The Basics Behind Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) is a type of therapy that has become more popular in recent issues. It is used to treat injuries to the muscles and joints, such as an ankle sprain, tennis elbow or a rotator cuff tear. It is also used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. This treatment has become more widely known about because many famous athletes have used this treatment in recent years for a variety of injuries.
PRP Therapy Uses Your Own Blood to Heal You
PRP therapy is about using your own body to heal your energies. Your blood is made up of three primary components, plasma, red & white blood cells, and platelets. Platelets, one of the smaller components in your blood, is most well-known for its clotting properties. However, platelets are also important for the healing process when you are injured because platelets contain numerous proteins within them.
With PRP therapy, plasma that is rich in platelets is used to treat your injuries or condition. This platelet rich plasma is created through a process where blood is taken from the patient and the platelets are separated out, and then the presences of platelets within the withdrawn blood is increased through a centrifugation process. Basically, your own blood is used to create blood that has an above-average concentration of injury healing platelets in it.
How PRP Therapy Is Used
Once the blood has been collected from you and turned into the super-concentrated platelet form known as PRP, that is when the real therapy starts.
If an individual is healing after a surgery for a torn muscles or tendon that requires surgery, a PRP solution may be injected into injury site while the surgery is being performed. The PRP solution, in this case, is specially prepared so that it can be stitched and woven into the damaged tissue and used to promote healing.
If an individual is suffering from an injury that doesn't require surgery, PRP therapy can still be used. A mixture of PRP combined with anesthetics is injected into the injury site. The injection is supposed to help with the healing process, although that doesn't mean that it elements the healing process. With a condition such as tennis elbow, it could still take a few weeks for your body to heal.
PRP therapy basically increases the number of platelets in your blood, then that blood is put back into your body at the injured tissue site to promote healing. The success of PRP treatment various and is based on if the injury is acute or chronic, where the injury occurred and your overall health. Your doctor can discuss how the treatment could specifically impact your body based on your personal health history.