PRP Injections: Using Your Body’s Own Healing Potential for Orthopedic Injuries

When an orthopedic injury continues to cause pain despite rest, activity modification, physical therapy, or other conservative treatments, surgery isn’t necessarily the only next step. Advances in nonsurgical orthopedic care have created additional options for certain musculoskeletal conditions, including Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy.

PRP injections use a concentrated portion of a patient’s own blood to support the body’s natural healing response. This approach may be considered for certain tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint problems, particularly when an injury has been slow to heal or symptoms have become persistent.

At Idaho Shoulder to Hand, our focus is on advanced diagnostics and nonsurgical treatment solutions for orthopedic injuries, arthritis, and general wear and tear. PRP is one of the treatment options that may be considered depending on the specific condition, its severity, and the individual patient.

 

What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Your blood contains several components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Most people associate platelets with blood clotting, but they also contain proteins and growth factors involved in the body’s healing processes.

Platelet-Rich Plasma is created by taking a small sample of the patient’s blood and processing it to concentrate the platelets within the plasma. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the blood is typically placed in a centrifuge, which separates and concentrates the platelets from other components of the blood.

The resulting PRP preparation can then be injected into the area being treated.

Because the PRP comes from the patient’s own blood, it represents a different approach from medications or substances introduced from an outside source. The goal is to place a concentrated amount of the patient’s own platelets and associated growth factors at the site of an orthopedic problem.

How Do PRP Injections Work?

Healing after an injury is a complex biological process. When tissue is damaged, the body sends cells and signaling proteins to the affected area to begin repairing it. Platelets are part of that response.

PRP therapy is intended to increase the concentration of platelets and growth factors at the treatment site. These substances may influence inflammation, cellular activity, blood vessel formation, and tissue repair.

The exact mechanisms behind PRP continue to be studied, and results can vary depending on the type of injury and the way PRP is prepared. The AAOS describes PRP as a treatment that has shown promise for certain chronic tendon injuries and low- to moderate-grade knee osteoarthritis while noting that more research is needed for many other orthopedic applications.

In other words, PRP should not be viewed as a universal treatment for orthopedic pain. Proper diagnosis and patient selection are important.

What Orthopedic Conditions May Be Treated With PRP?

PRP has been studied for a growing number of musculoskeletal conditions. Some of the most common applications involve chronic tendon problems, overuse injuries, and certain arthritic joints.

Potential uses may include:

• Chronic tendinopathy
• Tennis elbow and other repetitive-use tendon injuries
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy and certain partial tendon injuries
• Achilles tendon problems
• Patellar tendon injuries
• Some ligament injuries
• Muscle injuries
• Early or moderate osteoarthritis
• Certain sports-related injuries
• Orthopedic conditions that have been slow to improve with traditional conservative care

The AAOS Orthobiologics FAQ notes that biologic therapies such as PRP have shown promise for conditions including tendinopathies and early knee osteoarthritis. Research is ongoing, however, and the evidence supporting PRP is stronger for some conditions than others.

That makes an accurate orthopedic evaluation especially important before deciding whether PRP is appropriate.

PRP for Chronic Tendon Injuries

Tendons connect muscles to bones and are placed under significant stress during everyday activity, work, exercise, and sports.

Some tendon problems occur suddenly, but others develop gradually. Repetitive stress can cause changes within a tendon that may lead to persistent pain, weakness, stiffness, or reduced function.

These conditions are commonly referred to as tendinopathies.

One reason PRP has generated interest in orthopedic medicine is that some tendon tissues have a relatively limited blood supply and may heal slowly. PRP is designed to deliver concentrated platelets and growth factors directly to the affected area.

Research has investigated PRP for conditions such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, and rotator cuff problems. Results vary depending on the condition and patient, which is why PRP should be considered as part of an individualized treatment plan rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.

PRP and Osteoarthritis

PRP is also being studied and used for certain patients with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis develops as cartilage and other structures within a joint gradually change over time. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced range of motion, and difficulty performing normal activities.

PRP does not replace severely damaged cartilage or reverse advanced arthritis. However, research suggests that some patients with low- to moderate-grade knee osteoarthritis may experience improvements in pain and function following PRP treatment.

