TREATING INJURIES WITH PLATELET-RICH PLASMA
It is normal for world-class athletes to incur injuries. Sports personalities like golf royalty Tiger Woods and tennis star Rafael Nadal have suffered injuries related to their game.
For this reason, they have received treatments to relieve the pain or discomfort and bring them back to their game. One of these treatments is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP).
Through the years, much has been researched and written about PRP and its effectiveness in treating injuries. While many athletes look to physical therapy, medication and surgery to alleviate the pain or improve their condition, a lot of these sports personalities gave credit to PRP for their quick return to their top form.
WHAT IS PRP?
Platelets are responsible for blood clotting. With PRP, the treatment contains more platelets that is normally found in blood.
To prepare the PRP, blood is drawn from the patient. The platelets are separated from the red and white blood cells. Through the process known as centrifugation, the concentration of platelets is increased, which is then combined with the rest of the extracted blood. Thereafter, the withdrawn blood is re-injected into the injured muscles or joints to ease the discomfort.
PRP therapy enjoys growing popularity in treating orthopedic injuries. As an in-office procedure, it usually takes only about 30 minutes to perform the treatment. Patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the hip, knee, or shoulder can greatly benefit from this treatment option.
For sports-related injuries, PRP therapy can relieve the pain and restore function in patients who suffered the following:
- Tennis elbow, elbow ligament injuries or meniscus tears
- Plantar fasciitis or knee ligament injuries
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Ankle sprains and tendonitis
Compared to cortisone injections, PRP treatment provides long-lasting pain relief, allowing the injured tissues to regenerate and repair itself. Cortisone, on the other hand, merely masks the inflammation and does not really possess healing properties.
If you have osteoarthritis or suffered sports injuries or would like to learn more about Platelet-Rich Plasma, contact Glaser Pain Relief Center at 818-501-PAIN (7246). For your convenience, you can use our Patient Portal to arrange your one-on-one time with our board-certified pain management specialist Dr. Jeffrey B. Glaser.
