Kristofer Jones: Pioneering Sports Medicine Research at UCLA

Kristofer Jones, MD, is a prominent figure in orthopaedic sports medicine, known for his work at UCLA Health and his dedication to advancing treatment options for athletes of all levels. As an orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon at UCLA Health, Dr. Jones caters to a diverse patient demographic, ranging from high school athletes to active adults. His approach focuses on helping individuals maintain peak performance through cutting-edge treatments and regenerative medicine.

Background and Expertise

Dr. Jones's credentials include serving as the head team physician and director of orthopaedic surgery for the Los Angeles Lakers since 2016, as well as holding similar positions with Team USA Basketball. He is also a team physician for UCLA Athletics. His extensive experience spans over a decade, during which he has witnessed the evolution and expansion of various treatment modalities. Dr. Jones is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports-related musculoskeletal injuries of the knee, shoulder, and elbow. As a former intercollegiate athlete, Dr. Jones understands the unique demands and concerns faced by athletes at all levels of participation, from professional to recreational. His goal is to return patients to their regular activities using evidence-based medicine to guide his treatment plan.

Dr. Jones obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago, where he was a four-year letter winner and All-Conference tailback for the varsity football team. He was awarded the Howell-Murray Alumni Medal upon graduation. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he received the Jonathan Rhoads Prize for Surgical Scholarship. Dr. Jones completed his orthopaedic residency training at the prestigious Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, frequently recognized as the #1 Hospital for Orthopaedic Surgery by US News & World Report. He subsequently completed a traveling fellowship and acquired further expertise in shoulder and cartilage surgery at specialized centers across Europe, including Lyon & Paris France. Dr. Jones returned to HSS to complete another fellowship in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery. During this time, he served as assistant team physician for the Brooklyn Nets (NBA), New York Red Bulls (MLS), and Iona College Athletics as well as an orthopaedic consultant to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and US Open Tennis Tournament. Dr. Jones is accomplished in both clinical and laboratory research and has authored more than 100 scientific manuscripts and textbook chapters that have received national recognition and awards within the field of sports medicine. He is frequently invited to teach and lecture on these topics both nationally and internationally. Dr. Jones is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), a diplomat of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has been recognized as an "Emerging Leader" within the field of orthopaedic surgery/sports medicine by the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). He also holds memberships and committee positions in several professional organizations including the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), S.T.O.P (Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention) Sports Injuries Outreach Committee, the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS), Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS), the NBA Team Physicians Society, and the NFL Musculoskeletal Injury Committee.

Innovative Treatment Options

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Therapy

One of the treatments Dr. Jones has integrated into his practice is blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy. This technique helps reduce muscle atrophy, enabling athletes to regain strength and return to physical activity more quickly after an injury. According to Dr. Jones, BFR therapy was incorporated into standard rehabilitation protocols in 2016. It has proven effective in reducing muscle atrophy for athletes recovering from ankle sprains or ACL reconstructions. The treatment is now widely available as part of post-surgery rehabilitation, extending its benefits beyond professional athletes.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is another treatment that has expanded beyond the realm of professional sports. Dr. Jones has observed that ESWT can shorten recovery timelines for injuries such as tendinopathy and bone contusions, often reducing recovery time by nearly half. The treatment is currently offered at the Santa Monica Orthopedics and Sports Medicine clinic, under the supervision of sports physiatrist Paige Dyrek, DO.

The uses of shockwave therapy have continued to evolve as the technology has advanced, Dr. Jones noted. “We’re now able to perform focused shockwave therapy, which concentrates the energy of the treatment to very small, specific areas,” he said, “and we can now reach tissues that are deeper within the body.”

Clinical Trial for Bone Stress Injuries

Dr. Jones, along with Aurelia Nattiv, MD, professor in the Division of Sports Medicine and Non-Operative Orthopaedics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, received a $3.5 million grant from the US Department of Defense. This grant supports a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of ESWT in treating bone stress injuries. The trials are being conducted at UCLA Health and three other institutions.

Harnessing Orthobiologics

Orthobiologics represents another exciting area of regenerative medicine. These treatments involve cell-based materials and other biologic substances to treat musculoskeletal injuries. Joshua Goldman, MD, primary care sports medicine physician for the Los Angeles Chargers, uses various orthobiologic injections to speed healing. These injections offer a minimally invasive option for treating player injuries.

Hyaluronic Acid

The most common injection is hyaluronic acid, a lubricating gel naturally found in joints. Dr. Goldman, who is also an associate clinical professor of family medicine and orthopaedic surgery at UCLA Health and the associate director for the Center for Sports Medicine at the Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children, notes that hyaluronic acid is most helpful for managing mild and moderate osteoarthritis.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is another widely used orthobiologic treatment. According to Dr. Goldman, the ability to isolate platelets and other plasma components has improved substantially. PRP is used to treat cartilage breakdown and tendinosis, stimulating a healing response by using signaling molecules to encourage natural stem cells to repair injured tissue.

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Alpha-2 Macroglobulin (A2M)

The newest treatment option is alpha-2 macroglobulin (A2M), derived from platelet-poor plasma, which acts as a sponge to soak up inflammatory molecules in tissue and joints. Dr. Goldman explains that A2M's anti-inflammatory properties result in minimal downtime. He emphasizes the constant search for new techniques to help athletes recover more quickly and comprehensively.

Dr. Goldman uses A2M regularly in his work with the Chargers and also with the professional athletes he treats at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center, where he’s the lead physician and medical director.

Clinical Trial for Cartilage Defects

Frank Petrigliano Jr., MD, orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon and professor of orthopaedic surgery at the medical school, is close to receiving FDA approval for a clinical trial for Plurocart. Plurocart is a regenerative therapy designed to repair focal cartilage defects in the knee. The cartilage will be repaired using a membrane that includes pluripotent stem cells (embryonic cells that can develop into many different types of cells), which then evolve into cartilage to fill the defect, he explained. The new therapy was initially co-developed by Dr. Petrigliano when he was at USC. The upcoming trial will take place at UCLA and USC, with Dr. Petrigliano serving as co-investigator for UCLA, and will include patients recruited from all over Southern California, he said.

According to Dr. Petrigliano, athletes in almost any sport can develop focal cartilage defects in the knee. He notes that while it isn’t arthritis, this type of cartilage injury can be painful and interfere with performance.

Commitment to Diversity and Mentorship

Dr. Jones is deeply committed to exposing more Black youths to careers in medicine. He believes it is essential to start early, exposing kids in grade school, middle school, and high school to different fields in medicine, whether that is to being a doctor, a nurse or a physical therapist. Many of these kids don’t really know that these jobs exist for them. Dr. Jones is engaged in programs to bring youth to the hospital, where they are exposed to some of the equipment and shown how some procedures are done, like setting a fracture.

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The Future of Sports Medicine at UCLA

Dr. Petrigliano looks ahead to the opening of the UCLA Musculoskeletal Institute in El Segundo, which is anticipated to begin clinical operations within the next year. While it will be strategically positioned between the Lakers and the Chargers training facilities, its purpose is to serve the broader community.

Published Research

Dr. Kristofer J. Jones has dedicated his career to the advancement of his field. To that end, he has already published over 75 scientific manuscripts in the field of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. Jones is committed to advancing the field to help his patients. He is a select participant in a number of nationwide clinical research trials investigating cutting-edge treatments for patients with debilitating cartilage injuries of the knee.

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