PRP Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a safe, effective treatment that can reduce pain and repair tissue damage. At Sporting Medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina, sports medicine specialist William Graham, MD, offers PRP therapy to improve function after a sports injury or surgery or to slow the progression of a degenerative disease. Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.

What is PRP therapy?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine that uses your body’s platelets to repair musculoskeletal damage. PRP contains growth factors that aid in wound healing. When combined with physical therapy and rehabilitation, PRP therapy is an effective treatment that may repair tissue damage and stimulate new growth.

How does PRP therapy work?

During PRP therapy, Dr. Graham draws your blood and places it in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins the sample to separate the PRP from the other materials in your blood, including red blood cells and platelet-poor plasma. After isolating the PRP, Dr. Graham injects it directly into your injured bones or tissues.

The injected platelets eventually release growth factors that stimulate new reparative cells at the injury site. Over time, PRP reduces inflammation at your injury site to promote healing.

What can I expect from PRP therapy?

When you arrive at Sporting Medicine, Dr. Graham draws your blood and places the samples in a centrifuge. This process takes about 30 minutes. After isolating the PRP, he uses ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance to inject the material into your exact injury site. PRP injections typically take about 10 to 30 minutes.

Most patients notice improvements in their pain within four to six weeks of their first injection. Healing can continue for up to six to nine months.

How many PRP therapy treatments will I need?

Many patients experience lasting relief from pain after one treatment, but Dr. Graham may recommend additional injections. Two or three injections spread out over several months may help accelerate healing at your injury site.

What are the benefits of PRP therapy?

PRP therapy is a safe, minimally invasive treatment that has been shown to:

• Improve tissue and joint function
• Relieve pain
• Reduce inflammation
• Repair cartilage damage
• Minimize dependency on pain medication

Since PRP therapy uses your own genetic materials to repair damage, your body is less likely to reject its healing properties than synthetic medications.

What conditions can PRP therapy address?

Dr. Graham may recommend PRP therapy if you have:

• Tennis or golfer’s elbow
• Achilles tendonitis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Arthritis
• Knee pain
• Rotator cuff injury
• Hip pain
• Sports injuries

Call Sporting Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about PRP therapy.