What Damage can Osteoarthritis Cause?

Osteoarthritis initially affects the cartilage on the end of bones in the joints, such as those found in your arms, legs, and hands. As this cartilage wears down, it causes the bones to rub against each other, leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. This joint disease can be debilitating and have a severe impact on your daily life. Simple daily activities such as walking, driving, getting up and down, going to the grocery store, etc. seem to become a task that causes more pain each day. Depending on what joints Osteoarthritis affects and if left untreated, it can cause severe disability and surgery to replace the joints if not attended to.

One of the major causes of Osteoarthritis development is the formation of bone marrow lesions. These lesions, also known as bone marrow edema can be seen with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound. It was originally thought that these lesions were actual water stores in the bone and marrow, but they consist of a number of different cells and molecules that build up in the area.
Bone marrow lesions develop when Osteoarthritic damage to the bone and cartilage happens more quickly than your tissues can repair itself. This prevents the bone and cartilage from being able to recover, causing damage to occur. Studies have shown that patients with Osteoarthritis in the form of knee pain are 2.5 times more likely to have a bone marrow lesion compared to those with asymptomatic osteoarthritis.

How IO-Core Bone Marrow Injections Treat Osteoarthritis?

The IO-Core Bone Marrow Injections combines the most advanced regenerative medicine techniques available in medicine including PRP and Bone Marrow Aspirate. These approaches involve a core decompression, injection of autologous bone marrow aspirate or platelet-rich plasma, and the placement of an autologous bone dowel graft. Core decompression is a process where the physician extracts the part of the bone that is damaged. This allows the surgeon to leave the healthy bone intact while removing the portions that are causing your Osteoarthritis pain and prevent further damage. A core decompression reduces pressure in the bone, improves blood flow to the area to stimulate the healing process, and will preserve healthy bone tissue from deteriorating. The extracted sections of bone is then filled in using an allograft or autograft of demineralized bone matrix. This matrix can be combined with either platelet rich plasma or bone marrow
aspirate. Both of these options contain important growth factors and proteins that have potential to accelerate the healing process and restore to a healthy function while generating new tissue and reducing scar tissue formation. The bone matrix combined with one of these Regenerative medicine techniques allows quick regrowth of the bone to promote a healthier joint.
Once the new matrix core is ready, it is placed in the joint to provide a scaffold for the new bone growth. This bone core is harvested from a person’s own body, with the most common area being the iliac crest on the top of the hip bone. By obtaining the bone core from the patient’s own body, it prevents any potential issues with rejection or compatibility issues that may be seen with donor tissues. This bone core serves as a graft that allows the bone remodeling process to work more efficiently and attach to the current, healthy bone more effectively. This entire process is done arthroscopically, meaning that no large incisions are made. This significantly reduces potential complications related to internal bleeding, poor wound healing, or infection. This procedure also carries a significantly shorter healing time compared to more
invasive surgeries.
The potential to alleviate the source of Osteoarthritis pain by removing bone marrow lesions has innovated the way physician’s are able to treat Osteoarthritis pain. With the IO-Core therapy patients are able to eliminate dependency on pain medication and allow them to start living a more active lifestyle. This is one differentiating factor between the IO-Core procedure and the other treatments available for treating Osteoarthritis. If you suffer from Osteoarthritic pain, the
IO-Core Bone Marrow Injection treatment is an option that definitely deserves your attention.

what is bone marrow concentrate?

Bone marrow concentrate, also known as BMC, is generated by creating a sample of bone marrow that has a high concentration of stem cells, platelets, and other cells used by the human body for healing. Obtaining BMC is a simple, minimally invasive process. A needle is inserted into the top of the hip bone after the surrounding area has been numbed.

Then, bone marrow is withdrawn, and the sample is centrifuged to separate the various components. Much of the red blood cell volume is removed, providing a more concentrated sample that can be used in regenerative therapies.

The stem cells have the ability to create new tissue to replace damaged cells, and they are able to differentiate into a wide range of different types of tissue, allowing them to be effective in all areas of the body. BMC includes a number of different growth factors as well, which all play various roles in the healing process.

Some of these growth factors help to promote blood flow and the growth of new blood vessels in damaged tissues, others work to reduce chronic inflammation levels and scar tissue buildup, and some work to improve cellular communication to speed up the rebuilding and healing process.

 

What is platelet rich plasma?

Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, is prepared in a similar manner to BMC, but it is derived from a person’s blood instead of their bone marrow. Once a blood sample is drawn and centrifuged, the plasma portion of the blood is isolated. This plasma sample is then centrifuged again, which separates the platelet rich plasma from the platelet poor plasma. The platelet rich plasma is then isolated to be utilized in various treatments.
PRP is packed with tons of growth factors and contains a higher percentage of growth factors than BMC. Together, these two products are able to work in tandem to improve tissue healing substantially. The growth factors help to improve the effectiveness of the stem cells, which are primarily responsible for new tissue growth.

 

How bmc and prp work with other treatments

PRP and BMC have been used in many different medical scenarios and for treating a variety of different injuries. One study noted that using PRP in conjunction with BMC allowed the stem cells to migrate and activate more quickly after an injection than if PRP was not utilized. This also helped to reduce overall inflammation and pain.

Another study looked at the effects of BMC and PRP on bone grafting. They found that bone regenerated much more quickly with both of these substances than it did with either BMC or PRP alone. Another study provided similar results, comparing a bone graft for the lumbar spine by itself compared to one administered with PRP and BMC. Good fusion was seen in four out of the 10 patients who received the allograft alone. However, when the PRP and BMC were added, nine out of 10 patients showed good fusions.

BMC and PRP have also been shown to be effective in ACL reconstruction surgeries. Researchers examined the difference between tendon-bone healing in ACL reconstructions both with and without this combination treatment. After two weeks, researchers found that the PRP/BMC group showed higher amounts of new tissue formation and the tissue that had
formed had a larger load capacity. They concluded that BMC and PRP treatments helped to increase healed tissue functionality and significantly sped up the healing process.

PRP therapy continues to be combined with BMC, and these two therapies are being used in tandem in a number of different regenerative medicine treatments. Promise has been seen treating cartilage injuries, bone injuries, tendon injuries, and more. The ability of this therapy combination to regenerate tissue shows a lot of promise and will most definitely see an increased role in medical treatments in the near future.
Please call us at 623-535-9777 for more information!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4436454/

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4064995/ 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28002915

https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-016-0433-7

How Does PRP Work?

 

PRP is derived from a vial of your own blood. A small amount is taken, and then it is centrifuged to separate the components of blood from one another. This separation isolates the red blood cells from the white blood cells. The red blood cells compact at the bottom of the tube, allowing the white blood cells, also known as plasma, to be easily removed from the top. After this initial separation, the plasma is centrifuged again to isolate the platelet-rich from the platelet-poor plasma.

The platelet-rich portion of the plasma is packed full of growth factors, which all play a role in the healing process. There are a variety of different types, all of which play an important role. Growth factors are especially crucial in the initial phases of healing as they help to regulate inflammation levels, reduce the formation of scar tissue, and help promote the growth of new blood vessels to aid in the healing process.

PRP also has the ability to generate new tissue growth. This can be especially useful for degenerative problems, cartilage injuries, surgical heart procedures, muscle strains, tendon damage, fascia irritation, and more.

 

How PRP Aids in Injury Recovery

Because of the many tissue types that PRP can help heal, it has been shown to be an effective treatment method for a number of different injuries throughout the body.

 

Tendon and Ligament Strains and Tears

Tendon and ligament problems are some of the most common impairments, and they are frequently repetitive injuries as well. Tendon injuries can include rotator cuff tears or strains, tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendinopathy, and golfer’s elbow. Tendons are responsible for connecting muscles to bones, so they are found around nearly every joint in the body. When muscles are used repetitively, the tendons are forced to absorb a large amount of shock, and they can become irritated from rubbing against bones.

 

Ligaments connect bone to bone. The most common injuries are in either the knee, with the ACL, MCL, PCL, or LCL, or in the elbow, with the UCL, which is commonly injured with throwing. The knee ligaments are often injured in sports such as skiing, basketball, football, or soccer, and the UCL is most commonly injured while playing baseball or softball.

Tendons and ligaments generally heal very slowly because they have very little blood flow. However, with PRP injections, tendons and ligaments have been shown to increase their regeneration and increase the strength of the tissues after healing. This can maintain the integrity of the tendons and ligaments, allowing equal function compared to the original tissue.

 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis causes damage to and wears down the articular cartilage found on the end of the bones. This reduces joint mobility and can cause constant pain. Osteoarthritis is common in older adults, but it can occur at any age in joints that are overused. The ability of PRP to regenerate cartilage tissues can be a significant help in treating this condition, reducing symptoms and restoring joint function.

One study of 78 individuals who suffered from bilateral osteoarthritis in the knees showed that both a single injection and two injections of PRP into the knee produced positive results, lowering pain and stiffness while increasing physical joint function. They noticed these results both after two to three weeks and after six months. The control group in the study degraded in all of these categories.

