Key Takeaways Stem cell injections can support healing in joint injuries, but the cells rarely finish the job alone. Physical therapy after the injection helps guide how new tissue forms and how the joint moves. Recovery timelines vary by joint and injury type, from a few weeks to several months.
Key Takeaways Most trials do not measure meaningful change until at least one month, with pain relief typically building gradually through 3 to 6 months. By 12 months, trial data show improvements in both pain and function, with dose and cell source affecting how strong and how long-lasting that benefit
Key Takeaways A 2024 network meta-analysis of 48 studies ranked PRP highest for knee osteoarthritis pain and function, followed by a bone marrow cell-based option, then hyaluronic acid (HA). The cell-based option’s ranking rests on far fewer studies (2.5% of the pooled evidence) than HA’s ranking (nearly 41%), so that
Key Takeaways Knee osteoarthritis wears down articular cartilage, causing pain and stiffness that worsens over time. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 502 patients found stem cell injections significantly improved pain and function scores versus controls. Cell source mattered in that analysis. Adipose-derived cells showed clearer benefit than bone
