What Is PRP Therapy and How Does It Work?

How PRP therapy works

Platelets are best known for their role in clotting, but they are also loaded with growth factors that orchestrate tissue repair. In PRP therapy, a clinician draws a small amount of your blood, places it in a centrifuge, and separates it into layers. The platelet-rich layer, often concentrated roughly tenfold compared to whole blood, is then injected precisely into the area that needs help.

Because the treatment uses your own blood, the risk of allergic or immune reaction is very low. The injection itself is the main source of discomfort, and clinics typically numb the area first. The whole visit is usually an outpatient appointment lasting under an hour.

What conditions is PRP used for?

• Knee osteoarthritis and other joint degeneration
• Tendon injuries such as tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, and Achilles tendinopathy
• Ligament sprains and partial tears
• Muscle strains and tears
• Long-standing injuries that have not responded to conservative care

What the evidence shows

The evidence for PRP is real but mixed. Some well-conducted studies report meaningful improvement in pain and function for knee osteoarthritis and certain tendinopathies, while other trials show modest or comparable results to placebo or to simpler injections. In other words, many patients benefit, but PRP is not a guaranteed fix, and more research is still needed across most conditions.

A responsible clinic will walk you through what the studies do and do not show for your specific problem, rather than presenting PRP as a cure-all. For many people, PRP works best as part of a broader plan that includes physical therapy, activity modification, and strength training.

“Autologous platelet-rich plasma therapy uses injections of a patient's own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.”

What to expect after the injection

• Mild soreness, swelling, or bruising at the injection site for a few days
• A recovery window of days to weeks before improvement is noticeable
• Possible temporary increases in discomfort before relief, especially in joints
• Follow-up visits to track progress and plan any additional treatment