1. PRP Injections for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: The Influence of Platelet Concentration on Clinical Outcomes
   • Published in: The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2024
   • Study Type: Meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,995 patients
   • Key Findings: PRP offered clinically relevant functional improvement at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up points and pain relief at 3- and 6-month follow-up points compared with placebo. High-platelet PRP provided superior pain relief and more durable functional improvement compared with low-platelet PRP.
   • Access the study: PubMed Abstract


2. Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
   • Published in: The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023
   • Study Type: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
   • Key Findings: PRP demonstrated a significant advantage over hyaluronic acid, improved symptom relief, lower rates of reintervention, and more frequent achievement of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for pain improvement when compared with alternative nonoperative treatment options.
   • Access the study: PubMed Abstract


3. Efficacy and Safety of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
   • Published in: Frontiers in Medicine, 2023
   • Study Type: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
   • Key Findings: PRP injections were effective in improving Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, including pain, stiffness, and functional joint motion, in patients with osteoarthritis compared with the control group. Leukocyte-poor PRP injections were more effective than leukocyte-rich PRP injections in improving pain symptoms.
   • Access the study: Frontiers in Medicine


4. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Alternative Injections for Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
   • Published in: The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2023
   • Study Type: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
   • Key Findings: PRP demonstrated a significantly higher rate of successful outcomes when compared with hyaluronic acid, as well as higher rates of patient-reported symptom relief, lower rates of reintervention, and more frequent achievement of the MCID for pain improvement when compared with all alternative nonoperative treatments.
   • Access the study: PubMed Abstract


5. Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial
   • Published in: JAMA, 2021
   • Study Type: Randomized controlled trial
   • Key Findings: In this RCT, knee injections of PRP did not significantly improve knee pain or reduce medial tibial cartilage volume loss at 12-month follow-up, suggesting that PRP may not be more effective than placebo in certain patient populations.
   • Access the study: JAMA Network

Conclusion
PRP is a well-researched, natural treatment that can reduce arthritis pain and improve joint function. It’s especially effective in early to moderate stages of arthritis and may help you stay active and delay surgery. Because PRP uses your own platelets, the treatment is safe and well-tolerated — with minimal risk of side effects.