Stem Cell Therapy In Philadelphia

Stem cell therapy is an innovative regenerative medicine treatment for various muscle, bone, nerve, tendon, and ligament injuries.  

Meeting Point Health is a leading clinic in Philadelphia for integrative, functional, and regenerative medicine. Dr. Stephen Matta, Regenerative Medicine Specialist, offers a wide array of unique regenerative therapies for your orthopedic needs, including stem cell therapy. 

Schedule a consultation today to learn more about stem cell therapy and how our team can help you heal and get back to an active lifestyle free of chronic pain or restriction. 

Sports Injury_Meeting Point Health

Starting at $3500

What is Stem Cell Therapy?

Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative treatments used in medicine that can help improve the healing of orthopedic injuries, such as osteoarthritis or tendonitis. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to become specific and specialized tissue where they are needed.

Where Do Stem Cells Come From?

For orthopedic use, stem cells can be autologous (auto means self) or allogeneic (allo means other.) Autologous sources of stem cells come from the patient’s bone marrow or adipose tissue. 

Allogeneic stem cells are harvested from various sources, such as amniotic fluid, placental tissue, umbilical cord products, and Wharton’s jelly, which are collected during childbirth from healthy donors. Once collected, these materials undergo a series of purification processes to isolate and concentrate the stem cells.

How are allogeneic stem cells harvested?

The purification process typically involves steps such as filtration, centrifugation, and/or enzymatic digestion to separate the desired stem cells from other cellular components and debris. These techniques help ensure that the final product contains a high concentration of viable and functional stem cells.After purification, the stem cells may undergo further processing, such as cryopreservation, to maintain their viability and potency for future use. This process involves freezing the cells at very low temperatures to prevent cellular damage and maintain their therapeutic properties until they are needed for transplantation or research.Overall, the harvesting and purification of allogeneic stem cells require careful handling and adherence to strict quality control measures to ensure the safety and efficacy of the final product for therapeutic applications.

Types of Stem Cells Treatments

Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells

Amniotic stem cell therapy utilizes the growth factors and stem cells found within the clear amniotic fluid that surrounds a growing fetus in the uterus during pregnancy. This technique is safe and can be used to treat numerous health conditions. 

Placental Matrix Derived Stem Cell

Placental tissue matrix stem cells are derived from amniotic tissues and are used to reduce inflammation, minimize scar tissue, and support the healing of soft tissue in areas of injury. 

Umbilical Cord Products

Cord blood stem cells can also be collected from the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born. This source is rich in blood cell precursors and is often used to treat immune deficiencies, various types of cancer, and certain genetic disorders.  

Exosomes

Exosomes are important carrier vesicles that are generated by all types of cells and are responsible for communication between cells. Exosomes are a vital aspect of cell biology and carry growth factors, nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and metabolites, which travel through the body and are released into the blood to aid in cell signaling. 

Wharton’s Jelly

Wharton’s jelly stem cells (WJSCs) are a type of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) found in the gelatinous substance within the umbilical cord, known as Wharton’s jelly. These stem cells are considered valuable because they possess characteristics similar to other MSCs, including the ability to differentiate into various cell types and to modulate immune responses. They exhibit properties such as self-renewal and multipotency, meaning they can give rise to different cell types like bone, cartilage, and fat cells. Additionally, they have low immunogenicity, making them suitable for injection or infusion.

 

 

How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work?

Stem cells are also known as mesenchymal stem cells and have the unique property of being able to develop into different types of cells. When they are injected into areas of injury, stem cells help to accelerate the healing process by regenerating the key components necessary to restore function to the joint. 

Preparation Before the Procedure

It is important to properly prepare your body before undergoing stem cell therapy. One week before your procedure, you must avoid taking any NSAID medications, including Aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin, Advil, or Aleve. In the days leading up to your procedure, drink plenty of water, preferably 64 oz per day, to ensure adequate hydration. 

What is Post Procedure Recovery Like?

The average recovery time post-procedure can dramatically differ depending on the condition being treated and the patient’s underlying health status. Most patients will experience minimal downtime after the procedure and may return to work within a day or two, depending on their occupation. 

Patients should expect to limit strenuous activity or exercise for the few weeks following the procedure. In addition, patients should avoid physical manipulation of the joint or area of injection. 

Meeting Point Health is a Trusted Provider in Stem Cell Therapy

Meeting Point Health is a leading integrative and regenerative medicine clinic in Philadelphia, PA. Our office utilizes cutting-edge treatment modalities, such as stem cell and other regenerative therapy, to help accelerate the natural healing process and restore functionality. 

