Sports Medicine

State-of-the-Art Sports Medicine Care

Dr. Dhimant J. Balar, DO

Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports Medicine provides elite, non-surgical expertise for competitive and recreational athletes, fitness enthusiasts and active individuals of all levels. Developing customized treatment plans tailored to a patient’s needs and goals, Dr. Dhimant J. Balar partners with primary care physicians, physical therapists and other specialty clinicians to provide collaborative solutions for managing pain, rehabilitating injuries, improving mobility and restoring function.

Treatments at Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports Medicine

At PBSSM, our first priority is to educate you about injury management and prevention so you can make proactive, wise choices about joint and musculoskeletal health. Whenever possible, we use conservative treatments like rest, bracing, exercise, physical therapy, injections or medications to treat your condition. In some cases, injuries require surgical intervention if non-operative options fail to deliver optimal rehab and pain relief. If this occurs, Dr. Balar will refer you to an experienced orthopedic surgeon and will remain available for further questions or consultation, as needed.

PBSSM conservative treatments include, but are not limited to:

Viscosupplementation

Doses of hyaluronic acid injected into the joint and its synovial fluid. Used to treat pain from knee arthritis and other conditions, viscosupplementation is often combined with physiotherapy for optimal results.

Prolotherapy

Proliferative therapy is also known as “non-surgical ligament and tendon reconstruction,” or “regenerative joint injection.” Using a targeted injection that creates inflammation and irritation at an injury site, prolotherapy tricks the body into restarting the healing process. The mild inflammation caused by the shot encourages the growth of new soft tissue and a stabilizing of the weakened area. Multiple treatments are used to boost strength and healing.

PRP Therapy

In platelet-rich plasma therapy, a patient’s blood is drawn and separated with a centrifuge. During centrifugation, the platelet concentration is increased, combined with remaining blood and injected into an injured area to accelerate healing.

Conditions & Joint Disorders Treated by PBSSM

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve running from the forearm to the hand becomes inflamed or compressed. Symptoms include tingling, numbness and pain in the hand and arm, and this condition worsens over time in most patients. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical. Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports medicine provides precision diagnosis (evaluation, imaging & tests) and conservative treatment such as bracing, activity recommendations, anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroid injections. In some cases, surgery is required for carpal tunnel syndrome. When this is the case, PBSSM will refer you to a network of qualified surgeons and manage care-related concerns.

Trigger Finger

Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) is a condition in which your thumb or finger gets stuck and may “snap” in and out of a bent position. Occurring when the sheath covering the finger tendon is inflamed, trigger finger is often caused or made worse by work or activities that require tight gripping. Trigger finger may also be a complication of diabetes. Symptoms of this joint disorder include stiffness in the finger, popping sounds during movement, tenderness at the base of the finger(s), and locked finger joints. Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports Medicine offers diagnosis and conservative treatment of trigger finger. Treatment recommendations may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), bracing, stretching or corticosteroid injections. In some cases, surgery is required for trigger finger. Your PBSSM doctor will recommend a network of qualified surgeons and follow-up on future care, as needed.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects millions of people around the world and is particularly common in knees, hips, spine and hands. OA develops as the joints’ protective cartilage wears down over time, causing loss of mobility and painful friction during joint movement. In worst cases, you may experience total cartilage loss, leaving the joint “bone on bone.” This severe form of OA causes extreme pain and joint stiffness. Although osteoarthritis is degenerative, it can often be well-managed with conservative measures like prescribed activity recommendations, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, chronic pain medications or physical and occupational therapy. Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid therapy may also be beneficial. If surgery is needed for joint replacement or bone realignment, Dr. Balar and his team will refer you to an expert surgeon in your area.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel and foot pain that develops when the plantar fascia, the soft tissue that connects toes to heel bone, becomes irritated or inflamed. This connective tissue disorder leads to stabbing foot pain that is particularly severe upon rising or moving after inactivity. Long periods of standing can also exacerbate plantar fasciitis. Runners and fitness enthusiasts are prone to developing plantar fasciitis, but being overweight also increases the risk for this condition. When plantar fasciitis is not diagnosed and treated correctly, it may lead to issues in the knee, hip and back. Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports Medicine provides evaluation, imaging and diagnosis for plantar fasciitis. Conservative treatment methods include physical therapy, night splints, orthotics and corticosteroid or platelet-rich plasma injections. In rare cases, plantar fasciitis patients require surgery to detach the plantar fascia from the heel bone. PBSSM provides referrals to area surgeons for this procedure.

Sprains & Strains

A sprain is a common injury that develops when the fibrous bands connecting joint bones (ligaments) are overstretched. Often occurring in ankles, knees and wrists, severe sprains may also result in a total ligament tear. Strains are injuries to tendons or muscles that may also result in a complete tear. Both sprains and strains are usually caused by repetitive overuse, overstretching or impact/force. The sports medicine specialists at Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports Medicine offer advanced imaging and diagnosis of sprains and strains. Our team provides conservative treatments that include physical therapy, ice and compression or bracing. We may also recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections or platelet-rich plasma injections to accelerate healing. When a total ligament or tendon tear is present and surgery is indicated, Dr. Balar will refer you to a qualified area surgeon.

Tendinitis

Caused by repetitive use, impact or injury, tendinitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the body’s tendons (cords attaching muscle to bone). While tendinitis often occurs in athletes, activities like gardening, scrubbing, painting or raking may also lead to tendinitis. Occasionally, tendinitis arises as a complication from health issues like gout, thyroid disorders or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports Medicine team treats tendinitis using physical therapy, activity recommendations, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) and corticosteroid injections. In rare cases when tendinitis does not respond to conservative measures, the PBSSM team will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for surgical intervention.

Bursitis

Bursitis is a painful condition caused by inflammation of the bursae sacs that cushion joint-related tendons, bones and muscles. Shoulder, hip and elbow bursitis are common, but the condition may also occur in other locations and is often caused by repetitive joint motions or prolonged joint pressure. At Princeton Brain, Spine & Sports Medicine, we used advanced imaging, evaluation and diagnosis to recommend treatment protocols. Conservative intervention includes antibiotics for infection, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections or assistive devices (canes, etc.). When conservative treatments fail to deliver relief, PBSSM may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for surgical draining of the bursae.

About Our Sports Medicine Provider

Dr. Dhimant Balar is fellowship-trained and one of few Central Jersey doctors in who is board certified in both internal medicine and sports medicine. His holistic treatment philosophy integrates non-surgical medical specialties, exercise, nutrition, physical therapy and sports psychology to treats the whole patient rather than just the x-ray and imaging results. This comprehensive approach to Dr. Balar’s practice is one of the reasons he has been honored with the Patient’s Choice award every year since 2008.

Dr. Balar is proud to partner with exercise enthusiasts, athletes and amateur sports players to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate a full-range of musculoskeletal and joint disorders.