Whether you have experienced an injury to your Achilles tendon or rotator cuff, you know how painful it can be. On top of the pain, these injuries can impair mobility, strength, and quality of life. You may have tried traditional treatments such as ice, heat, rest, physical therapy, anti‑inflammatories, and surgery. However, these approaches can have slow recoveries, and there is always the risk of re‑injury.
Regenerative medicine techniques, particularly platelet‑rich plasma (PRP) therapy, are being touted for their ability to speed up healing and improve long-term outcomes. Today we’ll talk about how these common tendon injuries happen, how PRP can help, and what you can do to avoid re-injury.
Common Tendon Injuries: Achilles and Rotator Cuff
- Achilles tendon tears or ruptures: About 40 in 100,000 people suffer from Achilles tendon tears or ruptures, making it the most common tendon rupture in the lower extremity area, says NIH. The Achilles, one of the strongest tendons in the body, connects calf muscles to the heel bone. Sudden stress such as jumping or sprinting can cause an injury, as can chronic overuse. A full rupture will need surgery, but partial tears may respond well to non‑surgical management.
- Rotator cuff injuries: About three million people suffer from a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff, a group of tendons around the shoulder, stabilizes and moves the joint. Tears can result from a sudden event such as a fall, or from gradual wear‑and‑tear. Symptoms include pain, weakness, and limited motion, especially overhead.
While they affect different tendons in the body, each of these injuries face similar challenges, as they have poor blood supply. This translates to slower healing and scar tissue formation that hampers the restoration of the normal tendon makeup. If not restored or healed properly, the risk of re-injury is high.
How PRP and Regenerative Medicine Can Help
Platelet‑Rich Plasma (PRP) involves a patient’s own blood being processed to concentrate platelets and growth factors. This mixture is then injected into the injured area to encourage natural healing. PRP:
- Stimulates tendon cell proliferation and collagen production
- Improves blood flow
- Reduces inflammation in the injured tissue
- Enhances the quality of new tendon tissue so it is more organized than scar tissue
6 Tips to Speed Up Recovery and Prevent Re‑Injury
- Progressive loading: Gradually increase eccentric exercises and resistance training to help the tendon slowly adapt and strengthen.
- Early mobilization: Physical therapy can help to restore range of motion without overstressing the tendon. Being immobile for too long can result in stiffness.
- Nutrition and systemic health: Consume optimal amounts of vitamin C, vitamin D, and omega‑3s; also, avoid smoking and be sure to properly manage any chronic conditions such as diabetes.
- PRP timing: PRP should be delivered early in the healing process with proper guidance such as ultrasound.
- Proper footwear: Wearing the right footwear will prevent muscle imbalances, so couple that with proper technique in sports and work. Be sure to stretch before activity and take time to warm up and cool down.
- Rest and recovery: Tendon tissue injuries can be slow to heal. Have patience, rest up, avoid overuse, and manage inflammation for best long-term results.
Regenerative medicines such as PRP can offer a complementary treatment for tendon tears and injuries such as those of the Achilles and rotator cuff. From reduced pain to better early healing, PRP can help with these injuries and possibly lower re-tear rates when combined with physical therapy and lifestyle changes.
Contact the Regenerative Medicine Institute
Contact us today at (248) 771-1300 to book your consultation with our pain specialists to learn more about how PRP can help.
By Regenerative Medicine Institute of Michigan
Board-certified Doctors – Aaron Greenberg, DO and Eduardo José Otero Loperena, MD