Does Stem Cell Therapy Work for Knee Osteoarthritis? What the Evidence Actually Shows

Explained by Dr. Junya Higuchi, Director, Ginza YR Clinic

“They told me surgery is the only option — but is that really true?” If you’re living with knee osteoarthritis, that thought has probably crossed your mind more than once. Stem cell therapy comes up often in that conversation, though what travels fastest tends to be the headline version: cartilage regrows, pain disappears. In this video, Dr. Junya Higuchi, Director of Ginza YR Clinic, takes a straighter path through the evidence — how much improvement in pain and knee function has actually been reported, the timeframes those studies describe, how the approach differs from PRP, hyaluronic acid, and steroid injections, and where it sits alongside conservative care and surgery. Knowing what today’s medicine can and can’t yet say tends to lead to a decision you won’t second-guess later. Exercise therapy, weight management, and medication remain the foundation any of these choices are built on.

※ This video and article are intended as general medical information and do not constitute a diagnosis or a recommendation for any specific treatment. Outcomes vary from person to person, and no particular result is guaranteed. Stem cell therapy is provided in Japan as self-funded care outside the public health insurance system. Please consult a qualified medical professional about your individual condition.