New York Times Article: Personal Best

A medical reporter from the New York Times just wrote an article about platelet rich plasma for her hamstring injury. Below is her part of her story:

"From what they see in patients with injuries like mine, he said, the doctors are enthusiastic. “The results over all are so promising and so positive,” (her doctor told her) As a skeptical medical reporter, I’d say, that’s not very convincing evidence. As an injured runner, I say, “I’ll take it.”

Full Article Link

As the data surrounding platelet rich plasma matures and is published widely, we will be able to answer her questions better about how and when to use PRP most appropriately. For now, however, it is indeed a reasonable treatment for patients with chronic severe tendiniopathy.

AM
Total Tendon
ApexPRP.com

PRP Cutting Edge Treatment for Athletes

A well written article by Jenny Vrentas was just published about how ailing athletes are using platelet rich plasma. It discusses many of the hot issues surrounding PRP including doping. She notes:

"The NFL and MLB currently regard PRP as a medical treatment, not a performance-enhancement agent, so its use is left to the discretion of team physicians. WADA is still gathering information and will address PRP at upcoming meetings. Its Prohibited List for 2009 doesn't specifically mention PRP, though a spokesperson said blood processing techniques that lead to the release of growth factors generally fall under the "Hormones and Related Substances" section of that list. Athletes, however, can request a Therapeutic Use Exemption for a substance or method, if it is used to treat a serious medical condition."

Click here for the full article.

Hopefully, soon we will have a definitive ruling about PRP. The argument is actually quite simple. Nothing new or more is added to the patient at the time of the treatment. And, although PRP may speed healing from an injury, it has never been shown to enhance performance.

AM
Total Tendon

PRP Published Data Link

Platelet Rich Plasma papers are being published almost daily now.

PRP Datalink will periodically be updated. Check it out and send in your suggestions for additions to the list. Only articles available in PubMed will be considered.

AM