Our team is focused on helping our patients alleviate pain, increase mobility, and improve their quality of life at any age. We recognize that life is a sport and we offer innovative and effective solutions to help get our patients back to living their best life as soon as possible. When rehabilitation alone is not enough, there are several different types of injections that our physicians can administer to help. Your sports medicine physician or orthopaedic surgeon will educate you and work with you to determine if and what type of injection is right for you. Many of our injections are now performed with ultrasound guidance by our expert physician team. There are three types of injections we offer patients:
Corticosteroid (Cortisone, steroid)
- Anti-inflammatory
- Particularly useful for acute pain and swelling
- Depending on the problem identified, patients may require one or more injections
Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
- Also known as gel injections, HA injections are chemically similar to your natural joint fluid and acts as a cushion or a buffer against inflammatory cells in the joint
- Can help to restore the fluid’s natural properties and works as a lubricant and shock absorber
- Stimulates the joint to start producing more natural HA
- One treatment, which may consist of between one and three injections, usually offers symptom relief for four to five months, but sometimes up to one year
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Cells from the patient’s own blood are processed in a centrifuge to remove red blood cells and most white blood cells, concentrating the platelets for injection
- Very effective at decreasing pain and inflammation in joints and also used to help repair damaged tendons/muscles
- May require one or a series of injections
Injections may treat the following conditions
- Osteoarthritis (knees and shoulders)
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendonitis
- Wrist and joint pain
- Tennis or golf elbow
- Rotator cuff tears
- Bursitis
- Muscle and tendon injuries such as calf and hamstrings
What are the potential benefits of these injections?
- Improve symptoms
- Regain function after injury
- Eliminate the need for more aggressive treatments such as long-term medication or surgery
Are you covered?
Physician consultations are covered by OHIP. Injections may be covered by extended health benefits.
Our Team of Sport Medicine Physicians
- Ira Smith, MD, Dip. Sport Med - Physician Lead, Sports Health
- Ivy Cheng, MD, MSc, PhD, FRCP, FACEM, dABEM, Dip. Sport Med, DiMM
- Michael Clarfield, MD, Dip. Sport Med
- Alessandro Francella, MD, CCFP(SEM), Dip. Sport Med
- Sari Kraft, MD, CCFP(SEM), Dip Sport Med
- Mark Leung, MD, MSc, CCFP, Dip. Sport Med
- Jonathan Lockwood OLY, MD, MA, CCFP (SEM), Dip. Sport Med
- Raisah Mohamed, BSc, MSc, MD, CCFP (SEM), Dip. Sport Med
- Jim Niu, MD, CCFP(SEM), Dip. Sport Med
- John F. Philpott, MD, FRCPC, FAAP, Dip. Sport Med
- Joo Yoon, MD, CCFP(SEM), Dip. Sport Med
Learn about our other Sports Health Services.
Locations
Cleveland Clinic Canada Downtown
181 Bay Street
Brookfield Place, 30th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3
Cleveland Clinic Canada Midtown
150 Eglinton Ave East, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E8
