New England Stem Cell Institute Blog

What do Tiger Woods, Stephen Curry, Peyton Manning, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Rafael Nadal all have in common? In addition to being regular faces on ESPN and various highlight reels, they have also undergone stem cell therapy to deal with sports-related injuries. Does this mean that this kind of regenerative treatment is only appropriate for top-level athletes? While this might have been true in the past, this type of care is now widely available and can help absolutely anyone dealing with musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain.

The human body is incredibly complex, and while this enables people to do some truly amazing things, it also means a lot can go wrong. When someone injures a joint, the pain, stiffness, and loss of flexibility can stem from several root causes, with one of the most common being a ligament issue. Medication can mask a ligament injury without actually helping it heal, and surgical repair for a chronic problem can be extremely expensive. Thankfully, prolotherapy offers a quick, effective, and non-invasive option that can provide relief and speed up someone’s recovery at the same time.

Back pain—millions of Americans of all ages experience it every day, and you’re likely feeling it as you read this. You’ve tried stretching, exercise, rest, and medication, but it keeps coming back or getting worse. The only option left is surgery, right? Fortunately, that’s not the case thanks to regenerative medicine. Before you decide to go under the knife, be sure to talk to a doctor about how these four lesser-known treatments might be able to provide the lasting relief you’ve been looking for.

For people dealing with osteoarthritis, regenerative medicine is extremely promising. It’s not a stop-gap solution like medication that simply reduces symptoms while leaving the underlying problem alone, and it isn’t as extreme as joint replacement surgery. For millions of patients around the world, it has been the key to reduced pain, increased strength, better range of motion, and an overall improved quality of life. But, the way it works is a bit different than what most people think. What does regenerative medicine actually do for those with OA? Keep reading to find out.

On paper, PRP sounds like a medical miracle. “You mean you can use a small sample of my own blood to create this extremely effective healing substance?” Yes, that’s pretty much how it works! But what exactly is PRP used for, and what conditions is it commonly recommended to treat? Can your problem and pain be fixed with the help of PRP?

Two of the most popular treatments in regenerative medicine are PRP and stem cell therapy. So, as you can imagine, patients often end up asking, “What’s the difference?” Why should someone choose one or the other if they essentially do the same thing (which is accelerate the healing process)? There are quite a few differences between them, but today, we’re going to touch on the two that tend to matter most to people.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a lot of people to reexamine their daily habits and evaluate how they influence their health, causing many to take a close look at their diet. Proper nutrition is essential for a healthy body and ensuring it’s ready to fight off any infections, and for those who can’t get everything they need through their diet, nutritional supplements can provide a convenient and effective helping hand. The following supplements may be able to help fill gaps in your diet so your body is getting all the nutrients it needs to stay in tip-top shape.

People are spending more time than ever looking at screens, and more specifically, looking down at them. Whether it’s a phone, laptop, or tablet, this slouching posture forces the neck to support the head in a way it’s not designed to, leading to persistent pain that doctors have dubbed “tech neck.” Needless to say, it has become more prominent over the years, but thankfully, the solution you’ve been searching for might be flowing through your veins at this very moment. Using PRP, a doctor can fix the source of your problem and give you lasting results, all without surgery or painkillers.

When you hear the word “ultrasound,” what picture pops into your head? If you’re like most people, it likely has something to do with expecting parents being able to see their child on a screen in a doctor’s office. While this is the most popular use of ultrasound, it is also a big component of regenerative medicine. With it, a qualified doctor can diagnose and treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal injuries to improve daily function and stop chronic pain. How does it work? Find out about some of ultrasound’s lesser-known applications here!

For people healing from injuries like a sprained ankle or partially/fully torn muscle, taking a little time to rest and relax can offer a nice break from the routine…at least initially. Things can quickly get boring, however, and one of the easiest ways to alleviate this is snacking. This can lead to its own set of problems, but fortunately, you can actually leverage your diet to make your recovery quicker and more comfortable. Just make sure your plate is regularly filled with the following items: