Kobe Bryant undergoing routine knee treatment in Germany

Another Los Angeles Lakers season closing in, another trip to Germany for Kobe Bryant. Bryant has touched down in Germany to meet with Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt before the 2014-2015 NBA season ramps up, according to his personal website. The specifics of his visit with Dr. Hans-Wilhelm were not disclosed in the article, though NBC Sports' Kurt Helin writes that it's for Orthokine treatment in his knees:

Kobe Bryant has returned to Germany to visit Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt and undergo his Orthokine treatment for his knee. ....

Orthokine is part of that. It is similar to the procedure used the United States called Regenokine, (platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP) but it is a little different (and Regenokine is still awaiting FDA approval). The treatment takes the patient's blood - in this case Kobe's - out of his arm, warms it, spins it to separate the platelets, then those healing platelets are re-injected in the knee. The blood is actually drawn here in the USA then shipped frozen overseas as the process for the blood takes several weeks.

Bryant has been visiting Germany for knee treatments for years, and the procedure should not be considered anything more than maintenance as part of his summer routine. The Lakers open training camp in three weeks, and Kobe Team notes the visit to Germany is expected to be short and sweet.

As usual, Lakers fans were quick to jump at an opportunity to snap a picture with the Black Mamba, who was all smiles with this German fan:

Considering Kobe has racked up 54,208 total minutes (including playoffs) on the hardwood through his career, doing what he can to preserve his knees going into his 19th season in the NBA is a good thing.