Platelet-rich plasma therapy, sometimes called PRP attempts to take advantage of the blood's natural healing properties to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, or even bone
PRP can be injected directly into a joint with the aim to:
- Reduce pain
- Improve joint function
- Possibly slow, halt, or even repair damage to cartilage
Platelet-rich plasma is derived from a sample of the patient's own blood. The injections contain plasma with a higher concentration of platelets than is found in normal blood.
platelets are a normal component of blood. Platelets alone do not have any restorative or healing properties; rather, they secrete substances called growth factors and other proteins that regulate cell division, stimulate tissue regeneration, and promote healing.