Can PRP Therapy Help My Tendon Injury?

The skeleton is the literal framework of our bodies, the bones being the support structure which the muscles, organs, and other tissue rely upon for movement, protecting vital organs, and manufacturing red blood cells. 

Attached to the skeleton is the musculoskeletal system, a combination of bones, joints, and connective tissue that allow for mobility in almost every part of your body. Your tendons are one of the important connective tissues in this system: They help you maneuver your joints and absorb the impact of actions like running and jumping.

There are many ways the tendon can be damaged, which can lead to inflaming, stretching, or tearing it, and thereby making movements in this area more difficult. Treating these injuries can be done in a number of ways, but platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a safe solution that uses your own body to help heal the damage done.

Let’s learn more about how this method can help by examining the common reasons for tendon injuries, how PRP therapy works, and what it can do to help. 

If you live in the Fort Worth, Texas area and you’re struggling with pain and other symptoms from a tendon injury, Dr. Joseph Daniels and the dedicated team at Southwest Orthopedic Associates can help.

Common reasons for tendon injuries

Here are some ways tendons are frequently damaged:

• Strains: twisting or pulling a tendon can lead to a strain, which often happens in your arms and legs

• Tendonitis: this inflammation or micro-tearing of tendons can result from repetitive motions, straining to lift something heavy, or the impact of sudden movement

• Tendinopathy: this form of tendon overuse causes collagen breakdown in this connective tissue, which leads to weakness and pain

• Tendon tears: if a tendon is stretched too far it can lead to a tear, which can range in severity to minor tears to the tendon coming completely off of its joint

Common tendons to suffer these problems include your tibialis posterior, patellar, forearm extensor, rotator cuff, and Achilles tendon.

How PRP therapy works

This is an injection that uses your own blood to treat a range of problems, including managing tendon injuries. Platelets are the star of this treatment, as they play the important role of promoting wound healing in your blood by supporting cell growth and forming clots. 

Preparing an injection consists of getting a blood draw and placing the blood into a centrifuge. This device spins at high speeds to separate the blood into components and create a formulation rich in platelets. 

When we inject this formulation into a damaged area of the body, it promotes hair growth, reduces inflammation, and helps to heal tissue.

What it can do for damaged tendons

The concentration of plasma in these injections works to grow new healthy cells in damaged tendons and stimulate healing. 

You may notice benefits shortly after treatment, but the healing process may take several weeks or even months. Tendon injuries can be slow to heal, depending on the extent of the damage. Fortunately, as PRP is literally part of your body reconstituted, this treatment solution comes without fear of allergic or other adverse reactions.

Tendon injuries can be frustrating and take a while to heal up, but PRP therapy can help to speed up the process using your own blood to promote healing. If you’re ready to see how this treatment can benefit your injuries, make an appointment with Dr. Daniels and Southwest Orthopedic Associates today.