What's New at Physio Sport Med

We are pleased to announce that our physicians are now doing Platelet Rich Plasma injections, more commonly known as PRP, at our clinic.  You may have heard about PRP in the news as it is commonly used among professional and elite athletes. 

However, PRP is not just a treatment option for athletes. There are many people who could benefit from PRP injections. 

PRP involves injecting a more concentrated level of platelets from the patient’s blood back into the area of concern.  Blood consists of liquid, known as plasma, as well as solid particles such as red and white blood cells and platelets.  Platelets contain many growth factors which play an important role in the healing process.  The purpose of PRP is to create a higher concentration of platelets in the blood, hence the name – Platelet-Rich Plasma.

In order to increase the concentration of platelets, blood is drawn from the patient, spun in a centrifuge, and separated into it’s components.  The platelet-rich portion is then injected back into the area of concern.

It is thought that by increasing the concentration of platelets in the injured area, and therefore increasing the number of growth factors, it will speed up the healing process.

PRP can be effective in treating arthritis, tendon and ligament injuries in the elbow, shoulder, and knee, among others.  The research into this method is ongoing.     
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If you are interested in PRP, you can call us at 905-257-3456 for more information.  You will need a consultation with one of our sports medicine physicians prior to receiving PRP treatment to make sure that this is an appropriate treatment option for you. The consultation is covered by your provincial health plan (such as OHIP).

As an athlete, there are many reasons why you may choose to play through an injury.  Firstly, as an athlete, your love for the game makes it devastating to sit out and watch your team from the stands.  You may also feel bad that you are unable to help your teammates reach their goals.  Finally, you may feel pressure from coaches, teammates, parents, or trainers to return to sport before you are ready. 

As a former athlete, I understand this predicament first-hand.  In my second year of varsity lacrosse at the University of Guelph, I experienced a chain of injuries starting with a pulled quad during training camp.  As I played through each injury, my body compensated for the weak/injured area and a new issue would appear.  As a result, I woke up the first morning of our championship weekend completely unable to bend over without my legs giving out because of a back injury.  Had I taken the appropriate amount of time to recover from the minor pulled quad, I would have been able to help my team and play in our championship weekend.

​I spent the next two seasons at countless physiotherapy appointments so that I could make it through game days with as little pain as possible.  It’s been 5 years since my last season and I still experience back pain to this day.