When PRP works — and when it doesn't

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a treatment in which a small amount of the patient's own blood is spun to concentrate platelets, then injected into an injured area. Platelets contain growth factors that may stimulate tissue healing and reduce inflammation. Because the product comes from your own blood, the risk of allergy or rejection is extremely low.

What PRP is not is a universal cure. The results depend heavily on the condition being treated, the preparation method, the number of injections, and the rehabilitation programme that follows.

PRP has the strongest evidence for chronic tendon problems that have failed simpler treatments. Tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, patellar tendinopathy, and Achilles tendinopathy all show meaningful benefit in well-designed trials when PRP is combined with loading and physiotherapy.

For knee osteoarthritis, PRP can provide pain relief for several months to a year in selected patients. The response is less predictable than in tendons, and it tends to work better in milder arthritis. We do not offer PRP as a substitute for knee replacement when the joint is severely damaged.

PRP does not appear to help acute muscle tears, fresh fractures, or many degenerative meniscal tears. It has also not shown clear benefit for rotator cuff tears that require surgery, or for advanced hip arthritis. In these cases, the underlying problem is structural and PRP cannot reverse it.

We are careful not to recommend PRP simply because a patient is looking for a non-surgical option. The right treatment must match the diagnosis. A useless injection wastes money and delays the care that would actually help.

We prepare PRP on the same day in a sterile environment. Blood is drawn from the arm, processed in a centrifuge, and the platelet layer is extracted. The injection is usually performed under ultrasound guidance so that the PRP is placed precisely at the injured tissue.

After the injection, the area may be sore for a few days. We advise avoiding anti-inflammatory medication for 48 hours before and after, because platelets work partly by triggering an inflammatory healing response. A structured loading programme is started after the acute soreness settles.

PRP is not a miracle injection. The best results are seen when it is used for the right diagnosis, prepared properly, placed accurately, and followed by the right rehabilitation. A single PRP shot without a loading plan is unlikely to be transformative. If you are considering PRP, we will tell you honestly whether the evidence supports it for your specific condition.