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What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)?
PRP is plasma with many more platelets than what is typically found in blood. The concentration of platelets — and, thereby, the concentration of growth factors — can be 5 to 10 times greater (or richer) than usual.
To develop a PRP preparation, blood must first be drawn from a patient. The platelets are separated from other blood cells and their concentration is increased during a process called centrifugation. Then the increased concentration of platelets is combined with the remaining blood.
PRP Treatments
- Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Shoulder, Hip, and Spine
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
- ACL Injuries
- Pelvic Pain and Instability
- Back and Neck Injuries
- Tennis Elbow
- Ankle Sprains
- Tendinitis
- Ligament Sprains
An innovative, new therapy is now being used to treat pain caused by osteoarthritis and also slow its progression. It’s called Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), and it could transform how the medical field approaches the treatment of musculoskeletal pain.
Process of PRP Therapy
1. Collect blood
30-60ml of blood is drawn from the patient's arm.
2. Separate the platelets
The blood is then placed in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins and separates the platelets from the rest of the blood components.
3. Extract Patelet-Rich Plasma
Extract 3-6ml of Platelet-Rich Plasma.
4. Inject injured area with PRP
Using concentrated platelets, we increase the growth factors up to eight times, which promotes temporary relief and stops inflammation.
Q & A
How does PRP work?
A large amount of growth factors are released at the site of injury upon injection. These platelets induce an inflammatory response to initiate healing. The platelets are able to restore tendons and ligamentous proteins as well as strengthen cartilage, allowing it to become firmer and more resilient.
Is PRP painful?
Patients usually tolerate the injection well. However, there can be soreness after the injection due to the PRP-induced inflammatory response. You can expect swelling and soreness during the first 48 hours post injection and are given pain medication to help alleviate the discomfort.
How quickly does PRP work?
Most patients see some improvement within 2-6 weeks. The pain becomes less and less as the weeks pass with most clinical trials reporting improvement up to 6-9 months post injection.
