Personalized Orthobiologic & Regenerative Medicine

Helping Your Body Heal—Naturally
Treatment Philosophy: Every injury is unique, and every patient heals differently. Whenever possible, I strive to help your body heal itself before considering more invasive treatment. By combining advanced orthopedic expertise with the latest evidence-based regenerative therapies, we create individualized treatment plans that reduce pain, restore function, and help you return to the activities you enjoy.

Dr. Elizabeth Ford provides specialized orthobiologic and regenerative care through the Regenerative Health & Wellness Center.

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What Are Orthobiologics?

Orthobiologics are naturally occurring substances obtained from your own body that may enhance the healing environment of injured tissues. Rather than simply masking pain, these treatments deliver cells, growth factors, and signaling molecules that support the body’s natural healing response.

While orthobiologics are not a replacement for surgery when surgery is clearly indicated, for many patients they serve as an effective treatment option to improve healing, delay disease progression, or biologically complement surgical repair.

Every recommendation begins with a thorough orthopedic evaluation including diagnosis, imaging studies, activity level, goals, medical history, and the current scientific evidence before determining whether regenerative treatment, physical therapy, surgery, or a combination offers the greatest likelihood of success.

Regenerative Treatment Options

1. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is created by drawing a small sample of your blood and concentrating the platelets using specialized centrifugation. Platelets contain hundreds of biologically active growth factors and signaling proteins that play an important role in tissue repair.

  • Applications: Extensively studied for chronic tendon injuries, mild to moderate arthritis, muscle injuries, ligament sprains, and selected cartilage disorders.
  • Mechanism: Delivers a concentrated source of your body’s own healing factors directly to injured tissue to decrease inflammation and promote repair.
  • Precision Delivery: Performed under ultrasound guidance whenever appropriate for precise placement into the target tendon, ligament, muscle, or joint.

2. Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC)

Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) is harvested from the pelvis through a minimally invasive procedure and concentrated to increase biologically active cells and growth factors.

  • Components: Contains mesenchymal stromal cells, hematopoietic cells, platelets, cytokines, and regenerative signaling molecules.
  • Applications: Commonly considered for cartilage injuries, early arthritis, tendon disorders, difficult-to-heal injuries, and biological augmentation during orthopedic procedures.

3. Adipose-Derived Cellular Therapy

Fat tissue is an abundant source of regenerative cells and signaling molecules. Through a minimally invasive procedure, adipose tissue is harvested and processed to obtain a concentrated cellular preparation.

  • Applications: Currently being investigated for tendon disorders, ligament injuries, cartilage pathology, and osteoarthritis.
  • Evidence-Based Use: Recommended on an individualized basis depending on patient diagnosis, goals, and evolving clinical research.

Precision Through Ultrasound Guidance

Successful regenerative treatment depends not only on selecting the right biologic—but also delivering it to the exact location. Whenever appropriate, regenerative injections are performed using high-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Ultrasound provides real-time visualization of tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and joints, ensuring precise placement while avoiding nearby anatomical structures.

Conditions Treated

Anatomical Region Conditions Managed
Shoulder Rotator cuff tendinopathy, partial rotator cuff tears, shoulder arthritis, biceps tendinitis, AC joint arthritis
Elbow Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), partial UCL injuries
Hip Gluteal tendinopathy, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, hip osteoarthritis, proximal hamstring tendinopathy
Knee Mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, patellar tendinitis (“Jumper’s Knee”), quadriceps tendinopathy, MCL injuries, cartilage injuries, selected meniscal pathology
Foot & Ankle Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction, peroneal tendon disorders
Sports Injuries Muscle strains, ligament sprains, chronic tendon injuries, overuse injuries, delayed healing following injury or surgery

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Am I a candidate for regenerative medicine?

The best candidates are patients with early arthritis, chronic tendon disorders, ligament injuries, or other musculoskeletal conditions where improving the natural healing response provides meaningful benefit. Candidate suitability is determined during a full consultation reviewing imaging, diagnosis, and prior treatments.

How do I know whether I need PRP, BMAC, or another biologic?

There is no single treatment that is best for every patient. Selection depends on the injured tissue, disease severity, age, activity level, prior treatments, and current scientific evidence. The goal is always to recommend the treatment most likely to help.

Are these treatments safe?

Because PRP, BMAC, and adipose-derived cellular therapies utilize your own tissues, the risk of allergic reaction or disease transmission is extremely low. Small potential risks include temporary soreness, bleeding, infection, or incomplete symptom relief.

Will I still need surgery?

Not necessarily. Many patients improve with regenerative treatment and are able to delay or avoid surgery. However, regenerative medicine does not replace necessary surgical interventions, though it can be used to biologically augment certain surgical repairs.

Does insurance cover regenerative medicine?

Most regenerative procedures are currently considered elective and are not covered by insurance. Anticipated costs are reviewed fully prior to treatment.

What is recovery like?

Most patients experience mild soreness for several days post-procedure before gradually returning to activity under a structured rehabilitation program. Physical therapy often plays an essential role in maximizing clinical outcomes.

What does the research show?

Scientific evidence supporting orthobiologics continues to grow rapidly. PRP has demonstrated encouraging results for several tendon disorders and selected cases of knee osteoarthritis. BMAC and adipose-derived therapies remain active areas of investigation with promising clinical outcomes in carefully selected patients.

Schedule a Consultation

To learn more about orthobiologic therapies or to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Ford, visit the Regenerative Health & Wellness Center. Together, we will build a personalized treatment strategy designed to maximize your body’s natural healing potential.