What Is Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy?

Although blood is mainly a liquid (called plasma), it also contains small solid components (red cells, white cells, and platelets.) Platelets are best known for their importance in clotting blood. However, platelets also contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors which are very important in the healing of injuries.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is plasma with many more platelets than what is typically found in blood. The concentration of platelets—and, thereby, the concentration of growth factors—can be five to ten times greater (or richer) than usual.

To develop a PRP preparation, blood must first be drawn from a patient. The platelets are separated from other blood cells, and their concentration is increased during a process called centrifugation. Then the increased concentration of platelets is combined with the remaining blood.

How Does PRP Work?

Although it is not exactly clear how PRP works, laboratory studies have shown that the increased concentration of growth factors in PRP can potentially speed up the healing process. To speed healing, the injury site is treated with the PRP preparation.

PRP can be carefully injected into the injured area. For example, in Achilles tendonitis, a condition commonly seen in runners and tennis players, the heel cord can become swollen, inflamed, and painful. A mixture of PRP and local anesthetic can be injected directly into this inflamed tissue. Afterward, the pain at the area of injection may actually increase for the first week or two, and it may be several weeks before the patient feels a beneficial effect.

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What Conditions Are Treated With PRP?

According to current research studies, PRP is most effective in the treatment of chronic tendon injuries, such as chronic Achilles tendonitis. Much of the publicity PRP therapy has received has been about the treatment of acute sports injuries, such as ligament and muscle injuries. PRP has been used to treat professional athletes with common sports injuries.

In our practice, we commonly use PRP in the treatment of:

Plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendonitis
Tendon injuries
Arthritis
Ankle ligament injuries

The risks associated with PRP are minimal. There may be increased pain at the injection site, but the incidence of other problems—infection, tissue damage, and nerve injuries—appears to be no different from that associated with cortisone injections.

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Our Experienced Podiatrists in Annapolis And Stevensville, Maryland Provide Treatment Options For Foot and Ankle Pain

With over 30 years of experience providing care and treatment for foot and ankle pain in Central Maryland, we are committed to finding the best treatment option for you.

Whether you see us in our office in Annapolis or Chester you will have access to our full range of state-of-the-art treatments and therapies. We service all of Central Maryland and look forward to helping you. Contact us online or call us directly at 410.266.7666 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced podiatrists.

Eric Harmelin, DPM

Experienced Amputation Prevention Specialist and Podiatrist in Annapolis and Stevensville, Maryland.

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Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center is a premier Annapolis podiatrist with offices in Annapolis and Chester. Complete the contact form to make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrists and wound specialists.

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Offices

Annapolis Podiatrist Office

2086 Generals Hwy, Suite 101
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-266-7666
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 Mon-Thurs, 8:30-1:00 Friday
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Chester Podiatrist Office

1630 Main Street Suite 210
Chester, MD 21619
Phone: 410-643-7746
Office Hours: Mon 8:30-12:00, Tues 8:30-12:00, Thurs 8:30-12:00
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Training and Expertise Meet Conscientious Care

We're highly trained and extensively experienced. Our podiatrists have the knowledge, skill, and resources needed to diagnose and treat even the most complex foot or ankle conditions. We offer world-class care and treatment options, including minimally invasive surgical procedures for various disorders and deformities.
We're the doctors that other doctors call when faced with a particularly challenging podiatric case. You may have been referred to us by a provider at Anne Arundel Medical Center or seen us featured as Top Docs in What's Up? Annapolis magazine, thanks to other doctors in the community who nominated us as the best in our field.
We're dedicated to staying up to date with the latest advancements in podiatry. Our podiatrists are constantly learning about new therapies, treatments, and techniques that could benefit our patients so that we can offer them at our practice.
We give patients our cellphone numbers. Have questions or concerns about a recent treatment or surgery? Our doctors put their personal cellphone numbers on their business cards so you can reach them at any time.
We offer same-day appointments for urgent podiatric issues. Think you may have suffered a severe sprain, broken a bone in your foot or ankle, or ruptured your Achilles tendon? Avoid the emergency room's long wait times and uncertainty and get the expert care you deserve. Call to ask about availability.