Orthobiologic myth #1: Cartilage Can't Repair Itself After 50?
- cassis101
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 7
By Deborah Westergaard, MD | Pain Experts | Dallas–Plano
Outdated Thinking About Cartilage Repair After 50
They told you cartilage can’t grow back after 50? Not exactly true.
Many active adults over 50 have been told that once cartilage wears down, it’s gone forever as if aging shuts off the body’s repair switch. That’s outdated thinking.
While cartilage turnover slows with age, modern studies reveal the joint environment can be reprogrammed toward protection and repair through targeted orthobiologic treatments such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC).
These advanced biologic therapies don’t simply “mask” pain. They work on the cellular chemistry of your joint to restore balance and slow breakdown.
Helping Create a Repair-Friendly Joint Environment
PRP works by modifying the disease process inside the joint. When injected precisely, platelets release powerful growth factors and cytokines that activate your body’s own repair mechanisms.
Here’s how PRP promotes cartilage repair after 50:
Dampening destructive inflammation: PRP down-regulates IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α — key inflammatory molecules that drive cartilage loss — transforming the joint fluid into a calmer, less hostile environment.
Improving lubrication: It stimulates synovial cells to produce hyaluronic acid, the body’s natural joint lubricant, allowing cartilage surfaces to glide smoothly.
Supporting cartilage cell survival: PRP signals chondrocytes (cartilage cells) to multiply, produce collagen, and resist oxidative stress and apoptosis (cell death).
Recruiting regenerative cells: PRP’s growth factors act as a homing signal for mesenchymal stem cells, drawing them into the joint to assist with tissue support.
Collectively, these effects can convert a degenerative joint into a repair-friendly microenvironment, a process known medically as disease modification and cartilage preservation, not full “regeneration.”
What the Evidence Shows
Randomized controlled trials confirm that these biologic changes translate into measurable improvements:
Still, the goal isn’t to “grow a brand-new joint.” Once joint space is lost, it rarely returns to perfect anatomy. The aim is to slow progression, maintain mobility, and preserve the joint you have — so you can stay active and avoid early replacement.
Your age doesn’t define your biology — your strategy does. A precisely dosed, image-guided orthobiologic protocol can help stabilize your joint and extend its life.
If you’ve been told you’re “too old” for cartilage repair, it may be time for a precision-based second opinion
Schedule your consultation at Pain Experts and discover how evidence-based orthobiologics can help preserve your mobility and performance — without surgery.
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