 

Cartilage Tears or Spinal Disc Compression

Cartilage tears are most common in the meniscus of the knee, and the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae in the spine can become worn down, dried out, and compressed over time. Both of these injuries result from damage to fibrocartilage. These areas are composed of thick areas of cartilage, and they play critical roles in resisting compression and absorbing forces put through the body. PRP therapies have been shown to help reduce inflammation in these areas, stimulate new cartilage and blood vessel growth, and restore overall function.

One study compared the difference between PRP injections directly after a spinal disc injury, two weeks after the injury, and a control group. Both groups that received PRP injections showed improvement, but the group that received the treatment immediately showed more promising results. The benefits noted included reduced inflammation, more spinal fluid inside the discs, and increased disc height that improved function.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4338460/

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.470.8355&rep=rep1&type=pdf

http://andreassauerbreymd.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Treatment-With-Platelet-Rich-Plasma.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3506140/

How PRP Aids in Injury Recovery

Because of the many tissue types that PRP can help heal, it has been shown to be an effective treatment method for a number of different injuries throughout the body.

Tendon and Ligament Strains and Tears

Tendon and ligament problems are some of the most common impairments, and they are frequently repetitive injuries as well. Tendon injuries can include rotator cuff tears or strains, tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendinopathy, and golfer’s elbow. Tendons are responsible for connecting muscles to bones, so they are found around nearly every joint in the body. When muscles are used repetitively, the tendons are forced to absorb a large amount of shock, and they can become irritated from rubbing against bones.

Ligaments connect bone to bone. The most common injuries are in either the knee, with the ACL, MCL, PCL, or LCL, or in the elbow, with the UCL, which is commonly injured with throwing. The knee ligaments are often injured in sports such as skiing, basketball, football, or soccer, and the UCL is most commonly injured while playing baseball or softball.

Tendons and ligaments generally heal very slowly because they have very little blood flow. However, with PRP injections, tendons and ligaments have been shown to increase their regeneration and increase the strength of the tissues after healing. This can maintain the integrity of the tendons and ligaments, allowing equal function compared to the original tissue.

 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis causes damage to and wears down the articular cartilage found on the end of the bones. This reduces joint mobility and can cause constant pain. Osteoarthritis is common in older adults, but it can occur at any age in joints that are overused. The ability of PRP to regenerate cartilage tissues can be a significant help in treating this condition, reducing symptoms and restoring joint function.

One study of 78 individuals who suffered from bilateral osteoarthritis in the knees showed that both a single injection and two injections of PRP into the knee produced positive results, lowering pain and stiffness while increasing physical joint function. They noticed these results both after two to three weeks and after six months. The control group in the study degraded in all of these categories.

 

Cartilage Tears or Spinal Disc Compression

Cartilage tears are most common in the meniscus of the knee, and the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae in the spine can become worn down, dried out, and compressed over time. Both of these injuries result from damage to fibrocartilage. These areas are composed of thick areas of cartilage, and they play critical roles in resisting compression and absorbing forces put through the body. PRP therapies have been shown to help reduce inflammation in these areas, stimulate new cartilage and blood vessel growth, and restore overall function.

One study compared the difference between PRP injections directly after a spinal disc injury, two weeks after the injury, and a control group. Both groups that received PRP injections showed improvement, but the group that received the treatment immediately showed more promising results. The benefits noted included reduced inflammation, more spinal fluid inside the discs, and increased disc height that improved function.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4338460/

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.470.8355&rep=rep1&type=pdf

http://andreassauerbreymd.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Treatment-With-Platelet-Rich-Plasma.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3506140/

The History of Platelet-Rich Plasma

The concept of PRP began in the 1970s in the field of hematology, which is the study of blood. This term was coined so that hematologists could define blood that had a higher platelet count than normal blood. This platelet-rich blood was mainly used for blood transfusions for individuals who suffered from low platelet count in their blood.

Then, in the 1980s and 1990s, PRP began to be used during surgical procedures because it has many properties that help with wound closure, reducing inflammation, and increasing new cell growth. The most common procedures in which it was used were periodontal surgery, maxillofacial surgery, cosmetic surgery, and skin grafting.

Since then, PRP began to be used in orthopedics to help with bone grafts and fractures, connective tissue repair, cardiac surgery, sports injuries, plastic surgery, gynecology, urology, and more. Research has also shown that PRP can be effective at reducing scarring, so it is now being used to improve burn scars, post-surgery scars, and acne scarring.

