Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet-rich plasma, is a alternative therapy that relieves pain and stimulates the healing of musculoskeletal injuries and diseases. The medical team at New Medical Center in Waupun, Wisconsin, quickly and easily produces PRP in the office from a small sample of your blood. When injected near damaged tissues, the platelets in PRP kick into gear and do their natural job of healing tissues. If you live in the northeast or east central Wisconsin area, and you’d like to learn if you’re a good candidate for PRP therapy, call the office or schedule an appointment online.
What is PRP?
Red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets are the four components that make up your blood. Platelet-rich plasma contains platelets and plasma, but it has a relatively small amount of blood plasma combined with a higher concentration of platelets than the amount normally found in your blood.
The team at New Medical Center produces this treatment in the office from your blood. After they draw a blood sample, they place it in a specialized centrifuge, an instrument that separates plasma and platelets from the other blood components. After extracting your plasma and platelets, they have the PRP for your injection.
When it’s time for the injection, your medical provider uses real-time imaging to view the targeted area and guides the needle to the injured tissues. This ensures the platelets are precisely deposited at the tissues that need a boost in healing.
How do the platelets help heal my body?
Platelets are packed with proteins called growth factors. When your body is injured, platelets travel to the damaged tissues and release their growth factors and other biochemicals. The growth factors then trigger tissue regeneration by:
- Regenerate damaged tissues
- Regulating inflammation
- Accelerating the growth of new tissues
- Protecting healthy cells
Some of the substances released from platelets build a matrix, giving the developing tissues a foundation that supports their growth. Between the natural action of growth factors, all the tissue you need to heal may regenerate, including blood vessels, collagen, skin, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage.
How might I benefit from Alternative therapy?
The team at New Medical Center may recommend PRP for any type of soft tissue injury, inflammatory conditions, and degenerative diseases. In addition to healing the targeted injury, one of the biggest benefits of PRP is its ability to effectively relieve pain nearly anywhere in your body.
Some of the conditions that can be treated with Alternative therapy include:
- Acute and chronic tendon injuries, such as tennis elbow
- Muscle and ligament injuries
- Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis)
- Chronic and acute back pain due to injury or degenerative processes
Alternative Therapy is an excellent option for tissues that heal slowly because they have a poor blood supply or when your injury is so severe it overwhelms your body’s healing power. Older patients often benefit from the healing boost of this treatment because the body’s natural healing response tends to slow down with age.
To learn if you’re a good candidate for Alternative therapy, call New Medical Center or schedule an appointment online.