Stem Cell Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears and Sprains
Stem Cell Therapy for Supraspinatus Tears and Sprains
Stem Cell Therapy for Subscapularis Tears and Sprains
Stem Cell Therapy for Infraspinatus Tears and Sprains
Stem Cell Therapy for Teres Minor Tears and Sprains

The rotator cuff consists of 4 muscles that surround and support the shoulder joint and allow full range of motion. As we age, the muscles get thinner and weaker and are very prone to strains and tears. The supraspinatus muscle on the top of the shoulder joint is the one most prone to traumatic damage. Stem cell therapy promotes healing of rotator cuff tears and strains. The stem cells can be injected directly to the exact location of the damaged muscle and tendon using live ultrasound imaging. In fact, ultrasound is just as good as an MRI at detecting rotator cuff tears and sprains. The recovery period after rotator cuff surgery is measured in MONTHS. That is MONTHS of rehabilitation, soreness, pain and inability to use the shoulder. Stem cell therapy can help rotator cuff heal and recover without resorting to invasive surgery, with a recovery time of WEEKS, not months.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative progressive disease resulting in cartilage degeneration, osteophytes, and loss of joint function. So why doesn’t cartilage in shoulder joints self repair similar to a cut on your hand or a broken bone? Why can’t our body repair damaged shoulder cartilage before it gets thinner and thinner, eventually leading to denuded areas of bone on bone arthritis? The simple reason is that shoulder joints do not have adequate circulation. There is no artery inside any joint. Cartilage gets oxygen and nutrients that diffuse or are dissolved in tissue fluid that comes from the underlying bones. This circulation is enough to keep it alive, but is not adequate enough to repair damage that occurs with trauma, repetitive use, and aging. So over time and after trauma, our joint cartilage starts to wear out, sometimes slowly over years and sometimes very quickly over a few months. The only alternative to invasive surgery is stem cell therapy. Do not agree to surgery until you’ve gotten a second opinion to see whether or not stem cell therapy can help.

Shoulder joint arthritis can occur in 2 joints around the shoulder:

1. Glenohumeral joint arthritis (the shoulder joint itself) is usually seen in weight lifters or athletes that use their arms (like tennis players).
2. Acromioclavicular joint arthritis (the AC joint on top of the shoulder) is also affected by trauma and repetitive motions

The labrum is the cup-shaped rim of cartilage that lines and reinforces the ball and socket joint of the shoulder, which is comprised of the glenoid – the shallow shoulder socket – and the head, or ball, of the upper arm bone known as the humerus. The labrum is the attachment site for the ligaments and supports the ball and socket joint along with the rotator cuff tendons and muscles. It contributes to shoulder stability and, when torn, can lead to partial or complete shoulder dislocation. Although athletes are most prone to labral tears, people who experience a traumatic event – such as falling down a flight of stairs – are also at risk, particularly older adults whose cartilage becomes more brittle with age. Labrum tears are generally treated with a combination of ultrasound-guided injections of stem cells directly into the labrum itself and stem cells into the Glenohumeral joint.

Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a painful condition in which the movement of the shoulder becomes limited. The condition is called “frozen” shoulder because the more pain that is felt, the less likely the shoulder will be used.

Lack of use causes the shoulder capsule to thicken and becomes tight, making the shoulder even more difficult to move — it is “frozen” in its position. It is more common in women between the ages of 40-60 and is caused by any shoulder injury or surgery that results in the need to keep the shoulder from moving (i.e., by using a shoulder brace, sling, shoulder wrap, etc.).

There are 2 stages of frozen shoulder:

1. The “freezing” stage: In this stage, the shoulder becomes stiff and is painful to move. The pain slowly increases. It may worsen at night. Inability to move the shoulder increases.
2. The “frozen” stage: In this stage, pain may lessen, but the shoulder remains stiff. This makes it more difficult to complete daily tasks and activities.

If conservative treatment with physical therapy and pain medications fail, the patient is usually put to sleep and the shoulder is either ‘manipulated’, i.e. forcibly moved through its range of motion to break lose any scar tissue, or scoped directly with an arthroscope to find and break up scar tissue. The diagnosis is usually made by taking a good history, carefully examining the shoulder, and getting x rays to rule out other problems. An MRI is usually not needed, but an ultrasound exam can confirm the diagnosis. Stem cell therapy for frozen shoulder is a minimally invasive treatment for patients who do not want to jump right to surgery.

Similar to rotator cuff tears and strains, stem cell therapy promotes healing of bicep muscle and tendon tears and strains. The stem cells can be injected directly to the exact location of the damaged muscle and tendon using live ultrasound imaging. In fact, an ultrasound is just as good as an MRI at detecting bicep muscle and tendon tears and sprains. The recovery period after bicep muscle and tendon tear surgery is measured in MONTHS. That is MONTHS of rehabilitation, soreness, pain, and inability to use the shoulder. Stem cell therapy can help bicep muscles and tendons heal and recover without resorting to invasive surgery, with a recovery time of WEEKS, not months.