Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP Therapy is an innovative technique popularly used in sports medicine. The use of PRP can be traced back to the 1980s, when it was first applied in open-heart surgery in Italy. By the mid-1990s, its popularity in sports management surged. Since then, it has been applied to other medical fields, such as cosmetic surgery and dentistry.
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This blog post will discuss how PRP therapy can help treat pain whenever your body gets injured.
What is PRP?
The answer lies in the composition of your blood. While blood is mainly a liquid known as plasma, it contains small solid components like red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The primary function of these platelets is to clot blood. Platelets are also considered protein powerhouses that are very important for healing injuries.
Therefore, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is plasma enriched with platelets and growth factors, more than typically found in the blood. The concentration of platelets and growth factors — can be 5 to 10 times higher than usual.
How does PRP Help Heal your Body?
When your body is injured, its first response is to deliver platelet cells. Packed with growth and healing factors, platelets then initiate repair and attract the critical assistance of stem cells.
PRP’s natural healing process intensifies the body’s efforts by directly delivering a higher concentration of platelets to the area in need.
What is the Process of Administering PRP?
First, a small sample of your blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge that spins the blood at high speed. This process separates the platelets from the other blood components, thus producing higher concentrations of platelets.
The platelet-rich plasma thus obtained is injected into the site of injury, where the platelets secrete growth factors. These growth factors stimulate tissue recovery through collagen production (the body’s glue). In addition to this, the growth factors also stimulate blood flow and cause the cartilage to become stronger and more resilient. Since your own blood is being used in this procedure, there is no risk of a transmissible infection and a low risk of allergic reaction.
The entire procedure takes only a couple of hours, including preparation and recovery time. When performed safely, PRP therapy relieves pain without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, or extended hospital stays. In fact, most people return to their jobs or usual routine soon after the procedure.
What can be treated with PRP?
The following injuries or conditions can be treated with PRP therapy.
Chronic Tendon Injuries
PRP is most effective in treating chronic tendon injuries such as tennis elbow, chronic Achilles, and jumper’s knee.
Acute Ligament and Muscle Injuries
PRP therapy has received significant publicity due to its use as sports injury treatment such as ligament and muscle injuries. It has been used to treat professional athletes like Tiger Woods with common injuries such as pulled hamstrings in the thigh, knee sprains, and fractures.
Surgery
More recently, PRP has been used after surgery to help tissues heal.
Osteoarthritis
PRP is also effective for treating joints that undergo degenerative changes due to Osteoarthritis (OA). It is a recommended procedure in anti-aging orthopedics that helps prevent more severe forms of Osteoarthritis.
Treating Pain with PRP therapy
PRP therapy aims to relieve pain caused by injuries through healing and has shown lasting results. Initial improvement is seen within a few weeks which gradually increases as the healing progresses. Studies have shown that PRP therapy effectively reduces pain and returns patients to their everyday lives. Both ultrasound and MRI images have shown definitive tissue repair after PRP therapy, affirming the healing process. The need for surgery can also be significantly reduced by treating injured tissues with PRP before irreversible damage.
PRP Therapy with Euromed®
Euromed® Clinic Center has a team of internationally recognized orthopedic surgeons in Dubai. You can consult with them to know more about PRP advantages for pain relief. They work closely with the patients and help them heal effectively. Please book a consultation to discuss your options for PRP treatment with us by filling in the form or calling us at our provided numbers.
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