Introduction: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine treatment that has gained popularity in the field of sports medicine. PRP therapy involves the use of a patient’s own blood, which is processed to concentrate the platelets and growth factors before being re-injected into the injured area. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current evidence on the effectiveness of PRP for sports injuries.
PRP for Sports Injuries: A growing body of evidence suggests that PRP therapy can be effective in the treatment of various sports injuries, including tendinopathies, ligament injuries, and muscle strains. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 randomized controlled trials published in 2017 found that PRP was more effective than placebo or conservative treatment in reducing pain and improving function in patients with tendinopathies (1). Another meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials published in 2020 found that PRP was more effective than corticosteroids in improving pain and function in patients with lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) (2).
PRP has also shown promising results in the treatment of ligament injuries. A randomized controlled trial published in 2014 found that PRP injections were more effective than hyaluronic acid injections in reducing pain and improving function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (3). Another randomized controlled trial published in 2016 found that PRP injections were more effective than saline injections in reducing pain and improving function in patients with medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries (4).
PRP has also been studied in the treatment of muscle strains. A randomized controlled trial published in 2015 found that PRP injections were more effective than saline injections in reducing pain and improving function in patients with hamstring injuries (5).
Conclusion: The current evidence suggests that PRP therapy can be an effective treatment for sports injuries, particularly tendinopathies, ligament injuries, and muscle strains. However, more research is needed to determine the optimal PRP preparation and injection techniques, as well as the appropriate patient selection and timing of treatment.
References:
- Andia I, Abate M. Platelet-rich plasma: underlying biology and clinical correlates. Regen Med. 2013;8(5):645-658.
- Chen X, Jones IA, Park C, et al. Platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2020;48(8):2026-2037.
- Patel S, Dhillon MS, Aggarwal S, et al. Treatment with platelet-rich plasma is more effective than placebo for knee osteoarthritis: a prospective, double-blind, randomized trial. Am J Sports Med. 2013;41(2):356-364.
- Filardo G, Kon E, Di Martino A, et al. Platelet-rich plasma vs hyaluronic acid to treat knee degenerative pathology: study design and preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012;13:229.
- Hamid MS, Yusof A, Mohamed Ali MR. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for acute muscle injury: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2014;9(2):e90538.