Regenerative Medicine for Rotator Cuff Tears in Vacaville

People with different activity levels experience rotator cuff tears at some point in their lives and there's no doubt that it can bring upon shoulder pain. There are different ways that the tendons in the shoulder become injured, and such damage can cause discomfort, pain, and a limited range of motion. There is limited blood flow to the tendons, so they are not capable of repairing themselves efficiently or effectively. This can sometimes result in a healed tissue that is weaker and less functional than what it used to be.

In the past, these tears are usually repaired with either surgical procedures or steroid injections to reduce inflammation and swelling. However, new regenerative medicine methods in Vacaville are becoming more available, and they are effective in handling such damage. The main techniques being used in the field of regenerative medicine are mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSC) and platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP).

What is the rotator cuff?

There are 4 different muscles that make up the shoulder: the infraspinatus, the supraspinatus, the subscapularis, and teres minor. Each of these muscles is connected to the humerus, or upper arm, bone, and they are connected via tendons, which connect the muscle to the bone.

The most common reason why a shoulder becomes injured is through sports particularly biking, skiing, or other sports. These tears can also happen if the tendon issue gradually wears down after rubbing against bone spurs that form on the bones in the shoulder joint. Once the tendons in the shoulders become damaged, it will be difficult to perform certain movements because of the pain.

How do these therapies in Vacaville work?

Both PRP and MSC work in similar ways wherein they improve the ability of the cells to regenerate and increase blood flow to the affected area. PRP provides extra platelets to speed up the healing process, and MSC brings in cells that can turn into tissues that require repair.

These treatments can reduce the recovery time by a whole lot compared to the normal healing process. They can do this in several ways, and one of them is by encouraging the growth of new blood vessels. Since tendons don't have high vascularity, they cannot heal effectively. But with the help of these treatments, new capillaries will be formed thus making the healing process more efficient.

Regenerative medicine can also speed up recovery by reducing inflammation. Inflammation is essential in the healing process since it brings growth factors and other cells to the affected area to start the healing process. However, too much inflammation can cause pain, swelling, tenderness, and reduced joint function, especially if it is chronic.

In addition, a healed tissue can produce scar tissue. When there is constant inflammation, the formation of scar tissue increases even more. Scar tissue consists of connective tissue, and it doesn't have the same flexibility, strength, or overall functionality as the original tissue. Regenerative medicine can reduce chronic inflammation, thus reducing the formation of scar tissue and restoring the total functionality of the affected tendons.

So far, regenerative medicine has shown great promise in the field of tendon repair, especially when it comes to the shoulder. There is no doubt that injury to this area is quite common, and these regenerative medicine therapies can provide a minimally invasive, safe, and effective option compared to the surgical procedures normally used to repair tendon damage. If you want to know more about this form of treatment, make sure to give Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine a call by dialing (707) 474-5688 today!