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Gilbert Tendon Guide
A site-by-site guide to PRP evidence

Gilbert Tendon Guide

What do people ask about the PRP shot?

What do most people want to know before asking about PRP? They’d like to know what the shot contains, whether it may help, and what it may cost. PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. Clinic staff spin blood taken from you, keep the layer with more platelets, and a medical provider returns it as a shot near the sore joint or tendon. The answers are short, because your own health and exam still matter.

Does PRP work for tennis elbow?

Some studies found that a steroid shot eased soreness sooner. PRP showed better pain and daily-use scores after six months in those comparisons. That later benefit isn’t certain for every elbow. You’ll still need a doctor, nurse, or another trained medical provider to check whether the outer-elbow tendon is causing your soreness.

Does PRP work for plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is the thick band along the sole of your foot. Some studies found more relief with PRP than with a steroid shot after three to six months. Early results weren’t as clear, and the studies didn’t all use the same preparation. Comfortable shoes and steady foot or calf exercise may still help.

Could PRP help shoulder or rotator-cuff soreness?

The answer is mixed. In one study, both groups exercised and received shots; PRP did no better than salt water. Another study found better short-term pain and use scores with PRP than with a steroid shot. An exam can check whether the rotator-cuff tendons, the shoulder joint, or a larger tear is causing the ache.

Does PRP help a sore Achilles?

Good studies haven’t found added help from PRP for Achilles soreness lasting months. Slow heel exercises remain useful for many people. A rupture means the tendon has torn suddenly; a pop with weak push-off calls for urgent care or an emergency room now. That injury can’t wait for a regular consultation.

Who needs medical review before PRP?

Someone with an infection, major new weakness, or possible tendon tear needs medical care before an optional shot. The same is true with a bleeding or platelet disorder, which means the blood cells that help clot may not work normally. Your medicines, health, earlier care, and exam also matter.

Are PRP injections covered by insurance in Arizona?

Most people pay for PRP shots for joint or tendon soreness themselves. Medicare limits coverage to certain chronic wounds, meaning sores that haven’t healed for a long time, under narrow rules. That coverage doesn’t apply to the joint and tendon soreness discussed here. Other plans differ, so ask your plan for a written answer and request the clinic’s full price.

Sources

  1. A 12-centre randomized controlled trial of 230 patients with chronic lateral epicondylar tendinopathy compared tendon needling with leukocyte-enriched PRP against tendon needling alone. At 12 weeks there was no significant difference (55.1% versus 47.4% pain improvement; P=.163). At 24 weeks the PRP group reported 71.5% versus 56.1% pain improvement (P=.019), a 83.9% versus 68.3% success rate (P=.037), and significantly less residual elbow tenderness (29.1% versus 54.0%; P=.009). No significant complications occurred in either group.

    Mishra AK, Skrepnik NV, Edwards SG, et al. — Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma for chronic tennis elbow: a double-blind, prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of 230 patients. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014. DOI: 10.1177/0363546513494359.

  2. A meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials (730 patients) with lateral epicondylitis found corticosteroid better than PRP in the short term (under 2 months) on VAS pain (MD 0.93; 95% CI 0.42-1.44) and DASH (MD 10.23; 95% CI 9.08-11.39), while PRP was better in the long term (6 months or more) on VAS (MD -2.18; 95% CI -3.13 to -1.22), DASH (MD -8.13) and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MD 16.53). The two treatments trade places over time rather than one dominating.

    Xu Y, Li T, Wang L, et al. — Platelet-Rich Plasma Has Better Results for Long-term Functional Improvement and Pain Relief for Lateral Epicondylitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2024. DOI: 10.1177/03635465231213087.

  3. A systematic review and meta-analysis of nine randomized trials (239 PRP patients, 240 corticosteroid patients) in chronic plantar fasciitis found statistically significant differences in VAS pain favouring PRP at 1-1.5, 3, 6 and 12 months, and in AOFAS function favouring PRP at 6 and 12 months (no difference at 1 and 3 months).

    Hurley ET, Shimozono Y, Hannon CP, et al. — Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Corticosteroids for Plantar Fasciitis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020. DOI: 10.1177/2325967120915704.

  4. A placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized trial of 40 patients with chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy compared a single ultrasound-guided subacromial injection of 5 mL PRP with 5 mL saline, with both groups completing a 6-week standard exercise programme and follow-up to one year. PRP did not produce better outcomes than saline on any measure - a reminder that the exercise programme, not the injectate, carried the improvement.

    Kesikburun S, Tan AK, Yilmaz B, et al. — Platelet-rich plasma injections in the treatment of chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013. DOI: 10.1177/0363546513496542.

  5. A double-blind randomized controlled trial of 99 patients with imaging-proven partial-thickness rotator cuff tears or tendinopathy compared ultrasound-guided PRP with corticosteroid, following patients to 12 months. PRP produced significantly better short-term pain relief and function than corticosteroid on VAS, ASES and WORC scores.

    Kwong CA, Woodmass JM, Gusnowski EM, et al. — Platelet-Rich Plasma in Patients With Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears or Tendinopathy Leads to Significantly Improved Short-Term Pain Relief and Function Compared With Corticosteroid Injection: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Arthroscopy, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2020.10.037.

  6. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 54 patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, all doing eccentric exercises, VISA-A scores improved 21.7 points with PRP and 20.5 points with saline over 24 weeks - an adjusted between-group difference of -0.9 (95% CI -12.4 to 10.6), excluding the predefined relevant difference of 12 points. PRP added nothing to eccentric loading.

    de Vos RJ, Weir A, van Schie HT, et al. — Platelet-rich plasma injection for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 2010. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.1986.

  7. Medicare's national coverage policy covers autologous platelet-rich plasma ONLY for patients with chronic non-healing diabetic, pressure and/or venous wounds, and only within an approved coverage-with-evidence-development clinical study. There is no Medicare national coverage for PRP in osteoarthritis or tendinopathy, which is why these injections are billed to the patient as cash-pay.

    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — Autologous Platelet-rich Plasma (Coverage with Evidence Development). CMS.gov, 2024.

Would you like someone to look at the sore area?

At QC Kinetix, a doctor, nurse, or another trained medical provider can listen and examine the place that hurts. The non-surgical choices include PRP, which stands for platelet-rich plasma. Staff spin blood drawn from you, keep the layer with more platelets, and give it back as a shot near the sore area. They’ll explain whether it may fit and what the full cost covers.

The nearby office is at 1100 S. Dobson Rd., Suite 210 in Chandler. Call (602) 837-PAIN to confirm scheduling and plan your drive. If another kind of care makes more sense, you can ask what comes next.

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