Propel Sports and Orthobiologics
10401 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 104Bethesda, MD 20814
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Propel Sports and Orthobiologics
Why choose Propel for sports medicine and orthobiologics?
Our physicians trained at
- Mayo ClinicSports medicine fellowship · Dr. Gruner
- Stanford MedicineSports medicine fellowship · Dr. Chen
- Walter ReedResidency and faculty leadership · Dr. Chen
- Georgetown UniversityPM&R residency, National Rehabilitation Hospital · Dr. Gruner
- Uniformed Services UniversityMedical degree and faculty · Dr. Chen
Ultrasound at the exam table
Many practices send you out for imaging and schedule a follow-up to read it. We image during your visit. Ultrasound shows tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints, and nerves in real time, and it can watch a tendon glide or a nerve move as you do, which a still image cannot.
The same probe then guides treatment. Every injection and procedure at Propel is placed under live ultrasound, so medicine and instruments reach the exact structure that is causing your pain instead of the area around it.
- Diagnosis often at the first visit
- Dynamic views of tissue in motion
- Every injection guided to its target
- No radiation
Your physician performs your procedure
The physician who examines you, reads your ultrasound, and recommends a treatment is the same physician who performs it and follows your recovery. Nothing is handed off to someone you have not met.
Both of our physicians are fellowship trained and credentialed in musculoskeletal ultrasound, and they perform a wide range of minimally invasive, office-based procedures that once required an operating room.
- Fellowship-trained physicians
- RMSK-credentialed in ultrasound
- Office-based, minimally invasive options
- One physician from exam to recovery
One team, one plan
Pain rarely respects specialty lines. A sore tendon can come with an irritated nerve; arthritis can bring nerve-driven pain that outlasts the joint problem. Propel brings sports medicine, interventional orthopedics, pain medicine, and rehabilitation expertise under one roof.
Physicians lead every plan and perform every procedure, and physician assistants help you get seen sooner and keep your recovery on track, so complex problems get one coordinated plan instead of a string of referrals.
- Interventional orthopedics
- Sports medicine and PM&R
- Pain medicine and spine care
- Physician assistants for faster access
Straight answers about orthobiologics
Orthobiologics such as PRP, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, and microfragmented adipose tissue can ease pain, improve function, and support healing of tendons and small partial tendon tears. They do not regrow cartilage, and we describe each one for exactly what it is: your own tissue, prepared and placed precisely.
We recommend an orthobiologic only when the diagnosis and the evidence support it, and we will tell you when a different treatment, more rehabilitation, or a surgical opinion is the better path.
- Evidence-based recommendations
- Clear expectations before treatment
- No overstated claims
- Surgical referral when it is the right call
Academic training and teaching
Our physicians trained at Mayo Clinic, Stanford, Georgetown, and Walter Reed. Dr. Chen is an Assistant Professor at the Uniformed Services University, has taught ultrasound and orthobiologics at national courses, and has published new ultrasound-guided treatments for stubborn elbow and hip pain.
Dr. Gruner co-authored the Remote Therapeutic Monitoring CPT codes and advised the CMS Innovation Center on musculoskeletal care, experience that keeps our practice focused on care that measurably helps.
- Mayo Clinic and Stanford fellowships
- Uniformed Services University faculty
- Published ultrasound-guided techniques
- National health-policy experience
The goal is to keep you moving
Less time on the sidelines, more time doing what you love. Every plan rests on four pillars.
- Symptom controlWe calm pain first, with targeted injections or nerve care when needed, so you can sleep, move, and train.
- MobilityWe restore the motion your sport, job, and daily life ask for.
- StrengthProgressive strength protects joints and tendons and keeps problems from coming back.
- RecoverySleep, training load, and nutrition shape how you heal, so we plan for the whole person.
What to expect at your visit
- 1.
We listen first
Your visit opens with a real conversation: how the problem started, what you have already tried, and the activity you want back.
- 2.
Exam and in-office ultrasound
A hands-on exam, then ultrasound at the exam table, often while you move, so your physician can see the tendon, joint, or nerve involved.
- 3.
A clear diagnosis and plan
You leave knowing what is wrong and what your options are, from strength-based rehab to procedures, and why we recommend each one.
- 4.
Treatment and follow-through
Most procedures happen here in the office. We coordinate with your physical therapist and check progress against the goals you set.
About our approach
- Is Propel a surgical practice?
- No. Propel is a non-surgical practice. We diagnose with ultrasound and treat with rehabilitation, orthobiologics, and minimally invasive procedures. When surgery is the right answer, we say so and help coordinate a referral to a surgeon.
- Will the same physician see me and perform my procedure?
- Yes. The physician who examines you and recommends a treatment is the one who performs it under ultrasound guidance and follows your recovery.
- Do you work with my physical therapist or athletic trainer?
- Yes. Rehabilitation is central to every plan. We share findings and progression goals with your therapist or trainer so everyone works toward the same return-to-activity milestones.
- Is an orthobiologic injection right for everyone?
- No. Orthobiologics such as PRP, bone marrow aspirate concentrate, and microfragmented adipose tissue can ease pain and support healing of tendons and small partial tears, but they do not regrow cartilage. We recommend one only when your diagnosis and the evidence support it.
Opening December 1, 2027
Ready to get back in motion?
We are scheduling new patients now. Book an evaluation to find out what is causing your pain and how to treat it.
Bethesda, MD 20814