stem cell therapy Chevy ChaseStem Cell Therapy Chevy Chase

 

What is Platelet-Rich-Plasma?

Platelets, along with white blood cells and red blood cells, are one of the primary components of the blood that runs through the vessels of the human body. The primary role of platelets is thought to be in wound healing, where through the secretion of several growth factors, platelets can form a platelet-plug that allows a damaged vessel to control leakage and begin healing. However, what makes platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy Chevy Chase trusts so promising is the fact that it contains a myriad of growth factors that have been studied extensively in the medical literature, and contain properties that have been proven to aid wound healing. Here are 5 exciting pieces of medical literature that shine a light on the burgeoning promise of PRP therapy:

1)   2016 Review Article in BioMed Research International journal, titled “PRP Treatment Efficacy for Tendinopathy: A Review of Basic Science Studies” details the myriad ways in which PRP therapy has the potential to aid in wound healing and recovery from various injuries and ailments. Furthermore, it details how the presence of a variety of growth factors, including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and many more, may lend it the ability to both augment wound healing and reduce inflammation.

2)   2015 Stem Cells Translational Medicine – increased hair growth was demonstrated in 20 men who used PRP over a control group of men who did not use Chevy Chase stem cell therapy. As of now, the accepted treatments of male-pattern baldness and hair loss are hormonal in nature, and come with an unfortunate trade-off of side effects. Because male-pattern hair loss is thought to be related specifically to testosterone, agents used to treat this condition often inhibit the downstream effects of testosterone, which can have troubling side effects for men such as loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and poor muscular maintenance/development. Though the evidence for PRP and stem cell therapy in Chevy Chase in this fashion is limited, the results to date are promising.

3)   A 2014 study in PLoS One titled “Platelet-Rich-Therapy (PRP) for Acute Muscle Injury: A Systematic Review” highlighted several in vivo studies that suggest beneficial effects of PRP in accelerating muscle recovery. Acute muscle injuries are extremely common, and result in a significant quality of life and economic impact yearly in the United States. A pilot human study of the use of autologous blood products similar to that used in PRP and stem cell therapy in Chevy Chase found treated athletes recovered significantly faster than controls.

4)   2013 American Journal of Sports Medicine – although this study only had 78 participants, it showed that PRP therapy reduces knee osteoarthritis pain relative to saline injections. This is particularly exciting because of the relative inability for doctors to address the root cause of this disease, and treatment is usually confined to pain control with over the counter medications. Considering that chronic joint pain is one of the leading causes of disability and depression in the elderly, the impact that PRP therapy would have if regularly utilized to address this debilitating condition cannot be overstated.

5)   2014 American Journal of Sports Medicine – this study showed that 3 rounds of PRP injections reduced symptoms in 28 athletes who suffered from chronic patellar tendinopathy. Chronic tendinopathy is similar to joint pain in that it can be debilitating and significantly hamper mobility and quality of life in the long-term. If it can provide symptomatic relief in athletes, it very well may play a significant role in the near future in providing relief to patients of all activity levels.

 

If you’re suffering from joint pain, contact the skilled doctors utilizing PRP and stem cell therapy Chevy Chase patient rely on at Pain Arthritis Relief Center today. We’re ready to help you.