Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine treatment that boosts your body’s natural tissue repair and rebuilding abilities. It’s proven effective in addressing tendon, ligament, and joint injuries that are often hard to treat and slow to heal.
Dr. Sumit Dewanjee is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and top-level sports medicine physician at FXRX in Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona. He provides insight into PRP therapy and why it’s become so popular among athletes at all levels.
PRP therapy is all about harnessing the body's own healing abilities. It involves drawing a small amount of the patient's blood, processing it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and injecting this platelet-rich plasma into the injured area.
Platelets play a crucial role in your body's natural healing process, and PRP contains several growth factors and other cytokines that can stimulate soft tissue healing. This is especially helpful in assisting in your recovery from common sports injuries.
We’ve noted significant benefits of PRP therapy when used as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy for:
PRP therapy also effectively treats pain, inflammation, and decreased mobility related to knee osteoarthritis. This degenerative arthritis typically develops over time and may be related to aging, sports activities, or a previous traumatic knee injury.
For athletes, the sooner they recover from an injury, the quicker they can return to their sport. PRP therapy accelerates the healing process, allowing athletes to get back in the game faster than traditional treatments might allow.
We offer treatment services for top-level athletes at FXRX, but PRP is highly effective for any adult struggling with decreased mobility and pain related to muscle, tendon, or joint injuries.
Surgical interventions often demand extended recovery times. PRP therapy offers a nonsurgical alternative that can sometimes negate the need for surgery altogether.
By enhancing the body's healing response, PRP may reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair without invasive procedures. But we can also apply PRP following surgery to help speed the healing of ligaments, muscles, and tendons.
Because PRP is derived from your own blood, there's a reduced risk of allergic reactions or transmission of infectious diseases. The process is minimally invasive, typically involving only a blood draw and an injection.
While PRP is primarily recognized for its healing capabilities, some athletes believe it can boost performance. PRP can enhance muscle function and joint mobility by promoting better tissue health and reducing inflammation, thereby potentially improving athletic performance.
It naturally gains attention when top-tier athletes publicly share their positive experiences with PRP therapy. Several renowned athletes from various sports, including golf, basketball, tennis, and football, have undergone PRP treatments and attested to its benefits.
These endorsements have significantly boosted the therapy's credibility and popularity.
The field of regenerative medicine, including PRP therapy, is continuously evolving. As more research is conducted and results are published, the methods and applications of PRP therapy are refined, making it even more effective and appealing to athletes.
As athletes push the boundaries of human capabilities, it's no wonder they're turning to innovative treatments like PRP to support their physical needs.
Schedule an appointment with us today to learn more about PRP therapy and the other services we offer at FXRX. Call our office in Tempe or Phoenix, Arizona, or request a visit online.
