Summary: PRP has long been used to treat musculoskeletal conditions. It is known to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration. However, it is time to realize that it may also have a role in other medical conditions and may help counter post-operative catabolic state.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have long been used to manage sports injuries. It has also been widely tested for managing various musculoskeletal conditions and reducing pain and stiffness in joint disorders. However, there is more to PRP. It may boost anabolic processes. It is regretful that the role of PRP in improving post-surgical outcomes remains poorly explored.
PRP is proven to help with sports injuries, promoting faster recovery. Its local injection may enhance tissue regeneration and help with tendons and ligament injuries. It may also help with osteoarthritis and more. Chronic pain specialists have started exploring PRP as a therapeutic option for managing pain in joint and soft tissue injuries.
However, in this article, we will explore the role of PRP in fighting stress, improving anabolic processes, promoting wound healing, and helping patients recover faster after surgical interventions.
PRP has two elements: plasma and platelets. Platelets play an important role in blood clotting, but they also promote healing. However, perhaps most benefits of PRP are due to plasma, which is enriched with many bioactive compounds. Modern science still does not fully know about plasma’s content; nevertheless, it is well-known that plasma is rich in proteins, growth factors, signaling molecules, and much more.
These growth factors and signaling molecules can help those experiencing stress, recovering from surgery, or prolonged illness.
PRP is safe since it is made using a person’s own blood. After removing a small amount of the blood from the body, it is centrifuged to remove red blood cells. What is left behind is PRP. When PRP is injected locally, it simulates healing.
One of the most common uses of PRP is to promote muscle healing. It may promote local tissue regeneration. PRP is especially good for promoting recovery after various injuries and helps reduce local swelling.
However, now science has started looking at PRP beyond its role in promoting local tissue regeneration. Studies show that PRP is rich in numerous growth factors that can even modulate gene expression, thus reducing catabolic processes and enhancing the body’s anabolic processes.
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PRP may even help reduce oxidative stress. Not only that, but it may also help prevent side effects from certain medications. Thus, one of the studies shows that PRP may help prevent muscle wasting or weakness due to glucocorticosteroids use. PRP increases muscle protein content, counters oxidative stress, and upregulates specific genes involved in muscle growth.
In recent years, there has also been an increasing interest in the systemic effects of PRP therapy. However, this topic is relatively less explored. It is known that local injection of PRP helps boost tissue regeneration. But would systemic injection of PRP also help?
Some of the studies show that systemic use of PRP may also help. It may reduce pain scores and shorten post-operative recovery. In some studies, those who received PRP could return to daily activities much faster and reported better quality of life. This means that PRP may be used to overcome stress caused by surgical procedures and counter catabolism that occurs immediately after surgery. It may also have a role in boosting anabolic processes.
It means that safe therapies like PRP can be used to enhance recovery. They may have additional benefits when combined with other techniques like carb loading before surgery and increased intake of proteins and amino acids.
To sum up, there are many safe methods to boost post-surgical recovery, improve outcomes, and reduce mortality risk. Many of these methods are proven to work, and yet they remain largely underutilized. These methods can be especially useful for older adults who require much longer to recover from surgery or other stressful conditions.