The practitioners at Meeting Point Health are licensed and experienced in providing stem cell therapy to treat orthopedic injuries, decrease pain, and augment the body’s ability to heal. We take pride in offering quality injection therapy, utilizing sterile techniques, and complying with all FDA standards. 

Orthopedic Conditions Treated by Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy can be a beneficial form of regenerative medicine for numerous orthopedic conditions and injuries. Below are some of the most common indications for stem cell therapy. 

Arthritic Joints

Arthritis is inflammation of the joint, where two bones are connected. This condition causes joint stiffness, pain, and swelling, which limits the individual’s range of motion and physical activity. 

Sports Injuries

Sports injuries can be acute or chronic in nature and vary in severity, method of injury, and expected healing process. Injuries can be caused by long periods of overuse with activity or sudden injury with direct stress or force. 

Tendinopathies

There are many conditions involving tendons or the structure that helps to connect your muscles to your bones. Tendinopathies are a response to overuse and result in pain and inflammation of the specific tendon. 

Non-Union Fractures 

The term non-union describes any fracture that has failed to heal after an extended period of time, likely due to inadequate stability or blood flow to the area. The treatments for this type of injury are limited and often include surgery, bone grafting, and immobilization.

Meniscal Tear

A tear to the meniscus is typically the result of forceful rotation or twisting of the knee, sometimes resulting in serious joint pain but always threatening the integrity of the musculoskeletal system. There are different types and severity of tears, with some able to heal on their own and some requiring treatments for proper healing. 

Degenerative Disc Disease

Spinal discs act as cushions between vertebrae in the spine. As we age, the spinal disks go through normal wear and tear, get thinner, and may even develop small tears, resulting in degenerative disk disease. The most common symptom is pain that varies in location, severity, and with certain movements. 

Osteonecrosis or Avascular Necrosis 

Osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis is caused by disrupted blood flow to the bone, resulting in the death of the bone tissue. This will eventually result in the bone’s breakdown and the joint’s collapse. This can occur in any large joint but is most common in the shoulder and hip. 

FAQs about Stem Cell Therapy?

They inhibit inflammation, modulate the immune system, and stimulate tissue regeneration.

No, studies support that umbilical cord stem cells do not cause a GVH response.

Yes, you can split the contents if medically appropriate, but not among different patients due to regulatory reasons.

No, they do not duplicate in the body but can in a lab setting.

Studies suggest they neither cause nor promote cancer growth.

No, umbilical cord cells contain live nucleated cells, while amniotic fluid must be processed and doesn’t contain live cells.

Yes, they produce anti-inflammatory and regenerative components, unlike processed amniotic fluid.

Yes, bone marrow and adipose-derived stem cells also contain live nucleated cells.

No, we only use umbilical cord from live, healthy births.

No, the cells do not penetrate the nucleus of recipient cells, so DNA testing isn’t necessary.

No, the product doesn’t require HLA matching due to very low levels of HLA_DR, which causes negative reactions.

Yes, younger umbilical cord cells duplicate faster and produce more effective growth factors compared to older cells from autogenic sources such as bone marrow or adipose tissue.

Yes, there are recommended cell counts for treating various conditions.

The umbilical cord is processed according to AATB regulations. Mothers may choose to store or donate the cord. Donors undergo medical and social history review. The cord is clamped during a cesarean section, then processed and sent for testing. Only after passing safety tests are the processed stem cells available.

We use stem cells from umbilical and placenta cord tissue from healthy live births that would otherwise be destroyed, We absolutely do not use embryonic tissue. Autogenic sources such as bone marrow and adipose tissues from the patients own body are laborious and painful procedures without significantly better results..

Yes, they are safe. Red blood cell components are removed during processing, and the cells are immature and do not react like adult cells.

No, they’re considered experimental and not FDA approved.

Yes, it’s common and indicates the cells are working.

No, it’s not necessary, and there’s no exact explanation for why some people experience it.

No, it is best to avoid NSAIDs and steroids 2 weeks before and after the injection to optimize the process.

Biologics may diminish the overall effect of stem cells, as they inhibit the immune system.

Initially yes, but umbilical cord cells continue to produce these growth factors for much longer periods of time.

It’s advised not to increase activity level beyond pre-injection levels for three months to allow the cells to modulate inflammation and stimulate regeneration.

Yes, however if you opt for physical therapy, focus on exercises that don’t stress the joint that was injected.

We suggest you schedule your new Patient Consultation which will be  about 30-90 minutes. Please call for pricing or schedule a call with an intake coordinator.

Call Today to Schedule an Initial Consultation

Stem cell therapy has become a new, cutting-edge treatment modality for orthopedic issues, utilizing the patient’s own stem cells to promote healing and restore function. This procedure requires limited downtime and provides long-term results in the area of injury.