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Spine therapy treatment is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on addressing issues related to the spine, including back pain, neck pain, and other spine-related conditions. It aims to improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance overall spinal health. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to consider seeking the expertise of a spine therapist or consulting a doctor:

Persistent Back or Neck Pain: If you have been dealing with persistent back or neck pain that doesn’t improve with rest or over-the-counter pain medications, it’s essential to seek medical attention. A spine therapist can evaluate your condition and design a customized treatment plan to address the underlying cause of the pain.

Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty in moving your back or neck, experiencing stiffness, or a reduced range of motion can be signs of a spine-related issue. A spine therapist can work on improving your flexibility and mobility through targeted exercises and manual therapy techniques.

Numbness or Tingling: If you experience numbness, tingling sensations, or weakness in your arms or legs, it could indicate nerve compression or a herniated disc in the spine. This warrants immediate medical evaluation and appropriate treatment.

Recent Injury: If you have recently experienced a sports-related injury, a fall, or an accident that resulted in trauma to your back or neck, seeking medical attention promptly is crucial to rule out any severe injuries.

Chronic Conditions: Individuals with chronic conditions such as scoliosis or degenerative disc disease may benefit from spine therapy to manage pain and improve function.

Post-Surgery Rehabilitation: After undergoing spinal surgery, rehabilitation with a spine therapist is often necessary to aid in the recovery process and regain strength and mobility.

Persistent Headaches: Sometimes, persistent headaches can be related to issues with the spine, such as poor posture or muscle tension. A spine therapist can help identify and address these contributing factors.

Remember, early intervention and proper treatment are essential for preventing further complications and improving your overall quality of life. If you are unsure whether spine therapy is appropriate for your condition, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional or a spine therapist to determine the most suitable course of action.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is used to treat injured bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons in both non-surgical and surgical patients. We have successfully treated tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis and hamstring tears non-surgically. PRP is also used in ACL reconstruction, achilles tendon, meniscal, labral and rotator cuff repairs. A level one meta-analysis of 26 controlled trials show that Platelet was more effective than the gold standard of hyaluronic acid or placebo for improvement of pain and function in patients.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) was initially used in the late 1980s during open-heart surgical procedures. Over the last 15 years PRP has become a hot topic in Sports Medicine when professional athletes began using PRP Therapy to return to play faster after sustaining a soft tissue injury. Superstars like Tiger Woods, Cliff Lee, Hines Ward and Kobe Bryant have all used PRP Therapy in quest for a quicker return back to their sport.

This study suggest that Leukocyte poor PRP knee injections are effective in treatment of knee osteoarthritis with superior and meaningful clinical differences in favor over Hyaluronic Acid injections.

These findings are consistent with Dr. Wall’s experience in using leukocyte poor PRP to treat greater than 6000 patients with knee OA over the last 15 years. Dr. Wall stated that this treatment is not for everyone but can be effective in improving pain and function in patients with moderate to sever knee OA.

What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Platelet Rich Plasma is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. Most of us think of platelets when we are trying to stop bleeding (Hemostasis). In addition to containing products to help with hemostasis they also contain products called Growth Factors and Cytokines that may play an important role in initiating and supporting healing of injured connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments, muscles and articular cartilage. These Growth factors may increase the blood supply to the injured tissues and enhance the migration of mesenchymal stem cells to the site of injury thereby promoting healing and tissue regeneration.

What is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy?

PRP Therapy consists of concentration platelets by as much as 8 times the baseline level. This is done via a simple venipuncture blood draw. This blood is then centrifuged to isolate and concentrate platelets. Once the Platelet Rich plasma is obtained it can be activated outside (Exogenously) or inside the body (Endogenously). The entire process takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

Exogenous platelet activation occurs when a substance such as calcium chloride or thrombin is added to the PRP resulting in a gelatinous like substance that can be surgically placed into the injured or surgical repaired area. Endogenous platelet activation occurs when PRP in injected via a needle into the injured area. Either way the majority of the platelet’s Growth Factors are released within the first 10 minutes and continues to have beneficial effects for months afterwards.

Because this is the patient’s own blood (Autogenous), there is no concern about transmissible disease or rejection. The risk of endogenous PRP Therapy would be similar to any traditional percutaneous injection. The most common patient complaint after the injection is pain at the treatment site within the first 48 hours. This is believed to be related to the desired inflammatory phase of the healing process. The majority of times this pain can be treated successfully with over-the-counter Tylenol and ice (cryotherapy). PRP Therapy is contraindicated in patients who have a platelet dysfunction, thrombocytopenia or infection at the injury site or in the blood. It is also discouraged in patients who have been on NSAIDs 48 hours prior to the procedure and in patients who have received a steroid injection one month prior the PRP Therapy.

What disorders can be treated?

PRP Therapy has great potential in treating musculoskeletal disorders such as tendon, ligament and muscle injuries, difficult to heal fractures, articular cartilage injuries and early degenerative arthritis. In my practice, I have seen amazing results with PRP Therapy in treating disorders that traditional method have failed to improve.

Will my insurance pay for PRP treatment?

Unfortunately, despite meta-analysis studies show its efficacy most insurance companies see this as an investigational procedure and will not pay for it. There are many studies in the literature that have showed a significant resolution of pain and restoration of function up to 1 year after treatment. However many of these studies differ in their centrification and activation protocols, the timing and frequency of PRP treatment and the post treatment rehabilitation protocol. Until an abundance of high level studies can demonstrate positive treatment effects, you are going to have to pay out of pocket.

Is PRP Therapy right for me?

If you have a tendon or ligament injury and traditional methods have not helped, then PRP therapy may be the solution. You will need an initial evaluation with Dr. Thomas Wall to see if PRP therapy will be right for you. You can make an appointment to see Dr. Wall by contacting The Athletic Institute of Medicine at (480) 778-1400.

[Watch Dr. Wall speak about Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy]