The phrase “Father Time is undefeated” is common in sports, especially for aging athletes. It means that age will eventually catch up with these athletes, diminishing their physical abilities. Athletes, such as Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods, however, have received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to speed up the healing process for injuries and play longer.
What is PRP, and how does it work? To give some background information, blood consists of a liquid component, called plasma, and solid components such as red cells, white cells, and platelets. The important function of these platelets is to help the blood clot; they contain proteins called growth factors. Growth factors are produced by different tissues, and their purpose is to stimulate the growth of cells and tissues, which is critical for healing. PRP is plasma with a higher concentration of platelets and growth factors than blood. Therefore, with more growth factors, PRP can help injured athletes return to competition quicker. To create PRP, doctors withdraw blood from the patient and use centrifugation to separate the platelets and increase their concentration. The doctors then combine the higher concentrated platelets back with the blood.
Image Source: Ed Reschke
Athletes can use PRP in two ways. PRP can be injected into the injured tissue as a substitute for surgery. On the other hand, it can be used as a supplement to surgery by speeding up the healing process. The way athletes use PRP depends on the severity of the injury. For example, an athlete with Achilles tendonitis may choose treatment one whereas an athlete with a torn Achilles may choose treatment two because surgery will be required anyway.
What injuries can be treated with PRP? PRP can be used to treat chronic tendon injuries, such as with Achilles or tennis elbow. PRP can also be used to treat ligament or muscle injuries such as a pulled hamstring. However, it’s inconclusive today to say PRP is more effective than traditional treatment methods.
Ultimately, there’s some gray area surrounding platelet-rich plasma therapy because studies are inconclusive about its effectiveness. PRP treatment holds promise, especially with tendon injuries such as with the elbow. The use of PRP is popular among famous athletes, and its market value has increased from $45 million in 2009 to $126 million in 2016. Despite this growing popularity, researchers currently lack the scientific evidence about PRP as a whole and its effectiveness with other injuries.
Feature Image Source: Tilt-Shift Basketball Court by Mohamad Zeina
