Knee pain can gradually start to affect far more than your knee. Regular activities like getting out of a chair become uncomfortable and running, football or gym sessions get harder. Your knee might feel stiff in the morning, swell after activity or just won’t tolerate the same level of exercise it once did.
Platelet-rich plasma — PRP — can be a great treatment option for anyone suffering with persistent knee pain, osteoarthritis or damage to tendons and ligaments. It involves taking a concentration of platelets and growth proteins from your own blood and reinjecting them into the affected area, so that your body's own healing properties are targeting specific areas.
At our clinic in Edgbaston, Birmingham, our MSK PRP service includes an initial consultation for £75 (included in the treatment price if you decide to go ahead), and treatments are £495 per session.
Want to learn more about PRP? This guide explains how PRP knee injections work, which patients may be suitable, what the evidence currently shows and what to expect before, during and after treatment.
Key Takeaways
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma and is prepared from a sample of your own blood.
PRP may be considered for selected patients with persistent knee pain, including some people with knee osteoarthritis.
It is not a first-line treatment for every type of knee pain.
NICE currently states that PRP for knee osteoarthritis raises no major safety concerns, but evidence of effectiveness remains limited in quality.
More recent research suggests PRP may improve pain and function in some patients, although results vary between studies.
Current evidence does not show that PRP reliably rebuilds knee cartilage or reverses osteoarthritis.
Exercise and rehabilitation remain important parts of knee osteoarthritis management.
Your clinician should first establish what is causing your knee pain and whether other treatment or investigation is needed.
A PRP procedure involves taking blood, preparing the platelet-rich component and injecting it into the targeted area.
Temporary soreness, stiffness or swelling can occur after treatment.
Some patients may have one injection while others may be advised to have a short course.
Results are not immediate and may take weeks or months to assess.
Our current MSK PRP consultation costs £75, with treatment priced at £495 per session.
What Can Cause Knee Pain?
Before discussing injections, we first need to understand what we are treating.
There are many possible causes of knee pain that can include:
Osteoarthritis
Meniscus injuries
Tendon problems
Ligament injuries
Bursitis
Patellofemoral pain
Previous trauma
Inflammatory arthritis
Referred pain
Other musculoskeletal conditions
Someone with gradual osteoarthritis-related knee pain requires a very different treatment plan from somebody who injured their knee during football the previous weekend. PRP treatment may not be suitable for everyone which is why it’s important to get an initial assessment first. If PRP is not suitable, then the clinician will often be able to recommend an alternative treatment, so getting checked out is never a waste of time.
What Is PRP?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma and PRP treatments are considered autologous treatments because they use material that originates from your own body.
Your blood contains several different components, including:
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Plasma
Platelets
Platelets are best known for helping blood clot, but they also contain signalling proteins and growth factors that are responsible for normal tissue repair and increasing inflammation around injury sites to increase blood flow.
During PRP treatment, we take a small sample of your blood and place it in a centrifuge.The centrifuge spins the sample so that the different components of the blood are separated out, and then the platelet-rich portion is collected and injected into the area being treated.
For a knee joint injection, this means PRP is delivered into or around the target knee area, sometimes guided by an ultrasound.
PRP Uses Your Own Blood
The exact concentration of platelets and other cells can vary depending on:
The preparation system
The amount of blood taken
How the blood is processed
Whether white blood cells are retained
The final injection volume
That variation is actually one of the challenges when interpreting PRP research. Different studies may all say they used "PRP" while using quite different preparations. Even the type of blood bottle you use to collect the sample can affect the quality and concentration of platelets collected. When looking at PRP treatments, it's important to ask your clinician about the preparation and equipment they use in order to make the most out of your treatment.
Can PRP Be Used for Knee Osteoarthritis?
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the main conditions for which PRP injections have been studied.
Osteoarthritis involves changes within the joint that can affect:
Cartilage
Bone
Synovium
Muscles
Other surrounding structures
Common symptoms include:
Pain
Stiffness
Reduced movement
Swelling
Difficulty with activity
It’s important to note that symptoms of osteoarthritis can vary enormously. Whilst one person may have mild changes on an X-ray but significant pain, another can have obvious structural osteoarthritis and still remain relatively active. Treatment should be based on the individual and adjusted based on symptoms and medical imagery.
