In a nutshell, among the amazing benefits of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy treatments is that they are especially effective at addressing soft-tissue injuries such as tendonitis and its chronic counterpart, tennis elbow. The latter is one of the most common reasons patients and doctors choose PRP treatments.
Let’s delve deeper into how PRP treatments are beneficial for relieving pain associated with tennis elbow.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, is a condition characterized by pain and inflammation that are typically felt on the outside of the elbow.
Tennis elbow occurs when you overwork the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the outside of your elbow, causing them to get inflamed and injured. This usually happens when you engage in any activity that involves repetitive swinging, such as playing tennis—hence its name. Repetitive strain on your tendons can lead to tiny tears in it.
How Is Tennis Elbow Typically Treated?
Treatment of tennis elbow can run the gamut— from conservative approaches and at-home care, to more aggressive methods such as injections and surgery.
For mild cases, simply resting the forearm for an extended period of time can relieve the pain. Medications that reduce pain and swelling may also be recommended by your doctor.
If your orthopedic doctor specializes in sports medicine, treatment may also include a biomechanics assessment and a physical therapy routine, designed to strengthen the muscles of your forearm. Specific types of sports equipment can also help reduce the strain on your forearm. If you are a tennis player, this means opting for a racquet that has looser strings or one with a smaller—as opposed to oversized—head.
Doctors and patients alike turn to surgery as a last resort. When you’re not getting any relief from every conservative option you’ve tried for your tennis elbow pain, you may want to consider PRP therapy.
How Do PRP Treatments Work?
PRP treatments are a safe and effective procedure that basically boosts your body’s natural healing response and focuses it on a particular area of injury — in this case, at the elbow where the damaged tendons are.
In this procedure, some of your blood is drawn, then spun in a centrifuge, a laboratory device used to separate and concentrate the platelets from the other components of your blood. These platelets contain “growth factors” that stimulate the production of wound-healing cells. A solution with a concentrated level of these platelets is then reinjected at the site of the injury. This promotes healthy tissue regeneration and the quick, successful healing of the tendon tears.
Why Patients Choose PRP Treatments for Tennis Elbow
PRP treatments are most commonly used to help heal soft tissue injuries, such as tennis elbow, and tears in tendons, muscles, and ligaments throughout the body.
The following are some of the benefits of using PRP treatments for tennis elbow:
- Long-term, lasting solution to the pain of tennis elbow (addresses the cause of your symptoms)
- Natural option – nothing artificial is introduced into your body
- Uses your own blood, so there is no risk of rejection by your immune system
- Simple, quick, and convenient in-office procedure
Seeking First-Rate PRP Treatment in Palm Beach, FL
PRP treatments are modern medicine’s gift to people suffering from pain associated with tennis elbow and other orthopedic conditions.
If you’re seeking PRP treatment within the Palm Beach area in Florida, schedule a consultation with any of our orthopedic doctors at Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches. Apart from PRP, we proudly offer cutting-edge noninvasive and surgical treatments to address your pain and discomforts, and we are dedicated to delivering exceptional results whichever procedure you’re coming for.
Book an appointment with any of our orthopedic doctors at Personalized Orthopedics of the Palm Beaches by calling (561) 733-5888 or using this online request form now.
