Platelet Rich Plasma and How It Works

As an experienced practitioner with a medical degree from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Mexico, Dr. Raymond Reiter works as a physician in the North Jersey Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute. As a physician, Dr. Raymond Reiter performs platelet-rich plasma (PRP) joint injections under fluoroscopy.

PRP is a form of therapy that uses injections of a patient’s concentration of platelets to speed the healing process of injured ligaments, tendons, muscles, and joints. Platelets are also known as thrombocytes. They are blood cells that aid in blood clotting as a way to stop bleeding. On the other hand, plasma is a form of liquid in the blood primarily composed of water and proteins. Plasma provides a channel for platelets, white and red blood cells to circulate through the body.

In PRP therapy, the doctor separates the components of the red blood cells from the platelets. The platelets are then injected directly into the specific area such as joints, tendons, and ligaments. Among other areas that PRP injections can be used include tendonitis, arthritis, and muscle injury.

AMSSM Issues Research Grant to ORCAA Study Team

Cropped image of young sportsman holding vitamins and sport pills. Free Photo

Dr. Raymond Reiter is a board-certified physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Since his board certification, Dr. Raymond Reiter has participated in various events organized by the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM).

The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine is a professional organization that aims to advance the sports medicine field through research and education. In November 2020, AMSSM awarded its annual Collaborative Research Network research grant to a research team studying the effect of COVID-19 on cardiovascular performance in athletes.

The $300,000 grant was issued to Dr. Jonathan Drezner and Dr. Kimberly Harmon of the University of Washington-Seattle and Dr. Aaron Baggish of Harvard University. The research team aims to provide findings that will guide future exercise recommendations for athletes with cardiovascular disorders.

The Outcomes Registry for Cardiac Conditions in Athletes (ORCCA) study will be conducted in over 70 universities with established athletic programs. The study will focus on the prevalence of cardiovascular conditions such as myocarditis in athletes infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Viral and Antibody Tests for COVID-19

An alumnus of Hobart College in Geneva, New York, Dr. Raymond Reiter has worked as an associate physician for Mayhill Medical Group and Atlas Spine and Interventional Medicine in New Jersey. Currently a physician at North Jersey Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute, Dr. Raymond Reiter was part of a team of physicians that tested first responders in New Jersey for COVID-19.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes two types of tests for COVID-19: a viral test and an antibody test. To perform a viral test, medical professionals use samples from a person’s respiratory system to test for the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The samples are collected by swiping a nasal swab from the back of a patient’s nose, or by a saliva sample. Depending on the patient’s location, test results may take a few hours to a couple of days. A positive result means the patient has an active COVID-19 infection. A negative result means the patient is currently not infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Antibody tests are performed on blood samples to test for antibodies against COVID-19. Antibodies are created by the body’s immune system to fight threats such as SARS-CoV-2 in people who are infected. However, it may take one to three weeks after infection for the body to develop antibodies against a virus. Therefore, the test is not ideal for detecting current infections. If a person tests positive in an antibody test, they have had COVID-19. To determine whether or not it is an active infection, a viral test is still necessary. If a person tests negative in an antibody test, it does not mean that they may not have an active infection. It only means that as of recently, they had not been infected with the virus.

What to Expect During an EMG Test

Experienced physician Dr. Raymond Reiter treats patients at the North Jersey Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute and Atlas Spine and Interventional Medicine in New Jersey. An expert in sports medicine, Dr. Raymond Reiter also holds a strong interest in electromyography (EMG) studies.

EMG tests provide a measurement of electrical activity within the nerves and muscles of the body and are often used to identify muscle or nerve dysfunction. Often, symptoms such as tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness may necessitate an EMG test, which is similar to nerve conduction studies. However, nerve conduction studies measure how quickly electrical signals travel down the nerves, while EMG tests focus on the electrical signals produced by muscles.

During an EMG test, a patient will be instructed to lie on a table or bed, and a healthcare provider will clean the skin over the test area. Following this, a physician will insert a needle electrode into the muscle that allows muscle activity to be recorded. EMG tests measure muscle activity during rest and activity, so patients will be asked to tighten the muscle being tested as well.

Throughout the entire EMG test, a monitor displays electrical activity as a wavy or spiky line that allows a physician to assess the health of muscles and muscle activity.