Have you heard the buzz about Regenerative Medicine and wondered if it’s right for you? Well, the great news is that Regenerative Medicine is right for just about every patient! A cornerstone therapy in functional medicine, regenerative therapies use the body’s own healing elements to repair and restore function to skeletal muscle, tendons, bones and skin.
There are 3 key aspects to regenerative medicine therapies. The first is Platelet Rich Plasma. PRP is obtained from the patient’s blood and contains platelets, growth factors and other proteins like fibrin. When concentrated PRP is injected back into the body, the natural healing process is stimulated, enhancing the body’s ability to heal itself. The process of injecting PRP, creating trauma in the affected area, initiating the healing cascade, sending cells to that area to assist in the healing process.
The second aspect is peptide therapy. Peptides are short amino acid chains that the body recognizes. Since these amino acid chains are known, they will readily signal cells in the body to respond. Peptides used in regenerative medicine will signal cells to repair, restore and reduce inflammation. Some peptides are injected into the injured area, while others are used systemically over set intervals of time. They can also be used in combination with one another depending on the severity of injury or inflammation.
The third aspect is lifestyle, specifically, nutrition, movement and supplements. Lifestyle modifications over time have the biggest impact on injury, inflammation and chronic pain. Regenerative medicine focuses on healing through movement rather than rest. With guidance, movement through injury recovery is beneficial to the patient and actually improves function and pain. Nutritional guidance focuses on a cardiometabolic food plan that includes fish, lean meats and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables full of antioxidants. Adding supplements like high quality Omega 3 fatty acids and magnesium supports the body as it works to heal the injury.
So who should be treated with Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine therapies can be utilized by any patient with an injury, chronic pain and inflammation. Some examples include:
- athletes who are injured but need to continue to train
- patients who struggle with arthritis, fibromyalgia or autoimmune disease
- patients with old injuries that continue to impact their ability to exercise
It should also be noted that Regenerative medicine is very effective for skin health. Using these therapies for facial rejuvenation, to treat discolorations, wrinkles and dryness is one of the best ways to improve skin tone using only natural elements. Hair restoration using regenerative therapies can help patients struggling with hair loss that occurs with aging, medications and surgeries.
Regenerative medicine should be the first choice for patients who are considering surgeries, medications, aesthetic fillers and other conventional treatments. In most cases, regenerative therapies can provide complete healing and restoration, improving quality of life and enhancing performance.
