Having been on the forefront of autologous stem cell and biologic therapies for over 20 years, I am concerned by the vast number of clinics and websites that are popping up around the country, claiming to be experts in procedures like stem cell therapy or platelet rich plasma (PRP).

As a patient, it is important for you to be able to distinguish between clinics who treat regenerative medicine as a “trend” and physicians who study it passionately as a groundbreaking new world of musculoskeletal care.

I believe in this kind of therapy and I want to make sure you are equipped with the best care available for your type of injury or pain. There are many amazing regenerative physicians out there. I want to help you find them.

Here are 4 important questions you should ask yourself when shopping for a regenerative medicine physician.

1. Are they offering one-size-fits-all solutions or holistic treatment?

Medicine, including regenerative therapies, should be holistic. Not every regenerative procedure will affect the same injury or patient in the same way.

There is not a one-size-fits-all regenerative medicine procedure.

We need to remember that options like physical therapy, TENEX, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and a lifestyle of physical activity are very good and viable options that are often better or just as important as regenerative medicine procedures. In some cases, a more invasive surgery is truly the best option. Stem cell therapy need not be thought of as a one-stop-shop for every condition.

At Scarpone Sports Regenerative, we use a holistic approach and offer a wide variety of treatment options. We want to find your unique path to recovery suited to your personal health needs.

2. Is this a musculoskeletal clinic or a spa?

When an idea works, I am saddened, but not surprised to see it become commercialized.

It is important to ascertain: Why is this provider offering these therapies? While regenerative cosmetic procedures are possible, be wary of clinics that push it as a trend.

Do some research and decide if the clinic in question seems more concerned with achieving the dynamic of a spa or performing true diagnostic treatments. Make sure they offer additional, customized options to what they are advertising and not just one type of treatment. If the latter, you should have big concerns.

3. Do they really have the proper training and skill for this procedure?

Just because someone is a medical professional does not mean they qualify to perform every type of medical procedure.

While the procedures seem simple, regenerative medicine is a very specialized field. Stem Cell therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), and other regenerative therapies require specific knowledge and skill sets that should be performed by a trained regenerative physician and accompanied by a full physical assessment of the patient.

In my own practice it is very common to get a call from a fairly new nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant asking me to teach them ultrasound and injections. If they do not have a background in orthopedics or are not engaging in deeper training, which may include a full Residency or Fellowship, then I am wary.

4. Are these stem cells vetted for quality, safety, and legality?

One of my biggest areas of concern comes from the number of non-physician providers who are advertising “stem cell therapies.”

Many of these clinics are using umbilical cord derived cells and, often, use them exclusively. While there is some medical benefit to utilizing these products in treating musculoskeletal conditions, a tremendous problem arises. Where do these cells come from? How are they being stored? What is the background of the provider? Are they legal?

These concerns have actually caused me to reconsider treating patients who tell me they have had stem cells at other, un-vetted clinics.
When the patient becomes the practitioner and starts telling me and my staff what they need before we can do a holistic health assessment, I am concerned. If a patient has been to other clinics, and has been injected by people who use processes and products that are unclear, I worry about unrealistic expectations and poor results for that patient. I am concerned about the risk of infection in a patient who “shops around” for injections, having visited and having been treated by multiple “providers” with varying levels of hands-on experience or knowledge of the musculoskeletal system.

My team prides ourselves on providing the best results possible for our patients. I do not want to put my patients’ health or my colleagues at risk.

Conclusion

I have seen countless patients find life-changing pain relief through the innovation of regenerative medicine procedures. It is an incredible and viable option for many. 

I would love to hear these questions being asked in my clinics as we continue to strive for transparency and excellence in the field of musculoskeletal diagnostics and regenerative medicine.

To schedule a consultation with Scarpone Sports Regenerative, call 740-424-1426.