Regenerative therapies are a hot topic in the fields of molecular biology and tissue engineering. By replacing or regenerating parts of the human body, it is possible to restore tissues and their normal functions which have degenerated or become non-functional. While this technology is still recent, a large number of people have found relief from their medical conditions with this type of therapy—among them are famous athletes including golf star Tiger Woods and tennis legend Rafael Nadal.
What Is It?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a type of regenerative therapy which harnesses the power of platelets, components of our blood which contain proteins called growth factors. Utilizing this therapy involves a simple injection into the site being treated. However, there is much more to know about platelet-rich plasma and how it is prepared and administered. If you are the type of person who likes to know exactly what is happening during your clinical care, read on to learn more!
When PRP Therapy Is Recommended
Your doctor may recommend the use of PRP therapy to treat injuries to the cartilage, ligaments, muscles, tendons, or bone within your body. Most commonly, PRP therapy is utilized for osteoarthritis. If your physician thinks that this treatment may benefit your condition, know what to expect!
How It Works
Your doctor will use something called an autologous kit to create the platelet-rich plasma from your own blood. (In fact, PRP therapy is sometimes called autologous conditioned plasma therapy.) “Autologous” simply means that the materials come from the same patient on which they are being used for therapy. This means that your own platelets will help you to achieve a more comfortable state with less pain by assisting in the regeneration of your body. How incredible is that?
To learn more about the purpose of an autologous kit or to understand how your healthcare providers may prepare your own PRP therapy, visit RegenOMedix, a provider of these kits.
