Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy can promote healing in patients with sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. Bone and soft tissue repair naturally occurs in several stages, and PRP takes advantage of an early phase of recovery that is usually characterized by inflammation and cell proliferation. The Board-certified doctors at Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group offer PRP injections and other regenerative medicine options to provide a “biological boost” to the healing process for patients in Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and other nearby FL communities.
Because the goal of platelet rich plasma therapy is to optimize the initial inflammatory response of healing, a patient should stop taking anti-inflammatories prior to treatment. In general, a PRP procedure works like this: Platelets, which contain a concentration of growth factors and proteins that can stimulate healing and the generation of new cells, are isolated from a small sampling of a patient’s blood using a sterile technique called centrifugation. The collected platelets are treated and then injected into an injured bone or soft tissue site, such as a tendon or ligament. When precise placement is needed, PRP injections can be guided through ultrasound. Since PRP injections are derived from a patient’s own blood, the potential for side effects is minimal.
Dr. Arnold Ramirez, our Board-certified sports medicine doctor who serves as team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, might recommend platelet rich plasma therapy to facilitate the healing of:
- Rotator cuff tears
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Meniscus injuries
- Patellar tendonitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Osteoarthritis
- And more
Through the release of growth factors and proteins that can recruit and increase the proliferation of reparative cells, platelet rich plasma injections have the potential to spur recovery, decrease pain, improve function, and preclude the need for surgery for some patients. Immediately after the procedure, some patients experience soreness at the injection site. An initial period of rest is usually recommended, followed by a progressive rehabilitative program of stretching and strength training.
To learn more about platelet rich plasma injections, please contact Tampa Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group today. Our highly personalized approach to practicing medicine has earned us the trust of patients throughout Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and the surrounding FL communities.
