Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a medical procedure that utilizes a patient’s own blood to support the body’s healing processes. This treatment prepares a concentrated solution of platelets from a blood sample and injects it into the body. PRP therapy delivers a high volume of growth factors directly to damaged tissues, like tendons, ligaments, and muscles, to aid in repair. Here’s more information on PRP injections and how they accelerate healing processes:
How Does Platelet-rich Plasma Therapy Work?
PRP therapy is a process that isolates and concentrates specific elements within the blood. The goal of PRP injections is to harness the healing properties of platelets and reintroduce them to an injured site to support tissue regeneration. This approach can be applied to a range of musculoskeletal conditions.
What Is PRP Therapy?
PRP therapy involves concentrating platelets from a patient’s blood sample, as platelets contain proteins, called growth factors, that are fundamental for blood clotting and tissue repair. For injuries, this therapy aims to increase the concentration of these growth factors directly into damaged tissues, which helps to enhance the body’s inherent healing capabilities. It is often recommended for tendon injuries, like tennis elbow, as well as for acute ligament and muscle damage.
What Is a Session Like?
A PRP session begins with a standard blood draw from your arm. This blood is placed into a centrifuge, a machine that spins quickly to separate the blood into different components. The components that make up blood include:
- Red Blood Cells
- White Blood Cells
- Plasma
- Platelets
Once separated, the platelet-rich plasma portion of the blood sample is then isolated and prepared for injection. Using ultrasound guidance for precision, a medical professional injects the PRP directly into the specified injured tissue, and the entire procedure is typically completed in under an hour.
How Does This Therapy Encourage Healing?
Once injected, the concentrated platelets in PRP injections release growth factors, influencing local cells. Growth factors help initiate repair sequences, which include recruiting reparative cells to the site of injury, promoting cellular turnover, and encouraging the development of new tissue. By creating a high concentration of these growth factors in one area, PRP therapy supports the body’s efforts to rebuild and strengthen damaged structures.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
PRP therapy is minimally invasive, often requiring a few injections, which means there is less downtime from sessions when compared to surgical treatment options. Patients may experience reduced inflammation in the affected area, and this can contribute to a decrease in pain over time. This approach works with the body’s systems, so it supports healing without introducing foreign substances.
Patients who might benefit from PRP injections are those experiencing chronic pain or slow healing associated with soft tissue injuries. Individuals with early-stage osteoarthritis or those who struggle with joint pain may also be candidates. People with certain medical conditions, such as severe anemia or active infections, may not be suitable candidates for this therapy.
Learn More About PRP Injections
PRP therapy is a method for addressing certain injuries by concentrating the body’s own healing components. A consultation with a medical provider is necessary to confirm PRP injections are the right solution for you. If you are dealing with a musculoskeletal injury, contact a neuropathic specialist for an evaluation of your condition.
Menopause marks the permanent end of menstrual periods and fertility, [...]
Mental healthcare services focus on improving emotional and psychological well-being. [...]
Geriatric healthcare focuses on promoting and managing the health of [...]
A retinal detachment diagnosis can be concerning. If this has [...]
Musculoskeletal chest pain refers to discomfort originating in the muscles, [...]
Prenatal care is the ongoing medical support provided during pregnancy [...]
An oral surgeon, or a maxillofacial surgeon, is a dental [...]
Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end [...]
