It’s not uncommon for athletes to suffer joint-related injuries.  Sports such as basketball and football require these athletes to apply tremendous amounts of pressure on their knees when jumping or running, so much so that cartilage in their knees sometimes wears out faster than usual.  This then leads to osteoarthritis.  In such a case, they would require joint replacement as treatment.  However, that is not the only way to treat osteoarthritis. Here are some alternatives to surgical joint replacement:

One of the most popular and safest alternatives to surgical joint replacement is amniotic allograft injections.  This regenerative treatment uses growth factors, hyaluronic acid, essential nutrients, and protein to speed up healing.  Amniotic allografts are injected directly to the injured joint and require zero invasive procedures.

What makes this treatment so popular is that it reduces significantly the amount of time the injury needs to heal.  This is ideal for athletes who want to stay at the top of their game.  The procedure is so safe, that among the thousands of times it has been used before, there have been no reports of side effects.

Medication and over-the-counter pain relievers are also alternatives to surgery.  Other anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids can also be injected directly to the injured area. However, this treatment may include side effects such as temporary increased pain, allergic reactions, and possible infections.