PRP Therapy for a Sports Injury: What to Expect

Regenerative medicine is an exciting field undergoing explosive growth. Advances in innovation, research, and technology are supported by patients and physicians seeking alternative approaches to healing that reduce dependence on conventional drug-based therapy. 

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine treatment that promotes your body’s natural healing abilities by supplementing the raw materials of tissue repair. PRP has applications ranging from medical aesthetics to postsurgical recovery. 

At 360 Orthopedics, we often use PRP therapy to treat sports injuries. Today, we’ll examine PRP and explain why it’s ideal for soft tissue damage that frequently accompanies sports participation. 

The importance of platelets

Also called thrombocytes, platelets are a blood component with various roles related to maintaining health. Best known for their ability to clot blood and stop bleeding, platelets also contain growth factor hormones that contribute to rebuilding damaged tissue. 

New research suggests that platelets also play a role in managing inflammation, a natural by-product of healing. Keeping inflammation at reasonable levels minimizes pain and speeds recovery. 

PRP: your own built-in therapy

It is simple to take a small blood sample and isolate its components in a centrifuge. Platelets settle between heavier red blood cells and lighter plasma. 

Extracting platelets from the separated sample of your blood produces an injectable serum that has powerful properties to promote virtually any healing process. Without PRP, your body’s repairs depend on raw materials delivered through the bloodstream. 

With the addition of PRP, the number of growth factors at the site of an injury climbs, allowing faster repairs along with reduced inflammation and discomfort. Combining PRP with other regenerative techniques like stem cell therapy may speed healing even more. 

PRP for a sports injury: what to expect

Because PRP is a drug-free treatment derived from your own blood, it’s a compatible and safe therapy that works well alongside conventional treatments. These characteristics make PRP treatments popular with athletes who wish to speed recovery between games and heal from sports injuries. 

Some common sports injuries for which we might use PRP therapy include: 

• Golfer’s or tennis elbow
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Damage to cartilage, ligaments, or tendons
• Symptoms related to osteoarthritis
• Muscle injuries, including strains and tears

With PRP as an adjunct therapy to conventional treatments, you can expect faster and longer-lasting recovery from soft tissue sports injuries. Pain levels may be lower, and you may suffer from less inflammation when compared with conventional treatments alone. 

Results between patients can vary widely, as the way that PRP works isn’t fully understood. Talk with our physicians about your sports injury needs to learn more about how PRP may help you. 

Contact 360 Orthopedics at our nearest location. You can book your visit by phone or online today.