Hackensack Meridian Health Orthopedists Helping Patients Reclaim Their Active Lives With innovative Treatment

The World Cup ends today in New Jersey with one victorious team and the retirement of a few legends of the global game. When Brazilian star Neymar stepped onto the pitch recently for what would be the final chapter of his storied career, millions of fans saw the superstar do what he had done so many times before—find the back of the net. His final goal, scored before he announced his retirement, was a testament to the remarkable advances in orthopedic medicine, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Neymar’s medical team incorporated PRP therapy into what Brazilian team officials recently described as a “war operation” to get him back on the pitch for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Hackensack Meridian Health physicians are using the same cutting-edge approach to help patients make their own comebacks. For one New Jersey woman, persistent joint pain had slowly taken away the active lifestyle she loved, making even simple activities increasingly difficult. She turned to an orthopedic expert at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) for personalized treatment that included PRP therapy, a form of regenerative medicine.

As elite athletes continue to shine a spotlight on regenerative medicine, orthopedic specialists at Hackensack Meridian Health are helping patients with tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint injuries avoid prolonged downtime and, in some cases, delay or even avoid surgery. By harnessing the healing power found naturally in a patient’s own blood, PRP offers a minimally invasive option that can accelerate recovery and help people get back to living life on their terms.

A lifelong athlete who played competitive soccer until age 40, who continued running as many as 10 miles a day into her 50s, Patricia Ashmore , now in her 60s, feared chronic pain would permanently sideline her. Instead, the same regenerative approach that helped Neymar return to the field became part of her own recovery. The goal was to get back to the life she loved.

“I’ve been active my whole life, and the idea of stopping was heartbreaking,” says the Sparta resident. “The pain wasn’t just a nuisance; it felt like it was stealing a part of who I am.”

After years of debilitating hip pain, and later an elbow injury, Patricia feared major surgery was inevitable. Instead, under the care of Ferheen Shamim, M.D., at HUMC, she underwent a personalized treatment plan that utilized Tenex treatment for her hip pain. The Tenex procedure is an ultrasonic, minimally invasive technique to treat chronic tendon pain by breaking down and removing damaged scar tissue, stimulating blood flow and healing.

When Patricia’s elbow injury needed treatment, Dr. Shamim recommended a combination of Tenex and PRP which has become increasingly popular among elite athletes to treat injury. PRP makes personalized and regenerative medical care possible, says Dr. Shamim. Its innovation stems from using the patient's own biological material, making it a therapy which minimizes risks of rejection or side effects. The process isolates and concentrates the most powerful healing components from the blood, creating a potent serum of growth factors.

When injected, the body receives a biological signal to the local cells, instructing them to accelerate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and recruit other healing cells. It's a smarter, more natural approach that transforms the body from a passive site of injury into the active engine of its own recovery, adds Dr. Shamim.

Patricia says the results have exceeded her expectations.

“Honestly, to me it is like night and day. I feel so much better,” Patricia says. “I was in so much pain. Even brushing my teeth was a problem. I didn’t want surgery, and I am so happy with this treatment. It has meant that I have been able to get back to my life, enjoy my grandchildren, do things and go out into the garden.”

For Dr. Shamim, Patricia's story illustrates how regenerative medicine is changing orthopedic care—not just for professional athletes trying to return to the world’s biggest stage, but for patients who want to lead active lifestyles or just get back to the things they once did.

“I have gotten my life back,” Patricia says. “I am very grateful.”

Visit Hackensack Meridian Health for more information about how regenerative treatment supercharges the body toward healing.