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To develop the PRP preparation, a nurse will draw the blood from you. The platelets are separated from the other blood components by a centrifuge, which spins the blood components in a special separating tube. The increased concentration of platelets is then ready to be injected into the body region of concern.

Experts believe that injecting a solution rich in growth factors will speed the healing process. This can be done through two mechanisms:

PRP can be injected into the damaged or injured area. A mixture of PRP and a local anesthetic is placed directly into the inflamed tissue. Afterwards, the pain at the injection site increases for the first couple of weeks, but after this, the patient will experience the beneficial effects.
PRP is often used to heal surgical repaired structures, such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles. This is done by preparing the PRP so it is actually stitched into the torn tissues.

. Chronic tendon injuries - PRP is most effective for healing chronic tendon injuries, particularly tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, and inflammation of the patellar tendon (jumper’s knee).
. Acute ligament and muscle injuries - PRP therapy has received much publicity for the treatment of acute ligament and muscle injuries related to sports. These include knee sprains, pulled hamstring muscles, thigh sprains, and more.
. Knee arthritis - PRP injections have been found effective for the treatment of knee arthritis, possibly because they promote cartilage regeneration.
. Fractures - PRP is being studied for assisting in healing broken bones.

Research studies show that PRP treatment is quite effective for the treatment of many acute and chronic injuries and conditions. Factors which influence the effectiveness of PRP are:

. The area of the body being treated
. The length of duration of the injury
. The overall health of the patient

During the last decade, there have been many clinical studies investigating the potential benefits of PRP. Results include:

. Tennis elbow - In a 2010 study, patients who received PRP injections had a 73% success rate compared to 51% with cortisone injections. The researchers reported that PRP reduced pain and increased function far better than cortisone injections at the one-year follow-up.
. Rotator cuff tears - A recent study concluded that PRP injections reduced pain and disability compared to dry needling when used to treat rotator cuff injuries. The benefit of the PRP therapy was still noted at the six-month follow-up.
. Chronic plantar fasciitis - PRP therapy used to treat unilateral chronic plantar fasciitis was proven to be effective in a 2014 study. While the study group who receive steroid injections initially felt improvement, the PRP group enjoyed long-term effectiveness.
. Patellar tendinitis - PRP was found to have a 91% success rate for the treatment of patients with chronic patellar tendinitis, according to a recent clinical study.
. Hip arthritis - The success rate was 60% in a 2012 study where PRP was used to treat hip osteoarthritis. The researchers concluded that PRP injections were safe and effective for treatment of hip arthritis.