New Revolutionary Method to stimulate a healing process.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Platelet-rich plasma or PRP is an "autologous blood therapy" that uses a patient's own blood components to stimulate a healing response in damaged tissues. In response to an injury or tissue damage, your body naturally recruits platelets and white blood cells from the blood to initiate a healing response. Under normal conditions, platelets store numerous growth factors which are released in response to signals from the injured tissue. Modern technology allows us to concentrate platelets and white blood cells from your blood, and induce this growth factor release as we inject the solution directly into injured tissue, simulating this same healing response in a more powerful form. By enhancing the body's natural healing capacity, the treatment may lead to a more rapid, more efficient, and more thorough restoration of the tissue to a healthy state.

Normal Platelet Count	Concentrated Platelet Count

How is Platelet Rich Plasma made?

Platelet Rich Plasma is collected by drawing 20 - 60 cc of blood (500 cc is taken in blood bank donations), the blood is then put into the Harvest SmartPReP®2 Platelet Concentrate System and spun down separating the red blood cells, plasma and concentrating the platelets.

Several experts said they had used the procedure as a first option before surgery for reasons beyond its early results. There is little chance for rejection or allergic reaction because the substance is autologous, meaning it comes from the patient’s own body; the injection carries far chance for infection than an incision and leaves no scar, and it takes only about 20 minutes, with a considerably shorter recovery time than after surgery. Because of those apparent benefits, the consensus among doctors is that the procedure is worth pursuing.

A Promising Treatment for Athletes.

Two of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ biggest stars, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu, used their own blood in an innovative injury treatment before winning the Super Bowl. At least one major league pitcher, about 20 professional soccer players and perhaps hundreds of recreational athletes have also undergone the procedure, commonly called platelet-rich plasma therapy.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ team physician used platelet-rich plasma therapy in July on a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing elbow of pitcher Takashi Saito. Surgery would have ended Mr. Saito’s season and shelved him for about 10 to 14 months; he instead returned to pitch in the September pennant race without pain.

The possibilities of platelet-rich plasma are certainly apparent to the Steelers. Mr. Polamalu, an All-Pro safety, had the procedure for a strained calf after a playoff game and, although the injury was not considered particularly serious, he returned healthy enough the next Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens to return an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.
 

Jonathan Bornstein

When Jonathan Bornstein, a Major League Soccer player, tore a knee ligament, he was afraid he'd be out of the game for six to 10 weeks. But with the help of PRP, he was off and running again at four weeks. (CBS) Jonathan Bornstein has emerged as one of the best young soccer players in the country; he was named rookie of the year in Major League Soccer. But everything changed this spring when he twisted his knee in practice. "I knew something was wrong, and I knew that I was going to have to take some time to heal," Bornstein says.
He had suffered a torn ligament in his knee and would be out of action for six to 10 weeks.

"I was pretty bummed to find out I might be missing the first game, maybe a couple more games," Bornstein says. "I didn't really think there was much I could do to get back earlier.“
 

But a doctor friend tolled him about this new procedure that can speed up the body's ability to heal itself with a remarkably simple technique. It's called Platelet Rich Plasma therapy — or PRP. Doctors spin a few tablespoons of a patient's own blood, separating out the platelets. Normally, platelets help the blood to clot — but they also promote healing. With PRP, this concentration of platelets is injected directly into the injury — in Bornstein's case, his knee.
 

"Platelets are an amazing substance. They are packed full of growth factors, of healing factors, and when given into a specific area, you get a hyper-healing response. Bornstein was thrilled to get back on the field quickly. "I was back running in around three weeks, and I was ready to play in about 4 ½, Five (weeks)," he says.

The hope is that if PRP can get an elite athlete like Bornstein up and running, it can help the baby boom generation and their creaky joints get back in the game.

What conditions can be treated with PRP?

Knee Pain

• Patellar tendonitis/tendinosis
• Quadriceps muscle injuries
• Ligament sprains or tears
• Bursitis

Hip Pain

• Hip girdle muscle pain or injury
• Pyriformis syndrome
• Greater trochanteric Bursitis
• Ischial bursitis
• Pubic symphysis pain
• Sacroiliac joint pain
• Hamstring tendonitis or tears

Shoulder and Arm Pain

• Rotator Cuff tendonitis, tendonopathy or partial tears
• Acromio-clavicular joint pain or arthritis
• Bicipital tendonitis
• Medial and Lateral epicondylitis (golfers & tennis elbow)
• Ulnar Collateral Ligament sprain or tear

Back Pain

• Spinal nerve inflammation
• Facet Joint arthritis
• Disc herniation or tear
• Interspinous ligament sprain

Lower Leg and Foot

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Shin Splints
• Peroneal tendonitis
• Ankle sprains
• Achilles tendonitis or partial tears