Rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT) is a common and bothersome condition that impacts professional athletes and average citizens alike. As a frequent cause of shoulder pain, rotator cuff tendinopathy has the potential to minimize a patient’s range of motion, restrict basic functions, and diminish quality of life. This is exactly why leveraging the very best and most effective treatments is so important. According to recent studies, 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 is proud to offer PRP treatments for this purpose to patients throughout Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, and surrounding areas.

What Should You Know About Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy?

The shoulder consists of two joints, and the rotator cuff itself is a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder’s ball and socket joint. The rotator cuff is there to stabilize the shoulder and help the arm achieve 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 is a 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, especially for RCT, because it carries many important proteins, cytokines, and enzymes called growth factors that have the ability to directly heal tissue and reduce inflammation. At Bennett Orthopedics, Dr. Bennett harnesses his years of experience with PRP to treat the site of injury with precision. It’s only a 50 minute treatment, yet PRP has been proven to transform joint health and restore full and unrestrained range of motion in the shoulder.

To utilize PRP treatment for your own painful shoulder condition, call (941) 229-1648 and 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 capable of using PRP to help you achieve long-term healing.