“Liquid gold” has been used to describe a lot of miracle fluids, but none qualify for the nickname as much as platelet-rich plasma. One of the natural components of human blood, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) has been used to revitalize the skin, promote hair growth in balding areas, and help with erectile dysfunction. PRP, as amazing as it is, has even more to offer, in the form of a treatment for joint problems.
PRP has been known to turn back the clock on common issues by promoting the formation of new blood vessels and stimulating stem cells, which assist in building cartilage, muscle, and tendons. This allows it to be used for many purposes in the body, as well as handling joint dysfunction.
PRP treatments have a similar procedure regardless of the specific issue. The area of injection is anesthetized, then a small amount of blood is extracted. This small amount of blood is centrifuged to isolate the platelet-rich plasma in it. The PRP is then injected back into the joint, in this case, and within weeks significant improvements can be seen to the pain and stiffness of joints. The procedure is relatively painless.
There are multiple clinical studies that support the idea of PRP regenerative effects being significant in reversing joint dysfunction. Patients with osteoarthritis were treated with PRP in multiple studies and the vast majority showed lessened pain and better function of the joint for 6 months, at which point the effects started to wear off. In some cases, the injection of PRP not only slowed down or halted the deterioration of the joints, but actually healed the joints.
All in all, while the studies did not show that PRP was a treatment for osteoarthritis, it was effective in alleviating pain in the joints and mitigating decline in joint function.
To find out more about PRP and if it could help you, contact Sleep and Wellness and look at the following for more information:
- Kajikawa Y, Morihara T, Sakamoto H, Matsuda K, Oshima Y, Yoshida A, Nagae M, Arai Y, Kawata M, Kubo T. Platelet-rich plasma enhances the initial mobilization of circulation-derived cells for tendon healing.
- Van Buul GM, Koevoet WLM, Kops N, et al. Platelet-rich plasma relea- sate inhibits inflammatory processes in osteoarthritic chondrocytes.
- https://www.sleep-wellness.org/contents/services/botox-fillers/platelet-rich-plasma