Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) truly a breakthrough in Tennis Elbow treatment?
In this “podcast video” Allen Willette from Tennis Elbow Classroom, discusses the upsides and downsides of PRP, (an injection procedure that uses your own blood)...
Including whether it's a safe and effective treatment for Tennis and Golfer's Elbow; whether it's worth the price – and the pain afterward (also sometimes during) – and whether there are any alternatives to achieve the same goals.
Here’s my full, detailed article on PRP and Tennis Elbow, (including the video)
Addressing the following questions in more detail than the video above, including links to news sources and medical study cites:
- What is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy? – (See below, also)
- What’s the difference between PRP and Autologous Blood Injection?
- What’s the theory on how PRP and ABI work?
- Is PRP an effective treatment for Lateral Epicondylitis?
- What’s my opinion as a practitioner who specializes in treating Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow?
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy?
PRP (and its less-sophisticated relative, Autologous Blood Injection) are in-office “non-surgical” procedures that both begin by having a small amount of your blood drawn.
In the PRP procedure your blood is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, by separating them from your red blood cells and your plasma, which is mostly water and Electrolytes.
Then your platelets (along with some of your plasma) is injected into the injured area that's not healing (usually a tendon or ligament.)
Platelets are the cells in your blood that are mostly responsible for blood clotting, and they also secrete growth factors (including human growth hormone) that are involved in tissue healing.
(The procedure with ABI is the same, except they skip the spinning and separating step, and simply inject you with the whole blood.)
“Compared to nearly ever other medical intervention or treatment for Tennis Elbow, (and other Tendinopathies) I would really like to be positive about this one. I can certainly say I like the theory on it!”
For a deeper look at PRP and ABI, including medical study cites, links to mainstream news articles and more, read my post here:
Full article on PRP and Tennis Elbow, (including video)
