What is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy?

Also known as PRP.

Basically, Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy takes blood from the patient, puts it through a centrifuge for 15 minutes to separate out the blood components, and then the plasma gets injected into a damaged tendon.

Why would Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy be good

                                        for a damaged Tendon?

Muscle has a plentiful and direct blood supply.  Tendons and ligaments have no direct blood supply.

Like joints, they get their blood/nutrition from movement and just being close to tissue with direct blood supply.

So it makes sense when one has Tendonitis and/or a torn tendon, that it would take longer to heal, or be harder to heal, since blood carries vital nutrients and building blocks, and the damaged tendon doesn't have direct access to new blood.

With PRP, a direct injection of blood nutrient can help a tendon heal faster than it normally would.

I've been seeing news of this in foreign news, turns out a lot of injured rugby players have been using this.

Looks like it's landed in the U.S. now too.

I'm still watching to get a better picture of results.

But PRP makes sense.  Corticosteroid Shots don't make any sense.

If PRP can be shown to help tendon injury heal faster than the default rate, then it's a good thing.

It's expensive, though.  Which explains why only pro athletes are getting the treatment.

A Couple Downsides

Right off the bat I see two potential downsides.

The first issue is, damage to the tendon if the needle actually penetrates it. 

Tendons don't like damage.

It remains to be seen if getting punctured with PRP will help it heal fast enough to not be an issue.

The second issue is, and this is more of a major issue, is that while PRP may help the tendon damage itself heal fast, it doesn't deal with the Pain Causing Dynamic, or the pattern that has been developing that has led to the Tendonitis.

This may be less of a problem with Tendon tears from impacts, as those are caused by impact....

BUT much of the time, tendons are set up for injury by the Downward Spiral of tightness that has been developing over time....and then a 'normal' impact causes a tear in a tendon that has been trying to hold off the damage for a good deal of time.

Don't let that happen!  Keep your body relaxed and your structures healthy.

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