Injuries to the foot and ankle are very common among athletes. One of the best, non-invasive ways of treating these injuries include stem cell therapy, prolotherapy, and platelet-rich plasma. The nature of the injury will determine the best method to use. As we begin to age, ankle arthritis is another condition commonly experienced by people.

Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for Foot and Ankle Conditions

One of the biggest benefits of stem cell therapy for foot and ankle is the effectiveness and convenience of the procedure. The injection happens within a single day and starts providing pain relief to the patient the same day. Following the non-surgical procedure, patients are able to quickly return to their normal activities and way of life. There are no painful and lengthy rehabilitation periods that are usually associated with ankle or foot surgeries. Your mobility, strength, and range-of-motion also return much quicker when compared to other treatment procedures.

Stem Cell Injections Utilize Cells from Your Own Body’s

Today’s modern techniques enable us to extract stem cells from the bone marrow, analyze them in a lab and re-inject them precisely into the injured tissues using advanced imaging guidance. Through the use of MSK Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy, the doctors are able to make sure the cells are injected into the exact area of need. After the stem cells are injected, they improve the natural repair process of injured and degenerated ligaments, tendons, and arthritic joints. Also, they are able to reduce the natural breakdown process that occurs from overuse, injury, and aging.

How Are The Stem Cells Obtained?

Our body always keeps an available supply of stem cells to help repair degenerated and injured tissues. This makes it simple to retrieve them for therapeutic purposes. The easiest area to harvest stem cells is from the back of the hip area since they remain there as a reserve in the marrow cavity of the bone.

The procedure is performed in the office, under the precision and guidance of an ultrasound or x-ray. The patient will lay face down while the doctor cleans the area before numbing the bone and skin. A special needle will get inserted into the bone and withdraw marrow blood, which is where the stem cells are located. Unlike a bone marrow biopsy, this procedure is not painful.

Once the bone marrow blood is extracted, it will be taken to a laboratory and centrifuged to purify and concentrate the stem cells. Unwanted cells will get removed, leaving a concentrated sample of stem cells to use for the therapy. This process will be-be done by hand to help customize the stem cell specimen for your individualized injury.