If you are suffering from a joint injury or musculoskeletal pain and have consulted a doctor, they may have already told you about platelet-rich plasma therapy for orthopedic injuries that is gaining popularity day by day. Among the very first patients to receive this treatment for sports-related injuries were professional athletes.
While the effectiveness and benefits of PRP therapy in orthopedics is still being researched, a lot of reputable practices and practitioners have already recommended this treatment method to their patients. Here we will talk about how platelet-rich plasma therapy is used to treat orthopedic injuries and whether it is the right option for you.
How Does PRP Therapy Help Heal Orthopedic Injuries?
When a person incurs an injury, their body sends the injected platelets to the affected area in order to boost the healing process. This is the simple science behind the entire process. Since the process works to promote the natural healing ability of the patient’s body, it is minimally invasive.
Orthopedic Conditions that Are Treated with Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Factors that May Influence the Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment
The following are some factors that might have an impact on the effectiveness and results of platelet-rich plasma therapy:
- Whether the injury is chronic, severe, or acute
- The patient’s overall health
- The injured area that is about to be treated
Chronic Tendon Injuries
PRP therapy shows great potential in the treatment of chronic tendon injuries such as tennis elbow, chronic Achilles, inflammation, and tendonitis.
Orthopedic Surgery
PRP therapy has been utilized to help tissues heal post-surgery such as after the repair of torn knee ligaments.
Acute Muscle and Ligament Injuries
PRP is well-known to be used for the treatment of minor sports injuries involving muscle or ligament. The therapy has been used to treat athletes with knee and thigh sprains, pulled hamstring muscles, and other common sports injuries.
Knee Arthritis
PRP treatment is now being used by practices to provide patients with symptomatic relief in knee arthritis also known as knee osteoarthritis.
How Much PRP Therapy for Orthopedic Injuries Cost?
The overall cost of PRP therapy varies according to the complexity of your orthopedic injury and the number of injections that you need. While many insurance plans such as Medicare do not pay for these injections, your clinician might be able to come up with a customized payment plan that fits your budget.
While PRP therapy appears to be quite effective in the treatment of orthopedic injuries, we still need more scientific evidence to confirm its potential in the health industry.
