What is Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative orthopedic medicine is an advanced, non-surgical approach to healing that uses your body’s own biologics, like platelets, stem cells, growth factors, and exosomes, to repair damaged tissue, reduce inflammation, and restore function. These treatments are designed to utilize and activate your body’s natural healing processes to delay or avoid surgery altogether.

Dr. Lehman ensures each treatment is personalized and delivered using state-of-the-art diagnostics and precision-guided techniques.

Benefits of Regnerative Medicine

Regenerative therapy provides a non-invasive alternative to orthopedic surgery and steroid medication.

Key benefits include:

  • Natural healing using your body’s own cells
  • Reduced joint inflammation and pain
  • Accelerated tissue regeneration
  • Low risk of rejection or complications (cartilage, tendon and tissue breakdown with steroids)
  • Outpatient procedures with minimal downtime
  • Helps delay or avoid joint replacement surgery, preserve joint function as long as possible

Patients often return to their regular activities sooner and experience lasting relief.

Conditions treated with
Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine is ideal for a wide range of orthopedic and sports-related conditions, including:

  • Osteoarthritis (knee, hip, shoulder, ankle)
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Labral tears
  • Chronic tendonitis or ligament injuries
  • Meniscus and cartilage damage
  • Sports injuries and overuse conditions
  • Post-surgical healing support
  • Joint instability and inflammation

Explore our Regenerative Treatments

At Lehman Joint and Performance, we offer three types of regenerative treatments:

Why choose Dr. Rick Lehman?

  • Nationally recognized orthopedic leader
  • Pioneer in regenerative sports medicine
  • Expertise in image-guided biologic injections
  • Dual-location convenience (St. Louis and Menlo Park)
  • Trusted by champions, accessible to all
Request Consultation

Frequently asked questions

Regenerative medicine works by enhancing your body’s natural ability to heal itself. Instead of masking pain with medications or resorting to surgery, these therapies use biologics, like platelets, stem cells, or exosomes, to target the source of damage.

When injected into an injured joint, tendon, or ligament, these biologics release healing signals that:

  • Reduce inflammation
  • Stimulate tissue repair and regeneration
  • Improve cellular communication
  • Restore function and mobility over time

Whether you’re dealing with arthritis, sports injuries, or chronic joint pain, regenerative treatments can activate healing at the cellular level, offering relief and recovery without invasive procedures.

Yes, regenerative therapy is generally very safe, especially when performed by an experienced orthopedic specialist like Dr. Rick Lehman. Most treatments use your own biologics (like blood or stem cells), which significantly reduces the risk of allergic reactions or rejection. Exosomes, when used, are carefully sourced from certified labs under strict safety standards. Side effects are usually mild and may include temporary soreness or swelling at the injection site. Serious complications are rare, and Dr. Lehman uses advanced imaging and sterile techniques to further minimize any risk.

Regenerative medicine is ideal for individuals seeking a non-surgical, natural approach to healing joint and soft tissue injuries. Good candidates typically include:

  • People with early to moderate osteoarthritis
  • Athletes or active adults with overuse injuries or chronic pain
  • Patients recovering from orthopedic surgery who want to accelerate healing
  • Individuals with tendonitis, ligament strains, or cartilage damage
  • Those looking to delay or avoid joint replacement surgery
  • Patients who haven’t responded well to physical therapy, medications, or corticosteroid injections

During your consultation, Dr. Lehman will assess your condition and health history to determine if a regenerative therapy plan is right for you.

Regenerative medicine treatments are generally safe, especially when using your own biological material, like blood, platelets or stem cells. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived, such as temporary soreness, swelling, or bruising at the injection site. Serious complications, such as infection or tissue damage, are rare, particularly when procedures are performed by experienced physicians like Dr. Lehman, who use ultrasound guidance and sterile techniques. Treatments using exosomes are also low-risk when sourced and administered properly. A thorough consultation ensures these therapies are appropriate and safe for your individual condition.

From the blog

To blogTo blog
  • Thumbnail for Dr Rick Informs post about Achilles Tendon Injuries
    February 26, 2010|
    Last Updated: October 1, 2026

    What is an Achilles Tendon Injury? Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Recovery

    The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and plays an essential role in walking, running, jumping, and pushing off the foot. Because...

