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Louis Rizio, MD

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Livingston, NJ
Louis Rizio, MD

Dr. Louis Rizio is a board certified, orthopaedic surgeon and fellowship trained in sports medicine.

Team Physician NJIT NCAA Division 1 Athletics
Team Physician Kean University Dr. Rizio is a fellowship trained sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon that treats athletes of all ages and levels. Dr Rizio specializes in Knee and Shoulder Surgery, Cartilage Repair/Regeneration, Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports Related Injuries.

11/26/2025

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) promotes tendon healing and repair through several key mechanisms:

- Delivers concentrated growth factors (e.g., PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF) that stimulate tenocyte proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix synthesis, especially collagen I, which is critical for tendon strength and structure

- Enhances differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells into active tenocytes, increasing collagen production and accelerating tissue regeneration.

- Modulates inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines and favoring M2 macrophage polarization, creating a regenerative microenvironment.

- Promotes angiogenesis, supporting vascular remodeling and improved nutrient delivery to the healing tendon.

- Increases antioxidant defenses in tenocytes via activation of the Nrf2 pathway, protecting cells from oxidative stress and supporting homeostasis.

- Improves tendon tissue organization, cellularity, and glycosaminoglycan content, leading to more mature and structurally sound tendon repair.

- Recruits stem cells to the wound area through chemoattractant proteins such as HMGB1, further enhancing tissue regeneration.

These combined actions establish a microenvironment that supports both structural and functional tendon recovery, though clinical efficacy may vary depending on PRP preparation and application protocols. 🏋️‍♀️

10/15/2025

⚾🏐 Shoulder Rotation Deficits & Injury Risk in Overhead Athletes

Dr. Louis Rizio MD | Sports Surgery Specialist

⸻

What Is GIRD?
• Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD) = loss of internal rotation in the dominant shoulder.
• Common in overhead athletes: baseball, tennis, volleyball, cricket.

⸻

Why It Matters
• A >15–20° deficit in internal rotation increases risk of shoulder & elbow injuries.
• Reduced total rotational motion (TROM) = higher stress on the joint.
• Alters throwing mechanics → increased torque and impingement risk.

⸻

Key Stats
• ⚠️ ≥25° loss of IR = up to 4× greater injury risk in high school baseball players.
• 🏐 Volleyball players with ≥17° GIRD & ≥5° TROM asymmetry → more shoulder pain.
• GIRD worsens over years of overhead play & is influenced by prior injuries.

⸻

Common Injuries Linked to GIRD
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy or partial tears
• SLAP/labral injuries
• Posterior shoulder tightness & impingement
• UCL strain at the elbow

⸻

Prevention & Management
• 🧘‍♂️ Sleeper & cross-body stretches
• 💪 Posterior cuff mobility + scapular control work
• 🩺 Regular screening of shoulder rotation during season
• ⚖️ Maintain total shoulder motion within 5° of non-throwing side

⸻

Pro Insight:
Not all GIRD is “bad.” Some loss of IR is a normal throwing adaptation — the key is balance and monitoring total motion, not just one direction.

⸻

Take-Home Message
➡️ GIRD matters — small rotation losses can lead to big injury risks.
➡️ Early detection, consistent mobility work, and season-long monitoring protect performance and longevity.

09/28/2025

National Son’s Day. Lucky to have the best !
💙

08/26/2025

Man’s best friend !
🐶

08/09/2025

Why Athletes Struggle to Return to Sport After ACL
Common Barriers:
• Strength deficits — especially quadriceps asymmetry
• Poor neuromuscular control — faulty landing/cutting mechanics
• Knee stiffness — loss of extension or flexion
• Persistent swelling or pain
• Psychological: Fear of re-injury — reduced confidence or avoidance behaviors
• Inadequate sport-specific preparation
• Rushed timelines — returning before 9 months increases re-injury risk

Ways to Avoid These Pitfalls:
✅ Complete full rehab, not just until “pain-free”
✅ Use objective testing (strength, hop tests, movement quality) before clearance
✅ Incorporate agility, plyometric, and cutting drills before game return
✅ Address mental readiness with gradual exposure & sports psychology
✅ Follow evidence-based timelines — aim for ≥ 9 months before full return
✅ Continue training after return — strength & neuromuscular control maintenance

08/08/2025

💪 Muscle Loss Starts Sooner Than You Think

🚨 By your 30s muscle mass starts to decline — slowly at first, then faster with age.
📉 Without exercise, you could lose up to 15% per decade after 70.

