As many as one in four Americans suffers from frequent knee pain. It’s an incredibly common complaint, and if it affects you, then you know just how significantly it can impact your daily life.
Traditional treatments range from physical therapy to invasive surgery, but these aren’t your only options. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative approach to treating knee pain, offering a potential alternative to accelerate healing.
But are PRP injections truly the secret to alleviating knee pain faster? Our team at Manhattan Orthopedics specializes in PRP therapy in Astoria, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, New York, and here’s what you need to know.
PRP therapy uses a concentrated form of your blood to promote healing. Your blood naturally consists of plasma, red and white blood cells, and platelets — and these platelets contain growth factors that support your body’s natural tissue repair process.
In PRP therapy, we take a small sample of your blood and process it to increase the concentration of these growth factors. Then, we inject the resulting PRP into specific areas of your body to accelerate healing.
The growth factors get to work, stimulating tissue repair. Tissues heal over time, and because PRP therapy targets the source of the pain, treatment can potentially lead to more effective and sustained relief.
Knee pain is common, in part because your knees take a tremendous amount of wear and tear throughout your daily life. Conditions like osteoarthritis, tendon injuries, and ligament sprains can all contribute to knee pain, and for some people, that pain becomes chronic.
Traditional treatments, like pain medication, often focus on symptom management rather than addressing the underlying cause of your discomfort. PRP therapy takes a different approach and instead seeks to boost tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation.
Research on PRP's efficacy for knee osteoarthritis, in particular, has shown promising results. PRP injections may help treat osteoarthritis pain and stiffness by modulating the joint environment and reducing inflammation, and one study found that about 60% of patients experienced significant benefits from PRP therapy.
PRP therapy directly delivers a high concentration of growth factors to the injured area, in this case, your knee. When you follow a consistent treatment plan, it can expedite the healing process and help you get back to your favorite activities with less pain. But is it a good option for you?
PRP therapy offers a few notable advantages compared to traditional treatments for knee pain. It’s minimally invasive, requiring only a blood draw and small injections, so it offers much lower risk compared to options like surgery. And since PRP is derived from your blood, the risk of allergic reactions or infections is minimal.
Our team at Manhattan Orthopedics offers comprehensive pain evaluations to understand your symptoms and your overall health so we can make a personalized treatment plan for your needs. PRP therapy offers potential benefits, but factors like the severity of your knee condition and your health profile can influence outcomes.
We’re here to help you learn more about PRP therapy and determine if it’s a good option for you. Book your consultation online or call the office nearest you to get started today.
