Pioneered by researchers in Spain (Biotechnology Institute, Vitoria) and the US (Stanford University) Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a cell biological approach for tendon, ligament and joint problems. PRP is an autologus biological, made from the patients own blood. PRP contains a high concentration of activated platelet cells. The platelets produce a cocktail of Cytokines and Growth Factors, which trigger and accelerate the regeneration of tissue problems, such as inflammation and degeneration. 

PRP is successfully used in for acute and chronic problems in Sports medicine - Tenniselbow, Shoulder tendinitis, Golfersarm, Achilles tendon lesion. Nerve, cartilage or disc regeneration. Chronic problems in wound healing.

Clip: Platelet Rich Plasma – how it works and scientific background.

 Comments in the Media on PRP

• Forbes Article on PRP for tennis elbow
  
• CBS News Article on PRP for tendinosis 
• CBS News TV about PRP in knee problems of a soccer player 

Further reading....How is PRP produced and how does it work?

Approximately 30 to 55 cc (cici) of peripheral blood is drawn from the patients vein. The blood is centrifuged and the red blood cells are discarded. The remaining fluid is placed into the centrifuge for a second time. Highly concentrated platelets – PRP - can be isolated and then activated.

Once injected the activated platelets grow little cell feet, called pseudopodia, and attach themselves to the site of degenerationed or inflamed tisue.

Here they produce various growth factors (GF) up to 130 times more concentrated than in normal blood, among others PDGF (Platelet derived Growth Factor), TGF beta (Transforming Growth Factor-beta) and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). These GFs are essential for tissue repair mechanisms, also they attract and activate stem cells. 

In fact chronic, not healing problems, are often attributed to a lack of these GFs, because the body

produces less GFs in growing age and tendons and ligaments have such a low blood supply, that GFs cannot reach the site where they are used.

In most cases only one injection is neede to spur the process of healing.