Athletes are no strangers to injuries, be it a small or large one. Other than the pain caused, injuries also put an athlete out of commission for a while so that they can heal. If you’ve ever faced such an injury, you’d understand that the urge to get back to your sport as soon as possible. So, can stem cell treatments help speed up the healing process? Let’s find out!
Stem cells are those initial cells that form muscle, bone, blood, heart and even brain cells and can be found in adipose (fat tissue), peripheral blood, bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue. They are unique because of their ability to reproduce and become different cells that perform different functions. Mesenchymal stem cells, which are found in abundance in umbilical cord tissue, are already being researched as potential treatment options for tissue injuries and degenerative diseases. They are currently being used to treat heart and kidney disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), healing of wounds, and autoimmune diseases.
When it comes to stem cell treatment for sports injuries, they are usually taken from the patient itself, thus reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease. That means that the patient is less likely to have an adverse reaction to having foreign substances enter his/her body. A published research1 states that the use of stem cell-based treatments in sports medicine has risen. The treatment aims to repair and even regenerate tissues like the tendon, cartilage and muscle. While some clinical trials have shown positive results, the safety and efficacy of such treatments are still to be confirmed. The benefits of this kind of treatment have been:
- Quicker healing and recovery
- Reduced inflammation
- Regenerated of affected tissue
Some of the common injuries that can be treated with stem cells include:
- Achilles tendonitis
- Shin splints
- ACL tear
- Sprains and strains
- Tennis elbow
- Runner’s knee
When it comes to the procurement of stem cells, cord blood stem cells have shown a more significant advantage over bone marrow. Considering it’s also far easier to collect, more and more parents are signing up for cord blood banking to protect the future health of their kids.
Research and trials have marked stem cell therapy as a form of regenerative medicine that can speed up healing and regenerate tissues.
