Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is also known as Autologous Conditioned Plasma. PRP therapy takes advantage of your blood’s natural healing properties to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone. It can reduce pain, improve joint function and help you return quickly to normal activities.
What conditions can be treated?
This simple outpatient treatment may help you recover from a painful sports injury or chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis and tendinitis. Common conditions PRP therapy can help are :-
Arthritis (osteoarthritis)
- Knee Arthritis
- Hip Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Ankle Arthritis
Tendon/Ligament/Sports Injury
- Tendinopathy
- Tennis Elbow/Golfers Elbow
- Runners Knee/Jumpers Knee
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tear
- Muscle Strain, Contusion and Torn Muscle Fiber
Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Lower Back Pain
The procedure
The procedure is performed in our out-patient clinic and can take up to an hour to complete. The 3 main steps of the procedure are outlined below:
- Blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm
- Your sample is spun in a centrifuge machine which separates the desired components
- The concentration of platelets is injected into your treatment site
The treatment is generally administered at three weekly intervals. Since the treatment is prepared from your own blood, the treatment carries a low risk.
The number of injections required depends on the injury but can range from two to six injections which are performed at weekly intervals.
How It Works
PRP supports your body’s self-healing processes by using your own cells. Blood is mostly liquid (called plasma) but also contains solid component including red cells, white cells and platelets. The platelets are important for clotting blood but they also contain proteins called growth factors which are important in the healing of injuries.
With a higher concentration of growth factors than typically found in blood, PRP injections support the restoration of injured tissue and inhibit painful inflammatory processes.
This treatment is widely researched and supported in clinical papers.
How soon can I expect to see any improvements following PRP therapy?
Following PRP therapy patients usually experience reduced pain and increased function within four to six weeks but this depends on the treatment area and the extent of the injury.
What are the benefits?
PRP allows your body to naturally heal. It is beneficial to people who have not responded to other treatments to reduce pain and increase mobility. It provides another option to more invasive treatments such as knee surgery. As healing takes place faster, you can get back to normal activities quicker.
What are the Risks?
PRP therapy is a safe treatment option and there is no risk of an allergic reaction since it uses your own blood. However because a needle is being place in your body, there is a risk of infection, bleeding and nerve damage but this is very rare.