How To Grow Your Cartilage. Can We Actually Do It?

About this video

• Video Title: How To Grow Your Cartilage. Can We Actually Do It?
• Channel: Talking With Docs
• Speakers: Dr. Paul (implied), Dr. Brad
• Duration: 00:12:52

Overview

This video discusses the possibility of regenerating cartilage in the human body. The hosts explain what cartilage is, why its regeneration is desirable (due to conditions like arthritis or trauma), and critically examine various surgical interventions and non-surgical approaches, including supplements and stem cell therapies, for their efficacy and scientific backing.

Key takeaways

• Cartilage Function: Cartilage is the smooth, shiny tissue on the ends of bones in joints that allows for smooth movement. Damage or wear of this cartilage leads to arthritis.
• Surgical Regeneration Methods: Less invasive surgical techniques like microfracture, drilling, and abrasion arthroplasty aim to stimulate bleeding from the underlying bone to promote healing, resulting in fibrocartilage (scar tissue), not true articular cartilage. More advanced methods include matrix-assisted cartilage implantation and cartilage transplantation (autograft or allograft), primarily for focal areas of damage.
• Limitations of Cartilage Regeneration: Unlike bone or liver, adult cartilage has a very limited capacity to heal or regenerate due to its avascular nature.
• Supplements and Unproven Claims: There is currently no scientific evidence from rigorous clinical studies to support claims that any supplements, foods, or non-FDA-approved therapies (like PRP or stem cell injections) can regrow cartilage. While some may alleviate symptoms, they do not repair or regenerate cartilage tissue.
• Stem Cell Therapy Status: While stem cells have the potential to differentiate into various tissues, current research indicates that stem cell therapies, as administered for joint issues, do not regenerate cartilage. Their effectiveness in symptom relief is still under investigation.