Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
PRP uses a concentrate of your own platelets to treat arthritis, tendon problems and partial tears, and to support healing after surgery. It is a non-steroid option, and this page explains what the research does and does not show, with more than 40 cited studies.
Request an AppointmentCall 469-850-0680All biologic treatmentsWhat is PRP?
Your blood contains red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets. Platelets are mainly known for clotting, but they also release growth factors and other proteins involved in healing. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made by drawing a small amount of your blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets above normal blood levels. The concentrate is then injected precisely into the injured tendon or arthritic joint.
Not all PRP is the same. Preparations differ in platelet dose, whether white blood cells (leukocytes) are included, and how the platelets are activated, which is why researchers classify PRP carefully when comparing studies.1 Higher platelet concentrations have been linked to better pain relief in knee arthritis.2
Dr. Dold’s approach
- Leukocyte-poor PRP for joints. For arthritis, Dr. Dold uses PRP with most white cells removed, which reviews have associated with better results in the knee.3,4
- Leukocyte-rich PRP for tendons. For chronic tendon problems, he uses PRP that keeps the white cells, the type studied in several positive tendon trials.5,6
- A series of 2 to 3 injections. In a review of PRP vs cortisone for knee arthritis, three injections about a week apart worked better than a single injection.7
1.Is PRP a stem cell treatment?
No. PRP contains platelets and growth factors from your blood, not stem cells. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) is a different treatment made from bone marrow. See stem cell injections: facts vs marketing.
2.Is PRP made from my own blood?
Yes. PRP is autologous, meaning it comes from your own body, so there is no risk of rejection and no donor tissue is involved.
3.How is PRP different from a cortisone shot?
Cortisone is a strong anti-inflammatory medicine that usually works within days but wears off. PRP works gradually by delivering concentrated growth factors, and in several comparison studies its effect lasted longer.7,8,9 They are compared in detail below.
PRP for arthritis: a non-steroid option
Knee arthritis is the most studied use of PRP. Many randomized trials and meta-analyses have found that PRP reduces pain and improves function:
- A meta-analysis of 18 high-quality randomized trials (1,608 patients) found WOMAC arthritis scores improved by 44.7% with PRP vs 12.6% with hyaluronic acid (gel) injections.4
- A 2025 meta-analysis of 18 placebo-controlled trials (1,995 patients) found PRP gave clinically meaningful improvement in function up to 12 months and in pain at 3 and 6 months, with higher-platelet PRP working better.2
- A 2024 meta-analysis found PRP had about twice the odds of a successful outcome compared with gel injections, and was more likely than other non-surgical treatments to give a meaningful improvement in pain.10
- In a placebo-controlled trial, one or two PRP injections improved knee arthritis symptoms for 6 months, while the saline group worsened.11
- A review of 78 randomized trials supported PRP for knee arthritis and tennis elbow.12
PRP compared with cortisone
Several studies have compared PRP directly with cortisone (steroid) injections for knee arthritis:
- A meta-analysis of 8 studies found PRP better than cortisone for pain, stiffness and function at 3, 6 and 9 months.7
- In a randomized trial of 120 patients, PRP, gel and cortisone worked similarly at 3 months, but PRP gave better results at 6, 9 and 12 months.8
- A 2025 meta-analysis of 2,406 patients found PRP improved pain more than cortisone or placebo.13
The honest picture
Not every study is positive. A large Australian trial found three leukocyte-poor PRP injections no better than saline at 12 months,14 a smaller placebo-controlled trial reported similar results,15 and another trial found PRP no better than gel injections.16 Reviewers rate much of the PRP evidence as low quality.17 Professional guidelines also differ: the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says PRP may reduce pain and improve function in knee arthritis,18 and its technology review found PRP outperformed gel injections in 9 of 12 high-quality studies,19 while the American College of Rheumatology strongly recommends against PRP.20 Dr. Dold will review this evidence with you so you can decide.
