PRP therapy has been in use for decades in several medical specialties including ophthalmology, cardiovascular, urology, wound healing and more. Recently, it has shown excellent results in arthritis, sports injuries and tendon/ligament inflammation and tears.

The answer is yes, but none has proven superior to others. There are systems that minimize the amount of white blood cells or red blood cells. However, we just don’t know definitively which method works best. We do know that PRP therapy is definitely beneficial.

There are now quite a few research studies showing the benefits of PRP therapy for elbow and achilles tendinitis, degenerative arthritis, knee tendinitis, rotator cuff tendinitis,  plantar fasciitis and ligament injuries such as in the knee.

Thankfully, there have been several research studies over the last decade looking at the outcomes. They have been very effective for all types of injuries such as arthritis and soft tissue inflammation and tears. Frequently, athletes are able to avoid potentially risky surgery and get back on the field quickly.

The answer is no. PRP uses your own blood and immediately processes it for injection into the injured area under sterile conditions. There is often significant discomfort for the first forty eight hours after the procedure, but usually substantial relief occurs after that.

The bottom line is that PRP therapy has been immensely effective as a nonsurgical method of pain relief and increasing function in patients.