I will not pass judgment on Lance Armstrong, as I don’t know enough about what really transpired over the last ten years in the sport of cycling. Some years ago, actually more than 25, I would complete six or seven triathlons a year during the course of which I read Triatlete Magazine. I remember a story about a teenage sensation named Lance Armstrong whose cycling splits were so remarkable that he was encouraged to abandon triathlon and concentrate on cycling. He is paying a severe price for his alleged doping as did Floyd Landis before him and as will many elite athletes to be identified. There was a very interesting study done several summer Olympics back. “If you would be assured a gold medal using performance enhancers knowing you will die early, would you still take those drugs?” The response in almost every case,” for that moment of glory-yes”. Well, I believe the era of doping is over and the decade of stem cell is arriving.
In a remarkable second half of Monday night football, Peyton Manning led the Denver Broncos to an unprecedented victory over the San Diego Chargers. We have previously featured Colby Bryant and Alex Rodriguez along with many other prominent athletes and their respective trips out of the country for Regenerative Medical procedures to prolong their lifetime in sports or return them to top form. Let’s ad Peyton Manning and Brandon Roy to the list. Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain reports the pain in his knee and ankle are gone after having had stem cell treatment. I am sure there are countless others who have had stem cell therapy but were able to avoid publicity. Stem Cell management is performance enhancement but it is too early to tell where the line is between healing and doping; between restoration and enhancement? Incidentally, there is no direct evidence that the stem cell therapies worked but there are growing testimonials all around us. My friends and I are growing older as are my patients; and our bodies are not performing as they did 25 years ago. Human Growth Hormone and testosterone for athletic performance enhancement don’t make sense; Regenerative Medicine does. The increasing number of my patients who are and have returned to athletic participation after having been forced in to early “retirement continues to grow: softball, cycling, ice hockey, jogging, fitness, golf, walking, rock climbing, fly fishing, skiing to name a few. If you want testimonials, you will find them on my website and on those of Regenexx. I am off for four days of biking starting Thursday.
Tags: athletes, Orthopedic Surgeon, Pain Management, stem cells