5 Reasons to Add PRP to Your Sports Medicine Practice

We essentially carry the equipment and supplies they need to offer total nucleated cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapies to their patients. So we have a vested interest in encouraging doctors to consider adding regenerative medicine to the practices. Having said that, our interest in regenerative medicine goes well beyond just selling PRP injection kits. We believe in it as a viable form of medicine and an alternative to more invasive procedures. We are especially excited about regenerative medicine as it applies to sports medicine. If you are a doctor specializing in sports medicine, we invite you to consider the following five reasons to add PRP to your practice:

1. There Is History Behind It

Despite what many people believe, platelet-rich injections are not new. Neither are total nucleated cell injections. Doctors and clinics have been using them for decades for a variety of purposes. platelet-rich-plasma injections have been used to encourage better bone healing following spinal surgery. Plastic surgeons have been relying on these injections to promote soft tissue recovery for years. platelet-rich-plasma therapy is not new, and it is not quackery.

2. Athletes Swear by It

The whole point of sports medicine is to treat athletes, right? So it’s important to understand what athletes think about platelet-rich injections. Just do a quick internet search and you will find all the information you need to know. In short, there is no shortage of athletes who swear by it. Professional baseball players, particularly pitchers, rave about platelet-rich-plasma injections to help heal elbow injuries that would otherwise require surgery. Football players frequently talk about how regenerative medicine saved their knees. Pro tennis players talk about these injections for tennis elbow. The list goes on and on.

3. It Is Minimally Invasive

One thing nearly every athlete fears is sustaining injuries serious enough to require surgery. The problem with surgery is its invasiveness. Going under the knife may get an athlete back into competition at some point in the future but it could also end that athlete’s competitive career. Surgery is risky; there is no way around it. Platelet injections are minimally invasive, and therefore minimally risky.

4. It Actually Promotes Natural Healing

Another big appeal of PRP treatments for athletes is that it actually promotes healing. Drugs mask symptoms while surgeries aim to fix problems mechanically. Platelet-rich injections, along with their total nucleated cell cousins, encourage the body to heal itself rather than relying on external means. No, it doesn’t always work. But when it does work, it works well.

Scarring is something else to consider in the arena of natural healing. The formation of scar tissue can hinder an athlete’s performance, which is why invasive surgeries do not always produce the best results. Injections do not leave scars behind. Furthermore, the growth factors in blood platelets limit the formation of internal scar tissue. This promotes better healing.

5. The Applications Are Numerous

Finally, these injections are ideal for athletes because the applications are numerous. Sports medicine doctors use the injections to treat ligaments, tendons, muscle, and cartilage. These injections have applications for stress fractures and knee injuries as well.

Whether your practice purchases total nucleated cell and platelet-rich-plasma injection kits from us or not, we would still encourage you to consider adding regenerative medicine to your list of sports medicine procedures. Procedures like total nucleated cell and platelet-rich-plasma injections are a legitimate and viable alternative to the other treatments you offer. Why not give your patients as many options as possible?