PRP Therapy for Joint Pain: What the Research Actually Shows

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been the subject of significant media attention over the past decade, with professional athletes and celebrity patients bringing it into mainstream awareness. The treatment sounds futuristic: your own blood, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate its healing components, then injected directly into an injured or arthritic joint.

But does it actually work? The answer, as with many things in medicine, is nuanced. PRP has genuine clinical utility for specific conditions — and less evidence for others. Here is an balanced look at the current state of the research and what it means for you as a patient.

What Is PRP and How Is It Made?

PRP is created by drawing a small amount of your own blood (typically 30–60 mL) and placing it in a centrifuge, which separates the blood components by density. The result is a concentrated layer of platelet-rich plasma — a volume roughly 3 to 8 times the normal platelet concentration found in whole blood.

Platelets are best known for their role in clotting, but they also release growth factors that play a critical role in tissue repair: platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and others. When injected into a joint or tendon, the theory is that these growth factors accelerate the body’s natural healing and reduce inflammation.

Where the Evidence Is Strongest

Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee arthritis is the condition with the strongest and most consistent evidence for PRP. Multiple randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews have shown that PRP injections provide greater pain relief and functional improvement than hyaluronic acid (viscosupplement) injections and placebo at 6 and 12 months. The effect appears most pronounced in patients with mild to moderate arthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grades 1–3) rather than severe, bone-on-bone disease.

Tendinopathy

PRP has good evidence for chronic tendon conditions, including lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee), Achilles tendinopathy, and rotator cuff tendinopathy. A common finding across studies: PRP outperforms corticosteroid injections at 6–12 months, though corticosteroids often provide more immediate short-term relief.

Partial Tendon Tears

For partial tears of the rotator cuff, Achilles tendon, or patellar tendon, PRP may support healing and reduce pain. The evidence here is more preliminary, but the biological rationale is strong.

Where the Evidence Is Weaker

PRP has been studied for hip osteoarthritis with more mixed results than the knee data. For the spine — disc degeneration and facet joints — evidence remains limited. For severe, end-stage osteoarthritis, PRP is unlikely to provide meaningful benefit. And for conditions where corticosteroid injections are the established gold standard (e.g., acute inflammatory flares), PRP is typically not the first-line choice.

Is PRP Covered by Insurance?

Most commercial insurance plans and Medicare currently classify PRP as investigational and do not cover it. This classification is expected to change over time as evidence continues to accumulate. Currently, PRP is offered at our practice as a self-pay procedure. Call our office for current pricing.

What to Expect During and After PRP

PRP is performed in-office and takes approximately 45 minutes total. Blood is drawn, the centrifuge process takes 15–20 minutes, and then the concentrated PRP is injected under ultrasound guidance into the target area. Mild soreness for 1–5 days after the injection is normal — this represents the initial inflammatory response that precedes healing. Most patients notice improvement beginning 4 to 8 weeks after injection, with continued improvement over 3 to 6 months.

Who Is the Best Candidate?

• Knee arthritis (mild to moderate) that has not fully responded to viscosupplementation
• Chronic tendinopathy not responding to physical therapy and corticosteroid injections
• Patients seeking to delay joint replacement surgery
• Athletes with acute partial tendon injuries seeking faster return to activity
• Patients who prefer to avoid corticosteroids

The best way to determine if PRP is appropriate for your situation is a consultation with Dr. Qureshi, who will evaluate your condition, review your imaging, and provide an honest assessment of whether PRP is likely to help you specifically.