Why ACL Injuries Take So Long to Heal

If you're an athlete or you lead an active lifestyle, knee pain from an ACL injury can keep you out of the game or from participating in your favorite activity for quite a while. Ligaments and tendons have very little blood flow compared to bones, which slows down healing time.

Recovery from an ACL injury can take anywhere from 6-12 months, depending on the nature of the injury. This is understandably frustrating if you’re eager to get back to your sport or physical activity. 

At Dr. Stem Cell in Encino, California, board-certified orthopedic specialist Bruce Fishman, MD, provides a full spectrum of orthopedic care and uses the latest treatments to help you recover from injuries. We offer innovative treatments such as stem cell therapy to accelerate recovery from ACL injuries.

Understanding the knee joint

The knee is the largest joint in your body. It has four main stabilizing ligaments: the ACL and PCL, which are deep in the knee, and the MCL and LCL on each side. These ligaments allow your knee to flex, extend and have some internal and external rotation.

Because the knee joint is flexible, it’s prone to injury, especially if you’re very active. However, we see this injury in adults and children of all ages and activity levels. Hyperextension of the knee is the most common cause of ACL injuries. This can happen when you pivot quickly or during sport if you’re hit by another player.

ACL injuries can cause frustration because of their slow healing time, which prevents you from engaging in the same level of activity as before. Ligaments have less blood flow than other body tissues, which hinders the effort of healing cells within your body to address your injury, therefore lengthening the time it takes to heal.

Stem cell therapy for orthopedic injuries

Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that is beneficial for orthopedic injuries. Stem cells are an important part of your body's repair and maintenance process. These special cells have the capability to develop into many different types of cells. Stem cells start off as a blank slate, and your body uses them to build and repair tissues.

Some stem cells only generate certain types of cells. For instance, stem cells from the liver only make liver cells. Other types of stem cells, however, can become cartilage, ligament, bone, and muscle cells.

Adult stem cells serve as a crucial part of your internal repair system, generating replacement cells for tissue that’s been damaged by injury or disease.

How can stem cell therapy help ACL injury recovery?

Stem cell therapy is an excellent tool to treat ACL injuries. Whether you have a grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3 tear, we can place stem cells within the ACL to aid and accelerate recovery. We use visualization techniques such as fluoroscopy and musculoskeletal ultrasound to place the stem cells exactly where we want them.

Once in place, the stem cells go to work enhancing your body’s natural ability to heal damaged tissue. The goal is to return stability and functionality to the knee joint as quickly and safely as possible. This is important if you participate in activities that require jumping or sudden, quick pivoting.

If you have an ACL injury, we can help you get back to the activities you love quickly and safely. To learn more about our protocol for treating ACL injuries with stem cell therapy and to find out if you’re a candidate, call our Encino office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Fishman, or book one online today.