Test tubes in lab

Why Platelet Rich Plasma Works For Soft Tissue Injuries

Why Platelet Rich Plasma Works For Soft Tissue Injuries

By Farhan Malik, MD
Atlanta Innovative Medicine

Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods have done it. So have Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, David Ortiz, Troy Polamalu and countless other high level athletes. Using platelet rich plasma (PRP) to recover from a sports injury has become commonplace for elite competitors—for runners, golfers, basketballers, tennis players and beyond.

Why The Pros Use PRP 

Muscle sprains, tears and other soft-tissue injuries are common, especially among athletes. Oftentimes, the RICE method (rest, ice, compression and elevation) just isn’t working fast enough or effectively enough to get active people back into the activity they love doing. So they turn to PRP therapy to enhance the process of healing and decrease their recovery time.

Using PRP For Muscle Injuries 

Multiple studies have examined outcomes for the use of PRP in treating these injuries. It’s been shown to promote muscle recovery thanks to the growth factors released from activated platelets—and in doing so, reducing pain, swelling, and the time it takes to return to play sports.

Studies suggested that PRP may have benefits associated with the increased release of cytokines and growth factors resulting from supraphysiological concentrations of platelets that facilitate muscle repair, regeneration and remodeling.

What this means: PRP operates under the theory that injecting growth factors from the blood into an injured area will cause new tissues to form, reducing inflammation and promoting tissue formation.

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How PRP Works 

Your blood consists of solid cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which are suspended in a liquid called plasma. The platelets contain hundreds of growth factors, which are proteins that play a vital role in the body’s natural healing process.

In order to deliver the therapy, a small amount of blood is drawn from a patient and spun in a centrifuge, which separates the different components. The red blood cells and much of the plasma is drained away, leaving a high concentration of platelets and growth factors. This PRP, derived from the patient, is then injected into the damaged area of the body to stimulate healing.
stretch-healing

Treating More Than Muscle 

The treatment has been used frequently for muscle injuries and other soft-tissue damage, including meniscus tears, sprains and strains. Researchers have also shown the promising impact of PRP on osteoarthritis (OA), including a review in the British Medical Journal that concluded PRP [Therapy] not only reduced pain more effectively than placebo injections in osteoarthritis of the knee, but that function was significantly improved when compared to controls.

Learn about Super Concentrated PRP (SC-PRP) 

Next Step: Learn If PRP Is Right For You
Do you want to discuss platelet-rich plasma and other options for recovering faster from a muscle or soft tissue injury? We’re ready to help you get back in the game. Contact our experts at Atlanta Innovative Medicine for an evaluation.

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