You went for physical therapies and rested well. Yet, your sports injury didn’t improve. What’s the solution, then? If a sports injury doesn’t heal with typical, non-surgical therapies, going the way of regenerative medicine treatment can be intelligent and hopeful. This alternative medicine uses stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, and other techniques to restore your health and wellness. According to a national health body, regenerative helps create healthy tissues by repairing or replacing the worn out or damaged ones caused by aging, ailment, or birth problems. It endeavors to revive damaged tissues which will not quickly heal by themselves. If you didn’t know, these treatments could have three broad classifications.
Categories of regenerative medicine treatments
Biologics are especially beneficial for wounds that heal poorly because of dysfunction or injury to underlying soft tissue. The therapies can focus on cells, tissues, and natural healing abilities. The cell-based biologic therapies use live cells isolated from an individual and inject them into the same person for healing. They promote healing and, unlike surgical procedures, exert little foreign pressure on surrounding tissue. A well-known example of a biologic in action is platelet-rich plasma therapy – the application of pure plasma containing growth factors, which stimulates healing at the cellular level by accelerating re-collagenization of the injured tendon.
Tissue engineering may refer to technologies that treat sports injuries such as cartilage damage. It plays on the body’s natural healing powers for restoration. Biologic (biological tissue) or synthetic (artificial) implants are the most common tissue engineering applications. Besides that, there is also Prolotherapy therapy that doesn’t use new cells or tissues but takes advantage of the body’s natural healing capacity.
Types of regenerative medicine in detail
Stem cell treatments
Stem cells originate in embryos, adult fat, blood, or bone marrow and can morph into any other cell type. Stem cells carry ethical implications and promise as a more natural alternative to medical treatments and processes. They can repair damaged tissue in different ways because they’re specialized. The good ones can regulate hormones, too. Stem cell treatment involves removing some of the cell fluid from bone marrow or fat and injecting it into areas where there’s been injury or diseased tissue. This treatment is becoming more popular than ever before due to advances made in the field. One can find its widespread application in Achilles tendon injuries.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
As you probably know, platelets play an essential role in blood clotting, so using something extracted from your blood would seem to help combat tissue damage. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are a recent innovation in promoting faster healing and overall better relief of your pain. Specialists take your blood for processing to separate the platelets from the rest of the blood that enters it. The extracted plasma then goes into your affected site using a careful method.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy comes in handy for chronic pain following an injury or surgery. This treatment includes using an irritant and nutrients, such as sugar and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
The use of regenerative medicine in sports injuries
If you face any issues with your sports injuries, you can visit QC Kinetix (Lake Norman) near Davidson or other reputable local clinics for help with alternative medicine. The specialists aim to treat ligament, tendon, or cartilage damage through repair or replacement. They create fresh tissues and accelerate the body’s natural healing by choosing their therapies: stem cell, PRP, Prolotherapy, etc. Through this treatment, your doctor ensures that you find relief in your pain and you can resume your normal activities.
Things to consider when opting for regenerative medicine
Some people can recover from tissue injuries. Some tissue injuries require surgery and rehabilitation, followed by physical therapy and a gradual return to sport. Other people may find that regenerative medicine treatments help the healing process while recovering from simpler injuries such as torn ligaments in their ankles. Regenerative medicine is cutting-edge science. Scientists are using stem cells to grow tissues that act similar to bones and nerves. These tissues have shown promising abilities to help treat elderly patients suffering from brittle bones and other people who need help with their chronic pains.
There may be more than one suitable option available as you consider a new treatment. However, it is crucial to understand when a cure is proper for you and when you may be better off going another route. Once you have this information, you can make a thoughtful decision about which direction to take based on your situation and the facts. Athletes can use regenerative medicine treatments to promote injury recoveries, such as platelet-rich plasma therapy and stem cell therapy. However, it is equally essential to learn what these therapies can and can’t do.
When you sustain an injury, your body has to work hard at repairing the muscles, bones, and other tissues. It is where the healing powers of regenerative medicine come in handy. Not only can you start healing immediately after receiving treatment, but the effects can last long after. If you still have pain from an old injury, surgery, or even lifestyle habits such as sitting at a desk for a long, you can fall back on this advanced alternative medical treatment.