Sports injuries can improve with Regenerative Medicine treatments
All athletes are exposed to a certain risk of injuries, specific to the different biomechanics that occur in each sport. For example, in lateralized sports like tennis, paddle, or golf (among others), rotation, force, and repetitive movements can cause injuries, even if these are considered low-impact activities.
"These injuries affect areas such as the back, shoulders, elbows, and wrists, and occasionally the knees," explains Dr. Alberto Hernández, director of the Integrative and Regenerative Biological Medicine Unit (UMBIR) at Juaneda Hospitals, a unit offering various innovative regenerative therapies for these issues.
"As with most sports, the lumbar area is the most common site of injury. Low back pain and herniated discs are common in many sports, as well as shoulder and/or elbow tendinitis. Recovery from these injuries is sometimes difficult or requires surgery," adds Dr. Hernández.
But undergoing surgery is not the only solution. "At UMBIR of Juaneda Hospitals, we are pioneers in advanced regenerative medicine treatments, a therapeutic approach that aims to stimulate the repair, regeneration, or replacement of damaged body tissues, without the need for invasive surgical interventions," he adds.
Regenerative medicine "is based on advanced techniques and technologies to promote the natural healing of injured tissues, improving function and reducing patient pain." These techniques include treatment with mesenchymal stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, medical ozone, and prolotherapy.
Stem cells are a central component of regenerative medicine due to their ability to differentiate into various types of specialized cells in bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Stem cells "obtained from the patient’s own body are applied to promote the regeneration of damaged tissues, accelerate healing, and reduce pain."
The importance of this treatment, which can also reduce pain associated with injuries or chronic issues, lies not only in its effectiveness but also in the fact that "in many cases, it is the only alternative to placing a prosthesis," according to the director of UMBIR at Juaneda Hospitals.
Another option is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), "which uses the ability of blood platelets to release growth factors that stimulate cell regeneration. By concentrating platelets and growth factors from the patient’s own blood in a small amount of plasma, the aim is to improve the repair of soft and cartilage tissues in tendinitis, sprains, muscle tears, and joint injuries."
On the other hand, "medical ozone is increasingly being used in the treatment of osteomuscular injuries and disc hernias due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and regenerative effects. Although its use in medicine is still under constant study and development, it has proven to be promising in the management of various musculoskeletal conditions, both acute and chronic," explains Dr. Alberto Hernández.
"Ozone — he continues — acts as a regenerating agent by improving the oxygenation and nutrition of damaged tissues. It stimulates the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and promotes cell regeneration." In the case of tendon, joint, or muscle injuries, "ozone can accelerate the healing process and improve the quality of the repaired tissue."
Prolotherapy is another innovative treatment technique that promotes tissue regeneration and relieves pain in osteomuscular injuries, especially those affecting ligaments, tendons, and joints. Prolotherapy "is a type of regenerative medicine that aims to stimulate the healing of damaged tissues by inducing a controlled inflammatory response in the affected area, promoting healing and restoring function in the injured tissues," says Dr. Jörn Hartmann, orthopedic surgeon at UMBIR of Juaneda Hospitals.
All of these therapies are offered at UMBIR of Juaneda by specialists in the field.
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