taken, and the fact that it is far less painful and time consuming in comparison to the other procedures, this procedure
is fast becoming a trend.
Because of this very reason, many sports stars besides Kobe have reportedly gone through this procedure. The list includes golfer Tiger Woods, tennis star Rafael Nadal and Pittsburgh Steelers Hines Ward.
Tags: