posted by admin on Mar 12
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It seems that medical advances are taking us around in circles! Scientists have recently discovered that injecting athletes with their own blood can speed recovery for a whole range of injuries.
Trials have used 2 high profile American Footballers as examples of how effective this treatment can be - their team then went on to win the SuperBowl!
What Is it All About?
The treatment - dating back from the ’70’s - is basically re-injecting the athlete or persons own body with their plasma - a component of blood.
Known as PRPT - Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy - this treatment has been used in orthopaedic surgery to help repair bones of patients for decades but is failing to make it into the mainstream for athletes in the UK as it is still illegal. It counts as a type of blood doping and there is currently no way around it.
The process involves the removal of blood from the patient. This is spun to collect the body-healing platelets in the plasma, which is them injected straight into the damaged tissues. Reports are that there is generally function recovery in half the normal time.
What’s The Problem?
Even though the results are extremely positive, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee are still not sure about whether it should be allowed.
Their argument is that it is increasing the red blood cell count and so will lead to better performance - basically ‘cheating’. Defenders say that it is only the plasma being injected - not the oxygen-giving red blood cells, but this has yet to convince anyone.
Bearing in mind that many sporting bodies follow the advice of the WADA, it is very difficult for sports people in the UK to use this apparently amazing treatment which works so well for ordinary people. Not only does it shorten recovery time and prevent painful and expensive surgeries - this doesn’t hold any weight.
Professional athletes for now will have to suffer their injuries the old way.
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