Dr. Dold’s research on PRP
Dr. Dold was first author of a 2014 systematic review of PRP for cartilage damage and arthritis. Across 10 studies (662 joints), most reported improvement in joint-specific scores for up to 6 months, and 3 of 4 comparative studies reported better clinical or pain scores than gel injections; the review also noted that the early studies were of poor quality and called for larger, longer trials.21 He also co-authored a 2017 review of injectable biologic treatments for knee arthritis.22 See Dr. Dold’s research.
Hip and shoulder arthritis
In a randomized trial of hip arthritis, patients who received PRP had the lowest pain scores at every follow-up, with more stable benefit up to 12 months than gel injections.23 Another trial found PRP and gel injections both improved hip arthritis for 12 months, with no difference between them.24 Research on shoulder arthritis is more limited. See PRP for hip pain, knee arthritis and shoulder arthritis.
4.Who is a good candidate for PRP for arthritis?
People with mild to moderate arthritis whose pain continues despite exercise, weight management and anti-inflammatory medication, and especially people who want to avoid or limit cortisone injections. Most supportive studies enrolled patients with mild to moderate arthritis.11,4
5.How long does PRP last for knee arthritis?
In many studies, benefits lasted 6 to 12 months,4,2,7 and some patients repeat a course when symptoms return. Results vary from person to person.
6.Does PRP regrow cartilage?
There is no good evidence that PRP regrows cartilage. In a placebo-controlled MRI study, cartilage volume did not differ between PRP and saline.14 The goal of PRP is to reduce pain and improve function.
7.Is PRP better than gel injections?
Several meta-analyses have found PRP gave greater improvement than hyaluronic acid (gel) injections for knee arthritis,4,10,3 although some individual trials found the two similar.16 See gel injections.
8.Can PRP delay a knee or hip replacement?
That has not been proven. PRP may relieve symptoms enough for some people to put off surgery, but a review of knee arthritis studies found too little data to say it delays knee replacement.25
Why consider a non-steroid injection?
Cortisone injections can provide fast relief and remain a reasonable option, and guidelines support them for short-term relief of knee and hip arthritis.20,26 But research has raised concerns about repeated cortisone injections:
- Cartilage loss: in a 2-year randomized trial, repeated cortisone injections caused significantly more cartilage loss than saline, with no difference in pain.27
- Faster arthritis progression: in a large cohort study, people who started cortisone injections had about 3 times the risk of their knee arthritis worsening on X-ray, and about 4.7 times the risk with continued use.28
- Rare but serious joint changes, including rapid joint destruction and stress fractures under the cartilage, have been reported after cortisone injections in the hip and knee.29
- Blood sugar: cortisone injections can raise blood sugar in people with diabetes for several days, sometimes to very high levels.30
- Before joint replacement: a cortisone injection within 3 months before knee replacement is linked to a higher infection risk.31,32
PRP is made from your own blood, does not contain a steroid and does not carry these specific concerns. It does have its own side effects, mainly temporary soreness, and a 2025 review found the overall rate of minor complications with PRP similar to cortisone and gel injections.33
| Cortisone (steroid) injection | PRP injection | Hyaluronic acid (gel) injection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A powerful anti-inflammatory medicine | A concentrate of platelets from your own blood | A lubricating gel similar to natural joint fluid |
| How fast it works | Often within days | Gradually, over several weeks | Gradually, over several weeks |
| How long relief lasts | Often weeks; in a gluteal tendon trial, benefit peaked at 6 weeks and was not maintained beyond 24 weeks6 | In many studies, 6 to 12 months4,2 | Peak at about 8 weeks, with a smaller effect at 6 months34 |
| Known concerns | Repeated injections linked to cartilage loss and faster arthritis progression;27,28,29 blood sugar rises in people with diabetes;30 higher infection risk if given within 3 months before knee replacement31,32 | Temporary soreness or swelling for a few days is common;3,15 serious complications are rare33,19 | Temporary soreness or swelling; occasional inflammatory flare35 |
| Insurance | Usually covered | Usually not covered19 | Often covered for the knee when criteria are met |
9.I have diabetes. Is PRP an option instead of cortisone?
Yes. PRP does not contain a steroid, so it does not cause the blood sugar rise that can follow a cortisone injection.30 Dr. Dold will review your overall health and other options.
10.Can I have PRP if I have already had cortisone shots?
Yes. Many patients try PRP after cortisone has stopped working or when they want to avoid more steroid injections.
11.Should cortisone be avoided before surgery?
Studies link cortisone injections within 3 months before knee replacement to a higher infection risk.31,32 If surgery may be in your future, discuss the timing of any injection with Dr. Dold.
PRP for tendon problems and partial tears
PRP is commonly used for chronic tendon problems that have not improved with physical therapy. The evidence differs by tendon, and Dr. Dold will explain the research for your specific condition:
| Condition | What the research shows |
|---|---|
| Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) | Among the strongest evidence. In a randomized trial, 73% of PRP patients improved vs 49% with cortisone at 1 year,9 and the PRP group kept improving at 2 years while the cortisone group returned to baseline.36 A 230-patient trial found greater pain improvement with PRP at 24 weeks (71.5% vs 56.1%).37 |
| Gluteal tendinopathy (outer hip pain) | A randomized trial found more patients reached a meaningful improvement with a single PRP injection than with cortisone (82% vs 57%) at 12 weeks,38 and the PRP benefit lasted 2 years, while cortisone’s peaked at 6 weeks and was not maintained beyond 24 weeks.6 |
| Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee) | Mixed. PRP sped early recovery in one trial,5 but another found it no better than saline when combined with rehab.39 |
| Achilles tendinopathy | Randomized trials have not found PRP better than placebo or sham injection.40,41,42 A structured exercise program remains the foundation of treatment. See Achilles tendon injuries. |
| Hamstring strains | Mixed. One trial found a faster return to play with PRP,43 but larger trials did not.44,45 |
| Partial rotator cuff tears | Injection into small interstitial tears did not improve healing in one trial and caused more side effects,46 so PRP is used selectively. PRP is better supported as an add-on during rotator cuff repair (see below). |
12.How soon will a tendon feel better after PRP?
Gradually. In tendon trials, cortisone often helped more in the first weeks, while PRP pulled ahead over the following months and kept improving.9,6
13.Will I still need physical therapy?
Yes. PRP works better combined with a tendon-loading exercise program, which is the foundation of treating tendon problems.
14.Can PRP help a partial ligament tear, such as the elbow UCL?
PRP is sometimes used for partial ligament tears in throwing athletes. Research is limited, and Dr. Dold will discuss whether it is reasonable for your injury.
PRP to augment surgery
PRP can also be applied during surgery to support healing of a repaired tendon, meniscus or cartilage. This is one of the most promising uses of PRP, and the research is strongest for rotator cuff and meniscus repair:
| Surgery | What the research shows when PRP is added |
|---|---|
| Rotator cuff repair | A meta-analysis of randomized trials found that PRP lowered the rate of incomplete tendon healing from 30.5% to 17.2% and reduced early pain.47 In large-to-massive tears, one randomized trial found a re-tear rate of 20.0% with PRP vs 55.6% without.48 Other reviews found benefit mainly in small-to-medium tears and in the short term.49,50 |
| Meniscus repair | In a placebo-controlled trial of bucket-handle repairs, 85% of PRP-augmented repairs healed vs 47% without.51 In a large study, PRP was associated with a much lower failure risk for isolated meniscus repairs, although it did not add benefit when the repair was done with an ACL reconstruction.52 |
| ACL reconstruction | Several studies suggest PRP may help the new graft mature faster on MRI,53 but a 2026 meta-analysis did not find consistent clinical benefit, so routine use in ACL surgery is not currently supported.54 |
| Cartilage repair and hip arthroscopy | Biologic augmentation is an active area of research. Dr. Dold may use PRP or BMAC as an adjunct in selected cases and will discuss the evidence for your procedure. |
15.Does PRP speed recovery after surgery?
PRP may improve healing rates and early pain after some repairs,47,51 but it does not replace the time a repair needs to heal. Your rehab timeline is based on the surgery itself.
