Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy relieves pain and restores strength, stability, and range of motion. It accomplishes this without subjecting patients to the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, hospital stays, or prolonged recovery. PRP is a new treatment option that intends to relieve knee pain, rebuild collagen (the major building block of cartilage, tendons, and ligaments), and restore function without the need for surgery.

Platelets naturally begin the healing the healing process in the body. PRP intensifies this process by delivering a high concentration of platelets to accelerate healing.

What is PRP?

PRP is the yellowish-clear part of the blood concentrated with platelets and growth factors that initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. We obtain Platelet Rich Plasma by drawing some blood from the patient, then separating the red and white blood cells to isolate a concentrated amount of platelets. Dr. Hansen then injects the PRP, by using a very fine needle, into the area that needs to be repaired.

How Long Does the Procedure Take?

The procedure generally takes one hour, including the time needed for the blood draw, PRP preparation and injection. Most people return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure.

How Often Should the Procedure be Done?

Although each case is considered individually, Dr. Hansen has found the best results are obtained by giving a series of 10 PRP injections over a 14 week period: 1 PRP injection per week for 6 weeks, followed by 1 injection every other week for the last 8 weeks. This procedure has a cumulative effect that stimulates tissue repair and enhanced production of new collagen and other organized connective tissue. The procedure improves ligaments, tendons, and cartilage to regenerate healthy, stronger, and more flexible joints. In addition to Platelet Rich Plasma, specialized physical therapy using Accelerated Recovery Performance (ARP) Wave electro-stimulation is recommended after the series of PRP injections to strengthen the associated muscles.

What are the Expected Results?

Patients typically experience improvement within weeks as healing progresses. PRP offers immediate cushioning and relief to painful joints. Each session builds upon the previous injection, providing cumulative benefits that reduce pain and increase flexibility weekly. Research and clinical practice demonstrate PRP therapy’s exceptional effectiveness in relieving pain and restoring function. Ultrasound and MRI images unequivocally confirm tissue repair through PRP therapy, validating the healing process. By restoring healthy cartilage, ligaments, and tendons before irreparable damage, surgery needs can be greatly reduced or eliminated

Studies Confirm Effectiveness of PRP

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Hospital for Special Surgery found that PRP treatment improved pain and function for patients with knee osteoarthritis, furthermore 73% of patients reported seeing delays in the progression of the disease. Previous studies have found that patients with osteoarthritis can lose nearly five percent of cartilage per year. This study also discovered that a majority of patients had no further cartilage loss following their Platelet Rich Plasma treatment.

PRP treats the following conditions:

• Tennis Elbow
• Ankle Sprains
• Sports Injuries
• Tendinitis
• Ligament Sprains
• Wrinkling of the Skin

PRP releases growth factors into the skin to expedite the body’s own repair process and stimulate new collagen and elastin, when used for skin rejuvenation. The PRP is applied topically to the skin during a micro-needling procedure.