Scientific Bases of PRP Therapy

Abstract

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a minimally invasive treatment modality that harnesses the body’s own regenerative potential and focuses it on an area of need to essentially “force” the body to repair what it failed to naturally. As it pertains to the field of pain management, PRP has shown a great deal of promise with musculoskeletal injuries (i.e., tendonitis, tendon/ligament tears, etc.) that traditionally fail to heal due to poor blood supply. The appeal of PRP as an alternative treatment option for those patients who had previously exhausted conservative medical management has grown in recent years despite a complete lack of insurance coverage. In this chapter, the evidence-based rationale for using PRP to treat musculoskeletal chronic pain will be discussed.