As you get older, your joints naturally experience wear and tear. Your cartilage thins, inflammation becomes more common, and activities that once felt effortless may start to cause discomfort.
For many people, the first signs are subtle: stiffness when getting out of bed, sore knees after a walk, or aching hips after a day on their feet. Those symptoms can begin to affect your mobility, your ability to exercise, and even your quality of life.
While traditional treatments like anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections can provide relief, they're not the only options. At Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Dr. Peter Candelora also offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a regenerative treatment that uses your body's own healing factors to support joint health.
Take a moment and read to see what PRP is and why it’s a boon for people with aging joints.
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is created from a small sample of your own blood. After the blood sample is collected, it's placed in a centrifuge that concentrates the platelets. These platelets contain growth factors and other proteins involved in your body's natural healing process.
In fact, according to research published in Cureus, PRP preparations typically contain platelet concentrations that are five to six times higher than those found in normal whole blood. This concentrated solution is then injected into the affected joint to support healing and reduce joint inflammation.
Your body uses blood as part of the wound-healing process, and without adequate blood flow, healing is harder. Unfortunately, cartilage has a limited blood supply.
That means that, compared to a cut on your skin, for example, it doesn't heal as quickly or as efficiently when damaged.
As a result, age-related joint conditions such as osteoarthritis can lead to:
PRP aims to support the body's natural repair processes in areas where healing may be slower.
PRP can be beneficial at any age, but it’s particularly helpful for aging joints because:
PRP comes from your own blood. Rather than introducing a synthetic medication, PRP delivers a concentrated dose of platelets and growth factors directly to the area being treated.
As joints age, chronic inflammation can make every step, squat, or stair feel more difficult. PRP may help calm that inflammation by delivering a concentrated dose of your body's own healing factors directly where they're needed most. In turn, this can help you move with greater comfort and confidence.
Most people don't seek treatment because they want a better X-ray at the end of the day; they seek treatment because they want to keep walking, golfing, gardening, exercising, and enjoying life without being limited by joint pain.
PRP helps reduce inflammation and may then improve your mobility, reduce stiffness, and make everyday movement more comfortable.
Nobody wants to jump straight from joint pain to joint replacement. While PRP isn't a cure for arthritis, it may help reduce pain and improve function enough to delay more invasive procedures in some people.
For active adults who aren't ready for surgery, PRP can serve as an important part of a broader joint preservation strategy.
Because PRP uses your own blood, treatment is minimally invasive and typically performed in the office.
Most people can return to many normal activities shortly after treatment, though Dr. Candelora may recommend temporarily modifying certain activities while the injection site heals.
PRP is commonly used for:
During your consultation, our team can determine whether PRP may be appropriate for your specific condition.
PRP may be worth considering if you're experiencing joint pain, stiffness, or reduced mobility and want to explore treatment options beyond medications alone.
During your PRP consultation, Dr. Candelora evaluates your symptoms, activity level, and goals to determine whether PRP may fit into your personalized treatment plan.
Growing older doesn't mean giving up the activities you love. If aging joints are slowing you down, schedule an appointment with Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine to learn whether PRP therapy may help you stay active and comfortable for years to come.
You can reach us by phone (727) 848-1417 or through our online form.
