Why PRP Therapy Has Become a Popular Treatment
Platelet-rich plasma therapy concentrates parts of your own blood and then uses the resulting serum to help you heal more quickly. Read on to learn more about this state-of-the-art treatment.
No one likes to be sidelined from sports or experience the pain of an injury. While tried-and-true methods like rest, ice, physical therapy, and more can help encourage healing, there is a new cutting-edge solution to add to the field of possible treatments — platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
Dr. Jeremy Woodson and our team provide state-of-the-art treatments like PRP along with preventive care at our office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. No matter your age or activity level, we will listen to your needs and work as a team to help you reach your goals.
Blood consists primarily of liquid known as plasma along with lesser amounts of solids like red cells, white cells, and platelets. Platelets help the blood clot and aid in the healing process by using hundreds of proteins known as growth factors.
PRP is an innovative treatment that creates a super-charged plasma that has a greater amount of concentrated platelets (and therefore more growth factors) to encourage a faster recovery.
Platelet-rich plasma can be used to treat a variety of injuries and has been utilized by everyone from golfer Tiger Woods to tennis player Rafael Nadal. It can decrease or eliminate pain and reduce inflammation while accelerating healing. PRP can also help repair or regenerate tissue that has been injured.
Treatment with platelet-rich plasma is both safe and effective. PRP is made from your own blood, so there is no risk of a reaction or other complications.
Platelet-rich plasma is natural and employs the same process the body normally uses to heal just with an added boost from the extra growth factors. In fact, serum from PRP has 94% more platelets and a 10-fold concentration of growth factors for high-powered rebuilding and recovery. In some people, this healing works so quickly and easily that more invasive treatment protocols, such as surgery, can be avoided.
The process of acquiring platelet-rich plasma is simple. Following a consultation and the development of a personalized treatment plan, approximately two teaspoons of blood is drawn. It is placed in a centrifuge that spins it to separate the platelets from the other parts of the blood. These powerhouse cells are then combined with a little bit of plasma to form the PRP serum that is injected into the location of the injury.
Before undergoing treatment with platelet-rich plasma, it's essential to discuss any medications, vitamins, or supplements you are taking with our team. Some drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen and supplements like omega-3 fatty acids that can thin the blood may need to be halted before the procedure.
If you have an injury and are looking to speed your recovery, call our office today at 405-233-3602 for an appointment to learn how platelet-rich plasma could help.
