Cell-based therapies may have greater potential for treating osteoarthritis of the knee than therapeutic exercise, suggests a study published in Journal of Translational Medicine, according to a media release from Regenexx.

Regenexx provides advanced interventional orthobiologics (non-surgical stem cell and blood platelet treatments) for common joint injuries and degenerative joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis.

The study was a randomized controlled trial of patients’ own bone marrow concentrate (BMC) and platelet-rich plasma products versus an exercise therapy regimen for patients with moderate knee osteoarthritis, with clinical outcomes documented over a 2-year period, explains a  media release from Regenexx.

Participants included 48 patients, with 22 in the control group (exercise) and 26 receiving the treatment of bone marrow concentrate (which contains mesenchymal stem cells, platelets, and other cells with healing and regeneration potential) and platelet-rich plasma. All patients in the control group crossed over to the BMC treatment group at 3 months.

Patients who received the BMC treatment improved significantly in activity levels and stability at 3 months over those who followed the exercise therapy program. Over the 2-year period, after receiving the BMC treatment, significant reduction in pain and increased functionality were maintained, Regenexx reports.

“While exercise therapy alleviated osteoarthritis symptoms and improved function, the specific BMC protocol, while warranting further investigation, had a greater positive impact on the patients,” suggests Christopher Centeno, MD, lead researcher on the study.

[Source(s): Regenexx, PR Newswire]