I'm an Athlete: Should I Consider PRP Injections?

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an elite athlete training at the top of your game, an injury can mean the difference between making gains and losing your spot on the roster. 

Coaches, trainers, and gurus alike promise this and that to help you bounce back from the bench, but there’s no DIY way to heal faster. 

That’s why our team at Somers Orthopaedic Surgery recommends platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for every level of athlete. Here’s a closer look. 

The truth of the matter

You can be in the best shape of your life — no athlete will ever not be at risk for injury. All those sharp twists and turns, the collisions, and the seemingly endless training days create the perfect environment for sprains, strains, and the like. 

So, we recommend you start making a game plan for when an injury does happen by talking to us about PRP injections. 

Why every athlete should consider PRP injections

It seems like everyone has an opinion for athletes on how to protect their bodies and recover from injury — what makes PRP different? 

Here are just a few reasons why we think PRP should be at the top of your lineup. 

It’s all-natural

An athlete's greatest asset is their body, so we know you care about what goes in it. That’s why our athletes love PRP — it comes from your own blood. You won’t find a laundry list of additives, addictive prescriptions, or other harmful substances in your PRP injection; just all-natural healing factors found coursing through your own veins. 

It accelerates healing

This is perhaps the top reason why athletes at every level flock to PRP injections. Other injury recovery and pain management approaches mask symptoms rather than helping your body heal itself. 

But PRP is different. 

PRP addresses your injury at the source, stimulates healing, and produces lasting results. PRP doesn’t only shorten your recovery time; it doesn’t add to your time on the bench with invasive procedures.

It’s minimally invasive

Although surgery can be the best path forward for severe injuries, it isn’t always necessary, especially with PRP in the mix. PRP offers faster healing with a simple injection — no scalpel required and no risk of side effects to worry about. 

Complementary to other treatments

Even with access to a treatment as revolutionary as PRP, we rarely recommend it as a standalone treatment. We usually include a variety of therapies in your treatment plant, including:

• Medications
• Physical therapy
• Hot and cold therapy
• Bracing
• Steroid injections
• Viscosupplementation (gel injections of hyaluronic acid)
• Iovera cryoablation therapy
• Stem cell therapy, including Lipogems®
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

Because PRP is minimally invasive and all-natural, you can participate in virtually all the treatments listed above — and more. 

If you have more questions about PRP injections, call or click to get in touch with one of our experts today.