Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative treatment approach that involves a healthcare professional extracting a patient’s own blood, isolating the key components, and injecting the solution into the diseased or injured area of the body to stimulate tissue regeneration and promote healing.
PRP therapy has various clinical applications. In recent years, it has been widely used in the field of orthopedics for the treatment of a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions—such as rotator cuff tears, sprains and strains, and osteoarthritis—and for facilitating postoperative healing.
How Does Treatment Work?
PRP treatment is essentially blood that contains an increased number of platelets than normal to promote and accelerate the body’s natural healing response. The growth factors in the platelets are responsible for stimulating the healing process.
After a sample of your own blood is obtained, it goes through a process called centrifugation to separate the platelet-rich plasma. The solution is then injected into or around the diseased or injured area. The PRP then prompts white blood cells to eliminate damaged cells and prepare the area for healing. In turn, stem cells multiply and gradually regenerate the damaged tissue.
PRP Treatment for Sports Injuries
PRP treatment has been extensively used by sports medicine specialists as an excellent standalone or adjunctive therapy for various sports injuries, such as the following:
- Knee injuries (e.g., meniscus tears)
- Partial rotator cuff tears
- Plantar fasciitis
- Sprains and strains
- Tendon injuries (e.g., Achilles tendinitis, jumper’s knee, and tennis elbow)
PRP Treatment for Osteoarthritis Management
Osteoarthritis causes cartilage, the protective lining of the joint, to gradually deteriorate, resulting in painful bone-on-bone rubbing.
PRP injections can help alleviate joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis by stimulating cartilage repair and boosting the production of the lubricating fluid in the joints (synovial fluid). PRP treatment ultimately helps slow the progression of the disease, thus reducing reliance on pain medications and delaying or even eliminating the need for surgical intervention.
PRP for Postoperative Healing
Surgeries done on soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and ligaments) often have long recovery times. PRP treatment has also shown to effectively facilitate postoperative healing.
Orthopedic PRP Treatment in Dallas, TX
At Reagan Integrated Sports Medicine, our team consists of licensed chiropractors and a regenerative medicine specialist who are best known for their expertise, patient-centered care, and the highly effective treatment options they offer—among which are PRP treatment and regenerative cell therapy.
To learn more about PRP treatment, particularly if it’s right for you, consult one of our providers. Contact us today at (972) 503-7272 or fill out this form, and one of our staff members will contact you as soon as possible to arrange your visit.
