Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Ozone (O3)
What is PRP? Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is a blood product that comes from whole blood that is drawn from a patient. That blood is then placed into a centrifuge and spun to separate the plasma and platelets from the red blood cells. Then the platelet rich plasma portion is extracted and injected into the damaged or injured tissues.
Platelets are produced in the human body and possess healing properties to help the
body repair itself. In addition, the platelets also contain growth factors that promote the regeneration of tissues. This is a potent combination for the healing and regeneration of injured tissues. PRP is a great alternative to traditional allopathic injections such as cortisone as well as major surgery because it is non-invasive. Since PRP is naturally derived from the same person that is being injected there is little cause for concern about infection or tissue damage. PRP is used to augment the healing process, especially in areas with slow tissue repair and turnover. PRP is introduced to increase the body’s natural healing process. PRP is an agent used to heal rather than mask the symptoms of pain.
The best part about PRP is the growth factors that help to heal. It isn’t just an internal
scab that is forming when PRP is introduced to the damaged tissue. Instead, these growth
factors start a proliferation of new growth of the surrounding cells. So, if blood vessels have been damaged, new cells will replace the damaged ones. If the muscle has been torn, then new cells will grow and help reassemble the tear. Any damage done to any cell can be replaced by new cells that PRP and growth factors are signaling the body to regenerate. Tissue can reform and return to full function.
PRP helps to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions. Problems such as
osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, low back pain, chronic plantar fasciitis, herniated spinal discs, chronic tendon pain, acute injuries, and pain conditions such as chronic regional pain syndrome can all be treated with PRP.
PRP isn’t an immediate silver bullet for fixing an issue. PRP facilitates the body’s natural
healing response but in a more dynamic way. The full effect of healing from PRP is over the
the course of 3-6 months. Enough time for cells to regenerate to their maximum potential and have long-lasting effects. The whole process of PRP from drawing the blood to the final injection takes between 30-45 minutes. At the end of the treatment, patients may experience some discomfort at the injection site and most patients are able to continue with their normal activities the following day. Some people may not even notice after effects at all. PRP is fast, effective, and safe.
What is ozone? Well, you have probably heard of the ozone layer that surrounds the
earth. Ozone is just a different configuration of oxygen atoms. The air and oxygen that we
breathe are diatomic oxygen, meaning that two oxygen atoms are bound together to form a stable molecule, O2. Ozone is triatomic oxygen, which means that there are three oxygen atoms bound together, O3. This makes ozone much more of an unstable molecule than regular oxygen. The instability of ozone is what makes it so potent for the use of increasing the overall wellness and healing of tissue in the body.
Ozone has many benefits and each of those benefits helps with the healing and
regeneration of the tissues that are injected with ozone. Ozone helps with the activation of the immune system, improving circulation, increasing metabolism, increasing tissue oxygenation, and increasing cellular rejuvenation and ozone is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. Without question, these biological processes are vital for tissue healing and recovery. Ozone helps to facilitate these processes at an increased level working directly with the injured cells. It all really boils down to the body and the cells utilizing oxygen more efficiently and thereby increasing the body’s natural ability to heal.
That’s all great but how does ozone work? When ozone is injected into the body it creates small oxidative stress in the tissues. Oxidative stress is not as bad as it sounds. This
small stress response helps to increase the number of antioxidant enzymes that help to
eliminate free radicals. Free radicals are the major cause of cell decay and death as well as
degenerative diseases such as arthritis.
Ozone, when injected will automatically be broken down and forms O2 and hydrogen
peroxide or H2O2. Your body then converts the H2O2 into water and even more oxygen. The oxygen is then used by the mitochondria to produce ATP which is the energy source of all of our cells.
Now we come to the mitochondria. Anyone who attended high school biology will know that mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells. Mitochondria are little batteries that help to run the cells in our bodies. They create energy just like a battery and they also generate heat like a battery. Mitochondria also help to mediate cell growth and death. You can’t talk about
ozone and not mention mitochondria because ozone helps the mitochondria function more
efficiently.
This helps with improving circulation, increasing metabolism, and activating the immune
system, increasing cellular rejuvenation and increasing tissue oxygenation. All of this is
important when discussing the treatment of symptoms associated with inflammatory and
degenerative processes due to sprains, strains, fractures and even post-surgery or chronic
overuse or repetitive injuries such as tendonitis, bursitis and tennis/golfer’s elbow and arthritic conditions.
Ozone truly is a wonderful option for treatment for many ailments and injuries. People
can have long-term relief from issues that have been a problem for months or even years.
Individuals who suffer from arthritis pain can get serious relief so that they can enjoy things
again that they couldn’t before because arthritis was holding them back. The list of what ozone can treat is lengthy but here are a few common instances where ozone can help dramatically: low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, sprains, strains, plantar fasciitis, post-operative pain, and arthritic pain.
safe and probably the safest substance to inject because it is antibacterial, antiviral, and
antifungal.
Both injection treatments are beneficial for everyone and not limited to strictly
athletes or those who can pay for expensive medical treatments. Ozone and PRP are used to promote the body to naturally heal rather than focusing on eliminating the symptoms that come from injuries and chronic conditions. Ozone is paired with PRP injections to help lower the risk for infection even though PRP is acquired from the same person that it is injected into. Again, safe, fast, and effective.
Our office can help treat many injuries and chronic musculoskeletal problems and these
therapies take it to the next level for recovery and healing. We also incorporate these treatments into our car accident protocols because auto accidents cause muscle, ligament, and tendon damage. Neck pain from whiplash is a great example of using a healing agent not only to reduce inflammation and pain but also to help the body repair after a major trauma.
Ozone and PRP are very conservative and non-invasive treatments available for people
to have another option for healing and recovery other than steroid injections or major surgery. No matter the stage of injury, acute or chronic, PRP and ozone can help aid the already natural process of healing within the body. They can also help to speed up recovery and healing, slow down degenerative processes and limit the formation of scar tissue.
PRP and ozone can help with anything that may be amiss when it comes to feeling and
living to your absolute limit. As chiropractors, we value the body’s innate ability to heal. We can facilitate natural healing taking place and also encourage quicker recovery and regeneration so that patients can get back to full function faster.
We love to help people reach the maximum of their full capabilities. Ozone and PRP are
great tools that we use to reach those goals with patients. We incorporate other methods of
treatments that include chiropractic care to achieve optimum results. Wouldn’t it be better
anyway to have your own body do the work of healing and regeneration rather than leaning on drugs, other harmful injections, or major surgery? We think so and we know that we can help with all the aches and pains that come with acute traumas or long, chronic, degenerative problems that life throws at us.
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