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Evidence

What the research actually shows

A short, honest reading list on the treatments we perform. Every study below is independent of this practice, and every link goes to its PubMed record.

How to read this page

What the research shows, condition by condition

Regenerative orthopedics is an active research field, not a settled one. The quality of the evidence varies a great deal by condition, by preparation and by how the injection was delivered, and some well-conducted trials have been negative.

We would rather show you that picture than a list of headlines. Below is a selection of peer-reviewed work relevant to the treatments we perform, including results that are equivocal. None of it was written by anyone at this practice, and none of it should be read as a promise about your own outcome.

What we can promise is this: Dr. Movva will tell you when the evidence for your specific condition is thin, and he will tell you when surgery is the better answer. If you want to talk through what the research means for your case, that is exactly what a consultation is for.

Bone marrow concentrate

Stem cell therapy (BMAC)

The treatment we use most. The strongest long-term evidence is in osteonecrosis and non-union; in knee osteoarthritis the picture is mixed.

Cell therapy versus simultaneous contralateral decompression in symptomatic corticosteroid osteonecrosis: a thirty year follow-up prospective randomized study of one hundred and twenty five adult patients

Hernigou P, et al. · International Orthopaedics · 2018

A thirty-year randomized follow-up comparing bone marrow cell therapy with decompression alone in steroid-related osteonecrosis. Relevant to our avascular necrosis page.

Read the study

Percutaneous autologous bone-marrow grafting for nonunions: influence of the number and concentration of progenitor cells

Hernigou P, Poignard A, Beaujean F, Rouard H · The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) · 2005

The work behind percutaneous bone marrow grafting for fractures that fail to unite, including the finding that the concentration of progenitor cells matters.

Read the study

A Prospective, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate for Knee Osteoarthritis

Shapiro SA, et al. · The American Journal of Sports Medicine · 2017

A Mayo Clinic trial in which patients had BMAC in one knee and saline in the other. Both knees improved — a result worth knowing about, and a reminder of how strong placebo effects are in this field.

Read the study

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Is Equivalent to Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis at 1 Year: A Prospective, Randomized Trial

Anz AW, et al. · Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine · 2020

Both treatments improved symptoms over a year, with no clear winner between them. Part of why the choice between BMAC and PRP is made case by case.

Read the study

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate for Cartilage Defects of the Knee: From Bench to Bedside Evidence

Cotter EJ, Wang KC, Yanke AB, Chubinskaya S · Cartilage · 2018

A review of what is and is not established about BMAC for cartilage injury, from laboratory work through to clinical studies.

Read the study

Platelet-rich plasma

PRP

PRP is a supporting treatment here rather than the headline. The evidence is strongest for tendon problems at the elbow and heel, and genuinely contested in knee osteoarthritis.

Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma for chronic tennis elbow: a double-blind, prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of 230 patients

Mishra AK, et al. · The American Journal of Sports Medicine · 2014

One of the larger controlled trials of PRP for lateral epicondylitis, with a benefit that appeared at longer follow-up rather than immediately.

Read the study

Platelet-rich plasma efficacy versus corticosteroid injection treatment for chronic severe plantar fasciitis

Monto RR · Foot & Ankle International · 2014

A randomized comparison in chronic plantar fasciitis, with steroid giving earlier relief and PRP holding up better over two years.

Read the study

Conservative treatment of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears and tendinopathy with platelet-rich plasma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Xiang XN, et al. · Clinical Rehabilitation · 2021

Pooled evidence for PRP in partial rotator cuff tears treated without surgery.

Read the study

Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Dai WL, Zhou AG, Zhang H, Zhang J · Arthroscopy · 2017

Pooled randomized data suggesting PRP outperformed hyaluronic acid and saline for pain and function at twelve months.

Read the study

Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial

Bennell KL, et al. · JAMA · 2021

A negative trial: PRP was no better than saline for knee pain or cartilage volume at twelve months. We include it because leaving it out would misrepresent the field.

Read the study

Platelet-rich therapies for musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries

Moraes VY, Lenza M, Tamaoki MJ, Faloppa F, Belloti JC · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2014

The Cochrane review across soft tissue injuries, which found the overall evidence limited and the studies heterogeneous.

Read the study

What this page is not

A note on how we use research

None of the studies above involved RegenOrthoSport, and none of them describes our results. Published research tells you what has happened in groups of patients under study conditions; it cannot tell you what will happen to your knee.

We also do not publish outcome percentages, success rates or patient registry figures of our own. If we ever do, it will be because the data exists and can be checked.

FAQ

Questions about the evidence

Ask us your question
Is regenerative orthopedic medicine supported by research?

Research in regenerative orthopedics continues to grow, with many studies evaluating treatments such as PRP and other biologic therapies for certain musculoskeletal conditions. Clinical outcomes vary depending on the condition being treated, patient health, and individual healing response.

Are regenerative treatments proven to work for everyone?

No treatment can guarantee the same outcome for every patient. Success depends on factors such as the severity of the injury, overall health, age, activity level, and the body's natural healing ability. During your consultation, we'll discuss realistic expectations based on your individual condition.

Will my pain disappear immediately?

Regenerative treatments are designed to stimulate healing rather than simply mask pain. While some patients notice early relief, most improvements occur gradually as damaged tissues repair over time.

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments depends on your diagnosis, severity of injury, treatment goals, and healing response. Some patients achieve their desired outcome after a single procedure, while others may benefit from a staged treatment plan.

Consultation request

Talk it through with Dr. Movva

Bring your imaging and your questions. If the evidence for your condition is thin, you will hear that from us.

  • Consultation with Dr. Movva
  • Review of your history and imaging
  • An honest answer on candidacy

Prefer to talk? Call (817) 442-9292 or text (817) 441-0457.

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