Platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) is a cutting-edge treatment that harnesses & amplifies the body’s natural regenerative capacity to heal wounds and speed up recovery from injury.
Many famous athletes such as 12-time French Open tennis star Rafael Nadal and golfing great Tiger Woods were able to successfully recover from what would otherwise have been career-ending injuries to get back to the game they love with the help of PRP therapy.
Here are answers to a few basic questions about platelet-rich plasma therapy:
What is platelet-rich plasma?
Plasma is the liquid component of blood; and platelets are the one of the 3 main types of blood cells (the other 2 being white blood cells and red blood cells). Platelets are famous for their ability to form clots and stop wound bleeding. What is not as well known is the fact that they contain hundreds of growth factors necessary for healing and regeneration of tissue.
How PRP is obtained
Platelet-rich plasma is obtained by drawing a small quantity of the patient’s own blood and running it through a centrifuge a machine to isolate and concentrate the platelets.
How PRP therapy is administered
The PRP is then injected into the site of injury. The entire procedure from blood draw to injection can be completed within an hour’s time in a single office sitting. As the PRP is obtained from the patient’s own body there is a minimal risk of side effects or infection.
Conditions treated by PRP therapy
Ligaments and tendons receive poor blood supply compared to other body tissues and PRP is particularly effective in treating most ligament and tendon injuries such as:
- Tennis elbow
- Jumpers knee
- Rotator cuff injury
- Golfer’s elbow
- Pulled hamstrings or thigh muscles
- Plantar fasciitis
Are you a candidate for PRP therapy?
The immense popularity of platelet rich plasma therapy may be explained by its ease of administration, efficacy, safety, and broad range of orthopedic applications. Contact South Palm orthopedics to find out if you might be a candidate for PRP therapy.
South Palm Orthopedics is a medical practice devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and diseases of the body's musculoskeletal system. Our orthopedic surgeons have advanced fellowship training in the areas of hand & wrist, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, trauma and fractures, foot and ankle, and sports medicine. The physicians of South Palm Orthopedics are committed to providing the highest level of orthopedic care to each and every patient each and every time.