by Stemedix | Oct 24, 2022 | PRP, Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapies and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are regenerative medicine treatments that use the body’s natural healing mechanisms to repair damage and restore function. Unlike traditional medicine, which often works to alleviate symptoms instead of targeting the source of pain or illness, regenerative treatments aim to heal the underlying cause of pain or dysfunction. PRP & stem cells often have overlapping benefits and sometimes are used interchangeably. However, the treatments have some significant differences.
What Is PRP Therapy?
Platelets are cells within the blood that identify damaged areas and bind together to start the healing process. Platelet-rich plasma comes from a sample of the patient’s blood placed in a centrifuge that separates and concentrates the platelets in the plasma.
Once concentrated, the PRP contains three to five times the platelets as a blood sample. Next, a physician administers the PRP into damaged or injured areas to expedite healing.
When you cut your hand, your platelets form a clot to stop the bleeding. The clot releases growth factors into the injured area to trigger the body’s repair response. The growth factors are released in varying intervals, drawing stem cells and new blood vessels to the injury site to promote healing through new blood and oxygen.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cells are found throughout the body, mostly lying dormant until there’s an injury that triggers them to react. Then, they’re the only cells in the body capable of division and differentiation. When stem cells divide, they create more stem cells. However, when stem cells differentiate, they make specialized cells, like blood or brain cells.
Like PRP, stem cells initiate the body’s healing response. But stem cells can also repair and regenerate damaged tissue. For example, stem cells can offer pain relief by restoring diseased or injured tissue with long-term results.
How Do the Treatments Differ?
The critical differences between stem cell therapy and PRP therapy come from how they work and where they’re most effective.
Platelet-Rich Plasma
PRP’s key benefit is the therapy’s ability to initiate and accelerate healing. The platelets’ growth factors can:
- Regulate inflammation
- Trigger the growth of new blood vessels
- Activate the nearby cells’ healing activities
- Protect healthy tissues
Since PRP mainly offers healing benefits, this therapy is often preferred to promote healing from musculoskeletal injuries.
Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cells go beyond repairing tissue and can also regenerate damaged cells. Since stem cells can serve all the functions of PRP and convert to any tissue the body needs, they can treat musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative conditions, such as arthritis.
Stem cell therapies have the capability to replace and repair tissues to remedy the source of pain or damage, making them a potentially more comprehensive and effective option that may be suitable for treating a broader range of conditions. To learn more about PRP & Stem Cells contact us today at Stemedix!
by Stemedix | Aug 1, 2022 | Chronic Pain, PRP
Pain serves an essential purpose in the body. It triggers an unconscious physical response, warning you that something is causing harm and that you need to react. For example, if a hot stove burns your hand, pain tells you to jerk your hand away before it sustains more damage. In this article we talk about treating chronic pain.
However, chronic pain works differently. Chronic pain may stem from an illness or an old injury you should have overcome, but the pain persists. Some patients experience chronic pain from an ongoing condition, such as arthritis. Acute pain becomes chronic if it lingers for twelve weeks or more despite treatment and medications.
Chronic pain is challenging because there isn’t always a clear cause. Most chronic pain patients try to manage their suffering with medications, therapies, and targeted exercises. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy offers a natural alternative option for potential benefits.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments
Blood consists of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Plasma binds the three cell types together. When you’re wounded, platelets rush to the injury site to clot the blood and stop the bleeding. Platelets also contain proteins called growth factors that promote healing in the wound.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments start by drawing blood from a patient. Then, the blood is placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelets and plasma from the red and white blood cells. The plasma is now called “platelet-rich” and is administered to the injury or pain site.
How Does PRP Treat Chronic Pain?
Once PRP enters the location that causes pain or inflammation, the growth factors in the solution stimulate the body’s natural healing response. As a result, the PRP begins repairing damaged tissue, restoring normal functions, and reducing inflammation and swelling.
As the inflammation in the site decreases, pain and swelling may begin to diminish, and the patient may start to see improvements in range of motion and strength.
How Does PRP Compare to Cortisone Injections?
Both PRP and cortisone injections can provide relief to patients suffering from chronic pain. However, cortisone or corticosteroid injections only provide a temporary solution. In addition, cortisone injections might cause deterioration in the ligaments, bones, and joints.
While cortisone injections provide immediate relief, PRP injections have the potential to stimulate tissue regeneration and healing, relieving pain gradually as the area heals. The treatments may require some time to take effect, but they can provide enduring benefits. While PRP is a new treatment option for those suffering from chronic pain, it offers promising, healing results well beyond masking pain symptoms. If you would like to learn more about how PRP injections can help with treating chronic pain, Contact Stemedix today!
by admin | Dec 3, 2021 | Adipose, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, PRP, Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Therapy
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 900 million people around the world. Developing when the cartilage that protects your bones wears down, osteoarthritis (OA) most commonly affects the joints of the hand, hips, spine, and knees[1].
While current treatment for OA and related joint damage is focused primarily on managing pain and minimizing further damage, function, and quality of life issues, no preventative therapeutic treatment currently exists for preventing or rehabilitating the condition.
Recently, stem cell therapy has been found to be an efficient therapeutic approach for treating degenerative joint conditions, including OA. Specifically, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), from adipose cells have been demonstrated to be the most promising type of stem cell for treating osteoarthritis.
In this study, Bui et al. studied the outcomes of applying MSCs harvested from adipose tissue in an effort to evaluate the therapeutic potential when transplanted in patients with grade II and III osteoarthritis.
Building on the findings of previously published studies, the authors specifically evaluated the in vitro and animal model effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC).
Previous studies have demonstrated that PRP treatment of ADSCs promotes differentiation and proliferation into chondrogenic cells which resulted in improved healing of articular cartilage when ADSCs were pretreated with PRP. An additional study demonstrated the effects of PRP on the non-expanded stromal vascular fraction (SVF) in cartilage injury observed in an animal model, demonstrating significant regeneration of cartilage.
The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the efficiency and related side effects of non-expanded SVF when combined with PRP in treating OA grade II or III.
At the conclusion of Bui et al.’s study, patients demonstrated significant improvements in key measures, including improved joint function, decreased pain score, and improved gradual and consistent improvement observed in pre and post observations as measured by the Lysholm score.
As further evidence of the success associated with a therapeutic treatment combination of ADSC and PRP, post-treatment MRIs demonstrated cartilage regeneration and thicker layers of cartilage at the injured site after 6 months of treatment. In addition, all participating patients reported reduced pain levels after 3 months and 71% of patients demonstrated the ability to climb and descend stairs after 3 months. None of the patients participating in this study demonstrated infection, tumor formation, or any other side effect or complication as a result of this procedure.
As a result of their findings in this study, Bui et al. conclude that this therapeutic treatment method was successful in reducing pain, regenerating cartilage, and improving the quality of life for patients who participated. However, considering the small size of this study, the authors call for additional and larger-scale studies to confirm the potential for this promising, minimally invasive stem cell therapy for patients with osteoporosis.
Source: “Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis treatment using autologous adipose ….” 5 Oct. 2016, http://www.bmrat.org/index.php/BMRAT/article/view/11.
[1] “Osteoarthritis – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic.” 16 Jun. 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351925.
by admin | Oct 1, 2021 | Stem Cell Therapy, Osteoarthritis, PRP, Stem Cell Research
With nearly 30 million people in the US affected by osteoarthritis (OA), the condition continues to be among the leading causes of chronic pain and disability. Considering that advances in medical technology have increased overall life expectancy, the number of people living longer and dealing with the effects of OA is expected to increase for the foreseeable future.
Although modern medicine has improved the way most diseases and chronic conditions are diagnosed and treated, OA treatment has not benefited from these advances. As a result, treatment and prevention of OA continue to focus primarily on controlling and minimizing symptoms associated with the condition, not treating or preventing the condition itself. Unfortunately, for many, when symptoms of OA progress to a point where the pain is no longer able to be managed, their options look to surgical replacement of the affected joint.
