Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the world. It commonly affects the knee and current treatment options are limited, focusing mainly on symptom relief. It is now known that OA is the result of both mechanical and biological events that disrupt anabolic and catabolic processes in the joint. Recently, research in regenerative therapies has been gaining interest because of its potential to restore normal structure and function following tissue injury. The goal is to use the body’s own repair mechanisms in order to heal tissues that were previously irreparable. This article discusses the available research on such therapies, such as platelet rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells, hyaluronic acid, and prolotherapy. There is a paucity of literature that examines these therapies in knee OA. More research is needed to establish the use of these therapies for the treatment of knee OA.

Authors and Affiliations