Our bodies are capable of incredible feats of strength, endurance, and dexterity. However, they’re also vulnerable to wear and tear. Over time, the joints and muscles can become damaged, injured, or strained. Regenerative medicine offers a new approach to treating musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. At Phoenix Regenerative Medicine in Tempe, AZ, we offer regenerative therapies to help our patients experience lasting relief from their musculoskeletal problems.
What Is the Success Rate of Regenerative Medicine?
When it comes to determining the success rate of regenerative medicine, we consider several clinical factors. These factors include decreased resting pain, decreased active pain, and increased functionality. From this perspective, regenerative therapies have a success rate of anywhere from 75% all the way to over 90%.
Most of our patients report a success rate of around 90%. This is due to the fact that we take a comprehensive approach to treatment, individualizing each patient’s care plan. As a result, our patients experience significant improvements in their overall health and quality of life. Our regenerative therapies include PRP injections and Orthobilogics.
PRP Injections
The natural process of healing following an injury typically involves a complex series of events, all of which are essential for proper tissue regeneration. One of the first steps in this process is the formation of a blood clot at the site of injury. This is accomplished by platelets, which are small cells that circulate in the blood and play a key role in blood clotting.
When an injury occurs, platelets move to the site of injury and begin to stick together, forming a barrier that helps to prevent further blood loss. At the same time, platelets release growth factors that help to promote tissue regeneration. However, sometimes the body can be slow or unable to send enough platelets and growth factors to the site of injury. This can prolong the healing process and lead to incomplete tissue regeneration.
Expediting the Process
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a treatment that helps to expedite the healing process by delivering a high concentration of platelets and growth factors directly to the site of injury. PRP therapy has been shown to be particularly effective in treating injuries that are slow to heal, such as muscle tears and joint, tendon, or ligament injuries.
How Is PRP Extracted?
The first step in the PRP therapy process is to have your blood drawn. This can be done at our state-of-the-art lab. Once your blood has been drawn, it is placed in a centrifuge where it is spun at a high speed to separate the different components of your blood. The platelet-rich plasma is then extracted from your blood and injected into the injured area.
Once injected, the PRP plasma helps to promote healing by stimulating the growth of new cells and increasing blood flow to the injury site. This increased blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to the injury site, which speeds up the healing process.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
The entire treatment process, from start to finish, takes about an hour. This includes the time it takes to prepare for treatment as well as the time it takes to inject the PRP plasma into the injury site. There is no downtime following treatment, so you can return to your normal activities immediately after your appointment.
What Can You Expect After Your Appointment?
Most patients report feeling relief from their injuries within a few weeks of receiving PRP therapy. Note that each patient responds differently to treatment, so some may experience relief sooner than others. It is also crucial to follow our instructions for post-treatment care, which may include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE).
What Are the Benefits of PRP Therapy?
PRP therapy offers many benefits over traditional treatments for injuries, including:
- Reduced pain and swelling
- Faster healing time
- Reduced risk of infection
- Reduced need for pain medication
- Little to no downtime
- No risk of allergic reaction or rejection
Orthobilogics
Orthobiologics is a rapidly growing field of medicine that uses cells, tissues, and growth factors to repair and regenerate damaged tissue. The word “ortho” means relating to the musculoskeletal system, and “biologics” refers to living organisms or substances derived from living organisms.
In other words, orthobiologics are treatments that use living cells or tissues to repair damage to the bones, joints, or muscles. Orthobiologics can be derived from the patient’s own body (autologous) or from a donor source (allogeneic).
How Are Orthobiologics Made?
Orthobiologics are made using a process called extraction. This is when cells or other substances are removed from the body using special techniques. Once extracted, the cells or substances are then purified and concentrated before being injected into the injury site.
What Are the Benefits of Autologous Orthobiologics?
Autologous orthobiologics have several advantages over allogeneic orthobiologics. First, since they are derived from the patient’s own body, there is no risk of rejection or allergic reaction. Second, autologous orthobiologics are more readily available since they do not have to be sourced from a donor.
Finally, they are more cost-effective since there is no need to pay for a donor source.
How Do Orthobiologics Work Once Injected Into an Injury Site?
Orthobiologic injections work by stimulating the body’s natural ability to heal itself. The injected cells or substances help to repair and regenerate damaged tissue. Orthobiologic injections also help reduce pain and improve function.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Regenerative Medicine?
At our practice, we offer both PRP therapy and orthobiologics. As mentioned above, these regenerative therapies pose no risk of rejection or adverse reactions. As such, most people automatically qualify for treatment.
However, we always recommend scheduling a consultation so that we can evaluate your specific situation and ensure that regenerative therapy is the right course of action for you. Some of the musculoskeletal conditions that may respond well to regenerative therapy include:
Arthritis
For many people, arthritis can severely impair their quality of life. Daily activities such as walking, cooking, and even dressing can become difficult or impossible. While surgery is sometimes touted as a “cure” for arthritis, it is often not the best option. Surgery is invasive, costly, and carries a risk of complications.
PRP therapy and orthobiologics are two new treatments that have shown great promise in improving the symptoms of arthritis. These treatments are less invasive than surgery, and they offer the potential to improve the quality of life for arthritis patients without the risks associated with surgery.
Ligament Injuries
Common ligament injuries include ACL tears, which often occur in athletes due to the high levels of stress placed on the knee joint. However, ligament injuries can also occur in everyday activities such as walking or climbing stairs. The resulting pain and stiffness can make it difficult to participate in activities that were previously enjoyed. In addition, ligament injuries can also lead to the development of osteoarthritis.
Clinical studies have shown that combining regenerative therapy with physical therapy can help improve outcomes for patients suffering from ligament injuries. This combination therapy is sometimes used in conjunction with other treatments such as acupuncture.
Muscle Tear
A muscle tear can affect the quality of life in a number of ways. First, muscle tears are incredibly painful. The tearing of the muscle fibers causes inflammation and swelling, which can lead to further pain and stiffness. In addition, the injury can limit the range of motion, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks.
Recovery from a muscle tear can be lengthy, often requiring several weeks or months of rest and physical therapy. Traditional treatments such as medication can help to reduce pain, but they do not promote healing. Regenerative therapy, on the other hand, encourages the body to repair itself by delivering growth factors and cells to the site of the injury.
Joint Pain and Instability
Joint pain and instability can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from injury to arthritis. In many cases, traditional treatments such as medication and physical therapy can help to improve symptoms. However, some patients continue to experience pain and disability despite these interventions. Regenerative therapy promotes the repair and regeneration of damaged tissue to restore form and function.
Find Lasting Relief Today!
PRP therapy uses the body’s own healing power to repair damaged tissue. Orthobiologics use natural substances found in the body, such as proteins and growth factors, to promote healing. These treatments are administered in combination with physical therapy to maximize the chances of success. If you are suffering from joint or muscle pain, contact Phoenix Regenerative Medicine in Tempe, AZ, today to schedule a consultation.
