Musculoskeletal Medicine Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection treatments can be used in the treatment of many musculoskeletal injuries including that of tendons, muscles and joints. Typically 2 or more injections may be required, 4 weeks apart. This may vary depending on the extent of your condition or injury.
What tendon injuries can be treated with PRP? PRP Injections can treat:
Tennis elbow
Golfer’s elbow
Jumper’s knee / tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis
Plantar fasciitis
Hamstring tendons
Adductor tendons
Gluteal tendons
What muscle injuries can be treated with PRP? PRP can treat:
Hamstring
Calf
Quadriceps
What other injuries can be treated with PRP?
Trochanteric (hip) bursitis
Knee Ligament tears
Knee osteoarthritis
Shoulder Pain / inflammation
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Tendonitis Tendons contain fibrous collagen protein. These proteins weave together to make a strong durable structure that naturally anchor muscle to bone (2). Tendons transfer great forces, making them prone to be injured if they are overused or overwhelmed. If this occurs, micro tears start to form in the collagen (1). Injured tendons heal by local scar tissue, which can affect their strength and hence increases the risk of reoccurring injury. Also, tendons have a poor blood supply, they tend to heal slower than other soft tissues (2-4). Why is my tendon injury not improving? To promote healing - all tissues need a blood flow to promote an inflammatory response and stimulate healing, unfortunately tendons only have a poor blood supply. Without inflammation, the tendon repair system is reduced and an abnormal repair process occurs (5-7), this can result in a process of degenerative changes over time. This degenerative response to the micro tears in collagen is the essence of chronic tendonitis (tendinopathy). Often pain, localised tenderness, swelling and impaired performance occurs (8).
How are tendons treated?
Traditional therapies do not address the inherently poor healing properties of tendons. Corticosteroid Injections is sometimes used as an anti-inflammatory however is know to have adverse effects such as permanent structural damage to tendons can occur (6). Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can cause gastrointestinal or kidney damage (1).
How is PRP different?
PRP injection treatment is a pro-inflammatory treatment aimed to stimulate the inflammatory process which in turn will encourage the healing process. PRP focuses repairing local tissue damage, while avoiding further degenerative changes.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections for Muscle Strains / Tears
PRP can potentially accelerate muscle healing and reduce injury time. The early blood clot can be substituted by PRP with its enhanced physiological concentration of growth factors which stimulates the healing process (8).
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections for Other Injuries
There is ongoing medical research into the use of PRP regarding its potential to treat many other musculoskeletal injuries including: various forms of bursitis.
References
Enquire for reference material.
Find out more visit: