Platelet-rich plasma therapy or PRP, is an effective treatment for patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee (OA). PRP is an excellent option for patients suffering from OA of the knee that are not responding to physical therapy, pharmaceutical treatments, or for patients looking for an effective non-surgical treatment option.
About Osteoarthritis (OA)
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting approximately 23% of the adult population. The knee joint is the most common joint affected by osteoarthritis, making OA of the knee a significant health problem.
Treatment of OA of the knee is difficult due to the avascular and aneural nature of adult knee cartilage. This results in a low regenerative capacity and limited healing potential for the joint. The joint damage that occurs in the early stages of the disease leads to an imbalance of the inflammatory mediators of the joint, resulting in cartilage degeneration, systemic inflammation, chondrocyte destruction, osteophyte formation, and bone remodeling.
Treatment options
Currently there are no definitive curative therapies for OA. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and slowing the progression of the degenerative process. The four main injection therapies currently utilized are platelet-rich plasma (PRP), corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid (HA) and autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
What is PRP?
It is a concentrated plasma product that contains a high concentration of platelets (at least two times greater than whole blood), which have critical roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis and regulating the coagulation and inflammation responses of the body, such as collagen synthesis, chondrocyte apoptosis inhibition, bone remodeling, vessel remodeling and inflammation modulation.
How is PRP created?
PRP is an autologous blood product that is created by first obtaining a small amount of blood through peripheral venesection, concentrating that blood sample in a centrifuge, and then administering the concentrated plasma product back into the patient via an intra-articular injection.
How does PRP work?
When platelets are activated, growth factors contained in the α-granules of the platelet respond in a localized, site specific manner. These growth factors, along with coagulation factors, cytokines, chemokines, and other proteins stored within the platelet, stimulate chondrocyte and stem cells proliferation, promote secretion of chondrocyte cartilaginous matrix, and diminish the catabolic effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Where to get PRP therapy?
Using innovation and the most advanced treatment options, the Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic will help you develop a customized health program that will include PRP therapy to improve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Other Services at the Anti-Aging and Wellness Clinic
- Human growth hormone
- Bio-identical hormone replacement
- Platelet-rich plasma therapy
- P-Shot PRP procedure
- Facial rejuvenation
- Chelation therapy
- Comprehensive blood panels
- Telomere testing
- Cancer testing
- Weight loss and nutritional counseling
- Food Intolerance testing
