PRP is the shorthand term for “platelet rich plasma” and is an upgraded type of Prolotherapy. PRP is the injection of a concentrated part of the patients blood, namely platelets, into tendons, ligaments, or joints to stimulate healing. Platelets, present in everyone’s blood, have many natural growth factors. These growth factors promote healing when injected in certain tissues.
The PRP process is the following:
- The removal of a small quantity of blood from a person’s vein.
- The separation and concentration of the platelets.
- The injection in the sites where it is needed to stimulate new growth.
Tendons and ligaments themselves have a very small blood supply and so have few growth factors available for repair and re-growth of torn fibers. PRP is the direct injection of these growth factors (in the form of platelets) into the damaged location.