  • Man holding his painful wrist, a common symptom of post-traumatic arthritis developing after a previous joint injury or fracture.
    July 28, 2011|
    Last Updated: September 23, 2026

    What You Should Know about Post-Traumatic Arthritis

    Millions of people around the world suffer from the severity of post-traumatic arthritis. Symptoms include swelling, joint instability, tenderness, severe pain, and sometimes internal bleeding....

  • Medical professional performing ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection therapy on a patient’s knee to treat a sports injury.
    June 6, 2011|
    Last Updated: September 23, 2026

    What Are the Side-Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy?

    Let’s make this clear right now: platelet-rich plasma therapy is not blood doping. In fact, PRP therapy, as it’s commonly called, is actually a safe and legal...

Trusted by many

Rodney
7 months ago
He done my right shoulder after a bad wreck and that was in the early 90s until this day I've yet to have any pain he's the best orthopedic surgeon in st,Louis he takes care of the st.louis blue's hockey players he knows what he's doing,I'm going to try to get back to him now for my left shoulder after surgery my doctor here , well let's say 2yearsand2 months ltr I can't pick up anything with it I need a real pro ..
Darrell L.
1 year ago
It's been 28 years since I reluctantly followed the advice of the company nurse where I worked and made an appointment with Dr Lehman, which I had to drive an hour to see. It took a month and a half to actually get in to see him. My first visit, it seems more x-rays were taken than the previous 3 years being "cared for" by a butcher that I had been seeing because I destroyed my left knee in a motorcycle accident. Dr Lehman literally put his money where his mouth was when he convinced me to opt for reparative surgery, rather than complete knee replacement at the ripe old age of 25. Surgery was scheduled, again, it took a month and a half to get in. Why did all of this take so long, you might ask... Because he IS that good! That's how many people are waiting to see him! Thank you Dr Lehman for working your magic on me and affording me the quality of life that I have been able to enjoy for all these years. Very regretfully, I have taken your help for granted and probably overworked it a bit too much, and now likely will have to have more work done. Even more regretfully, as I have relocated, it may no longer be feasible for me to return.
Kama T.
1 year ago
Dr. Lehman is one of the few doctors who puts your goals for mobility or athletic performance at the top of your treatment plan. I thought I would have to choose between 'bleeding edge of orthopedics' and 'decades of experience', but Dr. Lehman is the best of both. Thanks to him and his network of top therapists, I have come back from tough injuries and stayed strong enough to compete as an endurance athlete into my 50s.
Diane W.
2 years ago
Kevin B.
5 years ago
This office is one of the best offices in the country, HANDS DOWN!!!! The staff are very professional and can deal with a high volume of people!! Always getting people in to take care of their concerns!!! They are very detailed and so so kind!!!! Dr. Lehman is “The Best”, this man treats every single patient as if they were worth a million dollars to him!!!!! He deals with the general pubic and everyday working people the same way he deals with pro athletes!!!! What a Great Surgeon!!! His expertise is hard to match!!! My son is playing Division 1 football because Dr. Lehman repaired his knee!!!! Also, He just repaired my knee!! He and his staff ensured that I had a smooth prep, great surgery, and great follow up/discharge instructions. They made sure that me and my son got back to performing duties for life at high levels!!!!I highly recommend Dr. Lehman and his office. “WHAT A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE”.
jonathan S.
7 years ago
Dr Lehman is simply the best! You May have to wait awhile in his office but it is worth the wait to see the best! He takes the time to explain things so you are comfortable and understand. I think this is why the wait. He is a genuinely sincere nice man. Who wants the best for you. I am very active, he has always got me fixed back up! You won’t find a better doctor or person!!
Byron S.
7 years ago
The office is great. it is obvious that doctor Lehman has done many famous athletes, the walls are covered with autographed shirts. The staff is competent and Karla is dedicated to her patients. A delight to work with
Shirley Y.
8 years ago
daniel R.
9 years ago
The quality of care & professionalism is worth my 250 mile Drive. I tore both rotator cuffs in September of 2016, at age 54, not good, but thanks to Dr Rick & Dr Shana, I'm back riding Harley's, swimming & playing golf . I'm feeling better than I did at 35! The Team at US Sport medicine will make you feel like an All American Superstar !!! Much Mahalo

Learn more about Regenerative Medicine with Dr. Lehman

Ready to explore your options? Book a consultation with Dr. Lehman and learn what regenerative medicine means for the future of your joint health.