By Dr. Scott Sigman, orthopedic surgeon and Chief Medical Officer at OrthoLazer
A The New York Times feature earlier this year has brought renewed attention to the role of mitochondria in aging, energy, and chronic disease. The conversation highlights a growing recognition that many of the conditions we associate with aging are not only structural, but cellular, driven in part by declining mitochondrial function.
As mitochondrial efficiency decreases, so does the body’s ability to produce energy, regulate inflammation, and repair tissue. These changes are increasingly linked to chronic conditions that affect how people feel and function over time, including those that impact the musculoskeletal system.
In orthopedic medicine, this concept is not new.
We see it every day in patients who are trying to heal, but not recovering as efficiently as they could.
At its core, musculoskeletal healing depends on energy. Whether a patient is recovering from a tendon injury, managing osteoarthritis, or healing after surgery, the body relies on mitochondrial function to drive repair, regulate inflammation, and restore mobility.
The Cellular Engine Behind Recovery
Mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy that powers tissue repair. This energy supports protein synthesis, cellular turnover, and the regulation of inflammation.
When mitochondrial function declines, the impact is often visible in clinical practice. Healing takes longer. Inflammation persists. Tissue becomes less resilient. Over time, this can contribute to ongoing degeneration in joints and soft tissue.
For orthopedic providers, these are not theoretical concepts. They show up in patients who struggle to recover fully or return to their normal level of activity.
Bridging Public Health and Clinical Practice
Much of the public conversation around mitochondrial health centers on lifestyle factors such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, and supplementation. These are important for overall wellness.
However, orthopedic care often focuses on localized injury and dysfunction.
The question becomes how to support mitochondrial activity directly within injured or inflamed musculoskeletal tissue.
For clinicians, this creates a gap between how we understand healing at a cellular level and how we traditionally treat musculoskeletal conditions.
Activating Healing at the Cellular Level
One approach helping to bridge this gap is photobiomodulation therapy, also known as laser therapy.
This therapy delivers specific wavelengths of light that interact with cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondria. The result is increased ATP production and activation of cellular processes that support healing, including improved circulation, reduced inflammation, and enhanced tissue repair.
Unlike systemic approaches, this method targets the affected tissue directly and supports recovery at the source of injury and inflammation. Recent research, including a 2025 PLoS One meta-analysis, has shown that high-intensity laser therapy can significantly improve pain and mobility in musculoskeletal conditions, reinforcing its role as a valuable noninvasive treatment option.
What We’re Seeing in Practice
In orthopedic care, therapies that support cellular energy are becoming more relevant as patients look for ways to recover without relying on medication.
OrthoLazer PBM Therapy, a type of advance laser therapy, reaches deeper musculoskeletal structures, including joints, tendons, and ligaments. Across our centers, we have seen how supporting mitochondrial function at the cellular level can translate into meaningful clinical outcomes.
Importantly, not all PBM therapies are created equally. At OrthoLazer, we differentiate ourselves through access to the most advanced robotic laser in the world, certified laser technicians who are specifically trained on our system, and clinically validated protocols. This level of care and technology is fundamentally different from over-the-counter or at-home laser devices commonly found online. All of which lack the power, precision, and clinical oversight required to achieve comparable outcomes.
Our patients at OrthoLazer often experience reduced pain and inflammation, improved mobility, and faster recovery timelines. Many are able to return to activity with greater confidence and fewer setbacks.
These observations reflect a broader shift in orthopedic care. We are moving beyond treating symptoms in isolation and toward approaches that support how the body heals at a cellular level.
The Future of Orthopedic Longevity
Longevity is often defined by how long we live.
In orthopedics, it is also defined by how well we move.
As the conversation around mitochondrial health continues to evolve, it offers a valuable lens for understanding recovery, resilience, and performance. Supporting cellular energy may become an important part of how we help patients heal more effectively and maintain mobility throughout their lives.
For clinicians, this is an opportunity to rethink how we approach musculoskeletal care, not only at the structural level, but at the cellular level where healing begins.
The future of orthopedic care may not be defined solely by what we repair, but by how effectively we support the body’s ability to heal itself.
