What Platelet Rich Plasma Injections Can Do for You and Your Injury
Patients who have suffered severe bone, tendon, or ligament injuries often deal with chronic pain and lack of mobility for long periods of time after their injury occurred. However, a recent medical treatment known as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) may be able to help speed recovery and reduce pain in such injuries. For this reason, PRP injections are being used by many doctors and orthopedic surgeons nationwide. Read on to learn more about PRP injections and how they can help you.
What is PRP?
PRP injections are created by taking a small amount of blood from the patient and placing it into a centrifuge. The centrifuge then separates the plasma and platelets from the rest of the blood. The physician or orthopedic surgeon then extracts the platelet-rich portion of the blood and injects it into the injured area.
What does PRP do?
Once PRP is injected into the injury site, the growth factors, or substances that speed and promote healing, are concentrated up to 500% higher than normal. These growth factors cause slight inflammation that speeds the healing process within the body by promoting collagen growth. With the help of the new collagen, ligaments, muscles, and other areas begin tightening and repairing themselves at much faster rates than normal.
What Can PRP Be Used For?
PRP injection therapy can be used to treat many common overuse conditions, including Achilles tendonitis, rotator cuff tendonitis, tennis elbow, patellar tendonitis, and more. If you have sustained a sports injury, contact your orthopedic surgeon to determine whether PRP injection therapy is the most appropriate treatment for your injury.
Dr. Drew Stein is a premier orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine doctor in New York City. In addition to PRP injection therapy, Dr. Stein focuses on creating customized, aggressive, and non-surgical treatments for a variety of sports-related injuries. Call (212) 398-2300 to schedule an appointment today.
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