Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSI) are any injury that affects the bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, or tendons resulting in pain. While pain may be widespread and affect the entire body, it is often localized in the hands and wrists due to their high use and exposure. Acute pain often stems from injuries like a fall, sprain, dislocation, or a direct blow to the muscle.

Any injury that affects the nerves, tendons, bones, and ligaments comes under Musculoskeletal Injury. Pain in MSIs can affect any part of the body, including upper extremities, trunk, and lower extremities. 

Pathological conditions can sometimes lead to internal damage and chronic pain. However, acute pain is a result of a direct blow, dislocation, sprain, and falls. MSIs are most commonly found in athletes or physically active individuals. Furthermore, Musculoskeletal Injuries can also be more prevalent in the physically fragile or elderly population.

Types of common knee injuries include sprains, strains, bursitis, dislocations, fractures, meniscus tears, and overuse injuries. Knee injuries are generally caused by twisting or bending force applied to the knee, or a direct blow, such as from sports, falls, or accidents. The symptoms and signs of knee injury are related to the type of injury and the part of the knee that was injured.

The main symptoms of Knee Injury are as follows:

• Knee pain

• Swelling

• Heat

• Redness

• Tenderness

• Difficulty bending the knee

• Problems weight bearing

• Clicking or popping sounds

• Locking of the knee

• Feeling of instability

• Bruising

If the injury is acute, the main symptoms will most likely be knee pain and swelling. If the injury is chronic or from overuse, the symptoms of clicking, popping, and intermittent pain will be more prominent.

More serious Knee Injuries require medical care.

Knee immobilization keeps it from moving and decreases the chance of further injury. It can also help to stabilize an injured knee that may not be stable due to torn ligaments. It also keeps the knee from moving to assist in resting the knee.

Chronic knee injuries involving inflammation and bursitis may be treated with anti-inflammatories. Injections of cortisone (a steroid with powerful anti-inflammatory effects) may be helpful in these situations.

More extensive injuries involving torn ligaments, instability of the knee joint, swelling, decreased range of motion, or fractures will require an orthopedic surgeon consultation. In the initial stages of these more extensive injuries, RICE therapy can still be used. Staying off the leg by using crutches or a wheelchair may be advised.

Surgery may be indicated for tears of the ligaments or extensive meniscal tears. Surgery may also be needed for fractures or dislocations of the knee. Some acute injuries, such as those with high-force impact or multiple parts of the knee damaged, may require emergency surgery.

Most knee surgery can be done by arthroscopy, a procedure in which a camera is used, and small punctures are made in the knee to insert instruments. Repairs can be done inside the knee without having to open the knee with a large incision. Most arthroscopic surgeries do not need to be done immediately after an acute injury. Some are delayed to allow for decreased inflammation.

After surgery, or if surgery is not an option, physical therapy can be used to strengthen and stretch the muscles surrounding the knee. Physical therapy can also allow for better movement mechanics of the leg and the knee to help prevent future injury.

Stem Cells are the natural repair process of your body parts. SCs are present in our fat cells, bone marrow cells and in this case, we use Mesenchymal Stem Cells from donor cord blood. If you place the stem cells over the area of damage, then these cells can lead to the activation of new and healthy cells. This healing process is what our body needs. Stem Cell Therapy helps boost body repair mechanisms and introduces the new Stem Cells.

Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) is the body’s natural conservation of the tissues and cell regeneration or renewal. With age, the body’s regenerative capability tends to decline due to different factors. This decline in regeneration can cause poor healing, injuries, and poor prognosis of the diseases or comorbidities. 

Stem Cell Therapy provides the body with an opportunity to heal itself using its reserves. SCT helps modulate the immune response to the injuries, regenerates musculoskeletal tissues, and prevents tissue damage. Other treatment options for musculoskeletal injuries can only work on the symptoms or physical condition of the body. However, Stem Cell Therapy works on the root cause of the problem associated with the pain or injury.

The immune system works in the body by coupling with the other systems. The skeletal and immune systems also work in association, making a complex bond between them. Both the cells of the immune system and skeletal system share the common origin as hematopoietic precursors. 

Moreover, both these systems have similar transcription factors, receptors, and even cytokines, which help in regulating the pathways of signal transduction for immune system activation and osteoclastogenesis. 

The immune system can sometimes be modulated or triggered with different treatment options such as bone-targeted therapies and surgeries. Immune modulation or stimulation can affect the body in two ways – either positive or negative. In case of negative modulation, the body’s immune system can go against its cells and cause excessive destruction internally. Therefore, before opting for any treatment, there is a need to observe the relationship between the body’s systems carefully.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells are heterogeneous cells having mesodermal origin. MSCs have different origins, making them easy to access and harvest for the treatment of different conditions. When MSCs are used in Stem Cell Therapy, their immunomodulatory properties contribute to tissue homeostasis restoration. Furthermore, Mesenchymal Stem Cells have the privilege of immune modulation because of their nature and type. In the case of injuries, inflammation is the first and most detrimental effect that can hinder cellular regeneration. MSCs act in the body to decrease the concentration of the inflammatory cytokine as TNF-a (a- tissue necrosis factor) and interleukin 1b (IL-1B), released by T-cells. The use of pluripotent Mesenchymal Stem Cells is the most attractive and reliable method for an anti-inflammatory response.

According to different clinical research studies, these stem cells significantly contribute to altering the levels of serum cytokines and intra-articular cytokines. A decrease in these pro-inflammatory agents can help effectively treat both traumatized/damaged joints and damaged body cells. 

MSCs have a good reputation for treating tendon suture augmentation, osteoarthritis, defects of cartilages, bone non-unions, and other Musculoskeletal defects.

Stem Cell Therapy and Exosomes provide an efficient opportunity for treating Musculoskeletal disorders. Cartilage destruction can be one of the most common results of musculoskeletal disorders. Silencing miRNA-101 through exosomes can help prevent cartilage degradation in the case of arthritis. 

Osteoclast differentiation and bone-forming cells proliferation is another significant result of MSCs-Exosomes Therapy. Different studies proved that Exosomes could help in protection against acute tubular injuries. These cells mediate the interaction between cells and stimulate cell proliferation to control several diseases and traumas. For instance, these cells are involved (directly) in the transfer of microRNAs to affect the signal transduction pathways into the targeted cells. This process can be used as a microRNA cells therapy for most age-related musculoskeletal diseases and disorders.

Stem Cell Therapy is the safest treatment for Musculoskeletal problems with comparatively less immune reaction or issues. 

However, a few mild side-effects are always there as:

• Fever

• Sudden or acute inflammation due to injection

• Increased temperature at the site of treatment

• Allergic reactions

• Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches

Most of the Stem Cell Therapy side effects are manageable through proper care and handling of the patients. In terms of allergic reactions, pre-op history and examination are mandatory. Doctors can prescribe a mild medicine for fever and nausea that won’t react with the immune system.

Stem Cells Therapy has a great potential to be more effective for treating Musculoskeletal Injuries than previous methods and carries less risk. SCT has a great potential to emerge as one solution to all human body problems.  

All the treatment options for Musculoskeletal Injuries have been temporary options for just treating the symptoms. With the invention of Stem Cells Replacement Therapy, hopes and prognosis of the disease treatment have been raised. It has the potential to be more effective than previous methods and also carries less risk.