According to a report in today’s New York Daily News, New York Mets shortstop, Jose Reyes, visited a scrutinized doctor, Dr. Tony Galea, numerous times.
Galea is a physician based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who is noted for using a technique called blood spinning to help athletes recover from injuries more quickly.
As described in the article, the blood spinning technique, “involves putting a patient’s blood in a centrifuge to separate the platelets then injecting the blood back into the patient”.
In addition to Reyes, Galea’s past and present clients include; professional golfer Tiger Woods, NFL quarterback Chris Simms and current free agent first baseman Carlos Delgado.
There has been a bit of controversy surrounding Dr. Galea as of late. Other medical professionals, such as the former medical director of the New York Road Runners, Dr. Lewis Maharem, have questioned the effectiveness of his methods of treatments.
Clearly, the doctor’s efforts in healing Jose Reyes’ injured hamstring proved ineffective, as the star would later undergo surgery in October to repair the injury.
Additionally, the doctor is under investigation by the Canadian authorities after it was found that one of his former business associates was carrying human growth hormone, as well as the doctor’s medical bag.
While on WFAN yesterday, when the topic of HGH use was brought up, Reyes was quick to point out:
No, no, no, nothing like that, said Reyes. He treat me. I went there. He just did like, PRP treatment for me. It was my own blood.
I have to admit that I am very concerned when I read about current Mets players being tied to what appears to be a questionable doctor.
I don’t understand what the allure was to trying unproven treatments when in fact there were more traditional methods available.
Had Reyes have pursued other forms of medical treatment sooner, he potentially could have recovered more quickly and could have had more time to gear up for the 2010 season.
For more information on Dr. Galea and his medicinal practices check out this article in the New York Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/12/16/2009-12-16_untitled__2doc16m.html
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
I think that many players of foreign descent are quick to try these alternate forms of medicine and therapy which sometimes are rooted in foreign countries. This doesn’t surprise me one bit.
That Mets management does not regulate this kind of activity, or that this is where sports medicine is…AAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!
Calling, Dr. Nick…
Tiger Woods came back from an injury doing the same treatment afer only a few monthes away, when most people said he would miss up to 1 year. How do we know that this treatment that Reyes did doesn’t have him coming back faster? Listen, as long as it is legit (at least in Canada), then I have NO PROBLEM with him, or anyone else looking elsewhere for treatments.
I work for orthopaedic doctors and we do PRP injection therapy. The platelets are spun out of the blood and injected back into the affected joint with the hopes of stimulating the body to promote new tissue growth and healing. My doctors don’t consider this to be controversial therapy at all.
ESPN just did a short discussion (First Take) on the method as well, and the 2 male anchors had used the method recently. ALL on-air talent at ESPN during the discussion said “THIS IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL IN ANY WAY.” The HGH is a different story, but Dora is 1000% right about the PRP therapy.
IF TIGER WOODS DID IT THEN JOSE REYES CAN DO IT AS WELL.. PLUS, WE NEED EVERYONE HEALTHY AT ALL COST, AS LONG AS IS NOT ILEGAL I’M FINE WIT IT
As long as it doesn’t cause Reyes to pursue sex to the detriment of BB, I suppose I’m ok with it, too.
Chris Canty of the Giants did the same procedure in August and the NFL had no problem with it. I also have no problem with it although I have to ask what exactly is the difference between this treatment and blood doping?
Platelets stuck back into a joint? If all these other docs are doing it, by all means go ahead, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out how sticking platelets in a joint would help in the healing process. Platelets are really used to stop bleeding. But they’re the docs, I’m only a student!
Sheesh Phil, the reason Jose was out was cause he tried to comeback too soon and Mets messed up his diagnosis or Dodger Dr did but the blood thing had nothing to do with getting his hamstring taken care of, you are off the subject.