PRP JOINT & SOFT TISSUE
Your own platelets. A thoughtful approach to musculoskeletal care.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is prepared from your own blood and delivers a concentrated platelet-containing preparation to a targeted area.
VECTOR considers PRP for selected joint, tendon, ligament, and soft-tissue concerns only when evaluation suggests it has a reasonable role.
What is PRP?
PRP uses your own blood, and it isn’t right for every joint problem.
Platelets contain signaling proteins and growth factors involved in normal repair processes. A blood sample is processed to concentrate the platelet-containing portion, which is then administered to the intended area. PRP is autologous, but it is not risk-free or appropriate for every condition.
Evaluation before injection
Treat the problem—not simply the location of pain.
Your provider considers symptoms, history, prior treatment, examination findings, functional limitations, goals, and relevant imaging or records. Conservative care, rehabilitation, further evaluation, specialist care, or another treatment may be more appropriate than PRP.
When PRP may be considered
Evidence matters. So does the diagnosis.
JOINTS
Selected joint conditions of the knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, ankle, or wrist, including some degenerative concerns, after appropriate evaluation.
TENDONS
Selected chronic tendon conditions such as rotator cuff tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), or plantar fasciitis, depending on location, severity, prior care, and evidence.
LIGAMENTS AND
SOFT TISSUE
Selected concerns when diagnosis and evidence support its use.
PART OF A PLAN
PRP may complement rehabilitation, exercise, activity modification, weight management, or other care.
PRP and osteoarthritis
Symptom improvement is not structural reversal.
PRP has been studied for osteoarthritis, particularly selected stages of knee osteoarthritis, and some patients may experience improvement in pain or function. It should not be described as regrowing cartilage or curing arthritis. Advanced disease or other circumstances may require orthopedic evaluation.
Recovery and expectations
Biological recovery takes time.
Temporary soreness can occur. Improvement, when it occurs, may develop over weeks or months and depends on the diagnosis, severity, health, rehabilitation, and individual response. Some patients improve; others have limited or no meaningful benefit. No outcome can be guaranteed.
THE PROCESS
What to Expect
01
EVALUATE
Discuss symptoms, history, prior treatment, function, and goals.
02
DECIDE
Review why PRP may or may not be appropriate, including risks and alternatives.
03
PREPARE AND TREAT
Collect and process your blood, then administer PRP using an appropriate technique.
04
RECOVER AND
FOLLOW UP
Follow individualized aftercare and rehabilitation guidance.
YOUR QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between PRP and cortisone?
PRP is prepared from your own blood and is intended to use concentrated platelets as part of a regenerative treatment approach. Corticosteroid injections use medication to reduce inflammation and symptoms. They are different treatments with different potential roles, benefits, limitations, and risks. Neither regrows cartilage nor cures arthritis. Which one is appropriate depends on the joint, the stage, what you’ve already tried, and your overall health.
Will PRP fix my knee?
PRP isn’t a fix and shouldn’t be described as one. Some patients see improvement in pain or function. It does not regrow cartilage or cure arthritis, and it isn’t right for every knee.
Is PRP worth it for arthritis?
It’s been studied for osteoarthritis, particularly selected stages of knee osteoarthritis, and some patients improve. Advanced disease or other circumstances may call for orthopedic evaluation instead.
Can PRP regrow cartilage?
PRP should not be presented as a treatment that reliably regrows cartilage. Some patients with selected osteoarthritis may experience improvement in symptoms or function, but that is different from reversing the structural changes of arthritis.
What conditions can PRP treat?
PRP may be considered for selected joint, tendon, ligament, and soft-tissue conditions. Whether it is appropriate depends on the specific diagnosis, available evidence, severity, previous treatment, health history, and goals.
How many PRP injections will I need?
There is no single treatment schedule appropriate for every condition or patient. Recommendations depend on the diagnosis, evidence for the particular application, treatment response, and individual circumstances.
How quickly will I notice improvement?
PRP is a biological treatment, and improvement—when it occurs—may develop gradually over weeks or months. Timelines and outcomes vary.
Is PRP painful?
Blood collection and injection can cause discomfort, and temporary soreness may occur after treatment. Your provider will discuss what to expect based on the area being treated and the procedure planned.
Is PRP safe?
Because PRP is prepared from your own blood, certain risks associated with donor materials are avoided, but PRP is not risk-free. Potential risks related to blood collection and injection, including pain, bleeding, infection, tissue or nerve injury, and other procedure-specific complications, should be discussed before treatment.
Will PRP keep me from needing surgery?
PRP cannot guarantee that surgery or other treatment will be avoided. For some patients, conservative or regenerative treatment may be reasonable to consider before surgery, while others may be better served by orthopedic evaluation or surgical treatment.
Do I need a concierge membership for PRP?
No. PRP joint and soft-tissue care is available separately from VECTOR's concierge medicine membership.
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