Is Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis Safe and Effective?
In 2014, tennis player Rafael Nadal’s career was in decline when he decided to seek stem cell treatment for his injured back. Nadal’s doctor, Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, told the Associated Press that the tennis star would have stem cells introduced to a joint in his spine. Since that point, Nadal has fully recovered from his setback. In fact, he now stands at number one in the world in the Association of Tennis Professionals’ ATP World Tour men’s singles rankings (leading Roger Federer 9310 to 7080 total points on August 6, 2018).
Thrown into the spotlight by use among professional athletes such as Nadal, stem cell treatments have become increasingly popular for musculoskeletal conditions, ranging from injuries to osteoarthritis. Taking Nadal as a case study, you certainly have to conclude that this approach is safe and effective. However, many are still wondering whether or not these therapies, the science for which is still rapidly developing, should be considered safe and effective treatments for arthritis.