Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection

A Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection is a treatment that uses a concentrated dose of your own blood's healing proteins to help damaged tissue repair itself. Blood is drawn from your arm, spun in a machine to separate and concentrate the platelets (tiny blood cells that carry growth factors), and then injected directly into the injured area.

Once injected, the concentrated platelets release growth factors — natural signalling proteins that tell your body to send repair cells to the site. This is meant to speed up the natural healing process in tendons (the tough cords that connect muscle to bone), ligaments (the bands that connect bone to bone), muscles, and joints that have been slow to heal on their own.

PRP injections are used in sports medicine mainly for injuries and degenerative conditions (where tissue gradually breaks down over time) that have not responded well to rest, physiotherapy, or anti-inflammatory treatment. The goal is to stimulate healing in tissue that has a naturally poor blood supply and therefore heals slowly.

• Tendinopathy (tendon pain and degeneration) — such as tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, or patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee)
• Achilles tendon injuries that have not improved with conservative care
• Plantar fasciitis (heel pain caused by inflammation of the tissue under the foot)
• Rotator cuff (the group of muscles and tendons stabilising the shoulder) partial tears or chronic pain
• Hamstring, quadriceps, or calf muscle strains that are slow to heal
• Osteoarthritis (joint cartilage breakdown) of the knee or hip, to manage pain and stiffness
• Ligament sprains, particularly of the knee or ankle, in cases where surgery is not yet needed

PRP is generally not recommended in certain situations. Your doctor will assess whether it is suitable for you.

• Active infection at or near the injection site
• Blood disorders that affect platelet function or clotting
• Patients taking blood thinners who cannot safely pause the medication
• Certain cancers, especially blood or bone marrow cancers
• Severe anaemia (very low red blood cell count) that makes blood collection unsafe
• Complete (full-thickness) tendon or ligament tears that typically require surgical repair
• Pregnancy, in most clinical protocols

Because PRP uses your own blood, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is very low, but like any injection procedure it still carries some recognised risks.

• Pain and soreness at the injection site — this is common in the first few days and is part of the inflammatory response that triggers healing
• Swelling, redness, or warmth around the injection site, usually temporary
• Bruising from the blood draw or the injection itself
• Infection — rare, but possible with any procedure that breaks the skin; sterile technique is used to minimise this
• Nerve or blood vessel irritation if the needle passes close to these structures — usually mild and short-lived
• No improvement in symptoms — PRP does not work for every patient or every injury type
• Temporary worsening of pain before improvement, which can occur in the first one to two weeks

Preparing well for a PRP injection helps ensure that enough healthy platelets can be collected and that the injection works as intended. Your doctor or clinic will give you specific instructions, but the following gives a general picture of what to expect.

Before the procedure, doctors usually ask patients to stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs — pain relievers such as ibuprofen or aspirin) for a period before the injection, because these medicines can reduce platelet activity. Blood thinners may also need to be paused, but only under medical guidance. Staying well-hydrated in the days before makes the blood draw easier. Heavy alcohol use and smoking should be avoided in the lead-up, as both can affect platelet quality.

There is usually no requirement to fast before a PRP injection, unlike general anaesthesia procedures. However, eating a light meal beforehand can help prevent dizziness during or after blood collection. Your doctor will confirm the exact requirements for your appointment.

Pre-procedure tests may include a blood count check to confirm your platelet levels are adequate, and imaging such as ultrasound (USG) or MRI to precisely locate the injury before the injection is planned.

On the day, the procedure typically follows these steps:

• A small amount of blood is drawn from a vein in your arm, similar to a routine blood test.
• The blood sample is placed in a centrifuge (a spinning machine) that separates the blood into its layers; the platelet-rich layer is extracted.
• The skin over the injection site is cleaned and, in many cases, a local anaesthetic (numbing medicine) is applied or injected to reduce discomfort.
• The doctor may use ultrasound imaging in real time to guide the needle accurately to the injured tissue.
• The concentrated PRP is injected into the target area.
• A small dressing or plaster is applied, and you are observed briefly before being allowed to go home.

Recovery after a PRP injection is generally managed at home rather than in a hospital ward. Most patients can leave the clinic on the same day. The treated area is likely to feel sore and may swell for several days — this is expected and reflects the inflammatory process that the PRP is designed to trigger. Your doctor or physiotherapist will guide you on activity levels, as returning too quickly to sport or heavy exercise can reduce the benefit of the injection.

• Rest the injected area for a period advised by your doctor — this varies depending on which structure was treated and the severity of the original injury.
• Avoid NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory pain relievers) for a period after the injection, as they may counteract the healing response; your doctor will suggest safer pain relief options if needed.
• Ice packs can usually be applied briefly to manage swelling, but follow your clinic's specific guidance.
• Keep the injection site clean and dry; the small dressing can usually be removed within a day or two.
• Physiotherapy (rehabilitation exercises) is usually recommended after the initial rest period to rebuild strength and flexibility around the treated area.
• Return to sport or strenuous activity is typically gradual and guided by a physiotherapist or sports medicine doctor — timelines vary by injury.
• A follow-up appointment is usually scheduled within a few weeks to assess how the tissue is responding; some treatment plans involve more than one injection, spaced weeks apart.
• Report any signs of infection — increasing pain, redness, warmth, or discharge from the injection site — to your doctor promptly.