Rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT) is a common and bothersome condition that can impact professional athletes and weekend warriors alike. RCT is a leading cause of shoulder pain which often limits a patient’s range of motion, restricts basic functions, and can diminish quality of life. This is exactly why leveraging the very best and most effective treatments is so important.

Recent studies showed that platelet rich plasma (PRP) offers a safe and cost-effective treatment alternative for RCT patients who do not have a full-thickness tear of the rotator cuff. Bennett Orthopedics and Sportsmedicine proudly offers PRP treatments for this purpose to patients throughout Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, and surrounding areas, as well as patients who travel from other parts of the country seeking Dr. Bennett’s specific rotator cuff expertise.

What Is Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy?

The rotator cuff comprises a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder’s ball and socket joint. It stabilizes the shoulder and helps the arm sustain a full and unlimited range of motion.

Unlike tendinitis, which is defined by the inflammation of a tendon due to micro-tears after an acute injury, tendinosis results from degeneration that occurs in response to chronic overuse of the tendon. RTC tends to develop in the rotator cuff as a result of occupational overuse, muscle weakness, poor posture, excessive athletic training, or direct trauma.

How Can PRP Help?

According to a study on RCT treatments, PRP can safely and affordably treat RCT as long as a full-thickness tear is not present. Turlough O’Donnell, MD and his colleagues at UPMC Beacon Hospital in Dublin, Ireland investigated the results of RCT treated with PRP compared to RCT treated with corticosteroid injections. Three months after treatment, patients who received PRP demonstrated significant improvements in their range of motion and pain level. After one year, only 3 patients in the PRP group had to undergo surgery for the condition, while a full 48 patients who received corticosteroids required surgical intervention.

PRP is such a powerful healer because it carries many important proteins, cytokines, and enzymes called growth factors, which have the ability to directly heal tissue and reduce inflammation. At Bennett Orthopedics, Dr. Bennett harnesses his more than a decade of experience with PRP and stem cells to treat the site of injury with precision. The treatment, which takes only 50 minutes has been proven to transform joint health and restore full and unrestrained range of motion in the shoulder for many patients..

To utilize PRP treatment for your own painful shoulder condition, call (941) 229-1648 to schedule your first appointment with Dr. William Bennett. You don’t need to settle for a temporary treatment like a corticosteroid treatment when you have an expert with extensive experience using PRP to help you achieve long-term healing.