PRP for Shoulder Injuries
Platelet-rich plasma is not one standardized treatment, and its usefulness depends on the diagnosis and how it is used.
What PRP is—and what it is not
PRP is prepared from a patient’s blood to concentrate platelets. Preparations vary, including their platelet and white-cell content. An office injection into a painful tendon region is a different intervention from using a platelet preparation during surgical repair. PRP is not a stem-cell or exosome treatment.
Rotator cuff tendinopathy and partial tears
The 2025 AAOS rotator cuff guideline does not support routine PRP injections for tendinopathy or partial-thickness tears. Studies differ in preparation, comparisons, and outcomes. That uncertainty should be discussed before paying for treatment or postponing another indicated intervention.
PRP during repair versus an injection alone
The question of biological augmentation during a repair is separate from whether an injection alone relieves pain or heals a tear. A claim that PRP may affect a structural outcome in one setting cannot be converted into a promise of better function in another. Ask exactly which outcome the proposed treatment is intended to improve.
Questions to ask before treatment
- What is the confirmed diagnosis, and what is the target of the injection?
- What evidence applies to this shoulder problem and this preparation?
- What are the alternatives, expected cost, and chance that further treatment will still be needed?
- What activity restrictions and follow-up will be required?
- What risks apply, including post-injection pain, bleeding, and infection?
Keep the claims proportionate
PRP should not be described as guaranteed tendon regeneration or a reliable way to rebuild an arthritic joint. Decisions should remain grounded in examination, imaging where appropriate, symptom severity, and the patient’s goals.