Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) was first used in 1987. Since its’ discovery, PRP has been applied in a variety of medical uses such as orthopedics, sports medicine, dentistry, and cosmetics. PRP has increasingly gained popularity over the last decade for its effectiveness in treating muscle injuries and recovery. As we work out and age, injuries are inevitable. Having a reliable treatment that can address muscle injuries and recovery is of tremendous value. Traditionally, injuries have been treated with rest, physical therapy, or surgery depending on the complexity. However, as PRP has become more popular and studied, it has emerged as a viable alternative therapeutic option. This can be most clearly seen in the emerging technology in the field of anti-aging and longevity. This article will try to provide an understanding for what PRP is, how it is used, and what the future holds.
PRP is produced by spinning whole blood in a centrifuge which then leads to its layered separation according to density. Once it is separated, the remaining solution is removed as plasma, platelet rich plasma (PRP), platelet-poor plasma (PPP), and/or platelet lysate (PL) depending on the method used. PRP is used to treat knee osteoarthritis, post-surgery recovery, and even hair loss. Platelets are the part of the blood that gives it the ability to clot. Additionally, platelets contain growth factors and proteins that can elicit a response that enhances regeneration and healing. Research from 2021 suggested that the presence of platelets above a normal, ambient level can accelerate growth of bone and tissues with minimal side effects.
PRP is often used to enhance tissue healing and decrease the overall recovery time. But exactly how does this work? PRP is created by drawing your own blood, extracting platelets from it, and then injecting the solution directly into the site of injury. According to a 2015 study, PRP works by increasing the release of muscle proteins and growth factors that can aid in muscle repair, tissue regeneration, and regrowth. Typically, PRP is injected via syringe directly into the site of injury. Once the injection is administered, the platelets work to help the body clot blood and promote the healing process. The PRP injection contains proteins and growth factors which can enhance further tissue repair and healing. Because certain injuries tend to take longer to heal, the use of PRP could help accelerate this process. Longer recovery periods could be attributed to the specific area of injury and the nature of the blood supply to the site. A 2021 study suggested that with PRP, the injured area may be targeted by introducing a concentrated number of repair cells that can promote regeneration and recovery of damaged or injured tissue.
PRP has been popularized by its use by professional athletes with musculoskeletal injuries. However, PRP is also being used to address a variety of conditions including scar tissue repair, tissue regeneration, and even hair loss. When investigating regenerative medicine options, it is important to understand how the healing process works. As with any injury, the first stage of the healing process is hemostasis, or the inflammatory response. At this stage, the body uses specialized cells to start the healing process. Many of these cells are found concentrated in PRP. After the initial inflammatory response, the tissue repair process continues as the injured tissue begins to be reinforced. Specialized cells in the body work together to promote the tissue repair. Finally, there is the remodeling process where the cells work collaboratively to heal the injured tissue and return to pre-morbid function.
The PRP procedure typically starts with your blood being drawn. Once the blood is extracted, the blood will be placed in a centrifuge which will separate the PRP to be used for the injection. The next step in the procedure is to inject the PRP into the intended site. This is considered a relatively low risk procedure and no major side effects have been found. However, as with any kind of injection, there is some inherent risk. This could be in the form of bleeding, tissue damage, soreness, bruising, and infection. Since the PRP is extracted from your own body there is little risk in any kind of negative reaction from the injection itself. However, PRP products, protocols, and use may vary depending upon where it is performed, the site of injury, and other factors. Thus, future research should address the standardization of PRP use and its applications.
Because PRP is a relatively new technology or medicine research remains to further understand its uses and efficacy. Early research on PRP showed insufficient evidence to support it as a regenerative tool. More recently, however, there has been growing support of its use for musculoskeletal injuries. A major limitation to PRP is that the lack of consistency between protocols and method used. This has resulted in some concern and a need for therapeutic standardization. The body of PRP research is growing exponentially. There have been signs of PRP becoming a promising regenerative rehabilitation tool. Although there is promise with the use of PRP, it remains a complex therapeutic intervention. It is recommended that future studies examine interactions of PRP, full potential, and standardization of its use.
References
dos Santos, R. G., Santos, G. S., Alkass, N., Chiesa, T. L., Azzini, G. O., da Fonseca, L. F., dos Santos, A. F., Rodrigues, B. L., Mosaner, T., & Lana, J. F. (2021). The regenerative mechanisms of platelet-rich plasma: A review. Cytokine, 144, 155560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155560
Mosca, M.J., Rodeo, S.A. Platelet-rich plasma for muscle injuries: game over or time out?. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 8, 145–153 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-015-9259-x
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): Uses & Procedure Details. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21102-platelet-rich-plasma
Tsai, W.-C., Yu, T.-Y., Chang, G.-J., Lin, L.-P., Lin, M.-S., & Pang, J.-H. S. (2018). Platelet-rich plasma releasate promotes regeneration and decreases inflammation and apoptosis of injured skeletal muscle. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(8), 1980–1986. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546518771076
Pull Quotes:
“Having a reliable treatment that can address muscle injuries and recovery is of tremendous value.”
“Research from 2021 suggested that the presence of platelets above a normal, ambient level can accelerate growth of bone and tissues with minimal side effects.”
“PRP has been popularized by its use by professional athletes with musculoskeletal injuries.”