 

How PRP Therapy Works

Like we mentioned above, PRP is derived from your own blood. A vial of blood is drawn, and then it is centrifuged to separate the different components. This isolates the red blood cells, platelet-rich plasma, and platelet-poor plasma. The plasma rich in platelets is then removed from the vial to be used for PRP therapy.

Platelets play a critical role in the body’s healing processes, especially in the early stages. They help to encourage homeostasis by helping to form blood clots and releasing other chemicals that promote tissue repair.

The benefits of these also help to reduce the need for opioid medications. Opioids are highly addictive, and developing dependence on them is quite common. Using PRP therapy can speed up the healing process, reducing the need for repeated opioid use to manage pain.

 

How PRP is Used in Regenerative Medicine

One of the biggest advantages of PRP is that it is able to be delivered directly into the injury site. It is also easy to obtain, comes at a low price point, and comes with very few potential negative side effects. Because of these advantages, PRP can be used for many different medical treatments.

 

Chronic Knee and Joint Pain

Chronic knee and joint pain is one of the most common areas of discomfort for adults. Injuries to these areas can include osteoarthritis, tendon strains, rotator cuff injuries, plantar fasciitis, sports hernias, knee cartilage injuries, sports injuries, and many more.

PRP has been shown to help increase the growth of the cells responsible for creating new tissues in the damaged area, whether they build new tendons, muscles, cartilage, and connective tissue. PRP can also help to heal the tissues more effectively, leaving them stronger, thicker, and healthier than they would be without it. This can be especially useful for cartilage injuries, such as osteoarthritis, as it can help to treat the root of the problem by stimulating new cartilage growth, which is generally very difficult because of the poor vascularity.

 

Cardiac Surgery

Wound infections are quite common in the sternal area after heart surgery, and in some cases these infections can lead to death. PRP injections have been shown to improve the healing process, reducing the risk of developing an infection.

Excess bleeding can also sometimes occur during cardiac surgery. Because of this, blood transfusions are needed during surgery by some of the patients. The use of PRP in these procedures has been shown to reduce the total amount of homologous blood that patients need to be transfused. Using PRP has been shown to decrease the number of patients that needed additional transfusions as well.

 

Spinal Therapies

Back pain is one of the biggest medical issues in the United States, and PRP injections may be a viable solution for this issue. Disc degeneration occurs when the discs between each of the vertebraes in the spine begin to wear down, harden, and lose their ability to deal with compression. This can result in other issues, such as disc herniation or nerve pinching or damage.

PRP may be able to help inhibit the process of disc degeneration by closing up any tears in the tissues and healing them to prevent fluid leaking. PRP may also be able to help regrow any tissue that has become damaged or worn down, leading to less back pain and more functionality in the spine.

 

For more information on PRP therapy options please contact Active Life Physical Medicine & Pain Center at 623.535.9777 or visit our website at www.activelifepaincenter.com.

 

https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/477353

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3445108/

http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2210635

https://cardiothoracicsurgery.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13019-016-0452-9

https://www.annalsthoracicsurgery.org/article/S0003-4975(10)64655-3/pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5911760/

How PRP Aids in Injury Recovery

Because of the many tissue types that PRP can help heal, it has been shown to be an effective treatment method for a number of different injuries throughout the body.

Tendon and Ligament Strains and Tears

Tendon and ligament problems are some of the most common impairments, and they are frequently repetitive injuries as well. Tendon injuries can include rotator cuff tears or strains, tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendinopathy, and golfer’s elbow. Tendons are responsible for connecting muscles to bones, so they are found around nearly every joint in the body. When muscles are used repetitively, the tendons are forced to absorb a large amount of shock, and they can become irritated from rubbing against bones.

Ligaments connect bone to bone. The most common injuries are in either the knee, with the ACL, MCL, PCL, or LCL, or in the elbow, with the UCL, which is commonly injured with throwing. The knee ligaments are often injured in sports such as skiing, basketball, football, or soccer, and the UCL is most commonly injured while playing baseball or softball.

Tendons and ligaments generally heal very slowly because they have very little blood flow. However, with PRP injections, tendons and ligaments have been shown to increase their regeneration and increase the strength of the tissues after healing. This can maintain the integrity of the tendons and ligaments, allowing equal function compared to the original tissue.

 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis causes damage to and wears down the articular cartilage found on the end of the bones. This reduces joint mobility and can cause constant pain. Osteoarthritis is common in older adults, but it can occur at any age in joints that are overused. The ability of PRP to regenerate cartilage tissues can be a significant help in treating this condition, reducing symptoms and restoring joint function.

