Business ProfileforQC Kinetix of Columbus

BBB promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims may not adhere to the BBB Code of Advertising, as well as local, state or federal advertising guidelines. 

On August 9, 2022, BBB wrote to QC Kinetix of Columbus asking them for the underlying documentation which supports the overall impression of the ad which is that regenerative therapies offered alleviate chronic pain in knees, hips, joints, wrists, ankles and shoulders, and "restore(s) hair follicles".  

FTC standards for health claims say that health claims must be supported by solid proof. Our BBB Code of Advertising says the same thing; specifically, "Claims relating to performance, energy savings, safety, efficacy or results for a product or service should be based on recent and competent testing or other objective data". 

On September 22, 2022, BBB received a letter from their attorney who represents the QC Franchise Group, LLC, a South Carolina company whish is the franchisor of the national chain of regenerative medical clinics. The letter said in part that each franchise is an independent operator of their QC Kinetix franchise, and that patient care is administered and directed by a licensed physician who has undergone additional training in their protocols. 

They went on to explain that franchisees have the ability to produce and broadcast local advertising. The franchise agreement requires that advertising be approved by them before publication. And they do not advertise about stem cells or stem cell therapy, nor perform stem cell therapy; state they have a cure or that musculoskeletal condition or problem will be healed; or make any claims their treatments can regrow tissue or claim make any claims that extend to anything other than musculoskeletal aches, pains and chronic hair loss. 

They also provided studies which they felt supported their claims. And went on to say they feel the need to develop their own medical studies, and have started their own internal research and development department, and have contracted with national laboratories to begin their first study to improve their medical protocols for musculoskeletal problems and hair restoration. 

BBB was not persuaded the studies provided supported the claims and the overall impression the ad made to consumers. According to the information we have at this time in BBB files, advertising claims made by QC Kinetix franchisees are controlled by the franchisor. therefore, our BBB closed the ad review as unresolved, and referred it to the BBB of Southern Piedmont & Western NC who manages the franchisor BBB profile for QC Kinetix, PC, https://www.bbb.org/us/nc/charlotte/profile/pain-management/qc-kinetix-pc-0473-92021600, which as of 10.29.24, stated in part: 

"Advertising Review:

BBB promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims conflict with the BBB Code of Advertising. These claims may come to our attention from our internal review of advertising, consumer complaints and competitor challenges. BBB asks advertisers to prove their claims, change ads to make offers more clear to consumers, and remove misleading or deceptive statements.

Between June of 2022 and July of 2024, BBB asked the business to substantiate many of the health claims appearing in the company’s online advertising. Over the subsequent months the business engaged with BBB by providing substantiation for some of its advertising claims and modifying or removing others.

As of July 2024, BBB noted that the website for QC Kinetix was entirely refreshed with new information. At that time a new advertising review was initiated. Many of the claims that were modified or removed during the initial advertising review have been restated and some new claims are present.

The claims found on the pages filed under “Conditions Treated” appear aimed at those patients who are already anxious or hesitant about surgery. It is overwhelmingly clear in many cases that QC Kinetix feels that regenerative therapies are far superior to surgery and other current standards of care. Claims include (but are not limited to):

“Unfortunately, orthopedic surgery often does as much or more damage to the body than the injury it seeks to repair. So a lengthy and painful recovery period is necessary. Regenerative medicine is an entirely different approach that enlists the body’s abilities to heal and repair its damaged tissues.” (Find Pain Doctors Near Me)
“Managing pain through medication has left millions of Americans addicted without ever resolving the pain. Physical therapy can strengthen healthy muscles, tendons, and ligaments to help support the damaged ones but does nothing to restore the damaged tissues. Surgery is used as the last resort due to the following disadvantages:
Causes additional tissue damage
Causes additional pain
Creates scar tissue
Requires pharmaceutical painkillers
Requires extensive and painful healing process
Risks complications and infections” (Hip Pain and Hip Replacement Alternative)
“Rather than add injury to your painful back as surgery does, our lower back pain relief treatments harness your body’s innate healing mechanisms to resolve your pain at its source.” (Lower Back Pain Treatment)
“These treatments do not carry the risk of complications inherent in surgery or the lengthy and painful recovery. Rather than causing additional damage to the body in an effort to heal it, regenerative medicine directly harnesses the body’s own healing mechanisms.”(Lower Back Pain Treatment)“
Regenerative Medicine offers exciting promise for those with knee pain. Imagine the value of knee repair without surgery. What would it mean to be able to resolve your knee function and resume your favorite activities without the pain and risks involved in knee surgery? (Non-surgical knee pain treatments)
Regenerative medicine relies on your body’s innate abilities without resorting to surgery. So there’s no added pain, no need for anesthesia, no cause for scar tissue, and no risks of complications. Instead, our biologic therapies stimulate your body’s natural healing mechanisms and train them on the damaged joints. As your body works to repair and heal the tissue damage, your arthritis pain resolves. (Arthritis Pain Relief)
QC Kinetix delivers genuine relief from tendon and ligament pain. Rather than cause additional harm to your body, we skip invasive surgery and go straight to healing and relief for tendon pain. Our non-surgical, drug-free regenerative therapies focus your body’s ability to heal and repair itself at the pain’s source. We don’t mask or manage your pain — instead, we stimulate your own innate healing mechanisms to achieve genuine tendon and ligament pain relief. (Tendon, Ligament, and Muscle Pain)
For most cases, regenerative therapy is a better solution (Regenerative Treatments for Foot & Hand Pain)
 

In addition to unproven performance claims, the blog page titled “What is Regenerative Medicine” includes claims that are misleading or deceptive in nature.

 

“Numerous scientific studies and clinical trials attest to the effectiveness of regenerative medicine techniques” There were no phase III studies. There were also numerous studies that indicate treatments are ineffective. Overall indication is that further double-blind research is needed before clinical therapies can be recommended.
“Both Harvard and the Mayo Clinic are pursuing regenerative medicine treatments” Harvard does not seem to be advocating for therapeutic use (instead focusing on research) and Mayo Clinic specifically stipulates that the are offering these treatments with FDA regulations that consider cells a drug.
National Institute of Health recognizes the regenerative medical field as “an emerging area of science that holds great promise for treating and even curing a variety of injuries and diseases.” Later in that same paragraph NIH states "Such progress notwithstanding, much work remains to be done toward the development of safe and effective regenerative medicine products and to realize the full potential of this field."
Regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, closely monitor regenerative therapies, ensuring they adhere to high safety and efficacy standards. QC Kinetix has argued that they are not regulated by the FDA. Further, QC Kinetix treatments are not FDA approved, monitored, or proven to be effective.
American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) promote the responsible use of regenerative therapies, encouraging ongoing advancements and ethical practices within the field. This organization is concerned with donated human tissues, which is irrelevant to the procedures claimed by QC Kinetix. Further, AATB advocates for stronger regulations and standardization.
 

The advertising claims discussed here are raised in relation to the following sections of BBB’s Code of Advertising:

 

1. Basic Principles of the Code

1.1 The primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB.

1.2 Advertisements which are untrue, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, falsely disparaging of competitors, or insincere offers to sell, shall not be used.

1.3 An advertisement as a whole may be misleading by implication, although every sentence separately considered may be literally true.

1.4 Misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements, but by omitting or obscuring a material fact.

 

34. Claimed Results

Claims relating to performance, energy savings, safety, efficacy or results for a product or service should be based on recent and competent testing or other objective data.   "

Should QC Kinetix Franchise Group, LLC resolve all advertising claims with the Charlotte, NC BBB office, we will update our BBB Business profile as well.