Skip to Content

Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Work?

Medical professional holding syringe of platelet-rich plasma

Apr. 27 2023

Whether from an injury or the normal wear and tear that accompanies aging, most of us will experience musculoskeletal pain at some point. Sports medicine physician J. Clint Pride, MD, with Lexington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, answers our questions about one of the newest treatment options.

What is platelet-rich plasma therapy?

One of the newer and most exciting treatment options for musculoskeletal pain is platelet-rich plasma therapy. While this technology has existed for 10 to 15 years, PRP therapy has gained wide acceptance in the past five years.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves drawing a patient's blood and separating the blood into different components. Then, we concentrate the patient's platelets, which have growth factors, proteins and cytokines responsible for self-healing, and re-inject them into the damaged tissue. In this way, PRP injections use each patient's own healing system to improve the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.

Medical illustration of whole  blood centrifuged into it's components

What conditions are treated with PRP therapy?

This therapy can effectively treat musculoskeletal pain throughout the body from the following conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Chronic tendinopathy
  • Ligament sprains
  • Some muscular strains

What are the advantages of PRP therapy versus anti-inflammatory medications?

Since PRP uses your body's own cells, there is little risk of adverse or allergic reactions. Also, anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and naproxen can be hard on the stomach, so we avoid long-term use of these medications.

Head shot of Dr. Pride
J. Clint Pride, MD, Lexington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Load more comments
Thank you for the comment! Your comment must be approved first

Featured

Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Work?

Medical professional holding syringe of platelet-rich plasma

Apr. 27 2023

Whether from an injury or the normal wear and tear that accompanies aging, most of us will experience musculoskeletal pain at some point. Sports medicine physician J. Clint Pride, MD, with Lexington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, answers our questions about one of the newest treatment options.

What is platelet-rich plasma therapy?

One of the newer and most exciting treatment options for musculoskeletal pain is platelet-rich plasma therapy. While this technology has existed for 10 to 15 years, PRP therapy has gained wide acceptance in the past five years.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves drawing a patient's blood and separating the blood into different components. Then, we concentrate the patient's platelets, which have growth factors, proteins and cytokines responsible for self-healing, and re-inject them into the damaged tissue. In this way, PRP injections use each patient's own healing system to improve the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.

Medical illustration of whole  blood centrifuged into it's components

What conditions are treated with PRP therapy?

This therapy can effectively treat musculoskeletal pain throughout the body from the following conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Chronic tendinopathy
  • Ligament sprains
  • Some muscular strains

What are the advantages of PRP therapy versus anti-inflammatory medications?

Since PRP uses your body's own cells, there is little risk of adverse or allergic reactions. Also, anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and naproxen can be hard on the stomach, so we avoid long-term use of these medications.

Head shot of Dr. Pride
J. Clint Pride, MD, Lexington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Load more comments
Thank you for the comment! Your comment must be approved first

Illustration of a hand holding an envelope with the Lexington Medical Center logo

Get our email newsletter updates.

Subscribe

Newsletter Updates

Get our email newsletter updates.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for general understanding and education about Lexington Medical Center. Nothing on the blog should be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Blog visitors with personal health or medical questions should consult their health care provider.