PRP Knee Tendinitis Overview
The knee has many tendons that help support and provide movement to the joint. The majority of these tendons come from the quadriceps and hamstring muscles that all connect around the knee joint and provide our lower legs with flexion and extension. Tendons connect muscles to bone and when injured can cause pain and inflammation, commonly at the attachment sites. Other symptoms include swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.
Conventional treatments for tendinitis include resting, icing and over the counter medications such as NSAIDs. For more severe cases, bracing, physical therapy, and steroid shots such as cortisone may be considered.
- Quadriceps
- Patellar
- Sartorius
- Gracilis
- Pes Anserine
- Biceps femoris
- Semitendinosus
- Semimembranosus
PRP Knee Tendinitis Treatment
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP injection treatments for knee tendinitis target the injured, damaged and inflamed tendon. The PRP shot is administered at the attachment site on the knee joint and helps take down inflammation and begin the healing cascade that leads to pain relief. The other tendons and ligaments of the knee joint are also all treated but to a lesser extent. This helps strengthen the other supporting structures of the knee that have been compensating for the damaged tendon. This comprehensive approach treats and strengthens the entire joint for optimal healing and long term pain relief.
PRP Benefits
- Pain Relief
- Regeneration of Ligaments, Tendons, Cartilage, and Connective Tissue
- Cost Effective
- Quick Recovery Time
- Non-Surgical / Non-Invasive
Aroldis Chapman PRP Injection
New York Yankees all-star closer Aroldis Chapman has received a PRP or platelet rich plasma injection into his left knee for chronic knee tendinitis. The pitcher has been battling tendinitis for months and has now decided to seek PRP therapy over a cortisone shot for a quicker return to the Yankees. PRP shots have continued to gain popularity in sports medicine for there highly effective results and quick recovery time. These injections have gained so much traction that now many professional sports franchises and their team doctors are choosing PRP over cortisone. New orthopedic research has continually demonstrated that PRP shots are just as effective as cortisone for pain relief in the short term, and show that PRP is more effective for long term pain relief. The latest research also has begun to demonstrate that cortisone actually erodes and destroys cartilage in the long term. These factors have all lead to more and more professional athletes opting for PRP as their treatment of choice for tendon injuries.
Summary
Platelet rich plasma is a safe and effective treatment for tendinitis and is gaining great popularity among professional athletes. The treatment helps regenerate the damaged tendon and allows athletes and patients to recover quickly. These factors have led many athletes such as Aroldis Chapman to choose PRP injections over other conventional options such as cortisone.
