Myth: There is no cure for osteoarthritis.
Truth: This is true.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease characterized by painful inflammation in the joints and deterioration of articular cartilage. There are modalities available to manage the disease and reduce further progression but a proven cure has not yet been found. In a study published by The American Journal of Sports Medicine, the role of stem cells is being investigated as a potential treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
Stem cells are human cells that have not differentiated into specialized cells like skin or hair cells. These stem cells have specific characteristics, including the ability to continuously replicate and differentiate into any body cell. Stem cells have also been investigated for their potential in treating other disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, bone marrow aspirate concentrate (a source of stem cells) was used to extract bone marrow and inject it into the knees of patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. The results showed that the bone marrow injection was safe and well-tolerated by the patients. As well, the patients reported that they had improved their range of motion and experienced decreased pain.
Read more about stem cell injections and knee osteoarthritis here.
Reference
- Shapiro SA, Kazmerchak SE, Heckman MG, Zubair AC, O’Connor MI. A Prospective, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate for Knee Osteoarthritis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2017;45(1):82-90. doi:10.1177/0363546516662455
