The road to recovery from chronic tendon and ligament injuries is often long and hard with many winding turns. Stubborn injuries of this kind can interfere with your work, activities you enjoy, and restrict your lifestyle. With platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy, an innovative approach to healing chronic injuries, that long road to recovery may become much shorter!
Tendons and ligaments have very poor blood supply compared to other tissues of the body (including bone). Without adequate blood supply, growth factors and other important nutrients cannot reach the site of the injured ligaments or tendons, making them very difficult to rebuild. This is where the benefits of PRP treatment comes into play.
Platelet-rich plasma therapy taps into the healing power of your own platelets. In addition to the formation of blood clots to stop bleeding, platelets also contain several growth factors that speed up the healing process and stimulate the production of new blood vessels. These properties of platelets are used to hasten the healing and recovery process.
Initially, a small amount of blood is drawn from your body. This is then processed in a centrifuge so that concentrated platelet-rich plasma can be obtained. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into your blood. The entire process, from drawing your blood to the injection, can be done in less than an hour as an outpatient procedure. As the PRP is derived from your body, the risks of infection or other complications are minimal.
In recent years, several high-profile athletes and sportsmen such as Kobe Bryant and Hines Ward have been able to recover fast from injury and jump back into the sporting arena after undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy. If you have had a ligament or tendon injury that has stubbornly refused to heal, despite prolonged rest or even physical therapy, you might be a candidate for platelet rich plasma therapy. Schedule your consultation today!
NewportCare Medical Group is a comprehensive specialty group located in Newport Beach, California offering a wide range of services including nonsurgical and surgical treatments to the Newport Beach, Orange County, and surrounding areas of California.
