Accidents and injuries happen all the time, and they lead to 39.5 million medical office and 24.5 million emergency room visits a year. Whether you’re working around the house or playing sports, injuries such as pulled muscles, strains, sprains, joint pain, and tendonitis are common. Not only that, but the pain can be frustrating to deal with. Thankfully, when an ice pack and over-the-counter medications aren’t enough, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy — a treatment that uses your own blood — can speed up your healing and help you recover.
If you’re looking for relief from an injury and are near the Salt Lake City, Utah area, Dr. Jake Schmutz, Dr. Joshua Hersh, and our experienced staff at Integrative Medica can help. We offer a wide variety of traditional and alternative solutions for your medical needs, including PRP therapy. Let’s look at how this treatment works and what it can do for your injuries.
Your blood runs throughout your entire body, carrying oxygen and nutrition. It also helps to remove waste. The key components of your blood are:
During PRP therapy, we take the platelets in your blood plasma and isolate it using a centrifuge, which separates and concentrates it to intensify its effect. We then inject the platelet-rich plasma into your injury, effectively using your own body to heal itself.
The process of PRP therapy stimulates new cell growth and speeds up healing of your injuries. It has many applications, including:
PRP therapy can stimulate healing and ease the pain of chronic tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries. Some common conditions include tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, jumper’s knee, and pitcher’s shoulder.
PRP therapy is also used to accelerate recovery time from surgical procedures done on musculoskeletal injuries and even cosmetic surgeries.
There is still research being done, but studies show the effectiveness of PRP therapy in modulating the joint environment and reducing inflammation in osteoarthritis pain.
PRP therapy is a go-to treatment for sports injuries and is even used in treatment for hair loss and skin rejuvenation.
This outpatient procedure starts with your blood being drawn, and how much blood will depend on the injury being treated. Next, the blood is placed into a centrifuge which separates the platelets from the rest of your blood (and takes about 15 minutes). Once complete, the area to be treated is pinpointed (often using ultrasound) and is injected with the PRP.
Because the substance being injected comes from your own body, it is low risk and has very few side effects. Bruising and soreness at the injection site is common, while bleeding, tissue damage, nerve injuries, and infection are far less common.
If you’re looking for relief from your injuries and want to recover quickly, PRP therapy is a safe, effective way to help your body. If you’re ready to start, make an appointment at Integrative Medica today.