One study of 78 individuals who suffered from bilateral osteoarthritis in the knees showed that both a single injection and two injections of PRP into the knee produced positive results, lowering pain and stiffness while increasing physical joint function. They noticed these results both after two to three weeks and after six months. The control group in the study degraded in all of these categories.

 

Cartilage Tears or Spinal Disc Compression

Cartilage tears are most common in the meniscus of the knee, and the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae in the spine can become worn down, dried out, and compressed over time. Both of these injuries result from damage to fibrocartilage. These areas are composed of thick areas of cartilage, and they play critical roles in resisting compression and absorbing forces put through the body. PRP therapies have been shown to help reduce inflammation in these areas, stimulate new cartilage and blood vessel growth, and restore overall function.

One study compared the difference between PRP injections directly after a spinal disc injury, two weeks after the injury, and a control group. Both groups that received PRP injections showed improvement, but the group that received the treatment immediately showed more promising results. The benefits noted included reduced inflammation, more spinal fluid inside the discs, and increased disc height that improved function.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4338460/

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.470.8355&rep=rep1&type=pdf

http://andreassauerbreymd.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Treatment-With-Platelet-Rich-Plasma.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3506140/

How do Tennis and Golf Elbow Injuries Occur?

These types of injuries often occur due to overuse of the forearm muscles, and the damage generally affects the tendons that connect these muscles to the bottom portion of the upper arm bone. Many of the muscles in the forearms join together into common tendons, so the tendons can receive lots of stress during certain repetitive movements.

When these tendons are used too often, they can become irritated and swollen. Inflamed tendons can then cause the elbow to be tender to the touch, movements to become painful, joint mobility to be decreased, and numbness or tingling to occur in the hands and fingers.

Golfer’s elbow occurs when the tendons that attach to the inside of the elbow, which also connect to the flexor muscles of the forearm, are irritated, and tennis elbow occurs when the tendons on the outside of the elbow, which attach to the extensor muscles of the forearm, become inflamed. These injuries are named as such because these are the two most common sports in which these injuries occur respectively. However, these tissues can become damaged by other means of chronic use as well.

 

The Downside of Surgical Procedures

Elbow injuries often have to heal on their own, and this process can last for 18 months or more due to the limited blood flow and poor regenerative ability of tendons. In some cases, patients opt to undergo surgical procedures to try to address the root of their pain directly. Surgical procedures for these injuries most often include open or arthroscopic procedures.

Surgeries generally attempt to release or lengthen the tendons or destroy the nerves causing pain signaling. While these procedures can be successful, there are a number of potential complications that can be associated with them.

If done incorrectly, surgical procedures can lead to over-lengthening of the tendons, reduced arm strength, unwanted nerve damage, and scar tissue buildup. These surgeries also have failure rates that can range from around 10 percent to as high as 80 percent, and even with a successful surgery, follow up surgeries are quite common.

 

Available Regenerative Medicine Treatment Options

There are a number of regenerative medicine therapy options that provide great alternatives to surgery. These treatments are all minimally invasive and can provide high success rates in much less time.

 

Stem Cells

Stem cell therapy utilizes mesenchyme stem cells that are isolated from a person’s bone marrow or adipose tissue. These cells are known as multipotent cells, meaning that they can differentiate into a number of other cells that can create new bone, cartilage, connective tissue, fibrous tissue, muscle tissue, and more. These cells can then be injected directly into the damaged tissue.

These injections have been shown to speed up the healing process by decreasing inflammation, promoting the creation of new blood vessels, reducing scar tissue buildup, and helping to recruit other cells to the area. The ability of these cells to create new tissue also increases the overall strength and function of repaired tissues.

 

Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet rich plasma, or PRP, is derived from a sample of a patient’s own blood. A portion of this sample that contains a high proportion of platelets and growth factors is isolated from the sample, and it is then injected into the injury site.

Platelet rich plasma is packed with growth factors, which help to reduce swelling and create new blood vessels. Studies have shown that PRP injections can significantly improve pain levels and prevent scar tissue from forming, maintaining the strength, flexibility, and function of the original tendons.

 

Bone Marrow Concentrate

Using bone marrow concentrate, known as BMC, is very similar in practice to stem cell therapy. BMC is derived from the bone marrow in the same manner. This original product is known as bone marrow aspirate. Then, a centrifuge is used, and the red blood cells are discarded from the sample, leaving you with a sample with a higher concentration of progenitor cells.

