PRP Therapy for Joints: Does It Work? A Complete Guide

By Dashvanth Healthcare Medical Team · Reviewed by our specialists · East Delhi

What Is PRP Therapy?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative treatment where a small amount of your own blood is drawn, concentrated in a centrifuge to isolate growth-factor-rich platelets, and injected into an injured joint or tendon to promote healing.

How PRP Works

Platelets release growth factors (PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF) that stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and may slow cartilage degeneration. In orthopaedics, PRP is used for mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, tendon injuries (tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis), and rotator cuff partial tears.

What Does the Evidence Say?

Multiple randomised controlled trials show PRP outperforms hyaluronic acid (HA) injections for knee osteoarthritis in pain relief and function at 6–12 months. It is not a cure but delays progression and may defer surgery.

The Procedure

• Blood drawn (30–60 ml) from arm vein
• Centrifuged for 10–15 minutes
• PRP layer extracted (5–8 ml)
• Injected into joint under ultrasound guidance
• Procedure takes ~45 minutes total

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis (Grade 1–3), tendinopathies, and partial ligament/tendon tears respond best. Severe bone-on-bone arthritis (Grade 4) benefits minimally.