What are orthobiologics?
Biological substances. Precisely placed. Powering your own repair.
Orthobiologics — sometimes called regenerative medicine or stem cell therapy — refers to biological substances like platelets, bone marrow stem cells, and fat-derived regenerative cells used to help injured muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints heal.
Rather than masking pain or replacing tissue surgically, orthobiologics amplify your body's own repair mechanisms and direct them to the site of injury. At the Albano Clinic, every treatment is delivered under real-time ultrasound guidance — so we know exactly where it lands.
Why orthobiologics
- Addresses the root cause
Stimulates tissue repair at the source — not symptom management
- Minimally invasive
Injection-based with minimal downtime versus surgical alternatives
- May prevent surgery entirely
For many patients, outcomes equal to or better than surgery
- Your own biology
Autologous treatments use material from your own body — no rejection risk
- Faster recovery than surgery
Most patients return to daily activity far sooner
- Proven safety record
Dr. Albano has performed these since 2007 — on himself and his own family
Dr. Albano's credentials in regenerative medicine
2007
First in Utah
First physician in Utah to practice regenerative orthopedic medicine — one of the first in the nation
2006
MSK Ultrasound pioneer
Using musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnostic and needle-guided procedures since 2006
2008
National educator
Teaching ultrasound-guided injection techniques at national conferences since 2008
80%+
Patient improvement rate
With accurate diagnosis, over 80% of patients can expect meaningful improvement
Treatment options
Not every injury needs the same tool. Here's what we work with.
Dr. Albano customizes every treatment plan to your injury, your goals, and your overall health. Most patients receive a combination of these therapies.
Most common
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Concentrated platelets from your own blood — spun to 4–5x baseline — release growth factors that trigger your body's healing cascade. The most versatile and widely used orthobiologic treatment we offer.
Advanced
Bone Marrow Cell Therapy
Stem cell-rich material harvested from your own bone marrow supports tissue repair at a deeper level than PRP alone — used for more complex injuries or cases where PRP has reached its ceiling.
Advanced
Adipose (Fat-Based) Cell Therapy
Fat tissue contains a high concentration of regenerative cells — harvested from the thighs, buttocks, or abdomen — deployed alongside PRP for comprehensive tissue repair.
Our approach
The injection is one part. The plan is everything.
Orthobiologic treatments work best as part of a coordinated recovery strategy — not a standalone procedure. Here's what we build around every treatment plan.
Hormone optimization
Testosterone plays a direct role in healing. For patients over 40, we evaluate and optimize hormone levels alongside regenerative treatment — fertilizing the soil before the seed goes in.
Weight management
Every extra pound adds ~4 lbs of pressure to the knees. Reaching a healthier weight before a lower extremity procedure meaningfully improves your outcome. We offer physician-supervised GLP-1 therapy to help.
Physical therapy
At least one to two pre-habilitation PT sessions before your procedure, and structured PT after. Patients who follow this protocol recover faster and more completely.
Anti-inflammatory nutrition
A low-carbohydrate, low-animal-fat diet supports your body's healing environment. We counsel patients on nutrition as part of every treatment plan.
NSAID avoidance
Ibuprofen, naproxen, and steroids block the inflammatory response our treatments activate. Avoid them one week before and three months after your procedure — this is non-negotiable.
Progress monitoring
We check in at the four-month mark to assess your improvement together and determine whether your goals have been reached — or whether a second round would help get you there.
Bridge treatments
Managing pain while you prepare for — or recover between — full treatment.
Sometimes patients need meaningful relief while losing weight before a procedure, recovering between rounds, or preparing for a more advanced treatment. These options provide that without blocking your body's healing response.
Prolotherapy with Dextrose →
Hyaluronic Acid Injections →
Precision delivery — Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Every injection guided by real-time ultrasound. Here's why that matters.
The most important variable in orthobiologic treatment isn't the substance — it's where it lands. PRP or stem cells placed in the wrong location, even in the right general area, produce dramatically inferior results. Most providers inject by anatomical landmark — an educated estimate. We inject by sight.
Dr. Albano has used musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnostic and needle-guided procedures since 2006 — before most clinics had encountered the technology. He has taught its application at national conferences since 2008. That depth of experience translates directly to your outcome.
"Random injections of PRP or regenerative cells won't deliver the results you're looking for. Precision placement is the difference between a procedure that works and one that doesn't."
— Joe Albano, MD · MSK Ultrasound practitioner since 2006 · National educator since 2008
- Real-time diagnosis
Visualize tendons, ligaments, joints, and nerves as they move — identifying the exact source of your pain before injection - Confirmed needle placement
We see the needle tip and confirm position before releasing any treatment — no guesswork - Progress monitoring
Follow-up ultrasound shows how your tissue is responding so we can adapt the plan free - Radiation-free
Safe for pacemaker patients and those with MRI anxiety — immediate results, no radiology wait - Dynamic imaging
Unlike MRI, ultrasound shows tissue in motion — critical for injuries that only appear under load - Lower cost than MRI or CT
Faster, more affordable, and available same-day in our Sandy office
Common questions
Answered plainly.
Find out if regenerative medicine is right for your injury.
Dr. Albano will review your imaging, assess your condition, and give you an honest evaluation — including whether surgery is a better option. No pressure. No obligation.