Although our bodies have over 200 types of cells, stem cells are unique in that they have the ability to become many different types of cells. Plus, they replicate rapidly, so they play an important role in the body’s healing processes. Different cells have different life cycles, and there is constant regeneration. When we suffer an injury, such as a knee injury, cell degeneration exceeds regeneration. This makes the injured joint or structure weaker, painful, and less functional.
Stem cells are important in the healing process because their replication can overcome cell degeneration, enabling them to repair the injury. For orthopedic injuries, stem cells taken from bone marrow are found to be the best for repair.