Stem Cells and Use on Athletes in Present Day

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can be manipulated into any type of cell. There
are different stem cells; embryonic stem cells that are created from embryos, adult stem cells
(Mesenchymal stem cells) which are found in fat or bone marrow, pluripotent stem cells
which are adult stem cells that have some properties of embryonic stem cells. There are
hundreds of untested stem cells. Embryonic, adult, and pluripotent are the three most
common.
Embryonic stem cells have more potential than any other type of stem cell, although there is
a controversy involving embryonic stem cells, specifically in how they are created, as it evolves
the destruction of life. Due to this controversy stem cells are illegal in parts of the U.S and in
places all around the world
The creation of embryonic stem cells involves:
1. Getting an embryo (fertilized egg), and removing the nucleus.
2. Getting a cell from the patient, removing the nucleus, and putting that nucleus in the
embryo (so the patients DNA is in the embryo)
3. Letting the embryo grow in a petri dish for 5 days
4. Stems cells are removed, and the embryo is destroyed (destruction of embryo is
considered destruction of life)
Adult stem cells are found in many parts of the human body, mainly they are taken from the
bone marrow and fat, then stored, so they can be used when the person needs them at some point
of their life. Adult stem cells have the potential to cause tumors, due to defects caused by outside
factors.
Pluripotent stem cells are adult stem cells that act like embryonic stem cells. When injected
in the human body these cells turn into the cells that they are around.
Adult and pluripotent stem cells are used due to the fact that they do not have the
controversy, that embryonic stem cells have.
Stem cells have the potential to regenerate tissue, cure diseases, and bodily disorders.
They would help humanity a great deal, for example stroke victims who are paralyzed could
have stem cells injected into to them which will turn into brain cells. These cell would then
repair the brain and result in increased range of motion for the person. Looking further into the
future a goal is to be able to grow organs, using stem cells in labs, and then be able to transplant
them into humans.
Stem cells can help athletes a great deal. Professional sports take a toll on the body,
whether it be a football players brain or knee, a hockey players leg, or a tennis players arm.
Sports can do a lot of damage to athletes. A major problem in sports is injury, which can be
career suppressing or ending. Athletes have already and will continue to look into stem cell

treatment, as a viable option for recovery from injuries. Stem cell treatment with surgery has
been shown to speed up recovery times, and in some case replace surgery all together. Another
advantage of stem cells is that they are anti-flamatory which make recovery less painful.

Former NFL stars Matt Wilhelm and Colt Barry Kraus have tried experimental treatment,
using stem cells to treat effects of CTE (degenerative brain disease) and reduce pain of
osteoarthritis (in knees). Doctors Mark Foglietti and Michael Kellis are using pluripotent stem
cells extracted from the players fat, in the treatment. They are then injecting these stem cell in
the diseased part of the body (Pluripotent cells work well because they turn into the type of the
cells that they are around). Players have stated that they have seen a huge difference after the
treatment.
NFLer Chris Johnston had a torn meniscus, and needed surgery. During his surgery,
doctors injected adult stem cells that where extracted from his bone marrow months before. The
use of stem cells was able to aid in his recovery.
Many players have been intrigued by stem cell treatment, and as a result have banked
stem cell from their bone marrow or fat.
Within the next few year, stem cells will be the future of sports medicine

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