Needles and blood gross out Tommy Redding, so he wasn’t thrilled when trainers suggested a treatment for his plantar fasciitis that involved both.
Redding, a promising young centerback for Orlando City, braved his fears and went in July 5 for a platelet-rich plasma injection, also known as PRP.
The treatment involved drawing a patient’s blood then separating and concentrating the platelets using a centrifuge. The platelet-rich plasma, which contains growth factors that can promote healing and tissue regeneration, is then injected back into the body at the site of the injury.
“It’s a little gross,” Redding said, “But, at the end of the day, whatever helps.