PRP and Its Use in Healing

What Is PRP?

PRP is the acronym for platelet-rich plasma which is a concentration of a person’s blood platelets. It helps in promoting tissue healing and regeneration. It also promotes new capillary growth and accelerates epithelialization in chronic wounds.

When Is PRP Therapy Recommended?

Our joints undergo constant abuse. It could be because of extreme sports and training; it could be through wear and tear or it could be because of aging. But every one of us has been to a doctor due to some kind of pain related to our ligaments, tendons and cartilage. It may have been a torn ACL, rotator cuff tear, Achilles tendon rupture, tendonitis or some other soft-tissue related injury. Some problems are not very severe and with a little help from a podiatrist, simple treatment plans and pain and inflammation medication, get better.

But at times, the injury can also be quite severe and could take a long time to heal and can even become chronic. That’s when PRP therapy may be suggested as it helps in tissue regeneration. When treated with PRP injections, the injury heals faster and the recovery is quicker.

How Does PRP Therapy Work?

This procedure uses the platelet rich plasma of the patient’s own body to heal tissue. Platelets contain thrombocytes that help in creating blood clots and have healing and regenerative properties. 

The injections are prepared by taking a few tubes of blood from the patient and running it through a centrifuge. This concentrates the platelets which are then prepared as injections. Using ultrasound imaging, it is injected into the tendon or ligament that is damaged.

Benefits of Using PRP Injections

•         Recovery is faster
•         The requirement of anti-inflammatory and pain medication is reduced
•         Side effects are limited

Podiatrists around the world are using this new therapy to reverse problems caused by soft tissue damage with great results.