Sports Medicine: Cell Therapy To Treat Injuries

Sports Medicine: Cell therapy to treat injuries

Traumatology has been the first to implement cell therapy for the treatment of sports injuries. We understand as such to the use of stem cells to regenerate tissues that have been damaged. One of the first uses was in cartilage. Stem cells that create new chondrocytes are injected, which are located in the cartilaginous areas that broke or damaged by trauma. The results are more than promising, and the elite athletes are already proved under authorization.

Cell therapy treatment is even in a limbo between net experimentation and flat therapeutic application. Almost all countries require that the application be approved first by a regulatory body, and must be carried out in previously authorized centers. Anyway, it is understood that it is the future of regeneration in sports medicine. It will not pass too much until its use is disclosed and becomes massive, with accessibility also for amateur athletes.

What are the benefits of cell therapy?

Cell therapy with stem cells has very noticeable benefits if compared to other repair therapeutics. Especially if we add in the comparison to surgical procedures, where the doctor must influence the tissues and enter the body. Stem cells have the capacity to regulate inflammation. When they are placed in a damaged tissue, they not only repair it by creating missing parts, but also stop the inflammatory process that was present. This reduces the damage associated with the initial lesion, which can be extended for years.

It is said that cell therapy is immunoregulative, that is, it has characteristics that slow the lack of control of the inflammatory process. Once the accumulation of fluid and inflammation cells are regulated, new cells appear and, instead of a scar, the tissue seems to be born again.

Another benefits of stem cells is the increase in vascular flow. These cells stimulate the formation of new arterial and venous connections that restore blood circulation. The latter works as analgesic, decreasing pain.

Lesions that could benefit from cell therapy

In the long term, cell therapy applications seem infinite. For now, there are some trauma associated with sport that have already received the benefits of stem cells with good results.

The osteoarticular device is the one that carries the header. In lateral epicondylitis, for example, the use of regenerative medicine seems unstoppable. Tests have been done by repairing the tears of the stroke cuff, and also in the knee, especially with the anterior cross ligament. Achilles tendon breakage injury is another area where stem cells showed efficiency.

All these sports injuries that we are mentioning, are usually resolved with surgeries. The doctor must open fabrics to enter and repair, with the risk of later effects that entails. If the scar of the injury and repair are not good, the athlete may have to abandon the practice.

Cell therapy seems to avoid bad healing. This increases the possibilities of rapid reinstatement to sport, with minimal harmful subsequent effects. Thus the training is recovered earlier than expected.

Use of adjuvants in treatment

Cellular stem cell therapy is currently applied along with other adjuvants. These are substances that complement regenerative action, improving the final results. The problem with adjuvants is that several of them are at the limit of sports authorizations, and could be considered doping. A typical example is platelet preparations, prohibited in multiple professional practice sports.

The platelets are obtained from the patient who will be treated and placed next to the stem cells. This accelerates the healing process and gives nutrients to the process of creating new cells. The other very employed adjuvant is biological support or scaffolding. In this case they are substances that serve as a guide and tutor for stem cells, such as hydroxyapatite and fibrin.

Cell therapy is a near future

The advance in investigations with regenerative cell therapy is unstoppable. It will not spend too much time until it is incorporated as a treatment option in sports medicine.

Laws are still adapted and increase knowledge on long -term effects, but the results are already promising. The professional sport of elite is the first space to try it, and over time its use in amateur athletes will be expanded.