The knee is among the largest, most intricate joints in the body. It is made up of multiple bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage, all of which work together to allow the independent movement of the lower leg. Without the knee joint, we wouldn’t be able to stand, sit, walk, run, and jump.
As a highly complex joint, the knee is a frequent site of pain and injury. Knee tendonitis, ACL tears or sprains, runner’s knee, and arthritis are some of the most common causes of knee pain. While athletes are particularly susceptible to knee pain, many non-athletes also struggle with knee pain, especially in older age. For example, osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative condition that occurs with age and can cause pain, stiffness, and diminished knee joint function.
At Suncoast Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine, we offer stem cell therapy as a treatment option for degenerative joint conditions such as osteoarthritis and some soft tissue conditions. For patients with chronic knee pain, stem cell therapy can be a beneficial non-surgical treatment that provides long-lasting pain relief.
How Stem Cell Therapy Can Treat Knee Pain
Stem cells can transform into different types of cells with specialized functions, whether it be blood, tendon, muscle, bone, heart, or brain cells. With this ability, stem cells play a key role in the body’s repair process.
When stem cells are concentrated and injected into the site of the pain, they help the body regenerate its damaged tissue. For example, in patients with knee tendinitis, the stem cells deliver healing components to the tissue that they wouldn’t otherwise receive, given that tendons in the body receive minimal blood flow. Over the weeks following stem cell therapy, this leads to a significant reduction in inflammation and pain.
Fluid Flow from Suncoast Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine is a regenerative treatment that can provide relief for patients with knee pain stemming from osteoarthritis. It’s an amniotic allograft containing healing growth factors and protein. As a result, Fluid Flow reduces inflammation from osteoarthritis, supports the healing of the joint, and can even decrease or stop the rate of deterioration.
For more information about stem cell therapy for knee pain, schedule an appointment at Suncoast Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine.