Ligaments connect bone to bone at joints. They stabilize the joint and control the range of motion. If a ligament is injured, it can no longer provide support to joints, making the joints weak and shifting the burden to muscles. This causes pain, swelling, inflammation in the joints, limiting function and motion.

Since tendons and ligaments have poor blood supply, they do not heal easily upon injury. If they are left untreated, the damage worsens. This can cause chronic pain, weakness and further damage.

There are two types of injections that are used to treat tendon and ligament injuries and pain.

Steroid Injections

Corticosteroid injections can offer pain relief and relieve inflammation by sending powerful medication directly to the site of injury.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Injections

PRP or Plasma Rich Therapy injections can also be used to treat tendons and ligaments injuries. Platelet-rich plasma injections utilize the patient’s own blood components to stimulate a healing response in damaged tissues.

Our blood is composed of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. In case of an injury in the body, the platelets move to the site of injury and begin a healing response. Platelets release numerous growth factors and other proteins which assist with the healing process.

Now, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can be created from a patient’s own blood normal sample. This PRP can then be injected directly into the site of an injury in an effort to stimulate a powerful healing response. By enhancing the body’s natural healing capacity, PRP injections can aid a more rapid, more efficient, and more thorough restoration of the tissue to a healthy state.

Orthopedic doctors in Phoenix AZ use PRP therapy to effectively treat sports injuries, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ACL tears, shin splints, rotator cuff tears, plantar fasciitis and iliotibial band syndrome.

PRP injections have been used successfully in the following conditions:

• Patellar tendonitis/tendinosis

• Quadriceps muscle injuries

• Knee osteoarthritis

• Hip osteoarthritis

• Rotator Cuff tendonitis, tendonopathy or partial tears

• Biceps tendonitis

• Medial and Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow (golfers & tennis elbow)

• Ulnar Collateral Ligament sprain or tear

• Achilles tendonitis or partial tears

To set up a consultation with one of the best orthopedic surgeons in Phoenix, call Phoenix Shoulder and Knee clinic at 480-219-3342. Dr. Adam Farber is a Board certified, Fellowship trained and an experienced orthopedic doctor in Phoenix AZ. He has a particular interest in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, elbow, ankle and knee.