PRP Is Not First-Line Osteoarthritis Treatment
NICE recommends therapeutic exercise tailored to the individual for everybody with osteoarthritis and says supervised exercise can also be considered.
Patients should be advised that some discomfort may initially occur when starting exercise, but consistent exercise can improve pain, function and quality of life over time.
Depending on the patient, treatment may also include:
Education
Weight management where appropriate
Physiotherapy
Topical anti-inflammatory medication
Oral medication where suitable
Other injections
Specialist assessment
PRP generally enters the discussion when symptoms remain troublesome and the patient wants to explore additional non-surgical options.
What Does the Research Say About PRP Knee Injections?
NICE's Current Position
NICE currently states that PRP injections for knee osteoarthritis have no major identified safety concerns, but that evidence of efficacy remains limited in quality.
Its guidance therefore recommends special arrangements around:
Clinical governance
Consent
Audit
Clear discussion of uncertainty
and encourages further high-quality research.
What Do More Recent Studies Show?
Research published since the original NICE assessment has continued to produce promising — although not completely consistent — findings.
A 2025 systematic review comparing PRP with placebo included 11 randomised controlled trials and 1,616 patients.
It found improvements in pain at three and six months and improvement in WOMAC measures at three months, but benefits were less clear at later follow-up. The authors described the overall effect as relatively weak and questioned its clinical significance.
Other newer reviews have reached more favourable conclusions.
For example, a recent meta-analysis of randomised trials found PRP associated with improvements in pain and knee function compared with placebo or no treatment, although the authors still called for larger trials and standardised treatment protocols.
Another 2026 analysis found that PRP appeared to improve pain and function at six and twelve months compared with placebo, but rated the certainty of the evidence as very low because of differences between studies and PRP formulations.
So the most accurate interpretation is:
There is evidence that PRP may help pain and function for some people with knee osteoarthritis.
But:
It does not work for everybody, the size and duration of benefit vary, and research has not yet established one universally accepted PRP protocol.
Can PRP Regrow Knee Cartilage?
We do not currently have good evidence that PRP reliably regenerates damaged knee cartilage.
A very recent 2026 systematic review specifically examined imaging-based structural outcomes after PRP treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
Across 12 randomised trials involving around 1,200 patients, researchers found some favourable findings in particular imaging measures, but no consistent improvement across most cartilage and joint-structure outcomes.
The authors concluded that PRP's structural effects were limited and inconsistent.
Symptom Improvement Is Different From Joint Regeneration
Although evidence of the structural effects of PRP are limited, PRP can still be useful in treating and helping with:
Pain
Mobility
Function
Quality of life
Who Might Be Suitable for PRP?
Suitability depends on several factors.
PRP may be considered for selected adults with persistent knee pain where:
A musculoskeletal cause has been identified
Symptoms continue despite appropriate conservative treatment
Knee osteoarthritis is contributing
The patient wants to explore additional non-surgical treatment
There are no significant contraindications
Expectations are realistic
Some research suggests people with mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis may respond better than those with very advanced disease, although the evidence is not definitive.
A recent meta-analysis comparing PRP with hyaluronic acid found larger improvements in patients with less severe osteoarthritis, although substantial variation remained between studies.
When Might PRP Not Be Appropriate?
Severe Osteoarthritis
PRP cannot replace a joint that is severely damaged.
NICE recommends considering joint replacement referral when osteoarthritis is substantially affecting quality of life and non-surgical management has been ineffective or unsuitable.
PRP should not be used to indefinitely delay appropriate surgery when surgery is clearly indicated.
A New Knee Injury
If your knee became painful immediately following trauma and you now:
Cannot bear weight
Have major swelling
Cannot straighten the knee
Have significant instability
we may need to establish whether there is a structural injury before discussing PRP. This may include further examination, imaging or a referral to an orthopaedic specialist.
