Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has become one of the most effective ways to promote healing after surgery, sprain, tendon injury, or bone injury. At California Orthopedics & Spine, our doctors perform PRP treatments from the comfort of our office in Novato, CA.
PRP is blood plasma with an extremely high concentration of platelets, which are an important part of your body’s natural healing process. In the past, PRP was expensive and difficult to make, but today we can make PRP in as little as 20 minutes using a small blood sample from the patient.
Many famous athletes have undergone PRP therapy to treat sports-related injuries such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis, patellar tendon inflammation (jumper’s knee), and other injuries. Whether you are a professional athlete or just trying to stay active and improve your quality of life, PRP may be a good treatment option for your injury.
Benefits of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
PRP treatment offers a variety of benefits over other, more invasive treatment options. Because PRP is derived from the patient’s body, they usually react well to the treatments and have fewer risks for complications from donor tissues. Some of the benefits of PRP include
- Potential to speed up the healing process
- Uses your body’s natural growth channels to promote healing
- Made from a small blood sample from the patient’s body
- Usually administered via injection (minimally invasive)
How It Works
PRP can speed up the healing process for certain injuries, especially injuries to tendons and ligaments. Since tendons and ligaments don’t always have access to the healing factors in our blood, it is difficult for them to heal themselves the way muscles can. The platelets and growth factors in PRP can help promote blood clotting, which is crucial in the healing process.
The PRP is formed by concentrating the platelets in the blood sample using a centrifuge machine. This concentrated sample is then injected along with some anesthetic into the area of treatment. If the PRP is being used as part of surgical treatment, the application may be a little different.
PRP Treatment in Marin County
At California Orthopedics & Spine, we use the most advanced and effective treatments at our disposal, and our staff is always looking for the best noninvasive procedures to help our patients. If you need treatment for an injury, our doctors can evaluate your condition to determine whether PRP is a good option for your situation. Give our office a call for more information or to schedule your appointment today.