REGENERATIVE MEDICINE IN SPORTS MEDICINE AT RUSH

More than 30 million Americans live with osteoarthritis, the leading cause of disability in the U.S., which occurs when the cartilage between joints breaks down and results in pain, stiffness and swelling.

Imagine a future in which damaged tissue and cartilage can recover more quickly and injuries don?t require repeat surgeries. Stem cells have been called our bodies? own repair kits, and research teams across Rush are engineering new ways to use these cells to determine if we can delay, reverse or even prevent some of the complications that most threaten our health and mobility.

Sports Medicine Helps More Than Professional Athletes

Rotator cuff injuries affecting the shoulder, tears of the meniscus in the knee and a variety of similar injuries are strongly associated with demanding physical activities. The fact is, these injuries affect people from all walks of life, especially those with joint wear and osteoarthritis.

Physicians and scientists view regenerative medicine as the next frontier in orthopedic research. In
the field of sports medicine, researchers are working to harness the potential of stem cells and other
regenerative medicine techniques to enhance the surgical and nonsurgical treatments of several
musculoskeletal problems.

While these men and women may not be playing in the major leagues, their lives are sidelined by joint pain and discomfort that require the most advanced approaches to care. Innovative stem cell treatments help anyone with a musculoskeletal injury ? not just athletes ? reclaim the lifestyle of their choosing.

Delivering on the Promise of Regenerative Medicine

Health care professionals are just beginning to tap into the potential stem cells have in treating
challenging orthopedic conditions. But they are not magic cure-alls that can rewind time and eliminate
disease in an instant. For us to fully unlock the potential of stem cells, we need to amplify the intensive,
ongoing regenerative medicine research efforts at Rush.