Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been used in recent years as a treatment for aging joints, particularly osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a condition where the cartilage that cushions the joints wears away over time, causing pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
Platelet rich plasma therapy involves taking a sample of a patient’s own blood and processing it to concentrate the platelets. Platelets are cells in the blood that are involved in clotting and wound healing. They contain growth factors, which are proteins that help stimulate tissue repair and regeneration.
Once the platelets are concentrated, they are injected directly into the patient’s affected joint. The growth factors released by the platelets can help to promote the regeneration of damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, and alleviate pain.
How our joints age
Your joints help you move through life, but over the years they begin wearing out. Joint pain and stiffness is a common complaint that comes with getting older, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop living an active life in your golden years.
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a minimally invasive option to address joint pain. PRP utilizes growth factors and proteins from your own blood to relieve inflammation and improve joint performance in people of all ages.
If joint pain is impacting your life, it’s time to learn why PRP is a boon to aging joints. Dayton Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Center offers comprehensive care for joints, including Platelet rich plasma therapy. Find out if this therapy could be right for you by booking your first appointment with one of our orthopedic doctors.
Joint pain increases with age
When you’re in your younger years, you might only notice aches and pains after strenuous exercise or a sports injury. But as you grow older, it’s common for pain to appear more frequently.
Your joints contain bone, cartilage, and fluid that work together. Young joints have plenty of cartilage and fluid to lubricate bones and help them move smoothly and painlessly. But your joints get stiffer and less flexible as you age.
Cartilage wears away and joints stop producing as much fluid. Nearly every joint, from your elbows and fingers to your hips and knees, can be affected by aging. Some people develop mineral deposits around some joints, and this calcification can reduce range of motion.
Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic joint pain. It’s one of the most common types of arthritis, and it develops with years of wear and tear on your joints.
When you have osteoarthritis, cartilage between the bones in your joints slowly disappears. Instead of being cushioned by sufficient cartilage, your bones grind together, causing inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
Conservative treatments for joint pain include combining periods of activity and rest, icing painful joints, and taking anti-inflammatory medication as directed. But while these methods can temporarily relieve joint pain, they’re not always enough.
How PRP could ease your joint pain
Our team understands the various ways that aging affects your joints. Whether you have arthritis or not, we offer comprehensive joint care to help you live a more active, pain-free life.
Depending on the severity of your joint deterioration, we may suggest a number of different treatment options aimed at relieving joint pain. For many people experiencing joint pain associated with aging, Platelet rich plasma therapy can bring significant improvement in joint mobility and quality of life.
How is PRP Made?
PRP is a specialized solution that’s developed using a sample of your blood. Our team takes a small vial of blood from your arm and prepares it by spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the blood cells and plasma into layers. Then the platelets, which contain special proteins called growth factors, are combined with a small amount of plasma to make your PRP.
This highly concentrated solution is then injected at specific points around the joints that hurt. PRP therapy for arthritis and joint pain has the power to:
Reduce pain
Increase joint function
Improve mobility
Enhance the quality of cartilage
Growth factors tap into your body’s natural ability to heal itself. When used for aging joints, PRP therapy can stimulate healthy cell regeneration and increase fluid in stiff joints. PRP therapy may slow down or even repair damaged cartilage, and it can reduce inflammation and swelling.
Talk to our team at Dayton Orthopedic Surgery to learn more about the benefits of PRP for your joint pain. If this therapy is right for you, we develop a personalized injection plan for you.
After we draw your blood and create your PRP, the injections generally take just a few minutes. Pain relief with PRP therapy generally takes a few weeks for you to feel the effects, as new healthy cells begin to grow. You can expect each therapy session to deliver pain relief for up to several months at a time.
Don’t let your aging joints stop you from participating in your favorite activities. To learn more about PRP for joint pain, book an appointment with Dayton Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Center.