Long-time sufferers of chronic orthopedic conditions like tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, other injuries or arthritis of the joints may find relief with regenerative medicine -- a new, nonsurgical, treatment option at Orthopedics & Sports Medicine BayCare Clinic.
Regenerative medicine, also known as orthobiologic therapy, uses the body’s natural properties to initiate a healing response to help ease pain and improve function, says Dr. Ryan Woods, a fellowship-trained non-operative sports medicine physician with Orthopedics & Sports Medicine BayCare Clinic.
The treatment involves drawing natural material from the body, preparing it to maximize possible benefits and then reintroducing the material to areas with chronic pain to help restore injured tissue, ease pain and restore function, Woods says.
“Current literature shows that these cell therapies are safe, non-surgical, alternative options that improve pain and function in patients with degenerative orthopedic conditions,” Woods says.
There are two main regenerative medicine treatment options: platelet-rich plasma and bone marrow aspirate concentrate.
Platelet-rich plasma involves the use of a patient’s platelets to initiate a regenerative process and is most often used to treat arthritis in the knee and acute and chronic tendon and ligament injuries.
Bone marrow aspirate is a stem cell-based therapy that involves injecting live cells into the problem area. It is often used to treat arthritis in major joints including knee, hip, shoulder and ankle.
Both procedures are performed in office under ultrasound guidance for accuracy, and are coupled with physical therapy.
While patients of all activity levels and ages can be candidates for the treatment, it is typically reserved for those who have exhausted all other means of treatment.
“It’s exciting news for people with chronic orthopedic conditions,” Woods says.
Regenerative medicine may not be recommended in all scenarios.
If you’re suffering from chronic orthopedic issues and want to learn more about these treatment options request an appointment today.