What is PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma?
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is a treatment used in medical offices to treat painful conditions such as knee pain and arthritis, hip pain, plantar fascitiis, tennis elbow, tendonitis, and rotator cuff injuries. To receive this treatment, a patient’s blood is drawn up. Because our blood is made up of different components (red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma) a process in the office is used to separate the plasma from the other cells in the body. The Platelet rich plasma contains hundreds of proteins called growth factors that expedite healing in the area and can even attract your body’s own natural restorative therapies to help repair the damaged area.
Effectiveness of Treatment
How long does PRP take to work?
PRP has shown to be effective in treating a variety of conditions. This is especially true in chronic tendon problems such as tennis elbow. Chronic tendon injuries often stem from overuse of a muscle developed over time and is common in athletes like golfers and tennis players. May elite professional athletes such as Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal swear by the treatment to help them recover faster from injuries and get them out of pain on back on the field or court quicker.
A study conducted in 2015 also showed that PRP was more effective in treating osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee than Hyaluronic acid treatments
Because Platelet Rich Plasma is a treatment that promotes healing in the body, relief is not usually immediate after a treatment. Just like it can take weeks or months to heal a broken bone or sprained ankle, PRP takes time as well although we expect patients to notice that they are healing faster than they would have without PRP.
How do I find out if I’m a candidate?
The only way to find out if someone is a candidate is to schedule a consultation with us. We offer a variety of treatments that can help your body heal naturally without surgery such as restorative therapy . We will discuss all possible treatment options and you will have the opportunity to decide which treatment is best for you.