Hyaluronic Acid Injection Description Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan and sodium hyaluronate, is a naturally occurring substance in the body. It exists in the skin and eyes, in part of the normal joint cartilage, and it makes up a major portion of joint fluid, also known as synovial fluid. This fluid is important as a lubricant and shock absorber, and it protects the joint lining, helps mediate pain, and helps in cartilage nutrition. Hyaluronic acid injections are not a medication; they are actually a mechanical device given as an injection. Although injecting this gel does provide lubrication to the joint, its other mechanisms of reducing pain and inflammation are not as clear. These injections predominantly work locally—that is, they work only in the joint into which they are injected. Several different preparations are currently available. Some hyaluronic preparations are made from rooster combs; others are genetically engineered and produced by bacteria. Hyaluronic acid injections may be given as a series of five injections, once weekly; others are given in a series of three injections. More recently, single-injection preparations have become available. When undergoing a series of injections, the entire series is given, because the effect can be cumulative. Sometimes, the benefits from the injections do not occur until a few weeks after the last injection, and sometimes the effects are immediate. The benefit or pain relief may last 6 months or more. If pain recurs, the injections can be repeated. Why athletes use it Hyaluronic acid gives nourishment to the cartilage, helps eliminate waste products from within the joint, lubricates the joint to cushion shear (side-to-side) stresses, and works as a shock absorber for the joint. Further, hyaluronic acid also blocks the pain receptors that line the joint. In arthritis, hyaluronic acid is lost from the joint, which clearly creates a problem. The injections are designed to replace this lost fluid and possibly to stimulate the body to produce more hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid injections are currently only approved for knee osteoarthritis. However, research is underway to evaluate its effectiveness for osteoarthritis of other joints, including hips, ankles, and shoulders. It is also used in cases of mild arthritis or loss of articular cartilage on one side of the joint in athletes, particularly when there is pain or swelling of the affected joint. Other research is being undertaken to evaluate the role of hyaluronic acid injections to protect articular cartilage in high-impact sports, to prevent arthritis. This research is occurring because sporadic use of hyaluronic acid for the above reasons is being tried in athletes; thus hyaluronic acid injections are most often given to athletes for the following reasons: • To treat joint arthritis, particularly milder degrees of arthritis< div class='tao-gold-member'> Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Related Related posts: Birth Control and Sports Biceps Tendon Subluxation Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Effort Thrombosis Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Dislocation Subtalar Dislocation Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel Join Tags: Instructions for Sports Medicine Patients Jul 18, 2016 | Posted by admin in SPORT MEDICINE | Comments Off on Hyaluronic Acid Injection Full access? Get Clinical Tree
Hyaluronic Acid Injection Description Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan and sodium hyaluronate, is a naturally occurring substance in the body. It exists in the skin and eyes, in part of the normal joint cartilage, and it makes up a major portion of joint fluid, also known as synovial fluid. This fluid is important as a lubricant and shock absorber, and it protects the joint lining, helps mediate pain, and helps in cartilage nutrition. Hyaluronic acid injections are not a medication; they are actually a mechanical device given as an injection. Although injecting this gel does provide lubrication to the joint, its other mechanisms of reducing pain and inflammation are not as clear. These injections predominantly work locally—that is, they work only in the joint into which they are injected. Several different preparations are currently available. Some hyaluronic preparations are made from rooster combs; others are genetically engineered and produced by bacteria. Hyaluronic acid injections may be given as a series of five injections, once weekly; others are given in a series of three injections. More recently, single-injection preparations have become available. When undergoing a series of injections, the entire series is given, because the effect can be cumulative. Sometimes, the benefits from the injections do not occur until a few weeks after the last injection, and sometimes the effects are immediate. The benefit or pain relief may last 6 months or more. If pain recurs, the injections can be repeated. Why athletes use it Hyaluronic acid gives nourishment to the cartilage, helps eliminate waste products from within the joint, lubricates the joint to cushion shear (side-to-side) stresses, and works as a shock absorber for the joint. Further, hyaluronic acid also blocks the pain receptors that line the joint. In arthritis, hyaluronic acid is lost from the joint, which clearly creates a problem. The injections are designed to replace this lost fluid and possibly to stimulate the body to produce more hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid injections are currently only approved for knee osteoarthritis. However, research is underway to evaluate its effectiveness for osteoarthritis of other joints, including hips, ankles, and shoulders. It is also used in cases of mild arthritis or loss of articular cartilage on one side of the joint in athletes, particularly when there is pain or swelling of the affected joint. Other research is being undertaken to evaluate the role of hyaluronic acid injections to protect articular cartilage in high-impact sports, to prevent arthritis. This research is occurring because sporadic use of hyaluronic acid for the above reasons is being tried in athletes; thus hyaluronic acid injections are most often given to athletes for the following reasons: • To treat joint arthritis, particularly milder degrees of arthritis< div class='tao-gold-member'> Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Related Related posts: Birth Control and Sports Biceps Tendon Subluxation Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Effort Thrombosis Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Dislocation Subtalar Dislocation Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel Join
