Whether you have a sore joint, injured muscles, or achy bones, PRP therapy might be the treatment to feel better and get back to doing things you love. PRP therapy has shown remarkable results in treating various musculoskeletal system injuries, including ligament, sprains, tendonitis, and osteoarthritis.
Let’s explore PRP therapy, including how it is prepared, how it works, and what its benefits are, and where you can go for this therapy in Pembroke Pines, FL.
PRP Therapy: A Brief Overview
PRP is an innovative treatment that harnesses the natural healing property of the platelets – a type of tiny blood cells – found in the blood. Platelets are responsible for wound healing and blood clotting. They also release various growth factors and other bioactive proteins that play a crucial role in tissue repair, cell reproduction, and the formation of new blood vessels in the treated area.
Simply put, platelet-rich plasma is the blood with a higher concentration of plasma than normal blood.
How is PRP Therapy Injection Prepared?
To prepare the PRP therapy injections, an orthopedic doctor takes a blood sample from the patient and processes it into a centrifuge. A centrifuge is a device that spins the blood sample at a very high speed, separating platelets from the rest of the blood components. The blood concentrated with the platelets and growth factor (PRP) is injected into the targeted area to increase the concentration of specific bioproteins or hormones, called growth factors, to accelerate the healing process.
It is pertinent to mention here that to inject platelet-rich plasma into a delicate place, such as a joint, an orthopedic doctor may use imaging technologies, such as ultrasound or fluoroscopy, to ensure the precision of the injection.
How Do PRP Injections Work?
Unfortunately, researchers do not know the exact mechanism behind the success of PRP injections. However, certain studies have shown that PRP injection has healing power thanks to platelet growth factors, including.
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF)
- Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)
- Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)
- Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
- Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
These growth factors are released when platelets are activated. These growth factors stimulate or boost the healing process of the body, shortening the healing time for injuries and decreasing musculoskeletal pain. By harnessing the power of platelets and growth factors, PRP therapy injections can treat orthopedic injuries, such as Achilles tendon tears, hamstring muscle injuries, ACL injuries, rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis.
Benefits of PRP Injections
PRP therapy offers numerous benefits, some of which are as follows:
- Minimally invasive procedure – PRP injection is a minimally invasive procedure and, therefore, has fewer risks and complications. This injection leaves no scars.
- Safe and natural treatment – Since the PRP solution contains platelets and growth factors derived from the patient’s own blood, it is safe, natural and carries no risk for allergic reaction (if injected without adding any additives).
- Outpatient procedure – PRP treatment can be done in your doctor’s office as an outpatient procedure. This means you do not have to stay overnight in the hospital.
- No downtime – PRP therapy only involves taking blood and reinjecting platelet-rich plasma into the body. Therefore, it requires no significant downtime to rest and rehabilitate.
PRP Therapy in Pembroke Pines
If you have a musculoskeletal system problem and are interested in finding out whether PRP therapy is right for your unique condition, talk to our expert here at Total Orthopaedic Care. We have a team of highly trained, board-certified, and fellowship-trained orthopedic doctors who will perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether PRP therapy is right for your unique condition. We also offer other nonsurgical and surgical orthopedic treatments to help our patients enjoy a good lifestyle without pain.
To schedule a consultation with one of our PRP experts, contact us today at (954) 735-3535 or fill out our online appointment request form.
