Derek Ochiai, MD

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

04/29/2026

Standardization of Platelet-Rich Plasma Preparation in Orthopedics: A Review of the Literature and Proposal for a Reproducible Protocol.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is widely used in orthopedics and sports medicine as an autologous product; however, substantial heterogeneity in manufacture and incomplete reporting of preparation parameters limits reproducibility and inter-study comparability.

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day!

04/22/2026

Removing the sling reduces pain immediately after shoulder surgery.

A broad arm sling is traditionally applied following shoulder surgery for protection of repair and ‘for comfort’. It has never been proved however that the use of a sling actually leads to reduced pain. The aim of our prospective study was to quantify a patient's immediate post-surgical pain wit...

04/15/2026

Surgical management techniques for avascular necrosis of the femoral head: a systematic review.

Early surgical intervention for avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head can preserve the hip joint and delay the need for total hip arthroplasty (THA). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of various surgical modalities to treat femoral head AVN as assessed by THA-fre...

04/09/2026

Cold therapy may reduce pain, narcotic use after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

[Cold therapy] is something that actively decreases narcotic consumption, so we can theoretically prescribe less postoperatively,” Sara L. Edwards, MD, professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California San Francisco, told Healio about results presented at the American Academy of Orth...

04/08/2026

Meniscal preservation may improve ACL reconstruction outcomes in concurrent meniscal tears.

In patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction with a meniscal tear, partial meniscectomy may increase the risk for revision ACL surgery and conversion to total knee arthroplasty, according to results

04/02/2026

6 Daily Exercises That Restore Hip Strength Faster Than Weight Training After 55.

Dr. Ochiai makes it clear that “low-load hip exercises are good, but they do not substitute for heavier weight training.” He stresses, “Both are important. Low-load daily exercises can help with balance (avoiding falls) and maintaining range of motion. These exercises are things like single le...

04/01/2026

11 Common Hip Pain and Injuries in Athletes.

Muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when a muscle is overstretched or torn. In athletes, this type of injury is common in the hip and groin area due to fatigue, overuse, or the improper use of a muscle. The failure to warm up before exercise also contributes to the problem.

03/03/2026

Non-Surgical Treatments for Rotator Cuff Tears.

When the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear are acute, meaning there is a sudden flare-up of symptoms, it may be helpful to rest the shoulder to allow the inflammation of the injury to settle down.