There is a treatment for sports injuries that has been available for years but is becoming much more popular now. It’s called Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP Therapy). Platelets play a big part in the healing of tissue, as they increase tissue regeneration, collagen, bone density, and angiogenesis, as well as decrease pain and inflammation. Introducing platelets back into the site of the injury should enchance the overall healing process.
For a patients to receive PRP Therapy, blood is drawn from the patient (there is no need for a donation from a donor) and then separated into the following ratio: 94% platelets and 5% red blood cells (RBC). Next, a dynamic musculoskeletal ultrasound is used to find the exact location of the injury, and then the injection of PRP is then made.
Relief is not instant, but within 3 – 6 weeks the injury starts to improve, and, for some, the pain is gone at that point. While studies have been conducted on this type of therapy with great success, the study size was small.
This type of therapy is becoming more popular within the sporting industry and is what helped Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers play in the Super Bowl after his knee injury.
What are your thoughts on this type of therapy?