Protea Performance Center
Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMC) Injections in Tempe, AZ
Bone marrow concentrate (BMC) is made from your own bone marrow, which contains your own cells, including stem cells. Patients often ask about it when joint pain keeps returning, a tendon injury hasn't settled, or mobility is limited after PRP or other treatments haven't helped enough. At Protea Performance Center in south Tempe, Dr. Danny Clark evaluates whether BMC may be appropriate and performs every procedure himself.
The discovery call is free, takes about 15 minutes, and comes with no obligation.
The basics
What is bone marrow concentrate?
Bone marrow concentrate is an orthobiologic, meaning a treatment prepared from your own biology. Your bone marrow is collected, concentrated in-office, combined with PRP and injected under ultrasound guidance into the area being treated.
When people search for a stem cell injection in Tempe or elsewhere in Arizona, this is often what they are looking for. Protea calls it BMC because that describes it accurately: a concentrate of your bone marrow, which contains your own cells, including stem cells.
Dr. Clark sometimes uses an analogy: if platelets are the musicians, the cells in bone marrow are closer to the composer. The idea is that these cells respond to their surroundings and release signals that may influence the repair process. How much benefit that brings for a particular condition is still being studied, and the evidence varies by condition.
- Orthobiologics
- Ortho meaning orthopedic, biologics meaning biology that comes from you: your own blood or bone marrow, concentrated and injected into the area being treated.
Choosing a biologic
PRP or bone marrow concentrate: which is right for me?
PRP is usually the first option considered. Dr. Clark may suggest bone marrow concentrate for more advanced degeneration or when PRP alone may not be enough, and the recommendation follows from your evaluation.
| Feature | PRP | Bone marrow concentrate |
|---|---|---|
| Comes from | Your blood | Your bone marrow |
| What it contains | Concentrated platelets from your own blood | Your own cells, including stem cells, combined with PRP |
| Often considered for | Usually the first option considered for joint, tendon and ligament pain | More advanced degeneration, or cases where PRP alone may not be enough |
| How it is checked | Platelet count measured on an in-clinic hematology analyzer | Processed and concentrated in-office |
| How it is delivered | Ultrasound-guided injection | Ultrasound-guided injection, combined with PRP |
| Pricing | Based on the biologic and the complexity of your case | Based on the biologic and the complexity of your case |
Platelet concentration varies between people and between preparations, so the count is measured before every PRP injection. It confirms what the preparation contains, and ultrasound guidance helps place it accurately, but neither one guarantees a result. Dr. Clark explains why platelet counts matter and how pricing follows the biologic and the case in How Much Do Regenerative Injections Cost?
Where it is used
What can bone marrow concentrate be used for?
These are situations Dr. Clark discusses in his videos. Whether BMC is reasonable for you depends on your evaluation, and the evidence varies by condition.
Knee osteoarthritis
For moderate to severe knee arthritis, Dr. Clark may place PRP or BMC into the subchondral bone beneath the cartilage as well as into the joint. Research on this approach is still developing.
Partial rotator cuff tears
PRP or bone marrow concentrate may be considered for some partial tears, placed at the tear under ultrasound, with the goal of supporting tendon repair.
Low back pain
PRP or BMC may be considered for painful facet joints and their supporting ligaments, including by patients looking at options other than radiofrequency ablation.
BMC may also be combined with A2M (alpha-2 macroglobulin), a protein concentrated from your own blood that has anti-inflammatory properties, with the aim of calming inflammation in the treated area.
Your first visit
What happens at the first Performance Center visit?
Your first visit lasts up to 90 minutes and focuses on understanding what is causing your pain before any biologic is discussed.
Detailed history
Dr. Clark starts with what you've already tried, what helped, what didn't, and how the pain affects your daily life.
Pain-reproducing exam
He examines the joint, tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves, trying to reproduce your pain so he can tell which structures are involved.
Diagnostic ultrasound
In-office ultrasound shows the soft tissue in real time. You can watch the screen while Dr. Clark explains what he sees and how it fits with the exam.
Every BMC procedure is performed by Dr. Danny Clark
Dr. Clark is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and Director of Orthobiologics at Protea. He graduated with honors from Sonoran University of Health Sciences, completed a two-year residency in regenerative medicine, and studied kinesiology at Laurentian University.
Recovery
How long until I notice a difference?
Response varies with the tissue, the injury and the person, so there is no set timeline. Every procedure includes a full re-evaluation at three months, with an exam, ultrasound and an assessment of how you are doing.
Preparation and aftercare matter. Dr. Clark explains what to do before a PRP or bone marrow concentrate injection and what to expect afterward, and you'll leave with recovery instructions tailored to your treatment. The team coordinates with your physical therapist on gradual loading. Procedures are done one at a time, and you and Dr. Clark decide together whether anything more is needed. See The Complete Orthobiologics Patient Experience for an overview of the whole process.
Keep exploring
Conditions we treat with orthobiologics
Videos and articles on joint pain and regenerative care · New patient information
Prefer we call you?
Ask whether BMC is right for you
The simplest first step is a free 15-minute discovery call. If you'd rather we reach out first, leave your details and a care coordinator will call you.
- First visit up to 90 minutes, with diagnostic ultrasound
- Bone marrow concentrate processed in-office
- 3-month re-evaluation included with every procedure
This content is for education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation with a licensed provider, and no one should start, stop or change a medication on its basis.
Questions
Questions about bone marrow concentrate
Is bone marrow concentrate a stem cell injection?
Bone marrow concentrate (BMC) contains your own cells, including stem cells. It comes from you, not a donor. It is processed and concentrated in-office, then combined with PRP and injected under ultrasound guidance. Dr. Clark will explain what is and is not known about BMC for your condition before you decide.
What is the difference between PRP and bone marrow concentrate?
PRP is a concentrate of platelets from your own blood. BMC is a concentrate of your own bone marrow, which contains your own cells, including stem cells. PRP is usually the first option considered, and Dr. Clark may suggest BMC for more advanced degeneration.
When is BMC recommended over PRP?
Dr. Danny Clark may suggest BMC for more advanced degeneration, or when PRP alone may not be enough. He makes that recommendation only after a full evaluation, including a hands-on exam and diagnostic ultrasound.
Is BMC combined with anything else?
BMC is combined with PRP. In some cases Dr. Clark also adds A2M (alpha-2 macroglobulin), a protein concentrated from your own blood that has anti-inflammatory properties, with the aim of calming inflammation in the treated area.
Why do some stem cell treatments fail?
There are many reasons, and not every patient responds. One that Dr. Clark emphasizes is an inaccurate diagnosis. An X-ray can show arthritis that is not the main source of the pain, while the problem lies in a ligament, a tendon or another structure, which is why he examines each structure before recommending treatment.
How much does a bone marrow concentrate injection cost?
There is no single flat rate. Pricing depends on the biologic used and the complexity of the procedure, and the team can go over current pricing on your free discovery call.
Where do you offer bone marrow concentrate in Arizona?
At Protea Performance Center in south Tempe, on Elliot Road near I-10. Patients come to us from Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Gilbert, Mesa and across the Phoenix area.
Start with a conversation
Schedule a free discovery call about BMC
The call takes 15 minutes and there is no obligation. Tell us about your pain and what you've tried, ask your questions, and we'll help you decide whether a full evaluation with Dr. Clark makes sense.