Top tier athletes are increasingly using their own bodies to aid in the healing process of difficult injuries.

Through a treatment called platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP), platelets from the patient's own blood are separated from red blood cells using a centrifuge. The concentrated, platelet rich blood is then injected back into the patient's body at the site of an injury. Platelets are a natural source of growth factors, which helps catalyze growth of new soft-tissue or bone cells.

In an ABC 7 News report by Sylvia Perez and Christine Tressel, MOR orthopaedic surgeons Dr. Anthony Romeo and Dr. Brian Cole discuss how platelet rich plasma therapy is being used to aid in the healing process in both surgical and nonsurgical cases.

"We have early clinical data that suggests PRP does help in the healing of tendons to bone," says Dr. Romeo. "Even in the nonsurgical setting there have been reports of patients improving."

To view the full report, click on the link below.

ABC 7 Healthbeat Report: Supercharged Healing