The use of regenerative cell medicine for knees is on the rise. It is often used to alleviate osteoarthritis and other conditions that lead to stiffness and noises (such as popping) in the joints. Specifically, recent studies have shown that both bone marrow stem cells and platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy are effective in providing knee pain relief.
What is Crepitus?
When your knees are popping, crunching, grinding, or cracking, you are suffering from crepitus, also called crepitation. This condition, which often is experienced in conjunction with pain, can arise at any point in life but occurs more frequently among older adults.
Crepitus is a common symptom of osteoarthritis (OA), a disease in which the articular cartilage of the knee degenerates, leading to chronic pain and inflammation. Crepitus may also occur due to rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, or an injury (such as a meniscus tear).
When your knees are noisy and achy from a chronic condition, knee pain relief can be achieved through two forms of regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
Regenerative Cell Medicine For Knees – Bone Marrow Stem Cells
The general results of stem cell therapy research have demonstrated the treatment to be effective. For instance, a study was published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases in January 2018. The researchers wanted to know if one injection of bone marrow stem cells would lead to better quality of life and a reduction in pain for knee osteoarthritis patients. The controlled clinical trial involved 61 participants. The experimental group was treated with stem cells sourced from their own bone marrow, while the control group received only oral pain medication (acetaminophen). The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) was used to gauge effectiveness.
The patients treated with bone marrow stem cells had significantly better quality of life and greater knee pain relief when they were checked at six months.
Regenerative Cell Medicine For Knees – PRP
Research on platelet rich plasma has demonstrated strong results for knee pain as well. A review on the topic was published in EFORT Open Reviews in 2017. A few of the specific trials listed in the review were the following:
- In one study, 30 patients each received three PRP injections, while another 30 were treated with hyaluronic acid (a traditional treatment method). Five weeks following treatment, the PRP group scored significantly higher on the WOMAC index.
- In a second study, 150 patients were split into three groups. Two were treated with different forms of hyaluronic acid, while the third was treated with PRP. There were better scores within the PRP group on the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) index and visual analog scale (VAS).
- In a third study, 120 patients took part in a randomized controlled trial comparing hyaluronic acid to local PRP injection. Those receiving PRP had significantly stronger results at a 24-week followup.
Safe & Effective Knee Pain Relief
Are your knees making popping or cracking noises, or are they stiff and sore? The above evidence suggests that two forms of regenerative medicine could help.
At OrthoGen, we lead modern joint pain treatments away from invasive surgeries and into the new frontier of stem cell therapies, including bone marrow stem cells and PRP. See our story.