Your shoulder and the joint that makes it work are crucial to your ability to function normally. When your rotator cuff is injured, it can effectively put you out of commission. Fortunately, there’s a way to reduce your recovery time and enhance your long-term healing results without surgery.
At Dr. McKenna’s Orthopedics and Biologics, Dr. Wade McKenna and our experienced staff specialize in treating your rotator cuff injury with the help of stem cell therapy.
The basics of stem cell therapy
You’ve likely heard about stem cells in the news as the focus of groundbreaking advancements in medicine. We’re taking this proven science out of the lab and bringing it into our office to treat your worst injuries.
Your body is made up of countless cells — hair cells, bone cells, muscle cells, etc. — that provide the specific structure and function for each part of your body.
Stem cells are the rawest form of your body’s materials. They’re where all the myriad cells start their journies. The stem cells divide and transform into either more stem cells or into specialized cells with a certain function. No other cell in your body has the ability to generate other types of cells, which is why they’re so useful when it comes to healing injuries.
Dr. McKenna uses a special combination of your body’s bone marrow stem cells and amniotic membrane tissue. This gives your body a huge boost of over 100 growth factors and close to 60 times more prostaglandins than some other stem cell therapies. Prostaglandins are lipids that appear naturally in your body when you’re injured or experience inflammation. These helpful lipids control inflammation, blood flow, and blood clotting.
How stem cells can help your rotator cuff injury
Your rotator cuff consists of a group of muscles and tendons that surround your shoulder joint. They’re responsible for keeping the top of your upper arm bone securely in the socket of your shoulder. A stable shoulder with a healthy rotator cuff helps you rotate and lift your arm.
Rotator cuff injuries are common among athletes, especially baseball pitchers, but they can also affect you as you age or if your job requires lots of repetitive overhead motion. Your injury might be the result of a single incident or many years of wear-and-tear, resulting in a painful tear or more chronic problems like tendonitis.
Dr. McKenna always aims to treat your injury as conservatively as possible, but if traditional measures like rest, icing, and physical therapy prove unsuccessful, he recommends stem cell therapy or stem cell therapy-enhanced surgery.
Stem cell therapy works on two fronts: reduced inflammation and restored tissue.
The abundance of prostaglandins stops inflammation, which helps you feel less pain. It also allows your body to release growth and restorative factors and begin its natural healing process much faster. The presence of stem cells extracted from your own bone marrow stimulates tissue production. Your damaged or torn tendons and muscles start to regenerate, speeding up your recovery time and ensuring lasting healing.
When your rotator cuff is injured, you feel that your whole world stops. Keep it spinning with enhanced recovery and less pain using stem cell therapy. If you’d like more information or would like to get started with a consultation, call our office at either location or schedule an appointment online today.
