Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection therapy is a popular medical treatment that is transforming many fields of medicine, from hair restoration to orthopedics. It has been found to be particularly effective in the treatment of certain musculoskeletal issues, including muscle tears and chronic arthritis pain – especially knee pain.
PRP therapy is a form of regenerative medicine, and in this case the treatment is derived from your own blood. It takes advantage of your blood’s natural healing properties and therefore has the ability to repair many parts of the body, including cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bone.
Platelets are best known for their ability to form scabs in healing your skin, but they rush through your bloodstream to any ailing site of your body to foster healing. (When the brain senses injury or pain, it prompts the blood to douse that site of the body with healing cells.) In PRP therapy, a doctor will collect a small sample of the patient’s blood, concentrate the platelets via a centrifuge, and inject the platelet-rich plasma solution directly into the area requiring it.
PRP injection therapy has much lower risks than other treatments do, and it has been found to offer faster healing from injuries and a significant reduction in pain. Let’s talk about some of the joint injuries and health conditions that are frequently treated by orthopedic doctors with PRP therapy, and where you can go in Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale Lakes to receive this extraordinary treatment.
What Joint Injuries Can PRP Injections Treat?
The orthopedic conditions and injuries which are popularly treated by physician-administered PRP injections include the following:
ACL Tears
A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a common type of knee injury, particularly occurring during high-impact sports such as football and basketball. The ACL is made up of strong connective fibers that provide stability to the knee joint, and this particular ligament resides right behind the kneecap – so a blow to the kneecap will often cause an ACL tear.
A ligament is the strong tissue that connects a bone to another bone in a joint, and the ACL connects the femur (thighbone, the bone in the upper leg) to the tibia (shinbone, the larger bone in the lower leg). A torn ACL can result in knee pain, swelling, reduced function, and knee instability.
Muscle Injuries
A pulled or torn (strained) muscle can cause sudden pain, followed by swelling and bruising which develop over the next few hours. A strain such as a hamstring injury (torn hamstring or pulled hamstring) may prevent you from being able to put weight on your leg and may cause muscle weakness for several weeks.
Tendon Injuries
Tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and Achilles tendonitis are common injuries to the tendons, which connect a muscle to a bone. They do not stretch easily, and they can become damaged with chronic stress or repeated motions – such as when playing a sport or even performing repetitive motions at work.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis can result from a variety of factors, including normal aging, wear and tear, or trauma. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage – the protective lining of the joint – begins to deteriorate and wear away, which over time can lead to painful bone-on-bone rubbing during movement.
PRP Injections in Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale Lakes, FL
If you have joint pain or muscle pain and would like to find out if you are a candidate for PRP therapy, see the medical experts here at Total Orthopaedic Care. Our board-certified orthopedic doctors are highly experienced in diagnosing and treating the full range of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions using advanced nonsurgical and surgical treatments.
To schedule an appointment, call us today at (954) 735-3535 or fill out our secure online appointment request form now. We look forward to helping you enjoy a more pain-free lifestyle once again!
