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5 benefits of PRP

PRP is a form of regenerative medicine that helps to give a biological ‘boost’ to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. Platelet rich plasma offers a natural alternative to conventional injection therapies such as cortisone, especially in tendon injuries. There is also increasing scientific evidence that demonstrates excellent outcomes in the treatment of chronic or recalcitrant injuries like osteoarthritis or rotator cuff injuries. Do check out our top 5 benefits of PRP below.


1) Accelerated healing 

Think about when you injure or cut yourself. Blood rushes to the site to repair the damaged blood vessels and start the healing process. The platelets are the cells in the blood that use a substance called fibrin to ‘plug’ the damaged vessels and this allows the body to start the healing and rebuilding process. When PRP  is used to treat injured areas, extra platelets are delivered to the wound thereby providing the area with extra clotting power. Platelets also secrete cytokines which help to kill any pathogens that enter the wound thereby keeping the healing process clear of infection.


2) Faster and better recovery

PRP has been publicised in the media because of the famous athletes and sports people who have benefitted from the treatment. Stars like Tiger Woods and John Terry have talked about the impact it has had on their careers and how it has helped them heal faster so they can get back to their game. A PRP treatment is appropriate for all types of sports-related and non-sports injuries, including:

  • Tendon problems 
  • Muscle tears
  • Joint pain and arthritis

3) Relief from arthritic pain

There is encouraging evidence to show that people suffering with joint pain caused by either osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may benefit from PRP as it has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce pain and swelling in arthritic joints. There’s also some evidence to suggest that PRP injections can help the body to repair the surface articular cartilage that the arthritic process damages. 


4) Relief from inflammation

Over the past 50 years or so, the pharmacological world has developed a range of anti-inflammatory medicines which have been widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal injury. As time has gone on the medics have increasingly understood the possible detrimental effects both cortisone shots and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories drugs can have and in many cases neither of those options can be used. 


5) A natural solution to the problem

Isn’t it amazing that the body has such an amazing ability to heal itself? The technology behind PRP allows us to help that healing process along a little! With PRP we have found a ‘natural’ way of generating an anti-inflammatory effect may be just as good at treating these inflammatory conditions as anything we have had before with far fewer unwanted effects. 


There are many other benefits of PRP injections and Paul has written another excellent blog on PRP. There is lots of information on the other injection therapies we offer here at The Physio so do check them out. We are unable to offer PRP injections (or any specialist service) without a thorough initial consultation first. If you feel like you would benefit from an injection here at The Physios please get in touch or you can book an initial consultation directly.