Knee arthritis can make everyday activities—walking, climbing stairs, exercising, golfing, or simply getting up from a chair—more difficult.
For patients looking for a nonsurgical treatment option, platelet-rich
plasma (PRP) injections have become an increasingly popular option for knee
osteoarthritis.
PRP uses a concentrated portion of your own blood and is
designed to improve the environment within the knee joint. A growing body of
research suggests that PRP can reduce knee pain and improve function,
particularly in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis.
What Is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is prepared from your
own blood.
A small amount of blood is drawn and placed into a
centrifuge. This process separates and concentrates platelets and plasma. The
resulting PRP is then injected into the knee.
Platelets contain growth factors and signaling proteins
involved in the body's natural healing response and regulation of inflammation.
For patients with knee arthritis, the goal is
straightforward: less pain, better function, and greater ability to stay
active.
Because PRP is made from your own blood, allergic reactions
are uncommon.
What Are the Benefits of PRP for Knee Arthritis?
Research on PRP has expanded significantly in recent years.
Studies suggest several potential benefits:
- Reduced
knee pain
- Improved
knee function
- Less
stiffness
- Improved
walking and exercise tolerance
- Better
ability to participate in recreational activities
- Longer-lasting
improvement than some traditional injection treatments for selected
patients
- A
nonsurgical treatment using the patient's own blood
A 2026 systematic review and network meta-analysis included 21
randomized controlled trials and 2,254 patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Both leukocyte-rich and leukocyte-poor PRP demonstrated improvements in
function, including benefits seen during the 6- to 12-month follow-up period.
Other recent randomized-trial analyses have similarly
supported PRP as an effective treatment option for improving pain and function
in knee osteoarthritis.
Who Is a Good Candidate for PRP?
PRP can be especially useful for patients who want to remain
active while managing knee arthritis without surgery.
Good candidates often include patients who:
- Have mild
to moderate knee osteoarthritis
- Have
knee pain with walking, stairs, exercise, or recreational activities
- Continue
to experience symptoms despite exercise, physical therapy, activity
modification, or medications
- Have
had temporary improvement with previous injections
- Want
to explore a biologic treatment option
- Want
to remain active
- Are
not yet ready for knee replacement
- Prefer
a treatment made from their own blood
PRP can be particularly attractive for younger and active
patients who have developed arthritis but still have significant healthy
portions of their knee joint remaining.
How Much Improvement Can I Expect?
Every patient's response is different, but the goal of PRP
is meaningful improvement in pain and function.
Patients who respond well may notice:
- Less
pain while walking
- Easier
stair climbing
- Less
stiffness after sitting
- Improved
exercise tolerance
- Greater
ability to participate in sports and recreational activities
- Improved
overall quality of life
Unlike cortisone, PRP does not necessarily provide immediate
relief.
Improvement often develops gradually over several weeks and
may continue over the following few months.
For patients who respond well, studies have demonstrated
benefits that can persist for 6 to 12 months, and sometimes longer.
When Should PRP Be Considered?
One of the best times to consider PRP is before arthritis
becomes severely advanced.
Patients with mild or moderate arthritis often still have
substantial healthy cartilage remaining. At this stage, PRP can be incorporated
into a broader strategy designed to control symptoms, maintain strength, and
keep patients active.
PRP may also be considered when a patient has already tried
treatments such as:
- Physical
therapy
- Home
exercises
- Anti-inflammatory
medications
- Activity
modification
- Cortisone
injections
- Other
nonsurgical treatments
The decision ultimately depends on the patient's symptoms,
X-rays, examination, activity level, and treatment goals.
PRP vs. Cortisone vs. Gel Injections
Patients frequently ask which type of injection is best.
Each works differently.
Cortisone Injections
Corticosteroid injections are powerful anti-inflammatory
treatments and can provide relatively rapid relief.
They are commonly used when a patient needs short-term
improvement in an inflamed and painful knee.
Gel Injections
Hyaluronic acid, commonly called a gel injection, is
designed to improve the environment and lubrication within the joint.
PRP Injections
PRP takes a different approach.
Instead of injecting a medication or synthetic material, PRP
uses concentrated components of the patient's own blood.
Recent studies and meta-analyses have found that PRP can
provide meaningful improvements in pain and function and may provide
longer-lasting improvement than hyaluronic acid for some patients with knee
osteoarthritis.
For an active patient with mild to moderate arthritis, this
makes PRP an increasingly attractive nonsurgical treatment option.
Is PRP Safe?
PRP has demonstrated a favorable safety profile.
Because PRP is prepared from the patient's own blood,
allergic reactions are uncommon.
Temporary soreness or swelling can occur after an injection
and typically improves.
As with any injection into a joint, appropriate sterile
technique and careful patient selection are important.
What Do Orthopedic Guidelines Say About PRP?
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)
clinical practice guideline states that:
Platelet-rich plasma may reduce pain and improve function
in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee.
PRP research has continued to grow since publication of the
guideline, with newer randomized trials and systematic reviews helping
orthopedic surgeons better understand which patients and PRP preparations may
produce the best results.
The AAOS has also established an Orthobiologics Registry
to collect additional real-world information about treatments such as PRP and
help advance evidence-based orthobiologic care.
PRP Works Best as Part of a Complete Arthritis Treatment
Plan
PRP should be viewed as one part of a comprehensive strategy
for maintaining a healthy and active knee.
Depending on the individual patient, this may include:
- Strengthening
- Low-impact
exercise
- Physical
therapy
- Weight
management when appropriate
- Activity
modification
- Anti-inflammatory
medications
- Bracing
- Injection
treatments
- Maintaining
an active lifestyle
The goal is not simply to treat an X-ray. It is to help
patients move better, hurt less, and continue doing the activities that
matter to them.
Is PRP Right for You?
PRP has become an important nonsurgical option for patients
with knee osteoarthritis.
Patients with mild to moderate arthritis who want to
remain active and continue to experience symptoms despite conservative
treatment are often the best candidates.
An orthopedic evaluation can determine the severity of
arthritis and whether PRP is appropriate based on your symptoms, examination,
X-rays, activity level, and goals.
Research & References
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Management
of Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Non-Arthroplasty), Third Edition. The AAOS
clinical practice guideline states that platelet-rich plasma may reduce pain
and improve function in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.
Gong L, Yan J, et al. Leukocyte-rich versus
leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid for knee
osteoarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Journal of
Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 2026. This systematic review included 21
randomized controlled trials and 2,254 patients and found improvements in
function with PRP, including during 6- to 12-month follow-up.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. AAOS
Establishes Orthobiologics Registry to Advance Evidence-Based Orthobiologics
Research. The registry is designed to collect real-world outcomes and
further evaluate treatments including PRP for knee osteoarthritis.