What the evidence supports
Platelet-rich plasma is made by concentrating the healing platelets and growth factors from a small sample of your own blood and placing them precisely in the joint. For knee osteoarthritis, multiple studies have found that PRP can meaningfully reduce pain and improve function, and it tends to help most in mild-to-moderate arthritis rather than end-stage, bone-on-bone joints.
It is important to be realistic: PRP does not regrow cartilage or reverse advanced arthritis. When it helps, it typically calms pain and buys function — sometimes for months to a couple of years — as part of a broader plan that includes movement, strength, and weight management.
How we decide if PRP is right for your knee
Dr. Hric performs every treatment personally. At your consultation he reviews your history and imaging, examines the knee, and gives you a straight answer: whether PRP is a reasonable option, whether prolotherapy or focal sound wave therapy might fit better, or whether another path — including more time or a surgical opinion — would serve you more honestly.
This is our Conservative First approach: we recommend the least invasive option with real evidence behind it, and we tell you when a treatment isn't worth your money.
Reviewed by Dr. Jerry Hric, Great Physician Regenerative Medicine · Updated July 15, 2026. Educational information, not a substitute for an in-person evaluation.