Millions of Americans suffer sports-related injuries every year. If you get hurt playing a game with your buddies on the weekend or entering competitions as a hobby, what are your treatment options?
Your first step is to see a doctor or visit the emergency room for expert advice as to how to treat your specific injury. Many times your injury will need rest, ice or heat, and compression, and you’ll need to take medicine for the pain and inflammation.
For more serious treatment, you might need surgery or physical therapy. But what about long term joint, tendon, and muscle tears?
PRP treatment can be the answer. Keep reading to find out what is PRP treatment and whether it can make a difference in your life after a sports injury.
What is PRP Treatment?
PRP stands for “platelet rich plasma”. Plasma is the liquid foundation of your blood which contains your red and white blood cells and platelets.
Red blood cells carry nutrients to your body and white blood cells help with healing. Platelets help with clotting when you have a cut, help with healing by attracting stem cells, and also have growth factor in them.
PRP therapy isolates these components in your blood. Your own plasma is separated and the platelets are concentrated to stimulate healing, growth, and renewal at a higher rate.
Treating Common Sports Injuries with PRP
How does PRP therapy help with sports? There are many common injuries that could use a little PRP TLC.
Several studies showed great results for conditions such as tennis elbow, runner’s knee, and plantar fasciitis, common in runners. Patients in those studies reported reduced pain and improvement in their condition.
Other sports injuries that can benefit from PRP therapy are joint pain and inflammation, muscle and soft tissue injuries, ligament injuries, and early partial tendon tears.
Treatment and Therapy
What’s it like to receive therapy and are there any PRP treatment side effects? You’ll soon discover that PRP therapy is minimally invasive and quick to administer.
Typically an orthopedic surgeon will be the one who will give you the treatment. First, they use fluoroscopy or ultrasound to make sure they’re targeting the right area.
Next, they’ll give you a PRP injection close to the site of your injury. Typically, you will start to feel pain relief in the next few hours and your injury will feel better over the next several months.
Every body heals differently, so results might vary. Because PRP treatment is made with your own blood, there are usually no side effects besides minimal pain at the injection site.
Try PRP Treatment for Your Injury
PRP treatment isn’t just for athletes, it can be for weekend warriors and amateur athletes, too. PRP shows a lot of potential for treating long term pain and sports injuries.
If you’ve been suffering from the long-term pain of a new or old injury, it might be worth it to ask your doctor if this treatment is right for you. Check out other ways to stay active and health with our fitness articles!