16.Is PRP during surgery covered by insurance?
Often not. Biologic add-ons are frequently an out-of-pocket cost. Dr. Dold’s office will tell you the cost before surgery.
What to expect
PRP is done in the office in a single visit:
- Blood draw: a small amount of blood is drawn from your arm, as for a routine blood test.
- Preparation: the blood is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets.
- Injection: the area is cleaned and the PRP is injected into the joint, tendon or injured tissue.
- Afterward: soreness and swelling for a few days are common and expected.3,15 Ice helps, and Dr. Dold will give you instructions for pain relief and activity.
17.Does a PRP injection hurt?
There is some discomfort with the injection, and the area is often sore for a few days afterward. This flare is the most common side effect.3,15
18.Should I stop anti-inflammatory medicines before PRP?
Dr. Dold’s office will give you specific instructions about which medications to pause before and after your injection.
19.How many PRP injections will I need?
For arthritis, Dr. Dold typically recommends a series of 2 to 3 injections. A review found three injections about a week apart worked better than one.7
20.When can I exercise after PRP?
Usually after a short period of relative rest, followed by a gradual return guided by your symptoms and therapy plan. Dr. Dold will give you a specific plan.
Safety and FDA status
Because PRP comes from your own blood, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is very low. The AAOS technology review reported no significant harms from PRP compared with other treatments.19 The most common side effect is temporary pain and swelling,3,15 and a 2025 review found minor complications with PRP at a similar rate to cortisone and gel injections, although more than with saline placebo.33
PRP is prepared with devices cleared by the FDA, but the FDA has not approved PRP injections to treat any specific orthopedic condition, so their use is considered off-label, as is common in medicine.55 Dr. Dold will explain the evidence for your condition before you decide.
21.Who should not have PRP?
PRP may not be appropriate for people with certain blood or platelet disorders, active infection, some cancers, or those taking blood thinners that cannot be paused. Dr. Dold will review your medical history.
22.Is PRP allowed for competitive athletes?
PRP is widely used in sports medicine. Athletes subject to drug testing should confirm current rules with their sport’s governing body.
Cost and insurance
23.Does insurance cover PRP?
Usually not. PRP is typically an out-of-pocket expense, while cortisone and gel injections may be covered.19 Please call 469-850-0680 for current pricing.
24.How do I schedule a PRP consultation?
- Board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, with subspecialty certification in Sports Medicine
- Sports medicine and arthroscopy fellowship at NYU Langone / Hospital for Joint Diseases; orthopedic residency at the University of Toronto
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (FAAOS), the American Orthopaedic Association (FAOA) and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC)
- Has cared for professional and Olympic athletes from the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS, PGA Tour, Major League Rugby and USA Gymnastics
Research cited on this page
- DeLong JM, Russell RP, Mazzocca AD. Platelet-rich plasma: the PAW classification system. Arthroscopy. 2012. PubMed
- Bensa A, Previtali D, Sangiorgio A, et al. PRP Injections for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: The Improvement Is Clinically Significant and Influenced by Platelet Concentration: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Sports Med. 2025. PubMed
- Riboh JC, Saltzman BM, Yanke AB, et al. Effect of Leukocyte Concentration on the Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis. Am J Sports Med. 2016. PubMed
- Belk JW, Kraeutler MJ, Houck DA, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Sports Med. 2021. PubMed
- Dragoo JL, Wasterlain AS, Braun HJ, et al. Platelet-rich plasma as a treatment for patellar tendinopathy: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Am J Sports Med. 2014. PubMed
- Fitzpatrick J, Bulsara MK, O'Donnell J, et al. Leucocyte-Rich Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment of Gluteus Medius and Minimus Tendinopathy: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial With 2-Year Follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2019. PubMed
- McLarnon M, Heron N. Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injections versus intra-articular corticosteroid injections for symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021. PubMed
- Huang Y, Liu X, Xu X, et al. Intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma, hyaluronic acid or corticosteroids for knee osteoarthritis: A prospective randomized controlled study. Orthopade. 2019. PubMed
