Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Common Sports Injuries
by Melinda Burris
Although scientists have been researching the healing properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) since the early 1970s, the use of the treatment did not become mainstream until 2009 when it was reported the technology was being used to help professional American football players treat injuries. In less than two decades, PRP treatment has become popular not only in sports medicine but also for cosmetic uses including rejuvenating facials and even hair restoration.
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This article details how PRP is obtained, how the procedure is performed, and why this treatment method for sports-related and other common bodily injuries has gained such popularity in a relatively short time.
What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a medical term that describes the blood products that contain an increased level of platelets. These platelets are rich in certain growth factors that when injected at the site of injured tissue or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, markedly speed up the body’s natural healing process.1 Reduced recovery times are a priority in sports, so it is no surprise that PRP has become an increasingly popular treatment used by healthcare professionals specializing in sports medicine. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted into PRP injection therapy and its effectiveness in treating common sports-related injuries.1
How PRP is Derived and Administered
To obtain these PRPs, blood is drawn from the intended recipient utilizing sterile techniques. The blood sample is then put into a centrifuge and spun. The spinning motion separates the plasma from the blood cells, resulting in platelets that are more concentrated with the healing growth factors. This is a quick process that generally takes approximately 15 minutes.1
Using ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the PRP is injected into the target area where the body needs help healing. This is an outpatient procedure that is normally performed in a doctor’s office or clinic with no anesthesia required.1 The administration time is minimal, generally taking just 20 minutes to complete the injection process.
How Does PRP Accelerate Healing?
Because PRP contains a high amount of natural healing properties, PRP injected directly into the body at the precise site of injury assists the body in its endeavors to heal the damaged area. These specific platelets are instrumental in causing the blood to clot, initiating the healing process. The presence of these platelets instigates the release of growth factors that are required for healing to occur.1
PRP Injection Therapy Has Been Found to Pose Minimal Risks
There are minimal risks associated with PRP injection therapy. There may be slight discomfort or pain along with light bruising at the injection site, but more serious risks of negative effects like infection or damage to nerves or tissue are on par with the risks associated with getting a cortisone shot. Another positive is that there is little to no downtime after PRP injection therapy. Most patients who receive this treatment can return to school or work immediately after the procedure is completed.1
Frequent Injuries PRP Has Been Shown to Treat with Quick, Excellent Results
PRP therapy not only helps the injury to heal faster, but it also helps alleviate pain, which reduces the need for taking highly addictive prescription medications such as opioids.1 Slight soreness may linger for 2-3 days after the procedure. Pain from the injury significantly subsides for many patients within 16 weeks. Research has demonstrated that the cartilage surrounding the injury begins to thicken following PRP treatment. This is a good sign as thickening cartilage shows the body is undergoing the healing process. One controlled scientific study found 60% of patients who received PRP injections experienced a decrease in pain.2,3
Dr. Janet Pearl points out that since PRP is much less invasive than surgery, it therefore poses less likelihood of post-treatment complications, yet another reason PRP is preferable to traditional surgical options. According to Dr. Pearl, the speed with which PRP therapy can be administered, shorter recovery times, and the fact that minimal pain is associated with the procedure have combined to create a consensus among medical professionals, trainers, coaches, and athletes themselves that PRP is a “safer alternative to surgeries in the optimal management of soft tissue injuries.”2
Athletes at All Levels Have Embraced PRP Therapy
PRP therapy is popular among athletes across the board, elite-level competitors such as golfer Tiger Woods have had this procedure done with positive outcomes such as faster healing times and successful improvement of stubborn injuries that had previously proven resistant to traditional treatment methods.1,3 Late NBA star Kobe Bryant was one of the first professional athletes to receive PRP therapy.3
As more research has been conducted resulting in a greater understanding of what PRP therapy is and its many benefits, the treatment has been embraced by athletes at every level including children and teens.4 Due to PRP’s ability to quickly treat soft tissue injuries, it has also been embraced by estheticians for revitalizing, anti-aging facials, which are often referred to as “vampire facials” due to the centrifuge process that separates the healing plasma from the patient’s blood.
Research studies have shown PRP therapy to be an effective and relatively safe form of treatment for numerous injuries frequently sustained by athletes of all skill levels, from fitness enthusiasts to elite competitors participating in a wide variety of sports. Examples of common conditions PRP treatments have been shown to treat with excellent, rapid results include not only ACL tears and osteoarthritis of the knee but also plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow, rotator cuff tears, chronic lower back pain, and muscle and ligament injuries, just to name a few.2
Although PRP therapy has been commonly used for nearly a decade, researchers suggest more investigation into this promising method of treatment is needed.
References:
- (2023). ACL Injury Repair with PRP Therapy.
- Pearl, J.D. (2023). Why are So Many Professional Athletes Getting Platelet Rich Plasma injections?
- SoCal Regenerative Medical Clinics. (2023). Why Did Kobe Bryant Choose PRP Injections?
- Herdea, A. et al. (11 Jan. 2022). Efficiency of Platelet-rich Plasma Therapy for Healing Sports Injuries in Young Athletes.
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