The AAOS has conducted a detailed technology review of PRP for knee osteoarthritis as researchers continue evaluating which patients are most likely to benefit and which PRP preparations produce the best results.

For patients interested in avoiding or delaying surgery, PRP may therefore be one option worth discussing as part of a broader nonsurgical orthopedic treatment strategy.

What Happens During a PRP Procedure?

One of the advantages of PRP therapy is that the process can generally be performed without surgery.

Treatment typically begins with a standard blood draw. The blood is then placed into a centrifuge, which spins at high speed to separate its different components.

The platelet-rich portion is collected and prepared for injection.

The PRP is then injected into the targeted tendon, ligament, muscle, or joint. Depending on the location and condition, imaging guidance may be used to help accurately place the injection.

The entire process uses the patient’s own blood and is generally performed as an outpatient procedure.

Patients may experience temporary soreness or discomfort around the injection site afterward. Because PRP is intended to stimulate a biological healing response rather than simply numb pain, improvement may occur gradually rather than immediately.

How Is PRP Different From a Cortisone Injection?

PRP and corticosteroid injections are fundamentally different treatments.

Corticosteroid injections are generally used to decrease inflammation and provide symptom relief. PRP, on the other hand, uses concentrated components of the patient’s blood with the goal of supporting the body’s healing response.

Neither option is automatically better for every orthopedic condition.

The appropriate injection depends on factors such as the diagnosis, location of the injury, severity of tissue damage, duration of symptoms, previous treatments, overall health, and the goals of the patient.

This is another reason an accurate diagnosis should come before choosing an injection.

Is PRP the Same as Stem Cell Therapy?

No. PRP and stem cell treatments are not the same thing.

PRP is a blood-derived product containing concentrated platelets and associated growth factors. Treatments marketed as stem cell therapies involve different biological materials and are subject to different scientific and regulatory considerations.

The term “regenerative medicine” is sometimes used broadly to describe multiple types of treatments, which can create confusion for patients.

The AAOS refers to treatments such as PRP as orthobiologics—biological substances used in orthopedic care to potentially enhance the body’s natural healing processes.

Patients considering any biologic treatment should understand exactly what is being administered and what evidence supports its use for their specific diagnosis.

PRP Isn’t Right for Every Orthopedic Injury

PRP has received significant attention in sports medicine and orthopedic care, but it is important to maintain realistic expectations.

Some orthopedic problems respond well to conservative care without injections. Others may involve structural damage that cannot be adequately addressed with PRP. In certain situations, surgery may ultimately provide the most appropriate treatment.

Research into orthobiologics also continues to evolve. In 2025, the AAOS announced an Orthobiologics Registry designed to collect long-term information about the safety, effectiveness, and real-world outcomes of treatments including PRP.

The best approach begins by determining exactly what is causing the pain.

Start With the Right Diagnosis

Persistent orthopedic pain can have many possible causes, and similar symptoms do not always mean similar injuries.

Shoulder pain, for example, might originate from a tendon, joint, muscle, nerve, or even the neck. Elbow pain could be related to tendinopathy, arthritis, nerve compression, or another condition. Knee pain might result from cartilage changes, ligament problems, tendon injuries, or osteoarthritis.

Treating symptoms without identifying their source can delay appropriate care.

At Idaho Shoulder to Hand, we emphasize advanced diagnostics and nonsurgical orthopedic treatment to determine what is causing your symptoms and which treatment options make sense for your particular condition.

PRP may be part of that discussion when appropriate.

Exploring Nonsurgical Orthopedic Care in Boise

If an orthopedic injury isn’t improving, persistent pain doesn’t automatically mean surgery is your only option.

PRP injections are one of several evolving nonsurgical approaches that may be considered for certain tendon injuries, overuse conditions, and arthritic joints. The best candidates depend on the type and severity of the condition, previous treatments, and individual health factors.

The first step is an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan based on your specific needs.

If you’re experiencing persistent joint, tendon, muscle, or orthopedic pain, contact Idaho Shoulder to Hand to schedule an evaluation and learn more about available nonsurgical treatment options.

Idaho Shoulder to Hand
6590 W. Norwood Drive
Boise, ID 83704
208-506-3665