Home / Orthopedic Blog / Can PRP Therapy Treat Soft Tissue Injuries?

By: Our Medical Team | May 30, 2022

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a popular treatment for soft tissue injuries that does not produce substantial side effects. The procedure is safe, requires no surgeries, and can provide results instead of hiding the pain. Dr. Michael Wolff and the team at Southwest Spine and Sports in Scottsdale, AZ can help alleviate your pain with a personalized PRP therapy plan.

PRP therapy is a treatment for soft tissue injuries, such as tennis elbow, arthritis in the joints, and rotator cuff tendinitis, that helps grow and regenerate new tissues. PRP entails platelets that come from your body, with these platelets coming from the liquid portion of your blood. The PRP includes red and white blood cells alongside platelets.

The PRP includes a higher concentration of platelets, which are necessary for helping to repair and restore various tissues. The platelets are a catalyst for producing new cells that will enhance recovery, making this more effective than cortisone shots that only mask the pain.

There are many benefits to PRP therapy as an alternative to move invasive treatments for soft tissue injuries, including:

• Reduced swelling

• Less inflammation

• Long-lasting relief from pain

• Improved functionality

• Repaired cartilage

During your treatment at Southwest Spine and Sports, Dr. Wolff will extract a small amount of blood from your body. A centrifuge machine will then isolate the PRP from other compounds in your blood. The PRP is then injected in the targeted area without any additional analgesics necessary, although a numbing agent may work over the injection site to keep it from feeling too painful.

The total amount of tissue we will draw from your body will vary by situation, but it shouldn’t be too substantial. About one or two vials of blood or bone marrow will be enough in most situations, so you shouldn’t feel any unusual effects after we finish.

Typically, the results from PRP therapy can last up to 12 months before another treatment is needed. Dr. Wolff can assess your situation and determine the appropriate timing of your therapy.

Since PRP treatments use tissues that come from your body, the risk of side effects will be minimal. Most patients do not feel much pain or discomfort during PRP therapy. You may notice some numbness or irritation around the injection site, but those are effects similar to any other injection you may receive.

Be sure you’re also hydrated before we draw tissues from your body and that you’ve eaten beforehand. You may feel lightheaded if you undergo the procedure while on an empty stomach.

If you are suffering from acute or chronic soft tissue injuries, PRP therapy can help alleviate your pain and improve functionality with a quick recovery and little to no side effects. Contact Dr. Michael Wolff and the experts at Southwest Spine and Sports for a customized PRP therapy treatment plan. Visit us online to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment for help

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Our Medical TeamSouthwest Spine & SportsPlatelet-rich Plasma Therapy