Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections: How they work and who may benefit

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are a pain treatment that uses the body’s own healing cells to repair tissue and decrease pain over time. This advanced pain management strategy is provided at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation by Vivan Shah, MD, an outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician specializing in pain management and interventional spine care.

Dr. Shah explains PRP and how it benefits patients.

What are platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections?

Dr. Shah: Platelets are blood cells that contain growth factors that promote tissue function and repair. PRP uses a patient’s own healing cells from blood platelets to stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation and speed recovery. A small amount of blood is drawn from the patient to process and isolate the platelets. Those concentrated cells are then injected into the area that needs treatment.

What injuries and conditions can PRP injections help?

Dr.  Shah: Over the past 15 years, PRP has been studied for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis, tendinopathies and rotator cuff injuries. The evidence supporting PRP varies depending on the condition being treated. One study showed PRP was better tolerated than steroid injections for tennis elbow. However, PRP is generally not appropriate as a substitute for surgical treatment of complete tears or advanced structural disease.

PRP may be considered as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for selected patients with:

• Arthritis, including knee, hip and shoulder osteoarthritis
• Tendon disorders, including tennis and golfer’s elbow, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, proximal hamstring tendinopathy, rotator cuff tendinopathy
• Foot and ankle conditions, including chronic plantar fasciitis and plantar fascia partial tears
• Ligament injuries, including medial collateral ligament (MCL), ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and select ankle ligaments and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries that are not complete tears
• Muscle strains, including slow-healing hamstring and quadricep strains

Who is eligible for PRP?

Dr. Shah: PRP may be considered for patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions who have not had adequate improvement with conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, medications or injections. Patient selection is individualized based on the condition, severity and clinical findings. The goal is not simply to perform a PRP injection and hope for the best. PRP is intended to support the body’s natural healing and tissue-remodeling process and is most effective when combined with an individualized physical therapy program.

PRP injections offer tissue “remodeling,” allowing the body to heal itself. While it is not a quick fix, PRP injections provide improvements for most patients in four to six weeks. Some patients may benefit from more than one injection, depending on the condition being treated and their response to treatment.

PRP is not covered by insurance at this time, so patients must self-pay for the injection. You can contact our offices to learn more.

What is the PRP injection procedure and how long does it take?

Dr. Shah: PRP injections are available at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Physician Group – Promenade, 2845 Center Valley Parkway.

PRP is an outpatient procedure and usually takes 45-60 minutes:

• A certified staff member draws a small amount of blood from the patient using a PRP kit.
• The blood is put into a centrifuge machine at our office for about six minutes to separate the blood into different components: red blood cells, plasma and platelets. The platelet-rich plasma is removed and prepared for injection.
• Local anesthesia may be applied to the injection site to reduce discomfort.
• PRP is injected into the target area.

What is the follow-up care for a PRP injection?

Dr. Shah: The injection site may be sore for several days after the procedure. Patients are generally advised to modify activity initially, with gentle range-of-motion exercises as appropriate. The specific rehabilitation plan will depend on the area treated and the underlying condition. Patients may be advised to avoid certain anti-inflammatory medications following PRP, as these medications may potentially interfere with the inflammatory and healing response. Specific medication instructions will be provided based on the individual patient.

Physical therapy is an important part of the treatment process and may be recommended to support recovery, restore strength and mobility, and gradually return the patient to function. The timing and progression of therapy will depend on the tissue and condition being treated.

To request an appointment with Dr. Shah or to learn more PRP injections, call 610-776-3278 or contact us online.