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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
WHAT IS PRP?
PRP is blood plasma with concentrated platelets that contain huge reservoirs of bioactive proteins, including growth factors that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. These bioactive proteins initiate connective tissue healing, bone regeneration, and repair, promote development of new blood vessels, and stimulate the wound healing process.
Many sports medicine and orthopedic communities have taken advantage of this treatment, including professional NFL athletes who credit PRP treatment for enabling them to stay in the game. In golf news, Tiger Woods received PRP treatments to help him recover faster from surgery on his knee.
Pittsburgh Steelers stars Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu credit PRP treatment for enabling them to play in the 2009 Super Bowl. Golf Digest reports PRP as a great option for golfers 40 and older because they typically don’t heal as fast as younger players.
HOW DOES PRP WORK?
While clot formation is an important function of platelets, they are also very much involved in the injury healing process. Human platelets are naturally extremely rich in connective tissue growth factors; however, PRP can increase the concentration of platelets and growth factors by up to 500%. Injecting these growth factors into damaged ligaments, tendons, and joints stimulates a natural repair process.
Simply, PRP treatment recreates and stimulates the body’s natural healing process.
WILL MY INSURANCE COVER THIS?
While PRP treatments have been around for years, many insurance companies still consider this treatment experimental and deny coverage. Your healthcare provider's office will contact your insurance company to confirm if they will cover this procedure. If your insurance will not cover the treatment, your provider may discuss other options with you.