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Adam Loiacono on PRP, Stem Cells, and the Truth about Regenerative Medicine

Mar 13, 2026

Adam Loiacono, former Phoenix Suns medical director now specializing in regenerative medicine and orthobiologics. He breaks down PRP versus stem cells and why outcomes vary. Short explanations of injection types, when biologics make sense vs surgery, and why rehab and clinician technique matter. Practical guidance on who should consider these treatments and common pitfalls to avoid.

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INSIGHT

PRP Is Not One Thing It’s Many Products

Not all PRP is the same: variations (leukocyte-rich vs poor, A2M additions) change biological effect and ideal use case.
Adam asks patients: what type of PRP did you get and were cell counts adequate to elicit a response.

ADVICE

Lean Toward BMAC For Cartilage And Osteoarthritis

Consider BMAC (bone marrow aspirate concentrate) for osteoarthritis or joint/cartilage issues when autologous options and higher potency are needed.
BMAC is more invasive and costly but may show superior outcomes versus basic PRP in some studies.

INSIGHT

Stem Cells Coordinate Healing While Exosomes Signal It

Stem cells act as 'general contractors' while exosomes are the signaling 'text messages' stem cells secrete to recruit repair processes.
Exosomes can be used directly but lack ongoing secretion unless stem cells are present.

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If you’re a strength coach or personal trainer right now, there’s a good chance a client or athlete has come in and said something like this:

“Yo Mike… what do you think about PRP?”

Or, “My doctor mentioned stem cells.”

Or, “I’ve had two (or 6 or 10) surgeries already—should I look into regenerative medicine?”

And the honest answer is… maybe?

I have some athletes who swear PRP or stem cells changed everything.

And others spent a ton of money and got absolutely nothing out of it.

So as a coach, you’re stuck in the middle—trying to help, trying to be responsible, but without a clear framework for what actually makes sense.

When you understand the right use cases—and the common mistakes—a lot of the noise disappears.

And to help us sort all this out, I’ve got my guy Adam Loiacono on the show.

Adam is a former medical director for the Phoenix Suns and a guy who has spent the bulk of his professional career working in high-stakes environments with high-performers.

And he’s a guy who has really dove head first into regenerative medicine, helping athletes make smart decisions instead of expensive guesses.

So In today’s episode, we’ll discuss

Does regenerative medicine actually work?
The differences between PRP and stem cells for athletes and active adults
And who regenerative medicine is really for—and who should probably save their money

If you work with older clients, or athletes who’ve been through multiple injuries or surgeries and are trying to get back to elite-level training, this conversation will give you a much clearer lens for navigating these decisions.

Quotable Quotes:

Some people have success and some people don’t, even though they get the same stem cell injection or PRP injections

The moment I stepped out of team sports, questions changed because my position changed.

With regenerative medicine, you’re trying to avoid that surgery by enhancing the cell environment through external means

This Week on the Physical Prep Podcast:

Adam’s background in physical therapy, S&C, and how he got into the world of regenerative medicine
Is regenerative medicine just rebuilding tissue? Or is there more to the equation than that?
Why do some people get awesome results with orthobiologics, while others see minimal – or no – benefit?
Explaining the “Alphabet Soup” of regenerative medicine options: PRP, BMAC, etc.
The role that rehab, therapy and training play in the results you get
Why do some people go out of country? And what are the differences between what you can get here in the US vs. abroad?
What does the research tell us about outcomes? And what role should serial radiology (x-rays, MRI’s, etc.) play here?
Arguably the single biggest factor on what options you should look into
Final thoughts on how to get the most bang-for-your-buck out of whichever regenerative medicine option you choose!

Connect with Adam:

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