PRP Therapy Explained: What Platelet-Rich Plasma Can and Can't Do
What is PRP therapy? A plain-English guide to platelet-rich plasma injections — how they're made, what conditions they may help, what the evidence actually show
What Is PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)?
Platelet-rich plasma is plasma that has been processed to contain a higher-than-normal concentration of platelets, which store and release growth factors involved in tissue repair.
The idea is to concentrate a patient's own platelets and inject them into an injured tendon, ligament, muscle, or joint.
What Does the Evidence Actually Show?
Evidence is strongest for chronic tendon injuries like tennis elbow, while results for knee osteoarthritis are more mixed.
PRP is not FDA-approved as a treatment for any specific orthopedic condition, and patients should be wary of clinics that promise cures or guaranteed results.
How to Choose a Reputable Provider
A trustworthy provider explains the evidence honestly, avoids guarantee-based marketing, and treats PRP as one option among several rather than a miracle fix.