PRP treatments help to put the 'go' back in golfers

© Aleksandrs Tihonovs – 123RF.com

PRP therapy involves drawing the patient's own blood, passing the blood through a centrifuge to separate out the platelets, and then injecting platelet rich plasma back into the patient's muscles or tendons. The treatment has proven to be effective on many musculoskeletal injuries such as tendonitis by stimulating healing. Tiger Woods has cited PRP as part of his recovery regime for his torn ACL, (anterior cruciate ligament) and when he tore his right Achilles. Basketballs' Kobe Bryant and Tennis's Rafael Nadal are also fans of the treatment.

Emily Ross, director of WhatClinic.com, says, "High performance drives innovation and PRP has been developed as a way to bring platelet rich plasma directly to the point of injury to stimulate the healing process, faster than physiotherapy-aided recovery and with less risk or down time than surgery. As the patient's own blood product is used, the treatment has been said to be safer."

However, Ross stresses that only a licensed medical professional should carry out the treatment. Any patient, whether for sports injury or for cosmetic beauty, should be well informed of any potential risk and make sure that their clinician is both qualified and experienced in the procedure.

Currently, there are six clinics in South Africa offering the treatment. They are Best Body Skin, The Melrose Aesthetic Centre, Life Fourways Hospital, and the Lightsculpt Aesthetic Clinic in Johannesburg, the Rajeuni Aesthetic & Laser Clinic in Welkom and The Louis Leipoldt Medi-clinic in Cape Town.