Your entire musculoskeletal system functions as your body’s support structure, providing it stability and form and allowing movement. Although your muscles, bones, and joints are exceptionally durable, they are still susceptible to breakage and tears.
Fortunately, there are a variety of effective treatments available to deal with these injuries. One of the newest options is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
PRP is a minimally invasive, injection-based procedure that utilizes the patient’s own body’s natural healing processes. Let’s talk about what PRP is and how these treatments work for orthopedic injuries and pain.
What Is PRP Therapy?
PRP therapy is a relatively new technique in the field of medicine, and it’s especially used in the areas of hair restoration and orthopedics. It is an effective treatment for joint pain that promotes long-lasting healing.
This procedure uses your own blood platelets – and since they’re your own cells, this treatment minimizes the risk of rejection in the body. This procedure is much simpler than surgery, and the whole process takes about an hour, including preparation and recovery time. The PRP is injected directly into the spot of your body that requires healing.
Orthopedic Conditions Treated with PRP
In orthopedics, PRP therapy is often used to improve healing and promote cell regeneration after surgery, even after intensive surgery such as spinal fusion. Your healthcare provider may use it to treat orthopedic conditions such as the following:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, as it is the wear-and-tear variety of arthritis. It frequently affects the knees, hands, and hips. It may develop due to playing sports or just due to the normal aging process, after much use of the joints.
PRP therapy for arthritis has shown excellent results on patients, particularly in reducing pain caused by knee arthritis. The platelet-rich plasma reduces pain and stiffness of the affected joint, and it can improve joint function up to three months after injection.
Tendonitis
Overusing your joints can result in tendonitis, which is the inflammation of a tendon. Arthritis and diabetes also increase the risk of developing tendonitis. It usually affects the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, or heel.
PRP therapy for tendonitis will help relieve the inflammation and promote healing of the affected tendon. The platelet-rich plasma will be directly injected into the inflamed tendon.
Rotator Cuff Tear
Your rotator cuff is composed of shoulder muscles and their tendons, called the shoulder capsule. With years of use – or overuse due to sports, your profession, or a hobby – the shoulder capsule can weaken, causing a torn rotator cuff.
PRP therapy has been shown to relieve pain and decrease inflammation in patients suffering from a torn rotator cuff.
PRP Treatment in South Florida
The use of platelet-rich plasma therapy has revolutionized the treatment of common orthopedic conditions, particularly joint pain. It has decreased the need for invasive surgical procedures, thereby minimizing the risk of infections yet still providing extended relief beyond what medication can provide.
Our team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons here at the Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches is ready to help you enjoy life with less pain and more mobility. Our clinic in Boynton Beach can provide PRP treatments and other modalities to address musculoskeletal issues and sports injuries.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (561) 733-5888, or you may request an appointment through this online form. Let us help you find the best treatment for your joint pain!
