Regenerative Medicine Specialist

What is regenerative medicine?

You stay healthy throughout your lifetime thanks to stem cells and platelets. Stem cells continuously regenerate the new cells used to replace old and injured tissues, while platelets activate and accelerate all aspects of the healing process.

Regenerative medicine refers to the process of extracting these cells, concentrating them, and then injecting them at the site of injured or diseased tissues.

Receiving this boost of healing cells can help treat most musculoskeletal injuries and degenerative conditions such as arthritis. Regenerative treatments are especially beneficial when your natural healing process slows down.

Healing often gets sluggish as you get older, and your body sends fewer stem cells or platelets to the site of an injury. You also don’t heal well if the damaged tissues have a poor blood supply or when the injury is so severe it overwhelms your body’s healing capacity.

How does platelet-rich plasma (PRP) work in regenerative medicine?

Platelets are a normal component of your blood. When you’re injured, they go to the damaged area and trigger healing by releasing proteins called growth factors. 

Growth factors can:

• Speed up the growth of new tissue
• Regulate inflammation
• Recruit stem cells to the injury
• Protect healthy cells
• Build a matrix that supports new tissue growth

Your provider at Synergy Rehabilitation & Wellness Center makes PRP in the office from your own blood. 

After drawing a sample, your blood is placed in a centrifuge that separates the platelets and plasma from other blood cells. Your provider immediately injects your PRP using ultrasound imaging to precisely guide the needle to the injured area.

How are biologic injections used in regenerative medicine?

Biologic injections contain cells derived from amniotic tissues that are donated, carefully processed, and cryopreserved. Amniotic products don’t contain antigens that alert your body to a foreign substance, so they rarely cause an allergic reaction.

Your biologic injection contains growth factors and proteins that promote tissue repair and healing. You gain similar benefits as with PRP, but with biologics, you don’t need to take precautions that are needed for PRP therapy. 

For example, if you take certain medications such as blood thinners, you need to stop taking them before your PRP procedure.

What health conditions may benefit from regenerative medicine?

Injections containing PRP and biologics are used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing in many types of musculoskeletal conditions, including:

• ACL tears
• Osteoarthritis
• Rotator cuff tears
• Tennis elbow
• Meniscus tears 

If you have questions about regenerative medicine and how it can help relieve your pain, call Synergy Rehabilitation & Wellness Center or book an appointment online.