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3 Reasons to Consider PRP Therapy After a Sports Injury
Any injury is unwelcome, but sports injuries can be particularly frustrating. Not only are you hurt, but you have to take time off from your activity of choice while you heal. Any daily activity that triggers pain from the injury is a reminder that you can’t do the thing you enjoy.
That makes the recovery period brutal for many athletes. Fortunately, you don’t have to sit idly by, wishing you could fast-forward. Instead, be proactive.
Here at Hawai’i Pain & Spine, Dr. Jonathan Carlson offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to help patients heal after sports injuries. At our office on the Windward side of O’ahu in Kailua, Hawai’i, Dr. Carlson often uses this injection-based treatment to support better recovery.
Here are a few reasons to consider PRP therapy if you suffer a sports injury.
1. It’s safe
PRP comes from the field of regenerative medicine. That means it uses your body’s innate regenerative capabilities to your advantage.
When you choose PRP therapy, Dr. Carlson takes a tiny sample of your blood. With a centrifuge, he separates the platelets. The resulting platelet-rich plasma has a high concentration of growth factors.
By injecting growth factors into the injured area, Dr. Carlson supplies your body with the resources to perform its healing work.
Because PRP comes from your blood, there’s no risk of infection. And without any outside materials, the likelihood of complications is low.
2. It’s proven
PRP therapy has helped athletes recover for decades. It first got public attention because high-profile high performers like Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal turned to it.
Today, a growing body of evidence shows its effectiveness. One recent study concluded that it supports better healing and “has optimal effects on sports injuries not responding to conservative management.”
3. It’s minimally invasive with no downtime
PRP therapy can proactively address your sports injury without slowing down your daily life. The treatment itself is quick. Once Dr. Carlson prepares the PRP, he injects it into targeted locations around the injured area. All told, you should only be in our office for about an hour.
You might experience soreness around the injection area, but you don’t need to worry about taking time off from work. Feel free to continue doing any activities you could do before (i.e., ones that don’t aggravate your injury).
In short, PRP therapy can be a safe, effective way to support better healing of your sports injury with little hassle. Dr. Carlson can help determine if you’re a good candidate for this kind of care. To discuss PRP therapy with him, call our office today to schedule an appointment.
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