Русский 
English 
Deutsch 
Español 
العربية 
中文 
Türkçe 
Français 
Italiano 
Catalogue of methods
| Method | What for | How well studied |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment without surgery | Exercise, physiotherapy, medication, load management | Basis of treatment for most conditions; well studied |
| Cortisone injections | Rapid relief of inflammation | Well studied; short effect, frequent injections not advisable |
| Hyaluronic acid | Knee osteoarthritis | Moderate effect; guidelines differ |
| PRP therapy | Knee osteoarthritis, some tendinopathies | Best studied of the biological methods; moderate evidence |
| CGF | A PRP variant with a fibrin clot | Few clinical studies in orthopaedics |
| BMAC | Early hip necrosis, osteoarthritis | In necrosis together with core decompression; limited data in osteoarthritis |
| MFAT (Lipogems) | Moderate osteoarthritis | Limited data; no proven advantage over PRP |
| Stem cells: overview | What clinics call cell therapy | Regulation and evidence |
| Spinal injections | Radicular pain, facet syndrome | Studied; helps some patients, often temporarily |
| Intradiscal therapy | Discogenic back pain | Experimental; little data |
| Shockwave therapy | Heel spur, calcific tendinitis, tennis elbow | Studied in several tendinopathies |
How the method is chosen
- Diagnosis first: what the images show and whether it matches the symptoms.
- Most conditions start with conservative treatment; injections and surgery are next steps.
- A more expensive method does not mean a better result.
- A clinic promising to “restore cartilage” or “cure for good” is a warning sign.
We send your images to several clinics and help you compare which methods they offer and why. See also treatment comparisons.
Scientific evidence
Guidelines and reviews this catalogue is based on:
- Bannuru RR et al. OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee, hip, and polyarticular osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage, 2019.
- Belk JW et al. Platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Sports Med, 2021.
- Pas HI et al. Stem cell injections in knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review of the literature. Br J Sports Med, 2017.
Frequently asked questions about treatment methods
Which method is the most effective?
There is no universal one: it depends on diagnosis and stage. For each method we show how well it is studied.
Can I choose the method myself?
You can state a preference, but the clinic doctor prescribes treatment after reviewing images and examining you.
Does insurance cover biological methods?
Usually not: PRP, BMAC and MFAT are mostly self-paid.
How can RegenPAS help?
RegenPAS is a patient service centre in Munich, not a clinic. We review your images and symptoms and send a request to several partner clinics at once. Clinics that can accept you send their own conditions and price; prices differ between clinics, and you choose the option that suits you. The coordinator replies within 24 hours, and a clinic physician’s preliminary opinion follows in 1–3 business days. We then arrange the appointment, visa invitation, interpreter, transfers and accommodation. Treatment decisions are made by the clinic physician. Contact a coordinator.
Not sure which method suits you? Send your images — we will get opinions from several clinics
Send your MRI or ultrasound and describe where and when it hurts. The coordinator replies within 24 hours; a clinic physician gives an opinion in 1–3 business days.
Send images