PRP Injections: A Non-Surgical Option for Joint Pain and Sports Injuries
May 25, 2026 | 3 min read
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an innovative regenerative medicine treatment that uses your body’s own healing properties to help support tissue repair and recovery. PRP injections are commonly used in orthopedic and sports medicine care to help treat chronic tendon injuries, osteoarthritis, and certain musculoskeletal conditions.
The procedure is relatively straightforward. A small sample of your blood is drawn and processed using centrifugation to concentrate the platelets and growth factors. This concentrated platelet-rich plasma is then injected directly into the injured or damaged tissue.
How Does PRP Therapy Work?
Although blood is mainly made up of a liquid called plasma, it also contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Platelets contain hundreds of proteins, including growth factors, that help stimulate healing.
PRP therapy concentrates these platelets to deliver a higher concentration of healing factors directly to damaged tissue. These growth factors may help:
- Reduce inflammation
- Promote tissue repair
- Support the body’s natural healing response
- Create an improved environment for recovery
Because PRP uses your own blood, it is considered a minimally invasive treatment with a strong safety profile.
Who Might Benefit From PRP Injections?
Research provides the strongest evidence for PRP injections in treating knee osteoarthritis, with studies suggesting PRP may outperform corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections in reducing pain and improving function.
PRP therapy has also shown benefit for:
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Chronic tendon injuries
- Plantar fasciitis
- Certain sports medicine injuries
- Rotator cuff repair support for small to medium tears
PRP is typically considered after more conservative treatments have not provided enough relief. It may be most appropriate for patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis or chronic tendon conditions who are looking to reduce pain, improve function, or potentially delay surgery.
Many patients are interested in PRP because it offers a non-surgical treatment option that avoids repeated corticosteroid injections while supporting the body’s natural healing process.
What to Expect After a PRP Injection
Common side effects after a PRP injection can include temporary:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Soreness around the injection site
These side effects are normal and usually improve within three to five days. They occur because the body is responding to the injection and beginning the healing process.
Most patients experience gradual improvement over several weeks to months. Because PRP uses your own blood, serious side effects are rare. Some patients may benefit from more than one injection depending on the condition being treated and their response to therapy.
Let’s Talk
PRP therapy is available through Boulder Medical Center Orthopedics and Podiatry. Talk with our specialists about whether PRP therapy may be appropriate for your specific condition and what realistic outcomes you can expect.
Please note:
- An evaluation with a BMC Orthopedics or Podiatry provider is required before a PRP injection can be scheduled.
- Patients referred for PRP therapy will not receive the injection during their first visit.
- PRP therapy is considered a self-pay regenerative medicine treatment and is typically not covered by insurance.
PRP therapy rates at Boulder Medical Center:
- $775 for one injection
- $975 for a second injection during the same visit
Learn more and make an appointment in Boulder or Louisville, Colo.: