Medical Review: Dr. Gerald Mastaw, MD – Board-Certified Physician
Last Updated: October 2025
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis.
It occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones gradually breaks down. As this smooth surface wears away, bones begin to rub together, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced flexibility.
OA can affect almost any joint, but it’s most frequent in the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
Common Risk Factors
- Aging: natural wear and tear over time
- Previous joint injuries or repetitive stress
- Excess body weight placing strain on weight-bearing joints
- Genetics or family history of arthritis
Cartilage damage tends to worsen slowly, which is why many people notice early stiffness or soreness that gradually becomes more limiting over the years.
Current Treatment Options
Traditional osteoarthritis care focuses on managing pain and improving mobility, but these methods do not repair cartilage or stop disease progression.
Common Approaches Include:
- Medications such as NSAIDs or acetaminophen for pain relief
- Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and support joints
- Lifestyle changes like weight reduction and low-impact exercise
- Joint injections (corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid) for temporary relief
- Surgery, including joint replacement, in advanced cases
While these treatments can provide comfort, they address symptoms rather than the underlying joint damage.
How Regenerative Medicine May Help
Regenerative medicine offers a restorative, biologically active approach.
Instead of masking symptoms, these therapies aim to reduce inflammation, support cartilage repair, and improve joint health at the cellular level.
Common Regenerative Options
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP):
Concentrates your own platelets and growth factors to stimulate healing, improve joint lubrication, and reduce inflammation. - Umbilical Cord Tissue–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UCT-MSCs):
Young, vibrant cells that may encourage new cartilage formation, calm inflammation, and enhance mobility.
Potential Benefits
- Less joint pain and swelling
- Improved cushioning and flexibility
- Better function and range of motion
- Possible slowing of disease progression
Important Note:
PRP and UCT-MSC therapies are investigational in the U.S. and not FDA-approved for osteoarthritis treatment. However, growing clinical research suggests these biologic therapies may help patients seeking to avoid or delay surgery and restore joint comfort naturally.
Recent Clinical Studies on Regenerative Medicine for Osteoarthritis
2025 – UC-MSC Exosomes for Knee OA
Title: Injection of Human Umbilical Cord MSC Exosomes for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: From Preclinical to Clinical Research
Journal: Journal of Translational Medicine – Full Text
Summary:
A 2025 study delivered purified exosomes (healing vesicles secreted by MSCs) to patients with knee OA.
Results showed significant improvement in pain, stiffness, and function, alongside MRI evidence of reduced joint inflammation.
No adverse reactions occurred. Researchers concluded that cell-free exosome therapy safely promotes cartilage protection and may become a next-generation regenerative option for OA.
2025 – Single-Dose UC-MSC Injection vs. Steroid
Title: Efficacy of Cryopreserved UC-MSCs for Knee Osteoarthritis: Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Journal: PubMed – Full Text
Summary:
In 30 patients with knee OA, a one-time UC-MSC injection significantly outperformed a corticosteroid shot in reducing pain and stiffness for up to 12 months.
No serious side effects occurred.
The authors concluded that stem cell therapy offered longer-lasting relief and improved function compared to standard steroid treatment.
2024 – Combined Regenerative Treatments
Title: Synergistic Effects of Hyaluronic Acid, UC-MSCs, and Growth Hormone in Knee Osteoarthritis
Journal: Frontiers in Medicine – Full Text
Summary:
Fifty-one knees were treated with combinations of HA, UC-MSCs, and growth hormone.
All groups improved, but the regenerative combinations produced greater pain and function gains at 12 months.
MRI scans didn’t show clear cartilage regrowth yet, but safety and symptom relief were excellent, suggesting multi-modality biologic therapy may optimize OA outcomes.
2023 – Repeat UC-MSC Injections
Title: Repeated Intra-Articular UC-MSC Injections for Knee OA: Phase I Study
Journal: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders – Full Text
Summary:
Four weekly UC-MSC injections were safe and well tolerated in all 14 patients.
Pain and function scores improved dramatically within 3 months (average WOMAC score improved from 26 to 8.5).
The results confirmed short-term safety and consistent symptom improvement, supporting further study of repeat-dose protocols.
2022 – PRP vs. HA for Hip OA
Title: Comparison of PRP, Hyaluronic Acid, and Combination Therapy in Hip Osteoarthritis
Journal: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders – Full Text
Summary:
In 105 patients, PRP-based treatments significantly outperformed HA alone at 6 months for pain reduction and functional improvement.
Adding HA to PRP did not enhance results, suggesting PRP alone provides more durable relief for hip OA.
All treatments were safe, reinforcing PRP as a low-risk, longer-lasting option for joint symptom management.
Is Regenerative Therapy Right for You?
You may be a good candidate if you:
- Have mild to moderate osteoarthritis and wish to avoid or delay surgery
- Have not found lasting relief from standard therapies
- Seek a minimally invasive treatment with short recovery time
- Want to target the cause of joint degeneration rather than just manage pain
At Stemedix, we evaluate your health history, imaging, and goals to determine the most appropriate regenerative plan for joint restoration and mobility improvement.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is provided for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice.
Stem cell, exosome, and PRP therapies for osteoarthritis are investigational and not FDA-approved.
Consult a qualified healthcare professional to determine whether regenerative options are suitable for your condition.
References
- Zhang W. et al. Injection of Human UC-MSC Exosomes for Knee Osteoarthritis. J Transl Med., 2025. Full Text
- López J. et al. Cryopreserved UC-MSCs vs. Steroid for Knee OA. PubMed., 2025. Full Text
- Rahayu S. et al. HA + UC-MSCs + GH Combination Therapy for OA. PMC, 2024. Full Text
- Kim D. et al. Repeated UC-MSC Injections for Knee OA. BMC Musculoskelet Disord., 2023. Full Text
- Gholami N. et al. PRP vs. HA in Hip OA: Randomized Trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord., 2022. Full Text
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