When you’re dealing with a stubborn injury, it can feel like nothing helps. You rest. You try rehabilitation and physical therapy. You take medication. Still, the pain lingers, and it feels like you’re losing valuable time away from your sport or fitness routine.
Maybe you’ve heard about professional athletes turning to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments and wondered if it could work for you.
What is platelet-rich plasma (PRP)?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a biologic treatment made from your own blood. Plasma is the liquid part of your blood, made mostly of salts, vitamins and water. Platelets are small cells that help your blood clot and contain important growth factors that support wound healing.
How is PRP produced?
To produce PRP, your blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge. The spinning process separates the plasma and platelets from the red blood cells and white blood cells.
“This process concentrates the amount of platelets to about three to 10 times more than the concentration of platelets in whole blood, sometimes more” said Evan Werk, MD, a sports medicine specialist at Banner – University Medicine.
How does PRP treatment work?
PRP therapy works by activating your body’s natural healing process. Once prepared, the platelet-rich plasma is injected into the injured area using ultrasound imaging for precise placement.
The effects of PRP include:
- Releasing growth factors that promote healing and tissue repairs
- Releasing cytokines, which signal other healing cells in your body to come to the injury site.
- Helping heal ligaments and muscles that may otherwise be slow to recover.
“This helps improve the success of healing in tissues that can otherwise be slow to heal,” Dr. Werk said.
Since PRP encourages natural healing rather than simply masking pain, it can take time to see results. Full improvement may take six to eight weeks. Some patients may need a series of two or three platelet-rich plasma injections for the best outcome.
After a PRP treatment, it’s normal to experience some soreness at the injection site for a few days. The risk of infection is low because PRP uses your own blood. Other side effects are rare but may include minor swelling or bruising.
What conditions can PRP treat?
PRP therapy can help treat a range of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, including:
- Chronic tendon injuries or partial tears
- Ligament sprains
- Pain from tendinitis or inflammation
- Joint cartilage injuries
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Osteoarthritis
Research on PRP therapy is ongoing, and the list of treatable injuries and conditions may expand. “To find out if PRP treatment is appropriate for you, it’s best to discuss it with your physician,” Dr. Werk said.
When should you consider platelet-rich plasma?
Most patients will try traditional treatments first, such as rest, physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication. For osteoarthritis, corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections may also be considered.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is typically part of a larger treatment program that includes physical therapy and gradual return to activity, rather than a standalone treatment.
Is PRP right for you?
While PRP therapy can provide relief for many people, it’s not right for everyone. It may not be recommended if you have certain medical conditions or if you’re taking medications that affect blood clots or platelet function.
It’s also important to check with your insurance provider to see if platelet-rich plasma therapy is covered under your plan.
Ready to get back to the activities you love?
The sports medicine and orthopedic specialists at Banner Health offer advanced treatments like platelet-rich plasma therapy to help relieve your pain and speed up recovery.
