ACL Injury Prevention: What Every Young Female Athlete Should Know Before Summer Tryouts
Summer tryouts bring excitement, competition, and the drive to perform at your best, but they also come with increased injury risk, especially for the knees.
Welcome to Dr. Van Thiel's Blog
Is Surgery the Right Move? A Decision Guide for Athletes Facing Knee or Shoulder Injuries
Athletes are used to pushing through discomfort, but when knee or shoulder pain begins interfering with performance, training, or daily movement, it raises an important question: Is surgery necessary? Not every injury requires an operation, yet waiting too long can sometimes worsen the damage. Here's a guide to help you determine the best course of action.
The Aging Athlete: How PRP Helps You Keep Moving Without Giving Up Your Sport
The true grit that defines an athlete doesn’t disappear with age, but the body’s ability to recover often does. Years of high-impact movement can lead to wear in the hips, knees, and shoulders, making your favorite activities feel more like a chore than a passion. Let’s explore how regenerative medicine offers a specialized way to address these structural changes and manage joint health.
How BEAR® Technology Supports Natural ACL Healing and Better Cartilage Preservation
For decades, a torn ACL forced patients to choose between ongoing instability or reconstructive surgery that replaced the ligament with a tendon graft. Today, a breakthrough in regenerative medicine is redefining that standard. Bridge-Enhanced ACL Restoration (BEAR®) is designed to help the ACL heal itself—preserving native tissue and restoring stability through a biologic approach. For athletes and active individuals, BEAR® offers a new pathway back to confident movement and high-level performance.
Meniscus vs. ACL Injury on the Slopes: How to Tell the Difference After a Fall
One minute you’re carving fresh powder. The next, a caught edge and a hard fall leave your knee telling a different story. On the slopes, knowing whether you are dealing with a meniscus injury or an ACL injury is critical. It shapes treatment, recovery time, and your return to sport.
