LA Dodgers and Seattle Mariners using PRP to treat players

Seattle Mariner Cliff Lee pitched 7 innings yesterday of shut out baseball after receiving a platelet rich plasma injection for an abdominal strain.  The Safeco field crowd of 34,055 were treated to 93 mile per hour fast balls and eight strikeouts.  An impressive return to pitching. 

Did PRP help him in his return?  That is a good question to ask Mr. Lee.  Clearly, it didn't hurt him.  We need to follow his progress and better understand if PRP can treat abdominal strains and or sports hernia type injuries.

Los Angeles Dodger Rafael Furcal also has used PRP.  In his case, the platelet rich plasma was used to treat a hamstring injury.  We clearly need better data on whether PRP really helps these problems but for now it is clear that major league players and their doctors are using it.

AM
Total Tendon

Platelet Rich Plasma and Abdominal Strains

Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners was recently treated with PRP for an abdominal strain.  This is a novel but potential valuable application for platelet rich plasma. Presently, there is no data to suggest it may work for this problem.  Basic science and preclinical work, however, suggest it may be helpful. 

I must applaud the doctors who made this choice because if it does help Mr. Lee return to the mound without surgery they will have helped many other athletes and physicians.  I would recommend, however, this case be documented in the medical literature so we all can follow the specifics.

As new potential applications arise, we must be aware of the value created by the researchers, physicians and patients who make that initial decision to try something that no one else has done. 

AM
Total Tendon