- Peerbooms JC, Sluimer J, Bruijn DJ, et al. Positive effect of an autologous platelet concentrate in lateral epicondylitis in a double-blind randomized controlled trial: platelet-rich plasma versus corticosteroid injection with a 1-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2010. PubMed
- Oeding JF, Varady NH, Fearington FW, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Alternative Injections for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Systematic Review and Statistical Fragility Index-Based Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Sports Med. 2024. PubMed
- Patel S, Dhillon MS, Aggarwal S, et al. Treatment with platelet-rich plasma is more effective than placebo for knee osteoarthritis: a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial. Am J Sports Med. 2013. PubMed
- Johal H, Khan M, Yung SP, et al. Impact of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use on Pain in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Health. 2019. PubMed
- Pelluri R, Sridevi B, Guntupalli C, et al. Effect of platelet-rich plasma versus placebo or corticosteroid for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2025. PubMed
- Bennell KL, Paterson KL, Metcalf BR, et al. Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021. PubMed
- Dório M, Pereira RMR, Luz AGB, et al. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma and plasma for symptomatic treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021. PubMed
- Filardo G, Di Matteo B, Di Martino A, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma Intra-articular Knee Injections Show No Superiority Versus Viscosupplementation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2015. PubMed
- Costa LAV, Lenza M, Irrgang JJ, et al. How Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Compare Clinically to Other Therapies in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2023. PubMed
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Non-Arthroplasty): Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline, 3rd edition. 2021. Read the guideline (PDF)
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Knee Osteoarthritis: Technology Overview. 2021. Read the overview (PDF)
- Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020. PubMed
- Dold AP, Zywiel MG, Taylor DW, Dwyer T, Theodoropoulos J. Platelet-rich plasma in the management of articular cartilage pathology: a systematic review. Clin J Sport Med. 2014;24(1):31-43. PubMed
- Weinberg ME, Kaplan DJ, Pham H, Goodwin D, Dold A, Chiu E, Jazrawi LM. Injectable Biological Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee. JBJS Rev. 2017;5(4):e2. PubMed
- Dallari D, Stagni C, Rani N, et al. Ultrasound-Guided Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Hyaluronic Acid, Separately and in Combination, for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study. Am J Sports Med. 2016. PubMed
- Battaglia M, Guaraldi F, Vannini F, et al. Efficacy of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections of platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid for hip osteoarthritis. Orthopedics. 2013. PubMed
- Berkani S, Courties A, Eymard F, et al. Time to Total Knee Arthroplasty after Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid or Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2022. PubMed
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hip: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline. 2023. Read the guideline (PDF)
- McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Harvey WF, et al. Effect of Intra-articular Triamcinolone vs Saline on Knee Cartilage Volume and Pain in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017. PubMed
- Zeng C, Lane NE, Hunter DJ, et al. Intra-articular corticosteroids and the risk of knee osteoarthritis progression: results from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2019. PubMed
- Kompel AJ, Roemer FW, Murakami AM, et al. Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injections in the Hip and Knee: Perhaps Not as Safe as We Thought? Radiology. 2019. PubMed
- Choudhry MN, Malik RA, Charalambous CP. Blood Glucose Levels Following Intra-Articular Steroid Injections in Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review. JBJS Rev. 2016. PubMed
- Baums MH, Aquilina J, Pérez-Prieto D, et al. Risk analysis of periprosthetic knee joint infection (PJI) in total knee arthroplasty after preoperative corticosteroid injection: a systematic review. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2023. PubMed
- Richardson SS, Schairer WW, Sculco TP, et al. Comparison of Infection Risk with Corticosteroid or Hyaluronic Acid Injection Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2019. PubMed
- Fucaloro SP, Bragg J, Berhane M, et al. Complications of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis Are Similar to Those of Corticosteroids and Hyaluronic Acid but Are Significantly Greater Than Those of Placebo Injections: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arthroscopy. 2025. PubMed
