Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine technique that relies on the body’s platelets and growth factors to accelerate healing in the body.
When you sustain an injury, your body responds by sending platelets to the site of the injury in order to begin the repair and healing process. With PRP therapy, doctors inject a highly concentrated form of platelet-rich plasma into the targeted area to boost your body’s healing response.
PRP therapy is a widely recognized treatment for athletes and sports enthusiasts who need to get back in the game as soon as possible. Tiger Woods is one high-profile athlete who has benefited from PRP therapy. However, PRP therapy is not just for athletes. It can also be used to treat issues affecting ordinary people, such as osteoarthritis and injuries incurred in a car accident or while on the job.
How Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy is Administered
To perform PRP therapy, your doctor will begin by taking a sample of your blood and running it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets and growth factors from the rest of the blood’s content. Once isolated, the doctor will inject the platelets and growth factors into the targeted area. Many times, imaging technology, such as an ultrasound, is used to guide the injection into the exact location where the problem exists.
Once the PRP injection is administered, you are good to go home. You may feel some soreness and pain in the days following the treatment, but this is normal. This happens because the PRP will trigger a bodily response that mimics one that happens when an injury incurs, and it is often a sign of the body attempting to heal itself.
PRP Therapy Benefits
PRP therapy is often used to address torn tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Examples of conditions that PRP therapy is often used to treat are:
- Tendonitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Acute and chronic sprains and strains
- Rotator cuff tears
- Tendon and ligament tears
- Meniscal tears
- Cartilage injuries
PRP therapy is a revolutionary way to utilize the body’s natural healing mechanisms to help you heal faster and better. PRP therapy doesn’t require incisions or stitches and causes no scarring. Additionally, because the platelets are taken from your own body, the chances of a bodily reaction or rejection are impossible. Finally, the treatment doesn’t require a hospital stay or much downtime. After your treatment, you can carry on with your routine.
PRP Therapy in Little Rock, Arkansas
PRP therapy may be the solution to your orthopedic pain. Our orthopedic team, headed by board-certified surgeon, Dr. William Hefley offers regenerative therapies to treat patients with pain that is unresponsive to conservative treatment methods.
We administer PRP therapy to patients who would like lasting relief. Our goal is to help improve your quality of life using the latest medical techniques available.
To find out if you are eligible for PRP therapy, schedule a consultation by calling (800) 336-2412 or send an appointment request now. We look forward to helping you find relief.
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