Sports Med Blog

Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy or PRP Therapy

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Published on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 18:35

Written by Anne Moss Rogers

PRP Therapy or Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is all about using an athletes own blood to treat injury. It's not a complicated procedure and it involves injecting portions of patient's blood directly into an injured area. It has been particularly effective for stubborn injuries such as tendinitis of the knee and tennis elbow.  It's a great option for other injuries that do not presently have a a good solution and for parts of the body that don't have good vascularization or blood supply. 

How PRP Therapy works

The injection acts as a catalyst for the body to repair its own muscle, bone and tissue. What is particularly fascinating is the fact that the procedure appears to regenerate tendon fibers and ligaments. This could shorten rehab times considerably and possibly eliminate surgeries. 

Many athletes, both professional and amateur, including at least one major league pitcher has used the technique.

PRP Therapy Results in a major league pitcher

"Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ team physician, used platelet-rich plasma therapy in July on a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing elbow of pitcher Takashi Saito. Surgery would have ended Mr. Saito’s season and shelved him for about 10 to 14 months; he instead returned to pitch in the September pennant race without pain," says an article in the New York Times.¹

So far it appears the procedure is not very effective in 20-40% of cases, depending on the type of injury. Trials on achilles injuries, rotator cuff strains, partial knee ligament tears and bone fractures and being conducted now. 

For now, the procedure is making it's way into doctor's offices and for many injuries it promises a lot less down time due to injury.