Your body has an impressive ability to heal itself, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy can speed up the process. The expert team at Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri, offers PRP therapy to treat many types of joint problems. Call the office or book an appointment online today to find out if PRP therapy is right for you.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses your own blood to boost your body’s natural healing power. This procedure involves injecting a high concentration of your own platelets into an area of tissue damage to promote cellular regeneration and repair.
PRP therapy starts with a small vial of your own blood. The majority of your blood is a liquid called plasma. Blood also contains many small components, including red and white blood cells and platelets.
Platelets contain many special proteins (growth factors) that help your blood to clot. Growth factors also play a key role in healing because they stimulate your body to form healthy new cells.
The team at Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine processes your blood to isolate PRP and then re-injects it into a specific area of your body that needs increased healing power. PRP contains 5-10 times more growth factors than normal blood, which helps tissues heal faster.
The team at Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine uses PRP therapy to accelerate healing for a variety of injuries and chronic conditions, including:
They may also use PRP therapy to promote recovery after a surgical procedure, such as rotator cuff repair or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
Unless you get PRP therapy immediately after surgery, the procedure happens right in the office at Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. First, your provider draws a small vial of blood, usually from your arm. They process the blood in a centrifuge for about 15-20 minutes to separate the platelets.
Then, your Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine provider prepares the PRP for injection. They may use ultrasound imaging for guidance to make sure the PRP goes to the precise area of injury or damage.
Because PRP comes from your own body, it has a low risk of side effects. Most people return to normal activities the same day as a PRP injection, but your Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine provider may recommend that you rest the area. Results of PRP therapy usually appear gradually over the course of several weeks or months.
We proudly serve the greater Kansas City area. If you’re considering PRP therapy, call Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, or book an appointment online today.
