PRP: Why It’s A Breakthrough In Repairing Damaged Joints

Have you heard of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy? It’s a type of regenerative medicine that’s rapidly gaining recognition as a treatment option for everything from sports injuries to osteoarthritis.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a treatment in which platelets are harvested from your own blood and injected into damaged or injured areas. Platelets are powerful cells that help the body heal, and by making a concentration of them and injecting them, they can help spur healing and tissue regeneration.

Adam Redlich, MD, Adam Thompson, DO, and our team at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine offer PRP therapy for patients who are dealing with joint damage, pain, and restricted mobility. In this blog, they explain more about what PRP therapy is and some of its many benefits.

The basics of PRP therapy

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a simple, yet very powerful treatment. With this therapy, we draw a sample of your blood. Then we place it in a centrifuge, which separates the platelets from the rest of your blood’s components.

Then we inject the resulting solution into the joint that needs treatment. Then, over the following weeks, the platelets draw other healing resources and help the damaged joint heal from the inside out.

The benefits of PRP therapy for injured joints

Here are just some of the many benefits of using PRP therapy to treat joint problems:

It’s minimally invasive

One of the most significant advantages of PRP therapy is that it’s minimally invasive. Unlike surgery, which can be painful and require a lengthy recovery period, PRP therapy is an outpatient procedure that only involves needles.

We use a needle to draw your blood, and then we use another needle to inject the PRP solution. Treatments are quick and come with minimal discomfort. In fact, most patients are able to return to their normal activities within a day or two of the procedure.

It helps stimulate healing

Platelets contain growth factors and other powerful proteins that are crucial for tissue repair and regeneration. Rather than just covering up symptoms as medications usually do, these substances help stimulate the production of new cells.

Since PRP therapy taps into your body’s natural healing processes, it can help repair damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and improve joint function over time.

It’s drug-free

Another benefit of PRP therapy is that it’s a natural treatment. It doesn’t require prescription drugs or painkillers. And because the PRP solution is made from your own blood, there’s a very low risk for adverse reactions or complications. This can make PRP therapy a safer and more effective option for patients who may not be good candidates for other types of joint treatments.

It’s customizable

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a flexible treatment that our team uses to treat joint problems and other conditions, including osteoarthritis, tendonitis, and sports injuries. In fact, PRP therapy can significantly reduce pain and inflammation as well as improve joint function to provide long-lasting relief.

To find out if you’re a good candidate for PRP therapy, schedule a consultation with our team at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine. We can provide a comprehensive exam to identify the cause of your joint pain, and we can develop a custom treatment plan to reduce your pain and improve your joint function.

To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with A+ Athlete Sports Medicine today. We have offices in Neptune and Robbinsville, New Jersey.