BMC contains many stem cells, but it also contains many growth factors and platelets, though not to the degree of PRP. This therapy option provides somewhat of a hybrid between these other two treatments, providing many of the same benefits, including reduced scar tissue, decreased inflammation, lower pain levels, and increased tissue functionality.

 

AmnioFix

AmnioFix is a biologic sheet of tissue composed of amnion and chorion, which are the two layers of the amniotic sac found in the uterus during pregnancy. These membranes contain a number of growth factors, proteins, and cytokines that promote tissue healing.

This tissue matrix can be injected into the injury site, and it is able to serve as a protective layer for damaged tissues. The cells in this matrix are able to create new tissue to replace damaged tissues, recruit additional cells to the area to speed up recovery, and increase blood flow while inhibiting scar tissue buildup.

All aforementioned treatments are real options to treat tennis/golf elbow injuries without having to undergo surgery. Please contact our office at 623.535.9777 for any questions.

 

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546513494359

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0363546506288850

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jcp.21368

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367546/

https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article/88/1/171/267622

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3346289/

http://getbacktogo.com/amniofix-

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5632955/

How PRP Aids in Injury Recovery

Because of the many tissue types that PRP can help heal, it has been shown to be an effective treatment method for a number of different injuries throughout the body.

Tendon and Ligament Strains and Tears

Tendon and ligament problems are some of the most common impairments, and they are frequently repetitive injuries as well. Tendon injuries can include rotator cuff tears or strains, tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendinopathy, and golfer’s elbow. Tendons are responsible for connecting muscles to bones, so they are found around nearly every joint in the body. When muscles are used repetitively, the tendons are forced to absorb a large amount of shock, and they can become irritated from rubbing against bones.

Ligaments connect bone to bone. The most common injuries are in either the knee, with the ACL, MCL, PCL, or LCL, or in the elbow, with the UCL, which is commonly injured with throwing. The knee ligaments are often injured in sports such as skiing, basketball, football, or soccer, and the UCL is most commonly injured while playing baseball or softball.

Tendons and ligaments generally heal very slowly because they have very little blood flow. However, with PRP injections, tendons and ligaments have been shown to increase their regeneration and increase the strength of the tissues after healing. This can maintain the integrity of the tendons and ligaments, allowing equal function compared to the original tissue.

 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis causes damage to and wears down the articular cartilage found on the end of the bones. This reduces joint mobility and can cause constant pain. Osteoarthritis is common in older adults, but it can occur at any age in joints that are overused. The ability of PRP to regenerate cartilage tissues can be a significant help in treating this condition, reducing symptoms and restoring joint function.

One study of 78 individuals who suffered from bilateral osteoarthritis in the knees showed that both a single injection and two injections of PRP into the knee produced positive results, lowering pain and stiffness while increasing physical joint function. They noticed these results both after two to three weeks and after six months. The control group in the study degraded in all of these categories.

 

Cartilage Tears or Spinal Disc Compression

Cartilage tears are most common in the meniscus of the knee, and the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae in the spine can become worn down, dried out, and compressed over time. Both of these injuries result from damage to fibrocartilage. These areas are composed of thick areas of cartilage, and they play critical roles in resisting compression and absorbing forces put through the body. PRP therapies have been shown to help reduce inflammation in these areas, stimulate new cartilage and blood vessel growth, and restore overall function.

One study compared the difference between PRP injections directly after a spinal disc injury, two weeks after the injury, and a control group. Both groups that received PRP injections showed improvement, but the group that received the treatment immediately showed more promising results. The benefits noted included reduced inflammation, more spinal fluid inside the discs, and increased disc height that improved function.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4338460/

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.470.8355&rep=rep1&type=pdf

http://andreassauerbreymd.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Treatment-With-Platelet-Rich-Plasma.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3506140/

 

Platelet rich plasma is generated from a sample of blood. The blood contains a number of different components, including red blood cells, platelets, growth factors, clotting factors, and more. Each of these serves a specific purpose, and being in the blood, they are able to be transported quickly to an injury site.

Platelet rich plasma is only a portion of the blood, but it is highly concentrated with growth factors that play a critical role in tissue healing. Growth factors are responsible for controlling inflammation levels, improving cellular communication to enhance the regeneration process, recruiting additional cells to the damaged area, creating new blood vessels to improve healing, and more.

PRP and its Ability to Heal a Patellar Tendon Tear in a High School Athlete

Patellar tendonitis is an injury that commonly affects athletes of all ages, but especially those in high school. This injury occurs when the tendon connecting the kneecap to the lower leg bone and is common with repeated jumping. A high school lacrosse athlete experienced pain in this area and was diagnosed with this injury. He underwent physical therapy, took NSAIDs, and used a brace. But, after pain lingered for more than a year, he underwent an MRI and they discovered he had a tear that nearly spanned the entire tendon.

