What is PRP – Platelet Rich Plasma?
The human body has a natural ability to heal itself from most injuries. A large part of this ability lies in the healing potential of the many growth factors found in our platelets, a component of human blood.
The recent advancement in separation and concentration of a patient’s blood platelets for injection into his damaged body part, is an amazingly elegant tissue regenerative technology.
Although it involves the drawing of a small tube of a patient’s blood, and the injection of the treated body part with his concentrated platelets, the ability to heal his injured muscles, tendons, and other body parts make this a very promising treatment option for many patients.
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is derived directly from your own blood. PRP is a blood plasma with concentrated platelets. Contained within platelets are high concentrations of bioactive active proteins that aid in healing, including growth factors which are necessary to initiate connective tissue healing. With concentrated amounts of these proteins in an injured area, healing and tissue repair is accelerated. Healing can occur in various tissues including tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone. Along with tissue repair the regeneration process also stimulates new blood vessel growth which also promotes the wound healing process.
Where Does Platelet Rich Plasma – PRP Come From?
A small amount of your blood (30-60 cc) is taken from your arm. The blood is then placed in a special kit and centrifuged. The centrifuge processes the blood, extracting the PRP, leaving the excessive plasma and red blood cells in the container. The PRP is a concentration of platelets and growth factors, concentrated up to 500%.
Injuries are prevalent in sports, and athletes often have to take time off for surgery and rehab.
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy helped Tiger Woods’ left knee.
It is available right here in Singapore Sports and Orthopaedic Clinic. It’s done right in the clinic, and you don’t have to be an athlete to benefit.
Platelets have long been known to help the blood clot, but in the last 20 years research has shown that when activated in the body, they release healing proteins called growth factors.
In addition to tennis elbow, platelet-rich plasma therapy can also be used for problems with the Achilles tendon and knee and heel pain, and is also showing promise in treating osteoarthritis.
