Sports medicine advances and innovates with each passing year, but over the last decade, one scientific development has been evolving and surpassing others, becoming a top option for injured professional athletes.
Platelet-Rich Plasma injection, also know as PRP injection, is a process where doctor’s extract some blood from an injured patient, spin it at high velocities to get the plasma out, and then re-inject the plasma rich blood into the injured area. According to PRP injection NJ specialists, the treatment can help wounds heal 60-70 percent faster.
This year, one of the highest profile athletes to try out the PRP injection will be the Red Sox designated hitter, David Ortiz, who has received the shot about two weeks ago to alleviate pain in his injured achilles.
The shot comes with specific restrictions: players can’t travel at high altitudes, which explains why Ortiz didn’t join the Red Sox on their recent series. Players also need time to recover from the injection. Ortiz is still wearing a protective boot two weeks after the treatment.
Ortiz said he wants to be absolutely positive that he’s in good health before he steps back onto the field. Ortiz originally suffered the injury on July 16 and missed a total of 35 games before he was activated on Aug. 24, but was limited to one game.
“To be honest with you, what I’m looking for right now is to make sure I heal up the right way,” he told reporters at press conference. “I pushed it once, it didn’t work, so I’m not going to push it again. If I’m good to go, I’m good to go.”
“I don’t want to have another setback,” he continued. “I want to make sure I resolve this problem. The last time I had a setback, I basically asked them, ‘Do I need surgery for this?’ They told me no, I didn’t need surgery. So, OK, let’s fix this and I don’t have to worry about it. I’m pretty sure our doctors will do whatever it takes to get me to where I want to be and I think we are on our way right now. I’m feeling good after the [platelet-rich plasma injection].”
When the season ends, Ortiz will become a free agent. He’s made it no secret that he wants a long-term contract in order to retire in Boston, and he hopes that the injury won’t affect future negotiations.