Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy falls under the branch of regenerative medicine. It is a process whereby a specialist uses cellular material that has been extracted from your blood and injects it into injury sites. The premise behind this form of regenerative therapy is that your body holds so many incredible growth and regenerative properties, it just lacks the means to redistribute them fast enough. PRP can be considered a reallocation of your body’s natural resources.

The goal is to extract the plasma, super concentrate it for maximum results, and inject it into the injury site. Once there, it will provide your body with all of the necessary components for cellular regeneration and repair. PRP therapy is starting to gain recognition as a safe and effective therapy option for injuries of all kinds, especially knee osteoarthritis, with studies indicating PRP has positive effects at all stages of osteoarthritis.

How Does PRP Work?

Platelet-rich plasma injections are a concentration of platelet-rich protein that is extracted from your own blood via a process of centrifugal force. Plasma makes up only a portion of your blood and must be separated and condensed for effective PRP therapy. The platelets in plasma are what make it possible for your blood to clot and contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors. When these growth factors are introduced into an injury site, they promote healing and can stimulate the body’s regenerative process.

Essentially, you are providing an injury with the cellular building blocks it needs to repair itself. It is a non-invasive procedure that requires little to no downtime and has been found to be a much safer option than surgery.