Stem cell therapy or Stem Cell Prolotherapy is a non-surgical injection treatment utilizing the patient’s stem cells to accelerate healing.
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (known as PRP) is also a non-surgical injection treatment. It differs from stem cells in that it uses the healing factors found in blood plasma to heal degenerative or acute damage in joints.
Combining Stems Cells with Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is known to accelerate tissue regeneration in advanced degeneration. As per the study conducted in 2017, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, it was shown that stromal vascular fraction cells (a source of fat-derived stem cells), freshly combined with PRP and administered to a patient suffering from degenerative osteoarthritis through an injection, demonstrated amazing healing potential. These improvements included a clinically significant reduction in pain and assured better quality of life for the patient.
The study also confirmed that:
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The improvements were noticed 12 months post-injection in patients and the improvement was maintained at the 2-year time point. -
Some patients showed improvements as early as 3 and 6 months after the injection of SVF and PRP. This confirms that the effect of this regenerative treatment cascades events over time. -
These events include regulating the immune system of the patient which leads to tissue remodelling. The pain reduction effects can be attributed to the soluble growth factors secreted from the stem cells and there were no serious side effects reported during the 2-year follow-up with the patients after the treatment.
Therefore, it can be said that since all the healing elements in the body travel through the blood, using blood as a delivery vehicle makes perfect sense!
Platelets secrete a variety of proteins that regulate various inflammatory responses. Platelets also increase stem cells and guide them in healing. Stem cells have the potential to repair cartilage and bone damage. Therefore, when combined and injected, these two can jump-start the immune system’s rebuilding process and help patients live a pain-free life that is sustainable and amazing!
Want to know more about this therapy? Feel free to reach out to me and I shall be glad to help 🙂