PA informs us that Xavier Nady, in an attempt to recover from a partial ligament tear and return to the Yankees, is partaking in the somewhat controversial procedure known as platelet-rich plasma therapy.
Here’s some info on the procedure, courtesy of the NY Times:
The method, which is strikingly straightforward and easy to perform, centers on injecting portions of a patient’s blood directly into the injured area, which catalyzes the body’s instincts to repair muscle, bone and other tissue. Most enticing, many doctors said, is that the technique appears to help regenerate ligament and tendon fibers, which could shorten rehabilitation time and possibly obviate surgery.
Because of the therapy’s medical newness, its results have yet to be a studied enough to be ruled “scientifically proven,” although many athletes, including baseball players like Takashi Saito (Red Sox), have employed the therapeutic procedure despite that fact.
Whatever (legal) method helps to provide a healthy and useful Xavier Nady is fine with me, although Swisher and Matsui seem to be doing alright in his absence. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not platelet-rich plasma therapy becomes a commonality across baseball, especially for players that are looking to heal up—and heal up quickly—before hitting free agency (like Nady and Saito).
I mean, morally speaking, it’s better than steroids or HGH, right?
It is better legally. Morally, I’m not sure why it would be better. Steroids is essentially taking something normally made by the body and giving it in concentrated doses, and this seems to be similar. I was never morally outraged by steroids to begin with, so I guess I’m the wrong guy to ask. Moshe Mandel(Quote)
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Chris H. Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I guess since this procedure is cloaked in a scientific frame—there are actually scientists doing this, not cousins from the DR—then I think, for that reason, it seems like a nonissue, in terms of morality. This is another one of those examples, though, where science has moved quickly and regulatory practices haven’t caught up. Chris H.(Quote)
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Exactly- a lot of morality as we see it today stems from norms, and for much of the world, those norms are both shaped and expressed by laws. People often make the leap that if it is illegal, it is immoral, which is what happened with steroids. However, I’m pretty sure that assumption usually is based on the idea that it became illegal because it is inherently immoral, a hypothesis I just do not get with regard to steroids. Steroids became viewed as immoral because they are illegal. In actuality, they are no more immoral than this procedure, or laser eye surgery. Moshe Mandel(Quote)
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Chris H. Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Definitely. Stuff like that (i.e, norms) has always interested me. Chris H.(Quote)
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Just out of curiosity, what is your thesis (if thats what your writing now) about? Email me if you dont feel comfy talking about it here. Moshe Mandel(Quote)
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Chris H. Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Nah, it’s cool. It’s an analysis on the 2008 presidential election and the way in which presidential candidates communicate gender—specifically, masculinity—as political strategy. It’s been a process, as you know! Chris H.(Quote)
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Coolio. Sounds like fun. Definitely more fun than finals. Moshe Mandel(Quote)
Old Ranger Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Good for you…make it a good analysis
Politics and Sports are my passion, and have been for years.
In fact, I took a class in Political Science in 2004, needless to say…I failed, after all this is NY. Old Ranger(Quote)
I only wish they had these new medical remedies when I was younger…I may have made it big time, maybe not. Back in the day (’50s) they said rest that arm and come back latter, the problem was…latter never did nor would come. Oh well sh-t happens!
Glad to see guys have more options now days. I for one, am all for anything that helps injuries heal and keep a talented ball player playing.
Just think how you would feel if you spent 15(+/-) years learning and developing the talent you have (Doctor, Lawyer etc.) and then told it’s over in one minute.
Talk about depression…most have never been there and don’t want to be, believe me. Old Ranger(Quote)
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Yeah, that stinks. You played NFL, right? Moshe Mandel(Quote)
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Old Ranger Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Only pre-season…but it was really something to remember. Old Ranger(Quote)
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Chris H. Reply:
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Yea I’m all for it. I wonder if normal people have access to this type of procedure, though, or if it’s one of those things that has been reserved for athletes and the rich. Chris H.(Quote)
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Final are always terrible. The Yanks-Sox at Fenway killed my writing last weekend. Don’t let the same thing happen to you this week, ha. Chris H.(Quote)
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