Regenerative Medicine Q & A

What is regenerative medicine?

Your body has a natural ability to heal and grow new tissues using stem cells and growth factors. Regenerative medicine harnesses those cells to treat injuries and disease.

How are stem cells used in regenerative medicine?

Adult stem cells can replicate indefinitely, continuously dividing to create new tissues. While some adult stem cells specialize in restoring a single type of tissue, others, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), regenerate various kinds of tissues, including muscles and bones.

When a concentrated amount of stem cells is injected into damaged tissues, they reduce inflammation, stimulate blood vessel growth, and regenerate bone, muscle, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

How are stem cells harvested?

Stem cells can be obtained three ways. MSCs can be harvested from your fat tissue or bone marrow, which is usually removed from your hip. You can also choose to receive donated amniotic stem cells.

How is platelet-rich plasma used in regenerative medicine?

Your blood contains platelets, which in turn contain proteins called growth factors. Growth factors trigger your body’s wound healing processes by stimulating tissue growth, including new blood vessels, muscles, and connective tissues.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made by taking some of your blood and using a centrifuge to separate the platelets from other blood components. When PRP — a high concentration of platelets in a small amount of plasma — is injected into injured tissues it does the following:

• Reduces pain
• Decreases inflammation
• Regenerates new tissues
• Repairs damage
• Slows or stops further damage
• Improves joint function

What conditions are treated with regenerative medicine?

The doctors at SMART Spine Institute & Surgery Center can use stem cell therapy and PRP individually, or combine them in the same injection. In addition to triggering healing, PRP also stimulates stem cells, which improves their effectiveness.

Regenerative medicine is used to treat:

• Osteoarthritis
• Ligament injuries
• Torn and damaged muscles and tendons
• Tendinitis, bursitis, and epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Plantar fasciitis
• Chronic pain conditions

At SMART Spine Institute & Surgery Center, PRP injections are often used to treat sports injuries, helping athletes return to their sport as soon as possible, even after suffering rotator cuff tears and ACL tears.

PRP injections may accelerate healing by as much as 50% and strengthen tissues by up to 40%.

To learn whether you’re a good candidate for regenerative medicine, call SMART Spine Institute & Surgery Center or book an appointment online.