When discussing cell-based therapies, it doesn’t get much more advanced than Autologous Stem Cell Injections (ASCI). In fact, ASCI is currently one of the most advanced treatment options for a wide range of orthopedic conditions. This and other cell-based therapies are providing amazing results for sports and orthopedic medicine patients.
The Center for Sports Medicine and Wellness is one of the leading destinations for Autologous Stem Cell Injections in Delaware County. Keep reading to find out how ASCI can heal your pain.
What are Autologous Stem Cell Injections?
The definition of “autologous” is “cells or tissues obtained from the same individual.” So in Autologous Stem Cell Injections, your own bone marrow or fat is used to harvest your own stem cells. Body fat and bone marrow are both rich sources of stem cells, which is why they are preferred for ASCI.
Stem cells have a unique ability to transform into any type of cell in your body, giving them the ability to rebuild and restore damaged tissues. Stem cell therapies were first used for patients undergoing cancer treatment and have now become a prominent and effective treatment for many orthopedic pains, injuries, and conditions. ASCI gained popularity in sports medicine as well due to its increasing use by professional athletes looking to return to peak performance as quickly as possible.
How Does it Work?
In order to harvest the stem cells, some of your own bone marrow will be extracted from the iliac crest, located near the base of the spine. Then, it’s placed in a specialized machine called a centrifuge and processed to separate the mesenchymal stem cells from other blood cells.
After processing, a high concentration of stem cells is left. This is then injected into the target joint or tendon, followed by some of your own Alpha 2 Macroglobulin (PRP). The inclusion of PRP activates the stem cells, turning them into the tissue needed to repair the damaged area.
Because autologous stem cells are used in this procedure, they are a perfect match for your body and will not be rejected. The objective of ASCI is to utilize the natural regenerative ability of these cells to help your body heal itself.
ASCI is a non-surgical, minimally-invasive procedure that is performed right in the Center for Sports Medicine and Wellness office. This is an outpatient procedure in which stem cells are harvested, isolated, and injected within just a few hours.
Treating Injured Athletes With Autologous Stem Cell Injections
What kinds of conditions make a patient a candidate for Autologous Stem Cell Injections? A patient suffering from any of the following:
- Knee pain
- Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Tennis elbow
- Torn or strained ligaments
- Tendon injuries
- Painful joints
- Cartilage damage
- Hand injuries
- Hip injuries
- Bone fracture healing
- Spinal disc issues
Before ASCI, pain and injuries affecting joints, back, ligaments, and tendons could only be treated with painkillers, rest, or surgery. Fortunately, ASCI is a procedure that works with your body to heal damaged areas by triggering your own natural healing processes.
However, you may wonder: if this uses your body’s natural healing processes, why is this procedure necessary? Although the processes encouraged by stem cell injections occur naturally, there are areas of your body where they don’t efficiently take place without assistance. In addition to this, as you age, these processes become less efficient as well, requiring help from direct injection of stem cells.
This procedure is popular among athletes because they commonly deal with painful injuries and require a treatment that will allow them to return to their sport as quickly as possible. This means they want to avoid surgery, long recovery times, and any risk of damage to their body or limited motion. Autologous Stem Cell Injections are able to provide this to athletes and anyone else dealing with arthritis, tendon injuries, torn or strained ligaments, cartilage damage, spinal disc issues, or fractures.
Treat Sports Injuries with Autologous Stem Cell Injections in Delaware County
At the Center for Sports Medicine and Wellness, Dr. Shiple and Dr. Kephart are committed to providing our patients with the most effective, advanced, non-operative treatments. Our doctors are authorities in non-operative orthopedic sports medicine and minimally invasive treatments.
Autologous Stem Cell Injections are an incredibly effective and innovative treatment for many types of pain and injuries. Whatever your condition, our doctors are more than qualified to administer ASCI. The Center for Sports Medicine and Wellness is one of Delaware County and Pennsylvania’s premier practices for regenerative and minimally invasive sports medicine treatment.
If you’ve sustained a sports injury and are looking for a treatment that can get you back in the game with minimal downtime, contact us to learn more about ASCI. Learn more about our services or contact us to schedule an appointment by calling our office in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, at (610) 459-4200 or filling out our form. We welcome your inquiry and we look forward to helping you find relief from your pain!