Regenerative Treatments Offered at DMV Foot & Ankle

 

1. Peptide Therapy for Foot & Ankle Healing

 

What are Peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules in your body. Specific peptides can "turn on" your body's healing response, accelerating tissue repair and reducing inflammation.

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How Peptide Therapy Works for Foot Conditions:

Dr. Mattia uses specialized peptides such as BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound) that have been shown to:

• Promote tendon and ligament healing

• Accelerate recovery from sports injuries

• Reduce chronic inflammation in plantar fascia

• Enhance collagen production for stronger, healthier tissue

Conditions Treated with Peptide Therapy:

• Chronic plantar fasciitis

• Achilles tendonitis

• Peroneal tendonitis

• Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction

• Ligament sprains and strains

• Post-surgical healing enhancement

 

Oral Treatment Protocol:

• Regimen: Daily premeasured sachet oral ingestion taken for 4–8 weeks.

• Convenience: Non-invasive, pain-free administration at home.

• Synergy: Highly effective when paired with physical therapy to accelerate tissue loading capacity.

• Timeline: Most patients report noticeable reduction in stiffness and pain within 3–4 weeks.

• Outcomes: High patient satisfaction with sustained functional improvement and systemic anti-inflammatory benefits.

 

2. Stem Cell Therapy for Foot & Ankle Regeneration

 

Understanding Stem Cell Treatment

Stem cells are your body's "master cells" capable of developing into various tissue types. When concentrated stem cells are injected into damaged areas of your foot or ankle, they:

• Differentiate into the specific tissue type needed (cartilage, tendon, ligament)

• Release growth factors that recruit additional healing cells

• Reduce inflammatory signals that prevent healing

• Remodel damaged tissue into healthy, functional structures

 

Types of Stem Cell Therapy We Offer:

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Donated tissue:

DPMx Umbilical cord Allograft:

• Donated umbilical cord from screened births that are rich in stem cell byproducts.

• This is in an injectable form that does not require a separate surgery to harvest these important cells.

• Performed same day in office.

 

Your own tissue: 

Bone Marrow Concentrate:

• Harvested from your own bone marrow

• Concentrated to 5-10x normal stem cell density

• Ideal for severe cartilage damage or osteoarthritis​

Conditions Best Treated with Stem Cell Therapy:

• Moderate to severe plantar fasciitis (failed conservative treatment)

• Achilles tendon tears or chronic tendinopathy

• Ankle and foot joint osteoarthritis

• Cartilage damage in ankle joint

• Chronic lateral ankle instability

• Osteochondral lesions (bone and cartilage defects)

 

What to Expect:

 

DPMx:

If choosing donated stem cell products (DPMx), the procedure is performed in the office setting. The site first cleansed, then numbed with topical anesthetic followed by injected local anesthetic. Sterile prep is performed followed by injection of stem cell products to the area of concern.

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If choosing your own cells to concentrate and inject into your area of symptoms this will require and outpatient surgery.

Procedure day:

• Report to outpatient surgery if harvesting your own STEM cells via BMAC

• Anesthesia will be required, typically sedation with monitered anesthesia care but may vary

• Local anesthesia for comfort

• Your bone marrow aspirate is surgically harvested from the same involved lower extremity

• Bone marrow aspirate is spun and concentrated for potent stem cells and platelet rich plasma

• Image-guided injection into affected area

Recovery:

• Rest and elevation for 48-72 hours

• Gradual return to activity over 4-6 weeks

• Full healing response develops over 3-6 months

• Follow-up appointments at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months

 

Success Rate: Clinical studies show 70-82% of patients with ankle osteoarthritis report significant pain reduction and improved function 6 months post-treatment. For plantar fasciitis, success rates approach 85-90% when combined with custom orthotics and physical therapy.

 

3. Fat Pad Injections (Fat Allografting)

 

The Problem: Fat Pad Atrophy

The fat pads in your feet—particularly the heel pad and balls of your feet—act as natural shock absorbers. Over time, these fat pads can thin due to:

• Aging (natural fat pad atrophy begins around age 40)

• High-impact activities (running, jumping)

• Steroid injections (can accelerate fat pad breakdown)

• Prolonged standing or weight-bearing

• Change in the biomechanics or work demand on your feet

 

When your fat pad thins, every step transmits more force directly to bone, causing chronic heel pain that doesn't respond well to traditional treatments.

 

How Fat Pad Restoration Works:

We typically use donated fat tissue that is screened from donors and inject it into areas where your natural fat pad has deteriorated. This procedure:

• Restores natural cushioning to your heel or ball of foot

• Provides immediate padding effect

• Contains stem cells that promote tissue healing

• Recruits your own body to make new fat tissue in the injected area.

 

Ideal Candidates:

• Heel pain with confirmed fat pad atrophy (via ultrasound)

• Ball of foot pain with noted corns and or calluses.

• Painful corns & calluses that develop at the tips of toes

• Failed response to orthotics and padding

• Athletes with high-impact heel pain

• Diabetic patients with fat pad thinning and development of pre ulcers

• Post-steroid injection heel pain

• Patient's with corns or calluses that are painful when walking.

 

Procedure Details:

• In-office procedure under local anesthesia

• 15 minute treatment time

• Protected walking in recovery boot with offloading insert for 1 week
   

Recovery:

• Minimal activity for 7-10 days to allow fat "take" and settle in place.

• Protective boot or padding initially

• Gradual return to full activity over 4-6 weeks

• Results improve over 3-6 months as tissue integrates

 

Success Rate: 75-85% of patients experience significant improvement in heel pain, with results potentially lasting 3-5+ years.

 

4. Laser Therapy, Class 4 (IV) Lasers

 

How Medical Laser Therapy Heals Tissue:

Low-level laser therapy, also called photobiomodulation, uses specific wavelengths of light to penetrate deep into tissue and stimulate cellular healing. This is painless, non invasive, with subjective reports from patients as "a warm deep tissue massage."

 

Unlike surgical lasers that cut tissue, therapeutic lasers work at the cellular level to:

• Increase ATP production: Cells produce more energy for faster healing

• Enhance blood flow: Improves oxygen and nutrient delivery to damaged tissue

• Reduce inflammation: Decreases inflammatory cytokines that cause pain and swelling Stimulate collagen production: Builds stronger, healthier connective tissue

• Accelerate cellular repair: Speeds natural healing process by 40-60%.

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Conditions Treated with Laser Therapy:

• Plantar fasciitis and heel pain

• Achilles tendonitis

• Neuromas (nerve pain)

• Arthritis pain

• Post-surgical healing

• Toenail fungus

• Neuropathy pain
   

Treatment Protocol:

• Typically 6 sessions over 6 weeks

• Each session lasts 5-10 minutes

• Completely painless and non-invasice (you'll feel gentle warmth)

• No downtime—immediate return to normal activities

• Often combined with other regenerative therapies

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