Posted on 06-12-2026 in Achilles Tendinitis, Foot/Ankle, Ankle Pain, Total Ankle Replacement, Lisfranc Injury, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Navicular Fracture, Os Trigonum, Plantar Fasciitis, Primary Care Sports Medicine, Regenerative Medicine, Running & Stem Cell Therapy by Dr. Joshua Hackel
Research and the Evolution of Sports Medicine
Disease and injury of the musculoskeletal system represent one of the fastest growing sources of pain, disability, and death today. As the world’s population continues to age and become more and more susceptible to orthopaedic conditions, many of which are driven largely by the aging process, the importance of this field of study will only increase. As a result, there has been an increasing focus placed on researching the biology and physiology of the musculoskeletal system, the underlying causes of the various diseases that plague it, and the mechanisms of injury that acutely harm it. This type of research requires a vast, multidisciplinary approach, drawing on the fields of cellular and molecular biology, chemistry, biomechanics, mechanical engineering, and clinical research.
One of the most exciting and promising avenues of research in orthopaedics today is regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine is the burgeoning field of clinical research and treatment that focuses on harnessing the body’s innate ability to heal itself in the management of musculoskeletal injuries. The two most common regenerative medicine procedures are platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and stem cell injections. While many of the treatments that fall under the umbrella of regenerative medicine are still in the early stages of development, study, and regulatory approval, many clinicians believe that these procedures hold great promise for the treatment of orthopedic disorders. Furthermore, regenerative medicine has applications beyond the muscles and bones of the body, so it has the potential to revolutionize countless current areas of medical treatment.
MILES Study
As stated above, stem cell injections, which use the body’s own stem cells to promote healing and recovery, are one of the most well-known and sought-after regenerative medicine procedures today. Adult stem cells are found throughout the body and can be harvested from a patient’s bone marrow or adipose (fat) tissues. These cells have many regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, so clinicians believe that they may have the ability to treat some common conditions that cause damage to the soft tissues within the body (e.g., torn cartilage, arthritis, etc.). When extracted, processed and injected back into the body, these base cells have the potential to promote healing and repair by developing into muscle, vascular, cartilage or even bone cells.
One of the studies currently being conducted to test the efficacy and safety of stem cell injections is the Multicenter Trial of Stem Cell Therapy for Osteoarthritis (MILES) study. The study is a multicenter research trial being conducted to compare the efficacy of corticosteroid control injections against three regenerative medicine procedures for the treatment of unilateral osteoarthritis of the knee: 1) mesenchymal stem cell preparations from autologous bone marrow concentrate, also known as BMAC; 2) adipose-derived stem cells; and 3) third-party human mesenchymal stem cells manufactured from umbilical cord tissue. The study is being funded by The Marcus Foundation and will be conducted at four clinical sites across the United States, including Andrews Research and Education Foundation (AREF) in Gulf Breeze, FL. Dr. Josh Hackel is the Principal Investigator for the AREF study site and one of the clinical leaders who shaped the design and methods of this potentially game-changing study.
To be eligible for this study, you must be between 40 and 70 years of age and have a recent diagnosis of osteoarthritis in one knee. If you or a loved one are suffering from knee osteoarthritis, please reach out to Dr. Hackel and his team today. You may qualify for this ground-breaking research trial!
December is National Safe Toys & Gifts Month, and as we go about our holiday shopping, it's important to remember the impact those presents can have on the well-being of the children in our lives. A recently released report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicated that nearly 210,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for a toy-related injury in 2022. The annual CPSC report also provided the following illuminating statistics:
North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists is excited to announce the availability of the Hurt! smartphone app and the web-based version, accessible on a desktop device. This revolutionary new resource uses human-to-human interaction to connect patients with acute orthopaedic injuries to an expert Hurt! Care Navigator in real-time, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Footwear serves several useful functions, including protecting our feet, cushioning our body weight, providing comfort and, of course, adding a fashionable element to our wardrobe choices. However, selecting the proper footwear can also make a difference in your overall foot health. As you consider those fun new kicks, we encourage you to be mindful of how the right type of shoe can help you avoid injury or further exacerbate existing foot and ankle conditions. Specifically, ill-fitting shoes can be painful and cause issues such as bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, Lisfranc injuries and more.