Your body has a built-in repair system — when you are injured, platelets in your blood rush in to stop bleeding and release growth factors that initiate healing. PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy concentrates those platelets from your own blood and injects them into a damaged joint, tendon, ligament or muscle, to support natural healing.
In short: a small blood sample is drawn, spun in a centrifuge so platelets (and their growth factors) become concentrated, and the PRP is then reintroduced where healing is needed.
What this really means: PRP uses your body’s own resources — not foreign drugs or implants — to try to stimulate repair.
What is PRP Therapy?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made from your own blood. We take a small sample, spin it in a machine to concentrate platelets and growth factors, and inject that concentrate into the painful area under guidance.
These help your body repair tissues, reduce pain, and improve function.
Conditions We Treat with PRP
- Knee Osteoarthritis – reduces pain, stiffness, and improves mobility
- Plantar Fasciitis – for chronic heel pain unresponsive to other treatments
- Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow – eases elbow pain and tendon healing
- Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy – supports healing in shoulder pain and injury
- Achilles Tendinitis – reduces pain and swelling in the back of the ankle
- Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee) – for sports-related knee tendon pain
- Hip Osteoarthritis – relieves hip joint discomfort and stiffness
- Wrist & Hand Tendon Injuries – supports recovery from overuse injuries
- Ligament Sprains & Partial Tears – may help healing in mild to moderate cases
- Chronic Muscle Strains – promotes repair and recovery in persistent muscle injuries
Benefits
- Uses your own blood — no synthetic drugs
- Minimally invasive procedure
- May help reduce the need for long-term pain medicines
- Can support faster recovery
What to Expect
- A small amount of blood is taken from your arm
- Platelets are separated using a special machine
- The PRP is injected into the affected area under guidance
- You can usually go home the same day
Who might benefit
PRP is considered for people with persistent joint or tendon pain that hasn’t improved with first-line care like activity modification, physiotherapy, and simple pain relief.
What the appointment involves
- We draw a small tube of your blood.
- A centrifuge concentrates the platelets.
- The PRP is injected into the target area, usually with ultrasound guidance.
- You go home the same day; mild soreness for a few days is common. AAOS describes the steps and after-effects.
How many injections and how quickly it works
- Many protocols use 1–3 injections spaced 2–6 weeks apart.
- Pain relief tends to build gradually over weeks; in tennis elbow, short-term results favor steroid, but PRP does better by 6 months.
Safety and side effects
Because PRP uses your own blood, allergic reactions are rare. Expected effects include temporary soreness, swelling, or bruising.
Who should avoid PRP
People with active infection, uncontrolled bleeding disorders, severe anemia, or certain cancers may be advised against PRP. Your clinician will review your medications (for example, blood thinners) and health conditions first. Guidance frameworks emphasize selection, consent, and follow-up.
Talk to our Orthopaedic Specialist to find out if PRP therapy is right for you.
Dr Shubham R Tungenwar
MBBS MS (Ortho) DNB (Ortho) (Mumbai)
MNAMS MCh Ortho (UK) Dip SICOT (Belgium)
