Sometimes injuries just don’t heal. Whether it be a hamstring problem, achilles pain, or plantar fascia issue, there are occasions when no amount of ice, anti-inflammatory medications, or rest seem to be enough to completely heal an injury. What can be done? One possible option is a relatively new treatment known as platelet-rich plasma, or “PRP.”
The idea behind PRP is that there are special cells in human blood known as platelets. These platelets play a key role in facilitating the clotting of blood and help to increase the rate of healing of human tissue. By using a centrifuge to separate platelets in the blood and then injecting them directly into a damaged area of the body, some claim that the rate of healing is accelerated.
Currently, the top targets for the PRP treatments are tendons such as the achilles. Due to the lack of blood supply to tendons, it is thought that a PRP injection will speed healing in these parts of the body. Regardless of the logic behind tendon treatments, the most recent studies are mixed about the treatment’s benefits.
Besides the unconfirmed usefulness of PRP, it is also important to note that there could be unknown side effects due to the newness of the treatment. One potential issue is the possibility that PRP treatment could lead to scar tissue in the affected area. There is some evidence that platelets play some role in the formation of scar tissue and injecting them directly into an injured area could lead to unwanted scarring of the injured site.
Another problem is that the treatments are currently very expensive. The usual charges can range up to $1000 per injection and insurers rarely cover the procedure due to its experimental nature.
Finally, high school, college, and pro athletes need to be careful about using PRP because platelets contain a small amount of human growth hormone. Although beneficial to the body, most sports leagues have classified human growth hormone as a performance enhancing drug. The question is whether there is enough human growth hormone in PRP treatments to elevate it to an illegal performance enhancing procedure. Athletes need to check with their sports leagues to make sure that the procedure is not banned.
Due to the uncertainly surrounding PRP, and the high cost of the treatment, it is probably a good idea to turn to PRP only when other options have failed and the pain has become a chronic condition. It is not advisable or financially reasonable to receive a PRP injection at the first site of any pain, but it could be a true life saver for a runner who have run out of treatment options for his or her aches and pains.
