We now have a nonsurgical treatment for the chronic,painful, and debilitating soft tissue injuries that can afflict musicians on a daily basis.
Orthobiologic therapy is a cutting-edge treatment that utilizes the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), also known asautologous blood component(ABC) therapy, accelerates healing of the tissue it is injected into without subjecting the patient to significant risk.
Blood is made of several different cells including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets,and plasma. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting in the presence of a cut or when tissue bleeds. However, we now know that when activated in the body, platelets release proteins called growth factors that can accelerate the regeneration of tissue. By concentrating these platelets and then delivering them into damaged or injured muscle,tendon, or ligament tissue,we are able to deliver a high concentration of these growth factors that can dramatically enhance tissue healing and recovery.
PRP treatment works best for muscle, ligament, and tendon sprains/strains that have not responded to more conservative treatment, including rotator cuff injuries, elbow instability, tennis and golfer’s elbow, hamstring and hip strains, knee sprains and instability, patellar tendinosis, ankles prains, achilles tendinosis, and plantar fasciitis.
Prior to receiving PRP, the patient must not have used any anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, naproxsyn ,Advil, Aleve, or Celebrex for four weeks. PRP treatments are typically performed in the medical office where blood is drawn from the patient and placed in a special centrifuge,where the platelets are concentrated and separated from the red blood cells by spinning the blood at very high speeds for15 minutes. The red blood cells are discarded, and the resulting platelet concentrate is used for treatment. While the blood is spinning in the centrifuge,the painful area is anesthetized with local anesthesia medications.The PRP concentrate is then injected into the tissue to be treated under direct dynamic ultrasound guidance. The entire treatment, from blood draw to injection, takes 30 minutes.
After the procedure has been completed, an ice pack is applied and the patient is discharged. Anti-inflammatory medications need to be avoided for two to three months after completion of the PRP injection. Most cases typically respond to a single treatment. However, for more chronic or advanced cases, multiple treatments maybe necessary.
To get maximum benefit from the treatment, and to help prevent re-injury, a specially designed home-based rehabilitation and exercise program is incorporated into your treatment. This helps the newly developing connective tissue to mature into healthy and strong muscle, tendon, or ligament fibers.
