Participating in sports and exercise offers numerous health advantages, but it also increases the risk of getting injured. Athletes continuously push their bodies to achieve peak physical performance, but taking proper care is essential to prevent injuries. However, regardless of how well an athlete takes care of their body, sports injuries can still occur.
Dealing with a sports injury can be daunting, particularly if it requires surgery that would sideline you for several weeks or even months. Fortunately, surgery is not always the optimal solution when it comes to sports-related injuries. Advancements in non-surgical knee pain treatments aim to help patients return to their sport without the invasiveness or lengthy recovery period associated with surgery.
The field of regenerative treatment is rapidly growing and utilizes the body’s natural processes and substances to accelerate healing. This approach is beneficial for a wide range of individuals, from professional athletes to recreational enthusiasts, seeking a faster recovery and a successful return to their sports activities.
What Is Regenerative Treatment?
Regenerative treatment, as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the act of creating functional living tissues to repair or replace lost tissue or organ function caused by various factors like age, disease, damage, or congenital issues.
By specifically targeting damaged cells, these non-surgical knee pain treatments facilitate speedy healing, restore functionality, and provide lasting relief from pain.
How Is Regenerative Medicine Used as an Effective Non-surgical Knee Pain Treatment for Sports Injuries?
In the field of sports medicine, regenerative treatments are commonly utilized for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders specifically focused on repairing or substituting damaged ligaments, cartilage, and tendons.
Several examples of conditions that can benefit from regenerative treatments include tendonitis, joint pain due to an acute injury, early-stage partial tendon tears, stress fractures, damage to knee cartilage, and chronic degenerative joint disease.
The objective of regenerative treatment is two-fold: to efficiently restore the athlete to their sport and to maximize their potential by bringing them as close as possible to their pre-injury level of ability. Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, regenerative treatment may be administered either in sole form or combined with traditional treatments like physical therapy.
What Are the Benefits of Regenerative Treatment for Sports Participants?
More and more elite athletes are now opting for regenerative medicine to stay at the top of their game. Top players like Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning, Bartolo Colon, Rafael Nadal, and Kobe Bryant have all chosen regenerative treatments to address their injuries and avoid lengthy recovery periods.
The benefits of regenerative treatment are numerous, including a lower risk of adverse reactions or rejection since no foreign agents are involved. Additionally, these procedures are painless, do not require surgery or drugs, and leave no scars. Most importantly, regenerative medicine treats the underlying issues and permanently restores the function and structure of damaged tissues, instead of just alleviating symptoms.
What Types of Regenerative Treatments are Recommended for Sports Injuries?
At Medica Stem Cells clinic, we treat sports injuries with the following regenerative treatments:
Stem Cell Therapy
The process of stem cell therapy involves a gentle and non-invasive approach to regenerate damaged tissues in the body. Stem cells are extraordinary cells that possess the ability to transform into various types of cells depending on the specific location within the body.
This therapy begins by extracting stem cells from the bone marrow found in the hip of the patient. These cells are then injected directly into the injured tissue, where they work diligently to repair and regenerate the damaged area over time.
By effectively restoring functionality, this procedure is highly beneficial for individuals suffering from sports-related injuries such as muscle, tendon, ligament, and cartilage damage. The entire procedure is completed in less than an hour and carries minimal risk, eliminating the need for general anaesthesia.
PRP Therapy
In a similar vein to stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a minimally-invasive treatment option that utilizes materials obtained from the patient’s own body. While stem cell therapy focuses on healing through the use of stem cells, PRP therapy utilizes platelets and growth factors found in blood drawn from the patient’s arm to heal sports injuries.
This prepared PRP is then injected into the injured tissue under general anaesthesia to stimulate the body’s natural healing response and address the damage. Typically taking around 30 minutes to complete, the PRP procedure can be repeated as necessary. It is commonly employed to treat conditions affecting the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, such as tennis elbow or wrist tendinitis.
Is Regenerative Treatment an Effective Non-surgical Knee Pain Treatment Compared to Surgery?
Athletes who suffer from musculoskeletal injuries often need surgery to repair the damage or replace a joint. While surgery is effective, it requires a lengthy recovery period and carries a higher risk of complications. This can be frustrating for athletes who want to get back to their sport quickly and continue playing at a high level.
However, regenerative therapies offer an effective non-surgical knee pain treatment compared to surgery. Regenerative treatment proves to be effective while eliminating the pain, recovery time, and potential hazards associated with extensive surgical procedures. With minimally-invasive techniques, many patients can avoid surgery altogether and return to their athletic lifestyle without the need for strong pain medications.
Final Thoughts
As regenerative treatment continues to advance, more and more athletes are opting for therapies that utilize their own biological materials for healing sports-related injuries. At Medica Stem Cells Clinic, our specialists offer a range of innovative non-surgical knee pain treatments that can expedite your recovery and have you back on your feet in no time.