This athlete became a candidate for PRP therapy, and at the beginning of therapy, he experienced pain with both running and jumping. However, after undergoing treatment with multiple PRP injections, he was able to return to full health quickly and continue his athletic endeavors.

PRP Treatment of an MCL Tear in a Professional Soccer Player

Another prime example of PRP’s effectiveness was seen in the rehab of a professional soccer player who experienced an injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), which is located on the inside of the knee. This ligament is often injured if the knee bends too far inward. This soccer player fully tore his MCL after a collision with another player.

Wanting to return to the field as quickly as possible, the athlete decided to undergo weekly PRP injections for three weeks. Just three days after the initial injection, he was able to walk pain free and resistance training exercises were started just five days afterwards. Full knee range of motion was reached 10 days after the first injection, and the brace was removed.

After only 2.5 weeks, the athlete experienced no pain, had regained 85 percent of his strength in his quadriceps and hamstrings, and was permitted to return to practice with his teammates. After one week of practicing, he was able to fully participate in a game. Previous studies have noted recovery times of between four and eight weeks, so returning to full game participation in only 3.5 weeks is quite impressive.

Stem Cells in BMC in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis for Former NFL Players

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage tissue in the knees, hips, shoulders, and other joints wears down from overuse, causing pain with many movements. This is commonly seen in older individuals or in competitive athletes at younger ages.

The NFL is a grueling league, and playing football places large amounts of stress on the joints throughout the body. Fifty-one former NFL players agreed to undergo stem cell injections in order to try to address their pain. These athletes experienced arthritis in the shoulders, hips, and knees. In all three locations, the players noted a 70 percent improvement in both pain and functionality one year after injections.

This stem cell treatment prevented all but four of the 51 athletes from electing to have surgery to further reduce pain levels and increase functionality.

While all three of these examples focus on athletes, PRP and stem cell treatments provide great options for people who live an active lifestyle no matter what their skill level. In each of these stories, the athletes were able to alleviate their pain quickly and effectively and undergoing surgical procedures to address their injuries was unnecessary.  To see if either of these treatments can help you live a pain free life, please visit one of locations in Avondale or Surprise, Arizona.  You can also contact us directly at 623.535.9777 or visit us online at www.activelifepaincenter.com.

https://medcraveonline.com/JSRT/JSRT-04-00106.pdf

https://www.pmrjournal.org/article/S1934-1482(10)01340-7/abstract

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3690737/

Who is Dr. Arnold Caplin PhD?

Dr. Arnold Caplin PhD is the scientist who first discovered mesenchyme stem cells, and he is known as the father of mesenchymal stem cells. Dr. Caplan is a Professor of Biology at Case Western Reserve University, and he is also the Director of the Skeletal Research Center there. He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology to receive his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and he received his PhD from John Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Caplan began his work at Case Western Reserve in 1969 as an Assistant Professor of Biology, and he became a professor in 1981.

Caplan’s work in stem cell therapies began in the early 1980s, and by the end of the decade, he and his colleagues had perfected the technology needed to isolate these stem cells and grow their cultures in a laboratory setting. Then, in the 1990s, Caplan was able to begin to use mesenchyme stem cell therapy in practice.

 

What are Dr. Caplan’s Findings and How are Stem Cell Therapies Advancing?

Initially, because of the ability of these stem cells to change into a number of different cells, Dr. Caplan hoped that they would be able to be used to engineer and create new tissues that could be inserted into damaged or diseased areas of the body. This idea has been explored by a number of scientists for more than 30 years, and newer methods are beginning to show more promise in this regard.

Discoveries have been made that all mesenchyme stem cells originate from pericytes, which are contractile cells that are found around capillaries all over the body. Because of this, stem cells are able to be generated from nearly every tissue throughout the human body.

In relation to tissue healing, Dr. Caplan noticed that the healing process of tissues changes as humans age. Children experience very little scar tissue formation when a tissue is injured. A specific example of this is the healing of bones. If a child gets a fracture, the bone is able to quickly replace old cells, restoring function efficiently. However, adults take much longer to heal from fractures, and the final tissue often contains a large amount of scar tissue.

He also found that adding mesenchymal stem cells to injury sites can improve the healing process, and that the number, activation, and function of these cells affect their ability. He determined that the effectiveness of these cells depends on three factors, which he called the when, where, and how.

