What are Stem Cells and How do they Work?

Stem cell therapy is a cutting-edge procedure that delivers concentrated cells and growth factors right to the point of injury and stimulates a powerful healing response capable of regenerating and repairing tissue.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are remarkable cells located in many tissues of your body. One of the most important characteristics of these Stem Cells is that they are unspecialized cells with the ability to mature and differentiate into multiple types of tissue including bone, tendon, ligament, cartilage, muscle, and meniscus. In addition, these stem cells can self-renew, producing more stem cells. They can even prevent other cells from dying due to lack of oxygen and they can produce anti-inflammatory proteins.

When stem cells are injected into an arthritic joint or injured tendon, they attach to the areas of damaged tissue. The Mesenchymal Stem Cells are able to sense the microenvironment of the injury and determine what kind of cells to grow and what molecules are needed to enhance tissue healing. The stimulated MSCs begin to grow new cells and also act as your body’s own natural drug store producing and releasing the right combination of growth factors and proteins to stimulate healing and new growth of cartilage, tendon and other injured tissues.

Many patients choose stem cell because they want to restore lost cartilage and delay worsening of their arthritis. Some choose stem cell because conventional treatments with NSAIDs, steroids or viscosupplements (Synvisc, Euflexxa, Supartz) have failed to provide adequate relief. For others who are looking to avoid surgery, prolong the need for surgery or who are not good candidates for surgery, stem cell therapy provides a great treatment alternative.

Other patients choose stem cell to treat tendon/ligament injuries, plantar fasciitis or meniscus tears that have failed improvement with conventional treatment.