Sidelined by Tendinitis? Get Back in the Game Faster with PRP and PT

The sharp, nagging pain of tendinitis can slow you down and keep you from living an active lifestyle. If left untreated, tendinitis can linger for weeks or even months, sidelining you from sports, work, and the activities you love. 

Fortunately, there’s targeted therapy: a combination of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and physical therapy (PT), that can help you recover faster.

At the orthopedic practice of Matthew Pifer, MD, we use the latest therapies to help people with overuse injuries like tendinitis get back in the game as quickly and safely as possible. Dr. Pifer offers regenerative therapy for certain soft tissue injuries like tendinitis. 

As a board-certified orthopedic shoulder and sports medicine surgeon with advanced training in regenerative medicine, Dr. Pifer can help you enhance your body’s ability to heal.

Understanding tendinitis and why it takes time to heal

Tendinitis can happen to anyone, but you’re at a higher risk if you engage in particular sports, including:

• Tennis
• Golf
• Baseball
• Swimming
• Running

These sports involve repetitive movements that can cause tendon inflammation. It most commonly affects the 

• Shoulder
• Elbow
• Knee
• Hip
• Achilles tendon

While rest and ice may relieve symptoms temporarily, they don’t address the underlying inflammation or promote long-term healing.

What makes tendinitis particularly frustrating is that tendons receive less blood flow than muscles, which slows down the body’s natural healing response. 

That’s where PRP therapy and strategic rehabilitation come in. This combination treats symptoms and helps stimulate repair and restore function.

How PRP therapy accelerates recovery

PRP therapy uses a concentrated dose of your body’s own platelets, which are rich in growth factors that promote tissue repair. 

The process involves drawing a small sample of your blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets, and injecting that platelet-rich plasma into the affected tendon under image guidance.

PRP therapy can reduce pain and improve function in chronic tendinopathies, including tennis elbow, rotator cuff tendinitis, and Achilles tendinitis, according to research such as a systematic review published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2020. 

It jump-starts the healing process at a cellular level. At our practice, we customize PRP to the injury site and patient needs. Most people see improvements in pain, range of motion, and recovery time within weeks, with full activity often resumed sooner than with conventional treatment alone.

Why physical therapy is essential to long-term success

While PRP addresses inflammation and repair, physical therapy builds strength, improves flexibility, and prevents re-injury. 

Physical therapy is a crucial part of your recovery strategy. Our therapists work closely with Dr. Pifer to tailor exercises to your injury and sports or lifestyle demands.

This integrated approach allows you to return to play, training, or daily activity with confidence, stability, and less pain.

Getting back in the game

If tendinitis has kept you on the sidelines, it’s time to explore treatment that works with your body to heal. 

At the office of Matthew Pifer, MD, we combine the power of regenerative medicine and sports-focused rehabilitation to help you recover faster and stronger. Contact our office today to request a consultation, or book your consultation online to start your comeback.