 

The When, Where, and How

The timing of stem cell injection is critical. After an injury, inflammation is common at the site. After this initial period, which usually lasts around 48 hours, collagen often floods the area to provide a base layer for scar tissue to form. But, by inserting stem cells, the production of these collagen fibers is inhibited, protecting the site and reducing scarring. It is important to note that injecting stem cells more than seven days after an acute injury significantly reduces their effectiveness. This is not the case for chronic damage.

If damage is in a specific muscle or joint, such as spinal discs or synovial joints, injection of cells directly into the joint has been shown to be effective. Mesenchymal cells can also be used to heal blood vessel or heart damage, and inserting stem cells directly into the heart has been shown to be more effective than injecting them into a peripheral vein.

Dr. Caplan has also provided insight into the best means of delivering these stem cells. The most common means of delivery are injections into muscles, joints, or veins. A newer method that is growing in popularity is delivery to the upper sinus delivery using steam. This method is commonly used to provide treatments to patients with MS, ALS, or Parkinson’s disease.

 

The Future of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Dr. Caplan

Dr. Arnold Caplan PhD still continues his work using stem cells as a form of regenerative medicine nearly 40 years after he began. Currently, he is working on cartilage tissue engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He is attempting to produce engineered cartilage constructs that can be inserted into damaged tissue and effectively serve all of the needed functions of the replaced tissue.

 

He is also working on obtaining various pieces of equipment and developing imaging techniques to increase his ability to track cartilage tissue differentiation in the body and better predict tissue behavior. Although he is currently focusing on cartilage tissue, the information he is discovering will be able to be used to improve the use of stem cells in other tissues as well.

 

https://cartilage.org/member/caplan-arnold/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529977/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4759679/

https://cwru.pure.elsevier.com/en/projects/cwru-center-for-multimodal-evaluation-of-engineered-cartilage-2

How PRP Aids in Injury Recovery

Because of the many tissue types that PRP can help heal, it has been shown to be an effective treatment method for a number of different injuries throughout the body.

Tendon and Ligament Strains and Tears

Tendon and ligament problems are some of the most common impairments, and they are frequently repetitive injuries as well. Tendon injuries can include rotator cuff tears or strains, tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendinopathy, and golfer’s elbow. Tendons are responsible for connecting muscles to bones, so they are found around nearly every joint in the body. When muscles are used repetitively, the tendons are forced to absorb a large amount of shock, and they can become irritated from rubbing against bones.

Ligaments connect bone to bone. The most common injuries are in either the knee, with the ACL, MCL, PCL, or LCL, or in the elbow, with the UCL, which is commonly injured with throwing. The knee ligaments are often injured in sports such as skiing, basketball, football, or soccer, and the UCL is most commonly injured while playing baseball or softball.

Tendons and ligaments generally heal very slowly because they have very little blood flow. However, with PRP injections, tendons and ligaments have been shown to increase their regeneration and increase the strength of the tissues after healing. This can maintain the integrity of the tendons and ligaments, allowing equal function compared to the original tissue.

 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis causes damage to and wears down the articular cartilage found on the end of the bones. This reduces joint mobility and can cause constant pain. Osteoarthritis is common in older adults, but it can occur at any age in joints that are overused. The ability of PRP to regenerate cartilage tissues can be a significant help in treating this condition, reducing symptoms and restoring joint function.

One study of 78 individuals who suffered from bilateral osteoarthritis in the knees showed that both a single injection and two injections of PRP into the knee produced positive results, lowering pain and stiffness while increasing physical joint function. They noticed these results both after two to three weeks and after six months. The control group in the study degraded in all of these categories.

 

Cartilage Tears or Spinal Disc Compression

Cartilage tears are most common in the meniscus of the knee, and the intervertebral discs between the vertebrae in the spine can become worn down, dried out, and compressed over time. Both of these injuries result from damage to fibrocartilage. These areas are composed of thick areas of cartilage, and they play critical roles in resisting compression and absorbing forces put through the body. PRP therapies have been shown to help reduce inflammation in these areas, stimulate new cartilage and blood vessel growth, and restore overall function.

One study compared the difference between PRP injections directly after a spinal disc injury, two weeks after the injury, and a control group. Both groups that received PRP injections showed improvement, but the group that received the treatment immediately showed more promising results. The benefits noted included reduced inflammation, more spinal fluid inside the discs, and increased disc height that improved function.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4338460/

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.470.8355&rep=rep1&type=pdf

http://andreassauerbreymd.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Treatment-With-Platelet-Rich-Plasma.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3506140/