While there are many contributing factors related to the onset and progression of OA, including obesity, history of trauma, genetics, and heritable and acquired disorders, there also appears to be an association between the onset of OA and a depleted local population of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
Considering the apparent relationship between OA and MSCs, Freitag et al. reviewed the reparative pathways, safety, and efficacy of MSC therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
With their ease of harvest and ability to expand into chondrocytes, MSCs have continued to gain interest when exploring various stem cell therapies for the active management of pain and symptoms associated with OA.
Freitag et al. found that preclinical and clinical results of studies of cartilage repair techniques that utilize MSCs, including MSC scaffold transplantation techniques, MSC injectable techniques, MSC as a vehicle for platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and hyaluronic acid (HA) as an active carrier of MSCs, have all shown favorable results in supporting the benefits of MSC for the improvement of function and regeneration of new tissue in those afflicted with OA.
With over 400 active trials currently examining the efficacy of MSCs in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including OA, the safety of utilizing MSC therapy continues to draw interest from the medical community.
Although some early studies appeared to raise the question of abnormal cell growth, and ultimately the safety, associated with MSC therapy, the authors’ systematic review of clinical trials found that, while caution needs to be undertaken when culturing MSCs, the evidence demonstrates MSCs are generally safe for therapeutic use for the treatment of OA.
Freitag et al. conclude that the rapid progression of OA and related conditions demonstrate the need for therapies that repair and prevent these diseases, not just manage pain and related symptoms. As such, the authors feel MSC therapy offers a safe and viable option for the eventual treatment and prevention of OA and calls for further randomized controlled trials to evaluate the most effective applications of MSCs for managing osteoarthritis.
Source: (2016, May 26). Mesenchymal stem cell therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Retrieved from https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-016-1085-9
by Stemedix | Jun 29, 2020 | Pain Management, Musculoskeletal, Osteoarthritis, PRP, Stem Cell Therapy
Many studies support platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to help benefit patients with chronic pain and injuries. This article will cover the major aspects of post management care and the best tips to optimize results.
Important tips to keep in mind:
· Avoid Taking any anti-inflammatory drugs after the procedure avoid for 14 days following the procedure
· Apply heat only for 10-14 days , you may experience some soreness and swelling in this time period.
· Avoid any strenuous activities, exercising and physical therapy for the week following treatment
· Stay hydrated
· Improvements typically begin after 2 weeks
About a week after the procedure, patients should start physical therapy, which involves myofascial release, gentle stretching, engaging the articular range of motion, and core stabilizing exercises.
Other activities (e.g., stationary bike, swimming) are also an appropriate choice during the recovery phase. Interventional imaging techniques such as stimulation therapy and Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) should not be used at this stage.
Once 4-8 weeks have passed, patients can gradually engage in more intense activities, including yoga, Pilates, and light weight lifting. However, forceful rotation and manipulation are not recommended.
Following the correct guidelines during the first few weeks of recovery is crucial for the success of the procedure. The injected cells are quite delicate, hence the need to avoid strenuous physical activities that may cause irreversible damage to the cells.
Patients should also keep in mind that the side effect profile is diverse and can only be evaluated on a case-to-case basis. In other words, one patient might experience pain and inflammation after the procedure, while another presents with no symptoms.
The severity and extent of these symptoms are also dependent on the site of injection, with articulations being the most susceptible to traumatic injuries and side effects.
Recovery by weeks
Weeks 1 & 2
During this phase, you should restrict your movements and physical activity to avoid putting too much tension on your body. However, this doesn’t mean giving up to a sedentary lifestyle as it’s not the best approach.
Expect to experience pain, inflammation, and soreness.
Moreover, remember to avoid running, weight lifting, or any other strenuous exercise. Other activities, such as gentle stretching, are still allowed.
If you experience serious inflammation, consider using ice bags on the affected area , but try to avoid ice and NSAIDS until after the 14 day period. You can also use natural compounds that have potent anti-inflammatory properties, such as turmeric, CBD, and arnica.
