Platelet-rich plasma therapy or PRP is a concentration of a person’s own platelets, and it is used to heal tendons, muscles, and joint injuries. There are two variables involved when preparing the plasma. First, the blood is extracted from an individual, and then a mixture is used that separates the blood. The second method involves using a device known as centrifuge. A centrifuge separates the blood to allow the removal of plasma.

PRP is gaining popularity, but it is still not covered by medical insurance companies.  Most insurance companies proclaim that PRP is “experimental and investigational for all indications.” Aetna is one of the biggest insurance companies to state that PRP is not viable enough to be covered by insurers. Medicare covers autologous (i.e., derived from your own blood) PRP for people who have pressure, and venous wound and chronic non-healing diabetes, but only if they are enrolled in an approved clinical research study.

A lot of medical professionals and major insurance companies hold the same notion about PRP. They tell their patients that PRP isn’t scientifically proven to be effective. Some even go as far as to call it voodoo therapy. Perhaps the only reason they disapprove is because of the negative response of insurance companies and the medical community.

However, there are over 9500 Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy articles. Some of them date back as early as 1954 on Pub Med’s website. Also, there are several clinical studies on the application of PRP on people with orthopedic conditions. They all provide positive results for orthopedic applications for PRP.

Clinical Studies of PRP for Review

Effect of intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma on interleukin-17 expression in synovial fluid and venous plasma of knee osteoarthritis patients

Clinical Results of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Partial Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: A Case Series

A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating Meniscal Healing, Clinical Outcomes, and Safety in Patients Undergoing Meniscal Repair of Unstable, Complete Vertical Meniscal Tears (Bucket Handle) Augmented with Platelet-Rich Plasma

The Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in Gluteal Tendinopathy: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial Comparing a Single Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection With a Single Corticosteroid Injection.

Is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Viable?

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is not only a viable option but is an effective one as well. Take the sports community, for example. Several sports teams and athletes are known to utilize PRP for their sports injuries. The benefits provided by the PRP in terms of specific healing outweigh a small measure of doubt by the insurance and medical companies. Sports teams and athletes are offered the best designated medical practitioners. Their job is to select the best course of medical treatment for the athletes. If PRP were not the best course of action for the treatment of the injuries, the medical practitioners in the sports community wouldn’t have the athletes’ career and health on the line.

Conclusion

Since PRP is derived from the patient’s own blood, it is considered to be a highly natural modality. Furthermore, it has little to no contraindications.  The cost of PRP is relatively low, and it is affordable for most people.  Based on the results of IPS, those who utilized PRP products for certain injuries were satisfied with the outcome.