PRP THERAPY - POST PROCEDURE REHABILITATION
INJURY REHABILITATION TREATMENT FOLLOWING INJECTION
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection treatment is fastly becoming extremely popular in the area/s of soft tissue and joint issues. You can learn more about the details of PRP via the below links.
PRP is a portion of your own blood plasma that is highly concentrated with platelets using a simple centrifuge method. It is then further concentrated and activated, then injected into injured and damaged musculoskeletal tissue (tendons, muscles, joints, ligaments) in order to speed healing by kicking the body’s natural processes into overdrive. It is also at this point when we want to optimise healing and performance.
It is important that PRP be used in conjunction with corrective exercise rehabilitation to maximise clinical benefits and patient outcomes.
REHABILITATION GUILDLINES
Rehabilitation following your PRP injection treatment of course very important for the full effective recovery following your injury. EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE WILL VARY. Below we have provided some very basic guidelines, but your clinician will make this more personalised for you and your recovery.
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Week 1: Relative rest of the injured tissue. Minimal overload stress, but active mobility activities should be formed immediately afterwards.
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Week 2-3: Rehabilitation treatment begins 4 x per week. Starting with light exercise, including light exercises for tendon injuries and stretching. High repetitions and low resistance. It is important to stress the injured tissue in a controlled manner in order to stimulate further healing.
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Weeks 3-6: Progress the exercise program gradually in order to avoid re-injuring the tissue. Pain is used as a guide for exercise progression and pushing through pain is not advised. By 5 weeks, the patient will hopefully have attained full strength, no pain with typical activities, full ROM, and appropriate proprioception (balance, control of the limb).
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Weeks 6+: Your clinician will monitor your healing and indicate if further injections are needed. Once the tissue is healed, your therapist will help facilitate a program that helps you return to sport or your typical functions. This program will consist of strengthening, sport/job-specific movements, training for neuromuscular control, and stability, and addressing any other factors that may be risks for re-injury. Work in multiple planes with increased resistance and repetition. Work toward dynamic neuromuscular control and functional/sport-specific activities. Increase velocity and impact gradually.
PRP Injection Treatment
It is our aim here at the Dynamic Clinic to best rehabilitate our patients by working on our strength, range of motion, posture and function. However, there are times when the patients’ tissue damage is extensive - that physical therapy and rehabilitation progress can plateau. At this point, we may have to consider surgical reviews. However, it is at best efforts that is this prevented.
If surgery is not deemed an option, or if our patient is very dismissive to the idea of surgery, there are still conservative options available to consider.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are a form of regenerative medicine, with the goal to restore the function of tissues through tissue regeneration and repair. In PRP a small amount of blood is taken and centrifuged to separate various blood components. A portion of this centrifuged blood will be rich in platelets, which store a number of growth factors that play a critical role in the tissue healing process. The platelet-rich portion is then injected into the damaged region (be it a tendon, or cartilage…).
Over time, PRP has anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce chronic inflammation in a joint. PRP may also stimulate the synovium in a joint to produce more hyaluronic acid, which enhances cartilage cushioning and lubrication.
Recent results are very promising when PRP injections are combined with the highest quality hyaluronic acid and correct rehabilitation in helping the patient return back to best full function, and more recent randomised control trials are showing an improved return to sports for patients who have chronic and moderate tissue damage. (see articles below).
PRP PAIN AND INJURY TREATMENT
For further information please contact us on 01564 330773 or alternatively email us at clinic@dynamicregenmedicine.co.uk