A stem-cell treatment that has been used on British racehorses with serious tendon injuries may soon be available for human athletes.
The treatment appears to be effective and has helped several horses continue running. But The Telegraph says it has not yet been subjected to a rigorous trial on horses, like the one that starts this month.
"If I had a tendon injury, I would certainly consider this treatment," Roger Smith of the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire said. "But before we use this on people, we need more evidence that it works."
Smith says that stem cells from bone marrow apparently repopulate damaged tendons with undamaged tissue. So far, the treatment appears to be about twice as effective as conventional ones.
Smith's team has so far treated 160 horses. One, the hurdler Mr. Cool, won its second race after treatment.
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