Stem cells – This allows us to heal broken bones and replace skin damaged by cuts and burns.
All of this make stem cells extremely important in the process of development, cell renewal and healing.
Why are stem cells so important?
Stem cells represent an exciting area in medicine because of their potential to regenerate and repair damaged tissue.
Some current therapies, such as bone marrow transplantation, already make use of stem cells and their potential for regeneration of damaged tissues.
Other therapies that are under investigation involve transplanting stem cells into a damaged body part and directing them to grow and differentiate into healthy tissue.
Stem cells are unprogrammed cells in the human body that can be described as “shape shifters.”
These “shape Shifters” cells have the ability to change into other types of cells, as per picture below.
Because stem cells can become bone, muscle, cartilage and other specialised types of cells, they have the potential to treat many diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s. diabetes and cancer.
Eventually, stem cells may also be used to regenerate organs, reducing the need for organ transplants and related surgeries.
Dr Marc Hedrick’s of the UCLA School of Medicine has best explained how stem cells work:
“Stem cells are like little kids who, when they grow up, can enter a variety of professions,” “A child might become a fireman, a doctor or a plumber, depending on the influences in their life or environment”.
Physiotherapy in Stem Cells Treatment
Recent studies are showing that physiotherapy plays a crucial role in muscle regeneration while maintaining general body wellness before, during and after Stem Cell Treatment.
Immunosuppressive treatment (Treatment that lowers the activity of the body’s immune system) and prolonged bed rests, during Stem Cell Treatments, often cause profound loss of both physical functioning and psychological well-being to the patients.