The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) has issued a position statement on principles for the responsible use of regenerative medicine in sports medicine.
This position statement provides sports medicine physicians with information on regenerative medicine terminology, a brief review of basic science and clinical studies, regulatory considerations, and best practices for introducing orthobiologic classification of regenerative therapies into their clinical practice.
The paper is published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, and editorial highlights are published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Both are freely accessible on their respective websites. “Sports medicine physicians would benefit from decision-making guidance on whether to introduce orthobiologics into their practice and how to do so responsibly,” said Dr. Jonathan Finnoff, medical director of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and lead author of the statement. “The information contained in this statement will help sports medicine physicians make informed and responsible decisions about the role of regenerative medicine and orthobiologics in their practice.”
In 2019, the AMSSM Board of Directors established a Regenerative Medicine Task Force, with a subgroup charged with developing a regenerative medicine position statement. The Task Force assembled a writing group that included physicians and sports medicine scientists who are recognized leaders in bioethics, research, and clinical applications of regenerative medicine to produce this statement.The field of regenerative medicine, and the subclassification of orthobiologics, involves a variety of therapies and techniques focused on repairing or replacing damaged or diseased tissue to restore function. Although these new therapies are very appealing to both sports medicine physicians and patients, this is a complex and controversial topic. “Common orthobiologics used in research and medical practice are being combined under the umbrella of ‘stem cell’ therapy in a way that confuses both patients and the public,” said Shane Shapiro, M.D., one of the lead authors of the statement. “The need for scientifically validated treatments for non-healing orthopedic and sports conditions has increased interest in orthobiologics and other regenerative therapies to address existing treatment gaps.”
The document contains brief discussions of the basic science, proposed therapeutic mechanisms of action, and clinical evidence related to regenerative medicine products, including the uses of platelet-rich plasma and other cell therapies. In addition, the statement includes sections on regulatory considerations and a detailed section on the introduction of regenerative medicine into clinical practice.
