Medical Review: Dr. Gerald Mastaw, MD – Board-Certified Physician
Last Updated: October 2025
Understanding Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is an advanced regenerative treatment that uses your own blood to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. After a quick blood draw, the sample is spun in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets — cells that release powerful growth factors and healing proteins.
This concentrated plasma is then injected directly into the injured or affected area, where it can help repair tissue, reduce inflammation, and enhance recovery.
PRP Therapy is commonly used for:
- Joint pain and osteoarthritis
- Tendon or ligament injuries
- Muscle tears and sports injuries
- Hair loss and skin rejuvenation
Because it uses your own cells, PRP is a natural and minimally invasive way to support repair — without the need for surgery or synthetic drugs.
Common Uses and Standard Treatment Options
Many patients turn to PRP after conventional treatments fail to provide lasting relief.
Common Conditions Treated with PRP
- Joint Pain / Osteoarthritis (knees, shoulders, hips)
- Tendon Injuries (tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis)
- Muscle Injuries (hamstring or rotator cuff tears)
- Hair Thinning / Hair Loss
- Skin Rejuvenation (facial or microneedling support)
Traditional Care May Include
- Physical therapy or rest
- Cortisone (steroid) injections
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Surgery for structural damage
While these can relieve symptoms, they often don’t repair underlying tissue damage. PRP Therapy aims to heal, not just mask pain.
How PRP Therapy Works
PRP works by amplifying the body’s repair system through the natural power of platelets.
When injected into an area of injury or degeneration, PRP releases growth factors that trigger:
- Tissue repair and remodeling
- Collagen and elastin production
- New blood vessel growth (angiogenesis)
- Improved oxygen and nutrient delivery
Because PRP is derived from your own blood, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is very low.
Treatments are performed in-office, typically take less than an hour, and involve minimal downtime.
Patients often report:
- Decreased pain and inflammation
- Better joint or tendon function
- Improved recovery after activity or procedures
- Gradual and sustained improvement over time
Recent Clinical Studies on PRP Therapy
2025 – PRP for Hamstring Muscle Injuries
Title: Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in grade 2 hamstring muscle injuries: randomized controlled trial
Date: June 19, 2025
Link: PubMed
Summary:
Sixty athletes with moderate hamstring tears received either PRP + rehab or rehab alone. The PRP group returned to play 8 days faster (26 vs. 34 days) and showed better MRI healing rates (70% vs. 37%) with no adverse effects. The study concluded that PRP accelerates muscle recovery and reduces reinjury risk.
2025 – PRP for Chronic Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)
Title: Platelet Rich Plasma Injections for Non-Wound Injections (CMS LCD Review)
Date: February 14, 2025
Link: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Summary:
Across multiple randomized trials (~239 patients), PRP provided longer-lasting relief for chronic plantar fasciitis than steroid injections. By 6–12 months, PRP patients reported better pain and mobility scores. The review found Level-1 evidence that PRP offers sustained benefit compared to short-term steroid effects.
2025 – PRP vs Steroids for Tennis Elbow
Title: Platelet rich plasma versus corticosteroids for lateral epicondylitis: meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Date: February 10, 2025
Link: PubMed Central
Summary:
Meta-analysis of >1,500 patients showed that PRP injections outperform steroids at 6–12 months for pain and function. While steroids worked faster, PRP delivered longer-term results with sustained strength improvement. Authors concluded PRP is an effective, durable therapy for chronic tennis elbow.
2024 – PRP for Knee Osteoarthritis
Title: Long-term outcomes of single PRP injection in knee osteoarthritis
Date: August 23, 2024
Link: Journal of Orthopaedics & Experimental Investigations
Summary:
Twenty-one patients with moderate knee arthritis received one PRP injection. Pain dropped from 7/10 to 2/10 within weeks, and even after 4 years, symptoms remained improved (average 4/10). Function and activity scores stayed higher, suggesting long-lasting benefit from a single PRP treatment.
2024 – PRP for Shoulder Tendinopathy
Title: Impingement Syndromes of the Shoulder
Date: May 8, 2024
Link: AAPMR KnowledgeNow
Summary:
A double-blind RCT comparing PRP vs cortisone for rotator cuff tendinopathy found that PRP yielded greater early pain reduction and better function than steroids. PRP’s regenerative effects appeared sooner, offering a non-surgical alternative for tendon repair.
2022 – Combining PRP with MSCs for Knee Arthritis
Title: Combination of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Date: November 16, 2022
Link: PubMed
Summary:
Nearly 500 patients were analyzed in trials comparing MSC + PRP vs PRP alone or standard care. The combination therapy resulted in greater pain and function improvement at 6 and 12 months, with no added side effects. Researchers concluded that PRP enhances the effectiveness of MSC therapy, providing superior long-term outcomes in osteoarthritis.
Is PRP Therapy Right for You?
PRP may be an excellent option if you:
- Want to avoid surgery or long recovery times
- Prefer a natural, cell-based therapy over medication
- Struggle with chronic joint, tendon, or muscle issues
- Are exploring regenerative options for hair or skin restoration
- Haven’t achieved relief with traditional treatments
Because PRP is made from your own blood, it’s typically safe, well-tolerated, and requires little downtime.
At Stemedix, our specialists use precision-guided PRP and regenerative techniques tailored to each patient’s needs — focusing on natural recovery and long-term wellness.
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.
PRP Therapy is not FDA-approved for all conditions described and remains investigational for certain applications.
Individual results vary. Always consult with a licensed provider before undergoing treatment.
References
- Efficacy of PRP in grade 2 hamstring injuries – RCT. PubMed, 2025.
- PRP vs steroid injection for chronic heel pain – CMS LCD Review. CMS, 2025.
- PRP vs corticosteroids for tennis elbow – Meta-analysis. PubMed Central, 2025.
- Single PRP injection in knee OA – Long-term outcomes. JOEI, 2024.
- PRP for rotator cuff impingement – RCT. AAPMR, 2024.
- Combination MSC + PRP for knee osteoarthritis – Meta-analysis. PubMed, 2022.