Platelet-rich plasma treatment is continuing to make headlines, often because it is favored by elite athletes to help them recover from injury.
Some doctors are now using platelet-rich plasma injections for several reasons for promoting soft tissue repair and Regeneration. Although research studies continues to develop and become stronger, it is reported to have great benefits with clinical outcomes. People must understand that clinical research does not come over night, it takes time and money.
In this article, we have a look at the case for PRP injection treatment.
How does PRP treatment work?
Platelets are important blood cells with several roles to play in the body. One is to promote blood clotting. Another is to contain proteins in the blood that help wounds to heal. Scientists note that by injecting areas of inflammation or tissue damage with high concentrations of platelets, it can encourage wounds to heal. A small blood sample is taken from the person being treated and put into a centrifuge to separate platelets. The concentration of platelets is then injected into the area of the person's body that needs to be treated. The injection contains a high concentration of platelets, which can be from 5 to 10 times more than the untreated blood.
What are the benefits of PRP treatment?
Examples of tissues that PRP has been used on include: Joints Tendons Ligaments Muscles
Ligaments can take time and be difficult to heal, which can make PRP an attractive option for some of those who have experienced injuries to this tissue group. Inflammation reduction PRP is used to reduce inflammation caused by many degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis and chronic tendonitis. This inflammation can lead to joints becoming painful and stiff. Clinical Research on PRP include: Study in 2013 in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that PRP injections helped to reduce knee osteoarthritis pain compared to saline injections.
A paper published in 2014, again in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, found that 3 rounds of PRP injections reduced symptoms in those with the knee injury chronic patellar tendinopathy. The researchers used 28 athletes in the study. Doctors are also trying to use PRP to heal broken bones, but no research has yet proven its effectiveness in this area.
Many more studies available and can be found at Dynamic Regenerative Medicine