Why it happens:
• ↓ Hormones (testosterone, GH, IGF-1)
• Shrinking + fewer muscle fibers
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Low protein intake
• Chronic inflammation

The fix:
✅ Strength train 2–3x/week
✅ Eat enough protein (≈0.8–1.2 g/kg/day)
✅ Stay active & mobile
✅ Sleep, recover, repeat

The payoff:
🔥 Keep strength
🔥 Maintain independence
🔥 Boost metabolism & bone health
“Don’t let the decades decide your strength — take control today.”

08/05/2025

Boys of Summer Stay Healthy!!!

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) of the Elbow in Youth Athletes 🧠⚾️

🩺 A common cause of elbow pain in adolescent overhead athletes — especially baseball pitchers. It involves injury to the cartilage and underlying bone of the capitellum from repetitive stress.

🔍 Causes / Mechanism of Injury:
• Overhead throwing motion
• Repetitive valgus stress on the elbow
• Compressive forces on the radiocapitellar joint

🛠️ Treatment Options:
• Rest & activity modification
• Physical therapy & biomechanics assessment
• Surgical intervention (if fragment becomes unstable or fails to heal)

⚠️ Risk Factors:
• Ages 10–16 (growth plate still open)
• Year-round throwing without adequate rest
• Early sports specialization

🏥 If your young athlete has persistent elbow pain with throwing, don’t ignore it — early diagnosis can prevent long-term damage.

07/31/2025

Arthroscopic Bankart Repair: First-Time Dislocations in Athletes
• 💪 Success Rate: 84–96% return to sport after surgery
• 🧩 Stabilization Rate: Recurrence of dislocation reduced to

07/29/2025

“Vitamin D Deficiency May Increase ACL Tear Risk”
💥 Are Your Levels Putting You at Risk?

🔹 Vitamin D and ACL Risk
• Athletes with low vitamin D levels are up to 3x more likely to tear their ACL
• Vitamin D supports bone strength, muscle function, and neuromuscular coordination

🔹 Why It Matters
• Deficiency weakens the bone-ligament interface and impairs balance & control
• Increased risk in young athletes, especially those training indoors or with darker skin tones

🔹 Supporting Studies
• Studies show lower vitamin D levels in athletes with ACL tears compared to controls
• Higher tear rates seen in athletes with 25(OH)D levels

07/27/2025

🦵 ACL Injury Prevention: Train Smarter to Stay in the Game!

🔴 Did you know? ACL injuries are common—but many are preventable with the right training.

Here’s what works 👇

🏋️‍♀️ Best Training Routines to Prevent ACL Injuries:

1. Neuromuscular Training
• Improve coordination, balance & movement control
• Exercises: Single-leg balance, plyometrics with soft landings, agility drills

2. Strength Training
• Focus on hamstrings, glutes, quads, and core
• Exercises: Nordic hamstring curls, squats, deadlifts, lunges

3. Plyometrics & Landing Mechanics
• Emphasize soft, controlled landings
• Exercises: Box jumps, tuck jumps, lateral hops with feedback

4. Hip & Core Stability
• Prevent knee valgus (inward collapse)
• Exercises: Clamshells, side planks, monster walks, Pallof press

5. Technique & Movement Patterns
• Teach proper cutting, pivoting, and deceleration
• Use video feedback or mirror drills

🧠 Pro Tip:

Injury prevention programs like FIFA 11+, PEP, or Sportsmetrics reduce ACL injury risk by up to 50–70% when done 2–3x per week consistently.

🟢 Start early. Stay consistent. Prevent the injury before it happens.

📌 Save this post & share with your team!

07/24/2025

📌 Shoulder Dislocations: The Younger You Are, The More Likely It Comes Back

🔁 Recurrent Dislocation Risk Based on Age at First Injury
• 🧑‍⚕️

07/14/2025

🔹 Rotator cuff tears are common and often silent — but they may not stay that way.

👉 Tear rates increase sharply with age: Rates vary depending on study
• Ages 50–59: ~13% have tears
• Ages 60–69: ~27%
• Ages 70+: Over 50%

📈 Once a tear starts, it can worsen (get larger)
• ~49% of tears progress over time
• Many small or partial tears become full-thickness if left untreated

⚠️ Risk factors for developing a tear:
• Age > 50
• Repetitive overhead use (tennis, lifting, throwing)
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Family history of cuff disease
• Poor shoulder mechanics or posture

💡 Untreated tears can lead to:
• Larger, more painful tears
• Muscle atrophy
• Loss of strength and function
• Irreparable damage if delayed too long (the tear may not be fixable down the road)

📍 Early evaluation and tailored treatment may prevent progression and preserve shoulder function — especially in active adults.

Address

200 South Orange Avenue, Suite 230
Livingston, NJ
07039

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.drrizio.com/

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