Using Physical Therapy With PRP Treatment

Using Physical Therapy to Compliment PRP Treatment

Platelet Rich Plasma(PRP) therapy is being used to help patients in treating injuries they have suffered. Suffering an injury can be exhausting. Not only may your quality of life be impacted, but you may struggle to physically function in the way that you once did. There are a variety of common injuries platelet rich plasma therapy may help to treat. PRP uses properties from your own body to repair and recover from injuries. In addition, accessing this form of treatment in combination with physical therapy, may be able to maximize outcomes. 

Your Body’s Healing Elements

PRP can be incredibly effective in assisting in the healing process for soft tissue injuries. PRP therapy is widely utilized by athletes looking to return to the game as quickly as possible. However, PRP can also be helpful for those suffering a number of injuries. Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, although sounding complicated, is a fairly simplistic and minimally invasive procedure for those suffering from pain. Platelet Rich Plasma utilizes the body’s own healing properties to repair tissue, reduce pain and hopefully heal injuries and ailments. PRP can be an attractive alternative to traditional treatments like surgery because the procedure is fairly quick, far less painful and requires very little down time comparatively. Following a blood draw, your blood is put through a machine called a centrifuge that separates PRP from the blood. Once the PRP is prepared, it is injected into the area of the body in need of treatment. Many injuries such as tendons or knees may have difficulty healing due to poor blood flow to the affected area. When concentrated plasma like PRP is injected in the site, the healing process may be amplified as the nutrients from the PRP help to heal the injury.  

Physical Therapy to Aid in Recovery

PRP can initiate the body’s natural ability to heal from an ailment or injury. However, physical therapy may be beneficial in rehabilitating the body, strengthening the muscles and mitigating the risk of re-injury. Following a brief recovery period following PRP injections, your doctor may recommend that you engage in physical therapy. Physical therapy can offer a number of benefits when used with PRP treatments, for example: 

  • Increase range of motion
  • Stretching the muscles
  • Exercises to strengthen the body
  • Aid regaining muscle control
  • Ensure that the area properly heals

Following PRP, it will be important to partner with your doctor and therapist in determining when the appropriate time to begin physical therapy should be. A medical clinic like Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania can help walk you through the process for setting up physical therapy for knee pain.  They will work to provide you with a treatment plan and timeframes for how to manage your injury through these forms of treatment.