Chances are you have probably heard the acronym “PRP” recently. PRP or “platelet-rich plasma” therapy has been used by everyone from athletes to celebrities {including Kim Kardashian} to ”regular” people, like us. Our physician friends at The Spine & Sports Health Center are here to break it down for you.
What the heck is it?
Basically, during PRP, the physician draws blood from the patient and places it in a centrifuge, in order to separate the elements in the blood (plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). The platelets are separated from the other blood components and their concentration is increased, hence “platelet-rich.” This platelet-rich plasma is then injected right back into the patient, significantly lowering the risk of an allergic reaction or transmissible infection occurring {because it’s the patient’s own blood}.
Now we bet you’re wondering why someone may subject themselves to something like this?
READ: The Spine & Sports Health Center {Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Acupuncture}
WHY?
There are a couple of reasons! Platelets are the part of your blood responsible for clotting blood, and they also contain several growth factors that help the body heal itself. SO you can think of PRP therapy as doctors having the ability to isolate the part of your body that heals itself, and giving you more of that, right where you need it – essentially magic!
For some people, this “magic” can be used for cosmetic purposes aka the “vampire facial”, as popularized by Kimmy K herself. Your face is numbed and the plasma is injected into the face. The PRP will stimulate collagen and elastin growth, aiding in a cleaner, smoother, healthier-looking complexion.
PRP therapy was actually originally developed to aid injuries and physical ailments, and manage chronic pain, however. Many famous athletes like Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryant have undergone PRP treatment for various sports-related injuries. Many ailments such as soft tissue injuries, shoulder tendonitis, wrist pain, joint arthritis, tennis elbow, and more can be treated with PRP therapy.
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Why is it a good choice?
Depending on the injury, PRP therapy can decrease healing time and the need for surgery. It’s quick and it’s easy. It’s a non-surgical option — so no cutting, no long periods of recovery, no anesthesia, no scarring! It’s also all-natural in the sense that nothing additional (for example steroids) is added to the platelet-rich plasma. It’s an all-around healthy choice to help speed up the healing process (for injuries) and aid in the management of pain {including chronic}.
Interested in more?
While The Spine & Sports Health Center does not offer vampire facials, they can tell you where to get one! Otherwise, when it comes to healing your injuries and managing your pain, The Spine & Sports Health Center is the place to go — they have locations in Hoboken, Jersey City, and Bayonne.
Call them at (201) 533-9200 to learn more about PRP therapy or to make an appointment with one of their board-certified physicians – no referral needed. Weekend and after-work hours are available, too!
The beautiful interior of The Spine & Sports Health Center
The Spine & Sports Health Center is a medical practice specializing in the non-surgical treatment of spine and joint pain. Their board-certified medical doctors provide individualized treatment plans for patients of all shapes and sizes, from young children all the way to professional athletes. Through the use of interventional pain management, sports medicine, physical therapy and rehabilitation, chiropractic, and acupuncture, they are able to provide targeted relief for patients experiencing pain due to neck and back conditions or injuries, sciatica, sports injuries, headaches, nerve damage, herniated or bulging discs, and much more.
This information should not be used or relied upon for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. The Spine & Sports Health Center expressly disclaims responsibility and shall have no liability for any damages, loss, injury or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. If you are having a medical emergency please call 911.
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