Advanced treatment to relieve chronic pain and restore joint function
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is a type of regenerative injection therapy used to treat many chronic and acute musculoskeletal injuries. PRP Therapy involves drawing your blood (like going for a blood test), concentrating the blood (through centrifuging), and re-introducing the blood into areas of injury.
When concentrated through centrifuging, the blood plasma becomes “rich” in platelets thus the name “Platelet Rich Plasma.”
Platelets are one type of cell found in blood that have many functions, including helping blood clot, providing a ‘scaffold’ for tissue healing when injured, and producing ‘growth factors’ that help the body heal itself from injury. These compounds are important in attracting other cells that aid in healing, stimulating new blood vessel formation, regenerating damaged tissue such as cartilage, decreasing inflammation, and promoting natural healing.
PRP Therapy is often used in combination with other forms of regeneration injection therapies such as prolotherapy and neural therapy to support ligament, tendon and nerve healing.
Benefits of Naturopathic Injection Therapies:
- Individualized assessments and holistic treatment plans
- Accelerated healing and return-to-play
- Decreased pain
- Improved function and quality of life
Regenerative Injection Treatments for Pain & Injury
At Coast Therapy, we offer advanced Regenerative Injection Therapies to help your body heal naturally, decrease pain, and improve function. These include:
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
- Trigger Point Injections
- Prolotherapy
- Neural Therapy
These injection therapies may be recommended as part of a comprehensive treatment plan developed by our experienced practitioners, including Naturopathic Doctors, physiotherapists, and manual therapists.
Why Choose Naturopathic Injection Therapies?
Adding naturopathic perspectives to injection therapies can enhance outcomes by:
- Creating individualized, holistic treatment plans
- Addressing lifestyle, nutrition, and underlying causes of pain
- Integrating multiple therapies to support recovery and overall well-being
Whether you are seeking to stimulate tissue healing (PRP) or target muscle tension and pain (Trigger Point Injections), our team will work with you to determine the best approach for your goals and condition.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is a regenerative injection therapy used to support healing for a variety of chronic and acute musculoskeletal injuries.
How PRP Works:
- A small sample of your blood is drawn (similar to routine bloodwork).
- The blood is processed in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets.
- The platelet-rich portion (PRP) is injected into the injured area.
Platelets contain growth factors and proteins that support tissue repair, reduce inflammation, stimulate new blood vessel formation, and promote healing of ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and soft tissue.
Conditions Treated With PRP:
- Tendinopathies and tendinosis
- Ligament sprains
- Muscle strains
- Osteoarthritis
- Meniscus and labral injuries
- Chronic joint pain
If you’re unsure whether PRP is right for your injury, ask your healthcare practitioner or naturopathic doctor.
PRP FAQs:
- How many treatments are needed?
Most patients require 2–6 sessions, spaced 4–6 weeks apart, but this varies by condition. - When will I see results?
Improvements are typically noticed within weeks to months as tissue repair progresses. - How long does PRP last?
Duration of benefit depends on the injury and lifestyle; some patients return for repeat treatments over time. - Side effects:
Risk is low but can include temporary pain, bruising, or swelling at the injection site.
Trigger Point Injections
While PRP focuses on tissue healing, Trigger Point Injections (TPIs) are used to relieve muscle tightness and pain caused by myofascial trigger points — localized “knots” or hyper-irritable bands of muscle that can restrict movement and refer pain to other areas of the body.
What are Trigger Point Injections?
Trigger point injections are a targeted therapeutic approach where a small needle is inserted into specific tight muscle points to:
- Release muscle tension
- Decrease pain in the affected area
- Improve range of motion
- Reduce referred pain patterns
These are commonly used to treat conditions such as:
- Neck, shoulder, or back muscle pain
- Tension headaches
- Muscle spasms
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Fibromyalgia-related muscle pain
- Tightness that limits daily activity or rehabilitation progress
How It Works
Injections typically contain a sterile solution — which may be a small amount of local anesthetic or saline — delivered directly into the muscle’s trigger point. This helps the muscle to relax and break the pain-tension cycle.
Many naturopathic doctors offering this service combine injection therapy with manual assessment and holistic care, ensuring a personalized treatment plan aimed at both relieving symptoms and addressing contributing factors.
What to Expect
- Treatment sessions usually take about 15–30 minutes.
- Relief can often be felt within minutes to hours, though a series of sessions may be recommended for sustained benefit.
- Mild soreness or bruising at the injection site is common but typically resolves quickly.
Benefits of Trigger Point Injections
- Rapid pain relief
- Reduced muscle tightness
- Better mobility and function
- Enhanced ability to participate in rehabilitation and daily activities
Safety and Considerations
Trigger point injections are generally safe, but some people may experience temporary discomfort or mild side effects such as tenderness, bruising, or short-lived numbness. Your practitioner will discuss any risks and contraindications based on your health history
Book Your Consultation
If you’re interested in regenerative therapies, trigger point injections, or want to learn more about what treatment is best for you, book a consultation with one of our practitioners — including our trained Naturopathic Doctors.
BOOK ONLINE or call us to speak with our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
PRP is used for a variety of acute and chronic joint, meniscus, tendon and ligament injuries. PRP has been shown effective for degenerated meniscus and meniscus tears, labral tears of the hip and shoulder, ligament sprains, tendinopathy, tendinosis, and osteoarthritis. If you are unsure if your condition or injury can be treated with a PRP injection then feel free to ask your healthcare practitioner or naturopathic doctor during your next visit.
Corticosteroid injections can provide a strong and immediate relief of inflammation and pain, along with some potential for side effects. In contrast, using your own Platelet Rich Plasma has the added benefit of regeneration, resulting in stimulating the body’s immune response. While PRP is a slower process for pain management, it has longer term benefits compared to corticosteroid injections, without the potential side effects of corticosteroids.
The frequency of PRP treatment varies from person to person. After an initial PRP treatment, your physician will likely schedule a two-week follow-up visit to evaluate your healing progress. While some patients respond rapidly in one treatment, others may require additional PRP treatments to aid in the healing process. The majority of patients require 2-6 sets of injections at a 4-6 week interval.
Platelet Rich Plasma is a regenerative treatment, therefore requiring multiple treatments for an extended period of time. The amount of time until a patient sees benefits varies from weeks to months. Factors on patient response include: the concentration and number of PRP treatments, patient’s medical co-morbidities, condition being treated, and the patient’s general health. On average, we find that most patients show improvement after 2 months from the first treatment.
This is different for everyone. Outcomes largely depend on the underlying disease process and whether there has been a recurrent injury to the affected area. Due to these factors, it is difficult to assess if and when further treatments will be needed. In some cases, patients do come back months or years later for repeat PRP injections.
As with any type of injection there is a small risk of infection, injury to blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and/or ligament, and a small risk of bleeding / bruising. Many patients will experience increased pain or discomfort for a short time following the treatment. If you are sick, discuss this with a physician before considering this treatment. If you have inflammatory arthritis that is currently active, PRP injection should be delayed until the inflammatory process is under control.
If you take any NSAID or Steroid on a regular basis, refrain from use 4 – 6 weeks prior to PRP treatment and hold off until PRP treatment is completed. If you take any NSAID or Steroid on a non-regular basis, it maybe fine to continue taking it as needed. Ask your physician about your particular situation.
Currently PRP is offered at Pitt Meadows.