What Happens During Your PRP Consultation?
At our clinic, every MSK PRP treatment begins with a clinical assessment.
Our current initial consultation costs £75, with the purpose being to establish:
What is causing your knee pain?
What treatment have you already tried?
Does PRP make sense for you?
We Review Your Symptoms
We may ask:
When did the pain begin?
Where is the pain?
Is there swelling?
Is the knee stiff?
Does it lock or give way?
Which activities make it worse?
What exercise do you do?
Does the pain affect work or sleep?
We Review Previous Treatment
Tell us if you have already tried:
Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation
Pain medication
Anti-inflammatory medication
Steroid injections
Previous surgery
Other injections
We also want to know what helped and what did not.
Bring Previous Imaging
If you already have:
X-rays
MRI reports
Orthopaedic letters
Physiotherapy assessments
bring them where possible. Existing imaging may provide useful information and can sometimes avoid unnecessary duplication.
What Happens During a PRP Knee Injection?
Once we have assessed you and agreed that treatment is appropriate, the PRP process is relatively straightforward.
Step 1: Blood Sample
A sample of blood is taken from your arm.
Step 2: Centrifugation
The sample is placed into a centrifuge and spun so that the platelets can be separated from the rest of the blood.
Step 3: PRP Preparation
The platelets are drawn up into a syringe and prepared for injection
Step 4: Targeted Injection
The PRP is injected into the targeted joint or musculoskeletal structure. If the area is particularly small or sensitive, an ultrasound may be used to guide the injection.
Step 5: Aftercare
After treatment, we explain:
What symptoms you may experience
How much activity is appropriate
When you can return to exercise
Whether rehabilitation is recommended
Whether a further session or review is needed
This is the same clinician-led assessment → blood sample → preparation → targeted injection → aftercare pathway used across our MSK PRP service.
Does a PRP Knee Injection Hurt?
Yes, you may feel some discomfort around the joint during the injection and may experience swelling and redness immediately afterwards. If the injection is too painful or you are concerned about the pain, then we may be able to apply a local anaesthetic to numb the area before the treatment. Speak with your clinician beforehand if you are particularly concerned.
What About Afterwards?
The knee may temporarily feel:
Sore
Stiff
Tender
Slightly swollen
A 2026 systematic review examining safety data from randomised trials found that mild knee pain and swelling were the most commonly reported adverse effects after PRP.
Severe adverse events were not reported across the included trial groups, although any injection carries risks that should be discussed before treatment.
Your clinician will explain the relevant risks during consent.
What Happens After Treatment?
After your treatment, you will receive individual aftercare instructions based on:
The structure treated
Your condition
Your usual activity
Your rehabilitation plan
You may temporarily need to reduce strenuous exercise or heavy loading of the treated area, to allow it to heal, but mostly you will be able to continue your normal activities.
How Many PRP Injections Might You Need?
There is no universally agreed number. Some patients may only need a single injection to see benefits, whilst others may need 2-3 to see effective change.
Research studies use many different schedules, which is one reason there is no definitive answer. A 2026 meta-analysis comparing PRP with hyaluronic acid found that multiple-injection protocols appeared to produce greater benefits in some analyses, although treatment protocols varied substantially.
At our clinic, the number of sessions depends on:
Diagnosis
Severity
Previous treatment
Response
Clinical judgement
We will recommend a number of treatments based on your individual circumstances. Our current MSK PRP treatment price is £495 per session, with the treatment plan confirmed after an initial consultation assessment.
How Long Does PRP Take to Work?
Responses to PRP vary and PRP is not expected to produce an immediate or same day effect. Patients commonly experience changes after a few weeks, but again this will depend on your individual symptoms, lifestyle and circumstances.
PRP vs Steroid Injections
Corticosteroid injections are another treatment sometimes used for knee osteoarthritis.
They work differently from PRP.
Steroid Injections
Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medicines.
NICE says intra-articular corticosteroid injections can be considered when other pharmacological treatments are ineffective or unsuitable, or to support therapeutic exercise.
