Ankle injuries are extremely common in active patients, with sprains and fractures being the two most common injuries. Ankle arthritis is also a common condition experienced by many patients as they age or after a sports injury. Stem cell injections in sports medicine are a non-surgical treatment option for patients living in the Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas area suffering from chronic ankle pain caused by an ankle injury or degenerative joint condition. The physicians at OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine® offer ankle stem cell therapy to help accelerate healing and regeneration in the ankle after a sports injury.

Anatomy of the Ankle

The ankle acts as a hinge joint and is made up of three bones: the tibia, fibula and talus. A complex structure of ligaments, tendons and muscles hold the joint together, attach the muscles to the bones and provide movement to the joint. The unique design of the ankle joint makes it very stable, allowing it to withstand 1.5 times the body’s weight when walking and up to 8 times the body’s weight when running.

What Conditions are Treated with Ankle Stem Cell Therapy?

When the ligaments or tendons become overstretched or torn from overuse or a sports injury, chronic ankle pain and weakness may occur. Continued use of the joint can also lead to fractures, arthritis and other injuries. Common ankle injuries treated with ankle stem cell therapy include:

  • Ligament sprains or tears
  • Tendon tears
  • Ankle arthritis
  • Fractures
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Achilles tendonitis

Have you sustained an ankle injury?

You may be a candidate for ankle stem cell injections

Contact us today to learn if you are a candidate

How are Stem Cell Injections in Sports Medicine Performed?

Autologous stem cell injections in sports medicine are gaining popularity as an alternative treatment option to surgery. The non-surgical injection of a patient’s own “pluripotent” stem cells helps a patient return to normal activities quicker and with less pain and rehabilitation. By using a patient’s own (autologous) stem cells, a physician is able to replicate similar benefits of embryonic/fetal stem cell treatment without the ethical considerations of the controversial treatment.. Using a patient’s own stem cells also reduces the risk of tissue rejection and disease transmission.

In today’s sports medicine, ankle stem cell therapy allows physicians to withdraw a patient’s own autologous stem cells from bone marrow commonly found in the hip, concentrate the stem cells and other healing agents, and then re-inject the combination directly into the damaged ankle area.. When the autologous stem cells are re-injected, they accelerate healing and regeneration. Stem cell injections in sports medicine may also slow or even halt the further degeneration of the ankle joint.

For more resources on ankle stem cell therapy, contact OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine®, serving patients in the Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas areas.