PRP FOR SPORTS MEDICINE
SPORTS MEDICINE APPLICATIONS FOR PLASMA RICH PLATELETS (PRP)
The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in sports medicine to treat a variety of athletic injuries, shows great promise. The healing process of musculoskeletal injuries is often a slow and incomplete process. For athletes and patients with active lifestyles, a full, expedient recovery is of primary importance. PRP has been used to treat conditions such as lateral epicondylitis, ligamentous strains, muscular strains, and fracture nonunion in athletes. PRP can be administered via injection to the site of the injury, either during surgery or in the physician's office. This healing cocktail of platelet-rich plasma accelerates the body's natural repair response, allowing athletes to return to competition much faster.
LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS
(Tennis elbow) is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse. Tennis and other racquet sports can cause this condition. Also, other activities that involve a similar repetitive motion can also cause it. Patients with tennis elbow have inflammation in the tendons that connect the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. These forearm muscles and tendons become injured from overuse leading to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow.
MEDIAL EPICONDYLITIS
(Golfer’s elbow) is a repetitive use injury similar to tennis elbow but causing pain on the inside of the elbow instead of the outside. Patients with this condition suffer from pain and tenderness on the medial epicondyle, which is a bony protrusion on the inside of the elbow. Overall weakness in the wrist and pain most acute when bending the wrist palm downwards against resistance and resisting pronation or rotating the wrist inwards.
PATELLAR TENDINITIS
(Jumper’s knee) is an overuse injury where the patellar tendon becomes inflamed, this cord-like connective tissue located just below the kneecap, joins the patella to the tibia. Jumper’s knee is common in athletes whose sports require rapid jumping, kicking or stopping from high speed. These repetitive actions overstress the tendon leading to microscopic tears, inflammation, and pain.
ACHILLES TENDINITIS
Achilles Tendinitis is an overuse injury of the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle. This tendon joins the calf muscles to the foot and connects at the back of the heel or calcaneus bone. Patients with this condition may experience pain anywhere along the tendon, but most commonly near the heel.