Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP): Why it's a Game Changer for Treating Aging Joints

It isn’t easy growing older, especially when you start developing degenerative joint conditions like osteoarthritis. This condition affects more than 30 million American men and women and causes several symptoms, including:

• Aches or pains
• Stiffness or swelling
• Reduced range of motion and flexibility

Here in Orlando, Florida, Dr. Pallavi Cherukupally MD at Regenerative Sport, Spine and Spa brings cutting-edge treatments to aging joints including platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) which can be a game changer.

The power of platelet-rich plasma therapy

PRP is a therapy that takes a novel approach to addressing joint pain and dysfunction. Instead of masking your symptoms with pain relievers, PRP uses the healing factors in your blood to restore the health and function of your tissue.

Your blood contains a number of components, including plasma and platelets. Plasma is the liquid portion which carries your red and white cells along with myriad other substances, such as nutrients and platelets. Your platelets play a significant role in your health on a cellular level. Not only do they enable your blood to clot if you’re hurt, but they also secrete growth factors that control cell division and promote tissue regeneration and healing.

To use PRP in regenerative medicine, Dr. Cherukupally draws your blood and concentrates these healing growth factors to harness their natural ability to repair damage in your body.

PRP and aging joints

Everywhere in your body where two or more bones come together, you have a joint. These areas create flexibility and allow for movement. The connecting surfaces of bones are coated in a tissue known as cartilage and lubricated with synovial fluid. This provides a smooth surface so your bones can move against each other easily.

As your body ages, it makes less synovial fluid, and your joints dry out. With less lubrication, your movement becomes restricted, and your joints grow more stiff. Unfortunately, when dry bones rub against each other, they make the situation even worse by causing your cartilage to wear away, and joint degeneration occurs.

Dr. Cherukupally injects PRP into your problem joints that can help regenerate the joint and tissue damage. Once in place, it triggers the healing process.

Additional benefits of PRP on aging joints include:

• Reduced pain and inflammation
• Smoother joint movement that reduces friction

Platelet-rich plasma therapy not only treats joint and bone conditions, but it can also help soft tissue problems in your tendons, ligaments, or muscles.

What to expect from platelet-rich plasma therapy

PRP injections are a relatively painless process that involves a blood draw and injection. After collecting your sample, Dr. Cherukupally and her team concentrate your platelets by spinning the blood in a centrifuge and PRP is created.

After injecting your PRP directly into your joint, you might have mild swelling or discomfort. This is a normal part of the process as the growth factors introduced to the area trigger healing. Over the following weeks, you’ll begin to see reduced pain and inflammation as new, healthy tissue develops in the area.

To help you achieve maximum results, Dr. Cherukupally might recommend a series of 2-3 treatments spaced several weeks apart

To see how platelet-rich plasma therapy can help your aging joints, call us at Regenerative Sport, Spine and Spa or schedule an appointment online today.