In many cases, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments administered by a PRP doctor can effectively treat sports injuries that have not improved after more traditional therapies. If you are suffering from a sports induced injury, considering calling to schedule an exam with a PRP doctor. Many patients have experienced significant or full healing as a result of PRP treatment and have reported it is effective.
PRP Treatments and Athletes
PRP treatments have come to the forefront of public awareness in large part because of well-known athletes who have benefited from them. Golf star Tiger Woods as well as tennis star Rafael Nadal are two such examples. Many professional as well as recreational athletes have taken advantage of PRP treatments to heal everything from chronic tendon injuries to sprained knees. One of the biggest reasons for its popularity is that it is a non-invasive alternative to surgery as well as medications that carry the risk of addiction. The other main advantage to PRP treatments is that it usually offers much faster results than most other types of treatments.
What is involved with PRP treatments?
Blood contains plasma as well as several components that include red cells, white cells, and platelets. Blood is able to clot due to platelets. These platelets are also responsible for helping to hear injuries because it contains hundreds of growth factors which are actually proteins.
PRP is plasma but it has a higher concentration of platelets as compared to blood. Because of this, the growth factors are also more concentrated. In fact, they can be five to ten times more concentrated than blood.
To create the PRP plasma, the patient supplies a small amount of their own blood. Using a process known as centrifugation, the platelets are separated from the other blood cells, thus increasing their concentration. The concentrated platelets are then combined with the patient’s blood in the area of the injury.
What kind of sports injuries can benefit from PRP treatments?
A PRP doctor from our clinic can determine if you are a good candidate for PRP treatments, but they have effectively worked for many types of sports injuries including the following:
1. Chronic tendon injuries. Tennis elbow is one of the most common injury of this type, but there are also tendons outside of the elbow that can benefit from PRP treatment. The same is also true for inflammation of the knee’s patellar tendon as well as chronic Achilles tendonitis.
2. Muscle and acute ligament injuries. Common examples of this type include pulled hamstring injuries in the thigh as well as knee sprains.
3. Healing acceleration post-surgery. Those who undergo surgery for shoulder injuries or to repair the tendons of torn rotator cuffs will sometimes use PRP treatments to encourage faster healing. Athletes who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury may take advantage of PRP treatments and it can also be used to help repair torn knee ligaments.
If you’re a professional or recreational athlete who has sustained an injury, discover if PRP treatments are right for you. Call a clinic today and request to speak with a PRP treatment doctor such as the physical therapy Rockville, MD locals trust. Talk to them about your condition and see if it may be an effective solution for you.
Thanks to authors at Pain Arthritis Relief Center for their insight into Chiropractic Care.
