More than 2.6 million Americans are treated for sports-related injuries every year. Often times, surgery is needed, but could a stem cell injection be the solution?

World Series MVP Pat Borders has played ball most of his life. But now that he’s in charge of a team, he doesn’t want to take a knee anytime soon.

“I like to run. I like to sprint and it just, it was impossible to sprint with the pain in both of my knees,” Borders said.

Borders tried the adipose stem cell procedure. This involves an injection of his own stem cells to heal combined with his platelet-rich plasma. The combination can repair an injury fast and there is minimal down time.

Michael Markou, DO, Osteopathic Physician at the Markou Medical Center explained the process. “We put the blood in a centrifuge, and that spins down and isolates the stem cells from the adipose cells, from the fat cells.”

Then Doctor Markou mixes the patient’s platelets with the stem cells and injects the mixture back into the injured area. He says this combination is a double whammy.

“By injecting both the combination, you have an amplified effect,” he said.

Borders is already feeling improvement. “I noticed for the first time, I got out and I’m going “wow”, there is no pain at all in my left knee.  My right knee, which was the worse one, I don’t feel a whole lot there. It was a fun day,” Borders said.

Doctor Markou says this procedure can be used for elbows, shoulders, and the lower back. It is still considered experimental by Medicare so it is not covered by insurance. The stem cell injection procedure can cost up to $4,000.