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New Procedure Uses Athletes' Own Blood to Heal Them

Practice could become standard orthopedics

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 17, 2009 11:13 AM CST

(Newser) – Before the Super Bowl, Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu got a dose of an exciting new medicine: their own blood. They join at least one Major League pitcher, 20 pro soccer players, and many more casual athletes as early adopters of platelet-rich plasma therapy, a shockingly simple new procedure that proponents say could revolutionize sports medicine and all of orthopedics.

Doctors simply inject a patient’s blood directly into the injured area, causing the body’s repair instinct to kick in and speed up recovery. Early signs point to it as an effective way to treat intractable maladies like tennis elbow or knee tendonitis. “It’s a better option for problems that don’t have a great solution,” said one doctor researching the treatment. “It needs a lot more study, but we are obligated to pursue this.”

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu received platelet-rich plasma therapy before the Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu received platelet-rich plasma therapy before the Super Bowl.   (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward laughs as he runs off the field during the third quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward laughs as he runs off the field during the third quarter of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla.   (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Injured Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, left, gets a handful of sunflower seeds from defensive lineman Nick Eason on the sidelines, Aug. 8, 2008.
Injured Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, left, gets a handful of sunflower seeds from defensive lineman Nick Eason on the sidelines, Aug. 8, 2008.   (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Guest
Feb 17, 2009 11:32 PM CST
I heard they first started using this technique with the scabs during the strike year. I could be wrong.

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