Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is no longer just for professional athletes and is now available at Medical Associates for athletes of all levels of competition from professional, college, high school, and recreational! PRP provides options for nonsurgical treatment of common injuries through use of the patients own blood cells to stimulate the healing of an injury.
When you suffer a musculoskeletal injury, the injury creates a signal to your body to begin a healing response. This response includes an inflammatory cascade, that while working on healing the injured area, can result in pain and discomfort at the injured body part. This associated discomfort can be treated with nonsteroidal or steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections or ice. However this can suppress the normal healing process.
PRP works by injecting a concentrated amount of your own platelets into the injured part of your body. These procedures are always performed in our clinic with image guidance, e.g. ultrasound-guided or fluoroscopy- guided technology to ensure accurate placement of the treatment medicine (PRP).
PRP contains an increased concentration of growth factors and inflammatory mediators that help stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal through tissue repair at the area of injury. PRP can aid in decreasing pain and reducing inflammation. PRP can be used to treat a variety of chronic and acute injuries including joints, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscles.
What types of injuries are common for treatment with PRP?
- Joint osteoarthritis, especially knee joint osteoarthritis
- Tendon Injuries, for example tennis or golfer’s elbow and Achilles’ tendonitis
- Muscle strains, for example hamstring strains
- Ligament injuries, for example ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Plantars fasciitis
- Meniscal tears
How does the process work?
We encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists who performs PRP. Your consultation will include a thorough review of your medical record, physical examination, and discussion of treatment options that are tailored to you and your particular injury.
If you decide to pursue treatment with one of our specialists the procedure will be performed in an outpatient basis in the office. One of our skilled lab technicians will draw your blood as they would in a routine blood test. The blood is then placed in a specialized version of a centrifuge machine that separates the platelet rich plasma from the remainder of the blood. Your doctor will then use image guidance with either ultrasound or fluoroscopy technology to ensure accurate placement of the PRP. After the injection you will receive a custom-tailored rehabilitation plan along with regular follow-ups with your treating physician.
*PRP is not always covered by insurance and is one of many treatment options for the aforementioned injuries. We recommend you discuss the most up to date research in regards to your specific injury with your treating provider.
Dry needling, also known as functional dry needling or trigger point dry needling, uses a thin, solid filament needle to treat muscle discomfort. It is referred to as “dry” needling because there is no medication used or injected during the procedure. Trigger points are “knots” in muscles which occur from injury or overuse and can cause tightness and discomfort in muscles. Trigger points can refer pain to other parts of the body when pressure is applied to them. This is also known as referred pain.
While dry needling utilizes similar tools as acupuncture (acupuncture needles), it is not the same as acupuncture treatment. Dry needling is guided by Western medicine training involving evaluation of pain patterns, functional movement, and anatomic structures. Acupuncture is guided by traditional Chinese medicine and includes inserting needles into meridians to re-balance your body’s chi or electromagnetic field.
Dry needling helps assist the injured muscle in relaxation, increasing blood flow, decreasing discomfort, and improving range of motion.
Dry needling is almost always used as an adjunctive treatment modality to aid in a comprehensive rehabilitation and treatment program.
Your treating provider will perform a full history and physical examination to determine whether you would be a good candidate for dry needling. Dry needling cannot be performed if there is evidence of infection, lymphedema, or in the presence of open wounds. Patients with diabetes, vascular disease, taking prescribed blood thinners, or who are pregnant should discuss this with the treating provider prior to performing dry needling to ensure this is the right treatment for their condition.
