01/30/2026
As Physical Therapists, we get questions about PRP on occasion. Let's talk about some context around your decision making. PRP is a newer treatment option for musculoskeletal pain provided by sports medicine and orthopedic physicians. Platelets are a single cellular part of the healing process that helps signals tissue repair and calms inflammation (among other things). Scientists are studying the effectiveness of isolated platelets from the body in a lab and inject it to other tissues - independent of the rest of the body's natural healing processes and mechanisms.
Key Considerations:
- Inconsistent results - the listed benefits are POSSIBLE, and not guaranteed
- MAY be a better alternative to steroid injections
- Results VARY depending on your condition and how PRP is prepared at each lab
- More studies need to be done for specific joint, tendon injuries and nerve-related pain. They simply don't know enough yet.
- Expensive! Often not covered by insurance and treatment costs range from $500 - $2,500.
As Physical Therapists, we aim to provide and recommend treatment options that get our patients to where they want to be as effectively and efficiently as possible. Currently, PRP is very much in the research stage and has inconsistent results. When other more established treatments have failed, it can be worth trying if you have the financial means to do so.
Platelet-rich plasma, or “PRP,” is made from a person’s own blood. It concentrates platelets, which release signals that may help support tissue healing and calm inflammation. PRP does not work like a pain medication. Instead, it is sometimes used to support the body’s natural repair processes over time.
PRP is being studied for a range of pain conditions, including joint pain, tendon injuries, and some nerve-related pain.
This Monday (2/2/26), Stanford Pain fellow Harlow Ladd will present a Pain Science Lecture examining how PRP works, what we know from current research, and where this therapy may be headed.
Register here: https://bit.ly/40xpb2c