PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma.  This state-of-the-art treatment modality for joint and tendon pain consists of using your body’s own healing mechanism to stimulate the natural repair of damaged joints.  Platelets are found in your bone marrow and are responsible for clotting and healing.  They circulate within your bloodstream all the time waiting for signals from your body to send them into action to repair damaged tissues.  New research has shown that by collecting,  concentrating and re-injecting platelets into damaged tissues, we can stimulate the body’s natural healing process and relieve pain.  

PRP is prepared by drawing a small volume of blood from the patient and concentrating the platelets in the plasma.  This is done with the use of a centrifuge and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.  The PRP can then be precisely injected into the joint  or tissue with visualization from an ultrasound machine.  

Our physician will work with you to determine if PRP injections are an appropriate treatment for your injury.  At this point the evidence is the most robust for treating those with:

• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Patellar tendinopathy (tendonitis of the knee)
• Mild-moderate knee osteoarthritis 

While PRP is not currently FDA-approved for tendon and joint repair, there is a growing body of evidence pointing to the likely effectiveness of this treatment.  It is currently being used off-label across the country for treatment of joint pain. There is a lot of new research demonstrating the benefits of PRP injections compared to other treatment options for certain conditions.

• Tennis Elbow:  Platelet-rich plasma versus autologous blood versus steroid injection in lateral epicondylitis: systematic review and network meta-analysis. 
• Tendonitis of the Knee: Platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of patellar tendinopathy: clinical and imaging findings at medium-term follow-up. 
• Knee Osteoarthritis: Efficacy of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review. 
• Knee Tendonitis: Are Multiple Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections Useful for Treatment of Chronic Patellar Tendinopathy in Athletes?: A Prospective Study
• General Information: Platelet Rich Plasma.