Do PRP Injections Work?

Author：Sciensmed Medical Devices(Taizhou)Co.,Ltd Click： Time：2024-07-31 00:00:00

Do PRP Injections Work?

More studies are needed to see what conditions PRP might work on. So far, some research shows that it speeds healing after injury or surgery for certain conditions. Along with helping injured tissue heal, some studies show PRP injections curb pain and boost mobility for people with rotator cuff injuries and relieve symptoms in arthritic shoulders. Early research shows it might be effective in certain cases of low back pain.

But the information to date is mixed. When researchers looked at more than 20,000 PRP injections over a period of 10 years, they found it wasn't clear whether the results justified the cost.

A series of clinical studies in 2021 found that PRP injections worked no better than a placebo for people with osteoarthritis of the ankle or knee, or for Achilles tendinitis.

It can take several weeks for PRP injections to start working. For some conditions, particularly those affecting the hair or the skin, it may take up to 6 months to notice the full effects. For some conditions, including hair loss, you may need to repeat the procedure to maintain the results.

Preparing for PRP Injections

You’ll probably need to stop taking certain medications that thin your blood, like aspirin and ibuprofen, before you get PRP injections. You may also need to take a break from certain vitamins or supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids. Your doctor can tell you exactly what you need to do to prepare for these shots.

PRP Injection Procedure

To collect plasma, a doctor draws blood from your body and uses a machine called a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood. Then the doctor numbs the area of your body being treated with PRP injections. Once you’re numb, the doctor uses a needle to inject your plasma into the area of your body being treated.

For example, if you’re being treated for a muscle injury, your doctor would inject plasma into several locations in that muscle. In some cases, doctors use ultrasound technology during the shots to make sure they’re targeting the right area. PRP injections usually take about 30 minutes, though it depends on the area you’re targeting.

Once platelets are in the area that’s being treated, they break down and release growth factors, which are compounds that help cells repair and renew. This is thought to trigger your body’s healing process.