A recent study published by the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics has concluded that Platelet Rich Plasma injection therapy for lateral epicondylitis outperformed low level laser therapy for the same condition. Eighty-one patients over a two year span were involved in this study. Two groups were formed from these patients, thirty-nine were included in the PRP group, and forty-two in the low level laser therapy group. The mean Nirschl pain score decreased significantly from baseline in PRP when compared with low level laser therapy. 55ml of blood was drawn from each of the patients resulting in 4mls of platelet Rich plasma. Of the 4 mls of PRP that was created, one ml was sent to a lab to find out the platelet yield per ml compared to baseline level of platelets. The result was a 509% increase compared to whole blood levels.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is blood plasma that contains an elevated level of platelets. The concentrated platelets contain many different growth factors that are responsible for accelerating a persons natural healing process when applied to many parts of the human body. Creating platelet rich plasma can increase the level of platelets up to five times more than platelet levels in normal whole blood. PRP gives physicians another form of innovative treatment to utilize in their practice.
Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4137517/