Weeks 3 & 4
At this stage, the pain and inflammation should slightly subside, which allows you to practice more intense activities, but do not attempt to lift heavy weights or perform high-impact exercises. An appropriate number would be to keep the intensity of the workouts under 50% of what you’re used to. This will allow the stem cells to implant themselves in the damaged tissue and kick start the healing process.
Weeks 5 & 6
In this stage, focus on core-stabilizing exercises to strengthen your core muscles and give time for the joints to get used to the new routine. Activities such as stationary bike, elliptical, stretching, yoga, Pilates, and swimming exercise are permitted.
Weeks 7 & 8
Inflammation and pain might be gone at this time; however, you should still be careful about the type of exercises you’re performing. For patients who are still dealing with pain and swelling, you can use ice bags to accelerate the healing process.
Months 3–6
During this period, stem cells have reached their peak healing potential, which should not get interrupted with intense physical activity. Instead, settle down for less-strenuous workouts that do not involve any compressive, twisting, or pivoting movements. Avoid uneven ground. Contact a Care Coordinator today for a free assessment!
by Stemedix | Jun 1, 2020 | Stem Cell Therapy, PRP
Orthopedic injuries occur each day and from different causes. An injury can result from a fall or a trauma to a musculoskeletal part of the body (e.g., knees, hips, shoulders). Many times, age or overuse can create a more common occurrence for these types of injury.
Some injuries are minor and the recovery is as easy as rest and at-home recovery methods. Other more serious injuries may require surgery and physical therapy to return to normal function. Some patients, however, may never recover fully and develop complications related to the initial trauma, such as decreased range of motion, chronic pain, psychological issues, or risks from surgery.
Today, regenerative medicine has presented innovative biological advances that offer an opportunity to address their medical issues in innovative ways that involve using biomedical therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma therapy and stem cell therapy.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a substance featuring concentrated platelets and proteins which are derived from whole blood. When the platelets are isolated and their concentration is increased, their growth factors are amplified by five to ten times.
This concentrated solution holds tremendous potential for promoting wound-healing and accelerating the process of regenerating lost tissue to help patients regain their physical function as soon as possible and relieve their pain.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is widely regarded as a safe and effective therapy since it is one’s own blood source. The potential benefits can be decreased pain, medication intake reduction, promotion of faster healing rate, slowing down of cartilage destruction, and stimulates cell growth and repair at site of injury.
In a 2014 study, scientists analyzed the effects of PRP therapy when associated with ultrasound guidance. They concluded that “According to the current results, which document full muscle recovery and no relapse except for one case, platelet-rich plasma ultrasound-guided injection represents a valid mini-invasive treatment for muscle injuries.”
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into various cell types and tissues. Scientists were extremely enthusiastic about the therapeutic potential of these cells in restoring damaged tissues, the functionality of organs, and managing symptoms brought on by chronic and degenerative conditions such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Many studies have used various types of stem cells in the treatment of different types of sports injuries. Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSCs) is one of the most common stem cells in today’s research and applications. They are sourced from various tissues; adipose (fat) tissue, bone marrow, and the umbilical cord tissue.
In a 2017 review, scientists reveal the beneficial outcomes of mesenchymal stem cells from eight different studies. The studies were performed on patients that had varying degrees of osteoarthritis. The findings concluded were promotion of cartilage regeneration, reduction of pain, and improved joint function. In addition, they were able to determine that the more stem cells used, the better the outcome of the therapy.
What Is The Difference Between These Two Treatments?
Despite the similar regenerative properties that both treatment options offer, there is a clear difference in their mechanisms of action, as PRP therapy focuses on the recruitment of immune cells, growth factors, and hormones to stimulate the regeneration of the damaged tissue.
On the other hand, stem cell therapy works by replacing the basic building blocks of the damaged tissue, which are the cells. Simply put, stem cells will differentiate into myocytes chondrocytes, osteocytes, fibroblasts, and other cells found in the muscle/joint capsule to restore the physical function of patients.
Regardless of these differences, they are both promising options due to their non-invasiveness, quick results, and lack of any serious side effects. Contact us today for a free consultation!
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