Platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatment is an injection therapy that has helped many patients with osteoarthritis, ligament tears, and other knee conditions reduce their pain and enhance their quality of life. For some patients – usually those with less severe joint damage – one PRP injection can provide significant relief from symptoms. However, most patients may need two or three injections to receive maximum improvement. Up to three PRP injections may be given within a six-month period.
It’s important to note that no type of orthopedic treatment is one-size-fits-all. Your ideal course of PRP treatment will depend on your knee condition, overall health, age, lifestyle, and other factors. Combining PRP treatment with other methods such as physical therapy, surgery, or bracing can also impact how many injections you may need.
How Does PRP Treatment Work?
PRP treatment is a type of regenerative medicine that stimulates the body’s ability to heal itself by using the patient’s own growth factor-rich blood cells. Growth factors are naturally occurring substances that help facilitate the musculoskeletal healing process. PRP treatment may sound complicated and ultra-scientific, but the process is relatively simple. Here’s a brief overview on how PRP injections works:
- A small blood sample is taken from the patient.
- The blood sample is spun in a machine called a centrifuge to separate growth factor-rich blood cells from other blood components.
- The growth factor-rich blood cells are concentrated and injected into the patient’s knee to help kick start and accelerate natural healing.
Because it uses the patient’s own blood cells and does not involve administering drugs, PRP injections are widely considered to be a safe and natural knee pain treatment.
PRP Treatment at Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group
Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group is a division of Florida Medical Clinic and the longest-running orthopedic practice in the Tampa area. Our staff, which includes board-certified orthopedic sports medicine surgeon Dr. Daniel Murphy and sports medicine physician Dr. Arnold Ramirez, offers a variety of leading-edge orthopedic therapies, including PRP injections and other types of regenerative medicine like stem cell therapy. We also specialize in traditional conservative knee pain treatments, such as custom bracing and gel injections, as well as surgical care when appropriate. Most importantly, our physicians take pride in designing individualized treatment plans for our patients to help them overcome their knee pain and get back on the move as quickly and safely as possible.
Visit Tampa Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Group in South Tampa to learn more about our approach to PRP treatment and whether or not it is right for you. Our friendly professionals will be happy to schedule your appointment, or you can do so online when it’s most convenient for you. We accept most major health insurance plans and cater to adolescents, adults, and seniors from Tampa and all surrounding communities.
