How are Stem Cells Used in Regenerative Medicine?
During your lifetime, adult stem cells maintain your health. They have the unique ability to continuously divide and replicate, creating new cells that develop into all the different tissues needed to heal and replace damaged tissues.
Some adult stem cells produce a specific type of tissue. Others can self-replicate to regenerate multiple types of tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a type of adult stem cell often used to treat orthopedic injuries.
When MSCs are injected into damaged soft tissues and joints, they go to work doing their natural job, which includes:
- Reducing inflammation
- Relieving pain
- Accelerating healing
- Promoting blood vessel growth
- Secreting growth factors to speed up new tissue growth
- Regenerating cells that rebuild ligaments, tendons, cartilage, collagen, and bone
Stem cell injections are safe because MSCs can be extracted from your own body, then concentrated and used in your treatment.
How Does Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Regenerate Tissues?
Blood naturally contains platelets, which contain proteins called growth factors. When platelets release growth factors at the site of an injury, they stimulate the new tissue growth.
PRP is made in the office by drawing a sample of your blood and placing it in a centrifuge, which quickly separates platelets from other components.
The concentrated platelets are then injected at the site of your injury or degenerative disease, where they reduce inflammation and accelerate healing by triggering the production of blood vessels, collagen, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Your doctor at Orthocenter can use PRP alone or with stem cells to further enhance healing.
What Orthopedic Conditions are Treated with Regenerative Medicine?
Your doctor at Orthocenter may recommend stem cell and PRP injections for severe injuries or when healing is slow. Their regenerative ability is especially valuable when tissues struggle to heal due to a poor blood supply and in older patients because stem cell activity tends to slow down over time.
Regenerative injections can help treat many types of tendon, ligament, cartilage, and muscle injuries, including:
- Osteoarthritis
- ACL injuries
- Tendinitis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Meniscus tears
- Rotator cuff tears
- Labral tears in the shoulder or hip
- Inflammatory conditions such as bursitis
- Chronic neck and back pain
To learn whether you’re a good candidate for regenerative medicine, call Orthocenter or book an appointment online.
