Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

[craig1985]

Just read an article here, and the talk of a 'radical' treatment called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which consists of a sample of blood removed, then re-injected after a 15-minute blood spinning process involving a centrifuge machine (from the link). It also mentions:

PRP therapy, first used around 10 years ago by athletes in Europe, including cyclists, has sparked major debate in recent times - prompting the World Anti-Doping Agency to amend its prohibited list this year.

Under section S2-6 of the 2010 WADA code, PRP can be used by athletes, but only if injections involve joints or areas surrounding muscles. Direct injections into muscles are banned and can invoke a two-year ban from competition.s

Given that Thurston is having injections to his collarbone, the process is legal. Gibbs said PRP was not perfomance-enhancing and predicted it would become more widely used in Australian sport.

Has there been cases of it used by the peloton or would it be a common practice amongst those in the peloton. I suppose Tyler would of got on to this when he broke his collarbone at the 2003 Tour and managed to win a stage and finish 4th overall.

 

[Ferminal]

I've heard it talked about quite a bit in sport here.

Didn't realise it was prohibited (always wondered why it wasn't?)

 

[Kennf1]

Used by Tiger Woods and Dara Torres (with Dr. Galea), but no use reported yet by cyclists.

 

[brianf7]

My Cardiologist has had me on low dose asprin for 10 years to lower the platlet count so I dont get blocked arteries.

Either way this dosnt efect my performance its still as bad as it was 20 years ago. I have good days and bad days and for no reason.
So if I have a good day it dosnt matter what is my object I will win if I have a bad day I usualy die a thousand deaths and come in last.
It is the red blood count that is important.

Just tell me how to get them good days more often.

Its not platlets that improve performance it -MAY- help muscle recovery but so dose a long lay in bed in the morning.

 

[_nm___]

the reason why WADA have banned platelet rich plasma is because it contains small amounts of IGF-1. IGF-1 is one of the growth factors prohibited in the WADA code. it stimulates (muscular) cell growth and participates in helping glucose enter into (muscle) cells. in fact, at muscular level, IGF-1 does more or less the same as growth hormone. in therapy, IGF-1 is the drug of choice for children with Laron syndrome, an illness where your body is resistant to growth hormone.

but there are several types of IGF-1 and PRP might not contain the type that dopes the most, and in too small quantities any way.

WADA know it is used only for healing wounds (faster and better than with the traditional treatments) but they just wanted to make a statement.

regarding its availability, i would think that, today, PRP treatment is available in every luxury sports clinic in the world, and i would not expect every body to shout about it when they have had it done.