Kyrylo, a Ukrainian professional bodybuilder, had spent years working toward participating in the most prestigious bodybuilding competition in the world, Mr. Olympia. Just weeks before the 2025 event in Las Vegas, a painful rotator cuff tear threatened to take it all away.

Fortunately, he turned to Giorgio Negron, MD, RMSK, a sports medicine physician in the Division of Orthopedic Services at Memorial Healthcare System, which specializes in non-surgical orthopedic treatments.

PRP Using Precision Guidance Sets Memorial Apart

Instead of surgery, Dr. Negron offered Kyrylo a regenerative medicine treatment as another option: an ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. This involves drawing a small sample of his blood and processing it to concentrate the platelets, which are small fragments that clot blood to stop bleeding when tissue is injured. Platelets contain natural healing growth factors that stimulate tissue repair, cell growth, and blood vessel formation. Using a sonogram to see the injury in real time, the platelets are injected directly into the damaged tissue. In Kyrylo’s case, his injured shoulder.

The ultrasound guidance is what sets this technique apart. Normally, doctors must estimate where to inject the platelets. Dr. Negron could see exactly where it was needed and deliver the treatment to the damaged rotator cuff tendon with precision.

Four weeks later, Kyrylo was back in the gym. He went on to qualify for and compete in Mr. Olympia 2025.

PRP Is Not Just For Elite Athletes

You may have heard of PRP through headlines about professional athletes like Tiger Woods or Rafael Nadal. But Dr. Negron says this treatment isn't reserved for pros.

"We're seeing a lot of active adults who want to stay fit, active, and avoid the downtime that comes with surgery," he said. "PRP with ultrasound guidance gives us a way to treat injuries with a level of precision we didn't always have at the point of care."

The demand for non-surgical options like this one is growing nationally, driven by patients who want faster recovery times, lower costs, and treatments that work with their bodies rather than around them.

Back for a Second Round of PRP in Injured Knee

Most recently, Kyrylo returned to see Dr. Negron for his knee. He's already setting his sights on Mr. Olympia again this year.

If you're dealing with a joint injury, muscle pain, or a nagging sports-related issue, Memorial's sports medicine team offers a full range of non-surgical and regenerative medicine treatments.