Although blood is mainly a liquid (called plasma), it also contains small solid components (red cells, white cells, and platelets.) The platelets are best known for their importance in clotting blood. However, platelets also contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors which are very important in the healing of injured tissue (tendons, ligaments, cartilage, etc.).
Conditions that are treated are: sports injuries, arthritis, ligament injuries and tendon injuries (rotator cuff, tennis elbow, Achilles tendon, patellar tendon, quadriceps tendon, plantar fascia and biceps tendon).
PRP is plasma with many more platelets than what is typically found in blood. The concentration of platelets — and, thereby, the concentration of growth factors — can be 5 to 10 times greater (or richer) than usual.
To develop a PRP preparation, blood must first be drawn from a patient. The platelets are separated from other blood cells and their concentration is increased during a process called centrifugation.
This is then injected into the injured area and an inflammatory healing process is initiated called Platelet Rich Plasma Injections.
