As an athlete, the last thing you want to go through is an injury. Unfortunately, even with the best training and gear, they happen out of the blue.
The most significant concern with an injury is that it heals properly and the area returns to normal. Conservative treatments help, but PRP gives you the edge to return to your sport sooner.
At Orthopaedic Specialists, Dr. Brandon Downs and his team offer PRP injections along with physical therapy for joint injuries and knee, hip, or shoulder pain. Dr. Downs is an experienced orthopaedic surgeon offering cutting-edge treatments for athletes.
PRP injections are a treatment that utilizes your blood to repair an injury or degeneration in the joints or soft tissues. The primary component of a PRP injection is platelets, which are a critical aspect of blood.
Platelets are the "first responders" in any injury. They rush to the scene and clump together to form a clot over broken skin. They also contain critical growth proteins that aid in rebuilding and repairing damaged tissue.
PRP injections also contain the liquid portion of blood, which is plasma. After a simple blood draw from your arm, we take the vial of blood to a specialized machine called a centrifuge. The machine spins the blood to separate the platelets and plasma from the other cells.
It also increases the platelets, which is excellent for the healing process. We then inject the concentrated serum into a joint or injury to supply it with the growth factors it needs to heal.
Sports injuries are just one of the uses for PRP injections. Although they're not a one-stop treatment option, they help speed up the healing process along with physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, and bracing or splinting.
But not all sports injuries respond as well to PRP injections as others. The injuries that do the best after a PRP injection include:
Any injury involving the soft tissues, especially the supporting joint structures, responds well to PRP injections. We even use PRP injections after surgery for an ACL or meniscus tear to help the area heal quickly and effectively.
A PRP injection is minimally invasive and only requires a needle stick for blood and the injection itself. You may have some discomfort after the injection, which usually subsides within a few days.
You may also notice more swelling or soreness, which is a regular part of the inflammatory and healing process. It should also subside within a few days after the injection. It's essential to rest and apply ice afterward to reduce symptoms.
PRP is a gradual treatment that takes time. It may be several weeks before you notice a significant improvement alongside physical therapy. During this time, the platelets are creating new tissues and repairing the damage from the sports injury.
Most people see significant changes within three months of a PRP injection. Some take longer for severe injuries or after an invasive surgery to see results.
Call Dr. Downs at Orthopaedic Specialists today to schedule a PRP or sports injury appointment at one of our five offices in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, or request a consultation online.
