Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a dedicated athlete, injury can throw you off your game. Returning to activity too soon after an injury can lead to being sidelined longer, so it’s imperative to wait until you’re fully healed.
If exercise is your preferred method of stress relief, or if you’re trying to reach a specific goal, that waiting can be especially difficult. At Osteopathic Center for Healing, Dr. Spiegel offers a procedure that may reduce the amount of time you have to wait to heal.
There are certain cells in your body that act as tools for repairing damage. They’re called stem cells, and they possess a few special features.
Stem cells can transform into cells that perform specialized functions, and have enormous potential for healing, especially in cases of soft tissue damage.
For many years, stem cells were associated with embryos, because stem cells can be derived from embryos. However, more recently, scientists discovered that adults have stem cells residing in various areas throughout the body, including in your bone marrow, fat tissue, and other areas.
Researchers originally thought that adult stem cells were only capable of becoming the type of cell where they were located -- that bone marrow stem cells could only become bone cells. However, that has turned out to be incorrect.
Dr. Spiegel harvests stem cells from your bone marrow most often, then injects those cells into the area where you’re injured. For example, if you have tennis elbow, he injects the cells into the damaged tissue in your elbow.
Those stem cells then go to work, repairing your damaged tissue and encouraging faster healing.
Generally speaking, stem cell therapy is best suited for helping heal soft tissue problems, such as tendon injuries. It’s also appropriate for joint injuries. In fact, there’s an intense investigation into how stem cell therapy benefits arthritis patients.
Meniscal tears, overuse injuries such as carpal tunnel or tennis elbow, rotator cuff issues, and Achilles tendon injuries are just a few of the conditions that Dr. Spiegel may recommend treating with stem cell therapy.
Regular exercise has inestimable physical and mental health benefits. It keeps your muscles strong, relieves stress, staves off depression, helps you maintain a healthy weight, and so much more.
When you can’t exercise, or you can’t do your preferred activity, you’re at a greater risk for numerous health issues and more likely to develop anxiety or depression. The goal of stem cell therapy is to help you heal faster and get back to the activities you enjoy that keep you healthy.
If you have questions about how stem cell therapy works or whether you’re an appropriate candidate for this exciting form of regenerative medicine, book an appointment with Dr. Spiegel at Osteopathic Center for Healing. Our online booking tool is available any time day or night, or if you prefer, simply give us a call between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.
