Regenerative Therapies

Advancements in medicine have made it possible for medical providers to provide patients with better treatments. One area where advancements are being made is in the field of regenerative therapy. These treatments use different techniques to help the body heal its own tissues, or regenerate. Regenerative medicine is a somewhat new field, but doctors think its possibilities are almost endless.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is based on the hypothesis that the platelets and plasma found in the blood can heal and repair injuries. PRP treatments are usually used in sports medicine to repair tendon injuries. To make platelet-rich plasma, blood is drawn from the patient and then processed to create a concentrated solution that contains more platelets and plasma than regular blood. A centrifuge is often used to create this solution. PRP is either injected into the injured tendon or applied during surgery.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a type of regenerative therapy that treats injured joints and connective tissues. It is often used to treat arthritis, whiplash, and degenerative disc disease. It can be used on the back, neck, shoulders, hip, hands, and knees. In prolotherapy, a doctor injects a watery solution containing substances like saline and dextrose into the injured area. These injections usually contain a numbing agent like lidocaine as well.

The injection irritates the injury site, triggering the body’s healing response. As a result, the body will grow new connective fibers to repair the damaged tissue. This relieves the pain associated with the damaged connective tissue. Several treatments may be done to stimulate more new tissue growth.