- Bannuru RR, Natov NS, Dasi UR, et al. Therapeutic trajectory following intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection in knee osteoarthritis--meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2011. PubMed
- Pullman-Mooar S, Mooar P, Sieck M, et al. Are there distinctive inflammatory flares after hylan g-f 20 intraarticular injections? J Rheumatol. 2002. PubMed
- Gosens T, Peerbooms JC, van Laar W, et al. Ongoing positive effect of platelet-rich plasma versus corticosteroid injection in lateral epicondylitis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial with 2-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med. 2011. PubMed
- Mishra AK, Skrepnik NV, Edwards SG, et al. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma for chronic tennis elbow: a double-blind, prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of 230 patients. Am J Sports Med. 2014. PubMed
- Fitzpatrick J, Bulsara MK, O'Donnell J, et al. The Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in Gluteal Tendinopathy: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial Comparing a Single Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection With a Single Corticosteroid Injection. Am J Sports Med. 2018. PubMed
- Scott A, LaPrade RF, Harmon KG, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Patellar Tendinopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Leukocyte-Rich PRP or Leukocyte-Poor PRP Versus Saline. Am J Sports Med. 2019. PubMed
- de Vos RJ, Weir A, van Schie HT, et al. Platelet-rich plasma injection for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2010. PubMed
- de Jonge S, de Vos RJ, Weir A, et al. One-year follow-up of platelet-rich plasma treatment in chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Am J Sports Med. 2011. PubMed
- Kearney RS, Ji C, Warwick J, et al. Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection vs Sham Injection on Tendon Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021. PubMed
- A Hamid MS, Mohamed Ali MR, Yusof A, et al. Platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of hamstring injuries: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Sports Med. 2014. PubMed
- Hamilton B, Tol JL, Almusa E, et al. Platelet-rich plasma does not enhance return to play in hamstring injuries: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Sports Med. 2015. PubMed
- Reurink G, Goudswaard GJ, Moen MH, et al. Platelet-rich plasma injections in acute muscle injury. N Engl J Med. 2014. PubMed
- Schwitzguebel AJ, Kolo FC, Tirefort J, et al. Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Interstitial Supraspinatus Tears: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2019. PubMed
- Hurley ET, Lim Fat D, Moran CJ, et al. The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Platelet-Rich Fibrin in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Sports Med. 2019. PubMed
- Jo CH, Shin JS, Lee YG, et al. Platelet-rich plasma for arthroscopic repair of large to massive rotator cuff tears: a randomized, single-blind, parallel-group trial. Am J Sports Med. 2013. PubMed
- Cai YZ, Zhang C, Lin XJ. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015. PubMed
- Wang C, Xu M, Guo W, et al. Clinical efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma in arthroscopic full-thickness rotator cuff repair: A meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2019. PubMed
- Kaminski R, Kulinski K, Kozar-Kaminska K, et al. A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating Meniscal Healing, Clinical Outcomes, and Safety in Patients Undergoing Meniscal Repair of Unstable, Complete Vertical Meniscal Tears (Bucket Handle) Augmented with Platelet-Rich Plasma. Biomed Res Int. 2018. PubMed
- Everhart JS, Cavendish PA, Eikenberry A, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma Reduces Failure Risk for Isolated Meniscal Repairs but Provides No Benefit for Meniscal Repairs With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2019. PubMed
- Figueroa D, Figueroa F, Calvo R, et al. Platelet-rich plasma use in anterior cruciate ligament surgery: systematic review of the literature. Arthroscopy. 2015. PubMed
- Castro AB, Kobayashi E, Azevedo L, et al. The effects of platelet-rich plasma therapy on outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Exp Orthop. 2026. PubMed
- Beitzel K, Allen D, Apostolakos J, et al. US definitions, current use, and FDA stance on use of platelet-rich plasma in sports medicine. J Knee Surg. 2015. PubMed
Medically reviewed by Andrew P. Dold, MD, FAOA, FAAOS, FACS, FRCSC. Last reviewed October 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice. PRP is not FDA-approved to treat any specific orthopedic condition, results vary, and no outcome can be promised.
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