The knee is the joint that is most commonly affected by osteoarthritis. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), knee osteoarthritis currently affects about 365 million people worldwide.
Older studies have found that the lifetime risk of developing symptomatic knee osteoarthritis is about 40% in men and 47% in women.”
Knee osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in one’s knee breaks down, causing the joint’s bones to rub directly together, creating friction.
The reduction in physical activity that may occur as a result of pain can lead to other health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Some causes of knee osteoarthritis include:
- joint injuries, fractures, strains, and repeated stress on the joint
- joint diseases
- metabolic diseases, such as diabetes
- obesity, causing the joint to carry excess weight, as well as systemic inflammation, and metabolic issues
- sex — women develop osteoarthritis more often than men
- genetics
Regenerative medicine for the knee
Regenerative medicine for the knee is not something new, it includes stem cell therapy as well as injections of platelet-rich plasma.
This particular study focuses on the newer treatment of mesenchymal stem cell therapy as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis. Mesenchymal stem cells may be bone-marrow-derived, derived from adipose tissue (from fat), or umbilical-cord derived.”
Mesenchymal cells are stem cells that can develop into many types of connective tissue. They have large nuclei and are spindle-shaped.
Although there are studies evaluating various stem cells and comparing these treatments to platelet-rich plasma, few studies directly compare different types of stem cells for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
This study provides a systematic review comparison of the different types of stem cell therapies and their overall effectiveness on alleviating knee joint pain, restoring knee joint function, and minimizing knee joint trauma.
What would happen after a stem cell treatment?
Stem cell implantation may potentially repair affected tissue, develop new cartilage, decrease inflammation, and slow down further degeneration, this leads to decreased pain and improved functionality, which can contribute to joint strengthening.
The studies and meta-analysis use several scoring systems for assessing individuals’ pain levels.
As patient pain scores are improved restoration of function, including increased mobility/movement and subsequent strengthening and flexibility will follow. This allows for return to activities of daily living and enhanced well-being.”
Exercise is appropriate and will likely be encouraged with stem cell implants.