Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) Injections
In addition to Physical Therapy, our patients are often given other treatment options by their doctors to improve their pain. There are numerous interventions that may be recommended, and our patients often turn to us to provide information and comment on what impact these interventions may have. One intervention I have recently been asked about is a BMAC injection. BMAC stands for Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate, and this type of injection is most often used in cases of osteoarthritis.
Simply put, bone marrow is obtained from another area of the body and is then put through a procedure to increase the concentration of stem cells. This stem cell concentrate is then injected into the painful, affected area, with the intention for the stem cells to promote healing and a healthier joint.
The response to this intervention is variable from case to case. Multiple other factors, such as the stage of the arthritis and the quality of the surrounding tissue, will impact how effective the injection is. While it is not within our scope of practice to recommend or prescribe this or any other similar interventions, we certainly encourage our patients to discuss these options with their doctors if they feel as though they may be a good candidate.