Patients should be told that relief is generally short term — around two to ten weeks.
PRP
PRP does not contain corticosteroid medication. It is an autologous treatment meaning It uses components derived from the individual's own body. It does not contain any drugs or medication - The treatment is intended to influence biological processes within the joint rather than provide the same direct anti-inflammatory drug effect as a steroid.
Which Is Better?
The appropriate treatment depends on:
Diagnosis
Severity
Previous treatment
Medical history
Treatment goals
Clinical judgement
Some recent reviews have found longer-term improvements with PRP compared with corticosteroid injections in knee osteoarthritis, but the evidence base remains mixed.
If you are deciding between steroid injections and PRP, its best to seek advice from a clinician as they can help you to decide the best treatment for you.
What Other Treatments Should Be Considered?
A PRP injection should not exist in isolation from the rest of your knee care.
Depending on the diagnosis, management may include:
Exercise and Strengthening
NICE recommends therapeutic exercise for all people with osteoarthritis.
Strengthening the muscles around the knee can help improve function and joint support.
Weight Management
Where someone is overweight or living with obesity, weight reduction can reduce load through the knee and improve osteoarthritis symptoms.
Medication
Depending on medical history, options can include topical or oral anti-inflammatory medication.
NICE recommends topical NSAIDs for knee osteoarthritis and says oral NSAIDs can be considered when topical treatments are ineffective or unsuitable, taking individual risks into account.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can help with:
Strength
Mobility
Movement
Load management
Rehabilitation
Specialist Referral
If symptoms are severe or the diagnosis requires specialist input, orthopaedic assessment may be appropriate.
Joint Replacement
For advanced osteoarthritis significantly affecting quality of life despite appropriate non-surgical treatment, joint replacement may need to be considered.
When Does Knee Pain Need Urgent Assessment?
Most persistent knee pain can be assessed through a routine appointment, but some symptoms deserve faster medical attention.
Seek urgent assessment if you have:
Severe pain after a significant injury
Inability to bear weight
Major deformity
Sudden substantial swelling
A very hot, red joint
Fever alongside a painful swollen knee
Loss of sensation or circulation concerns
Significant calf swelling or pain suggesting a possible blood clot
A hot, severely painful swollen joint associated with fever can occasionally indicate infection and requires urgent medical assessment.
PRP Knee Treatment at Our Birmingham Clinic
Our clinic is based at:
38 Harborne Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 3EB
We offer clinician-led PRP injections for selected:
Joint problems
Tendon problems
Musculoskeletal injuries
Meniscus concerns
Frozen shoulder
Persistent joint pain
Some forms of arthritis
including selected patients with knee symptoms.
Our Current Prices
Our current MSK PRP prices are:
Initial MSK PRP consultation — £75
MSK PRP treatment — £495 per session
The number of treatments required varies according to the condition and individual clinical assessment.
Step 1: Clinical Assessment
We start by finding out what is happening with your knee.
That includes:
Symptoms
Medical history
Previous injuries
Previous treatment
Existing scans or reports
Your activity and goals
We then assess whether PRP could reasonably form part of your treatment plan.
Step 2: Further Investigation if Needed
Sometimes we need more information first.
That might mean:
Imaging
Physiotherapy assessment
Specialist referral
Another form of investigation
If PRP does not look appropriate, we will tell you.
Step 3: Agree the Treatment Plan
If PRP appears reasonable, we discuss:
Current evidence
Potential benefits
Limitations
Risks
Cost
Expected recovery
Rehabilitation
Number of sessions
You can then decide whether you want to proceed.
Step 4: PRP Treatment
During your treatment:
A blood sample is taken
↓
The blood is processed in a centrifuge
↓
The platelet-rich plasma is prepared
↓
PRP is injected into the targeted area
↓
Aftercare and rehabilitation advice are provided
Step 5: Review
PRP is not a treatment we judge the following morning.
We may review:
Pain
Function
Mobility
Exercise tolerance
Overall progress
before discussing whether further treatment is appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PRP knee injection?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. A sample of your own blood is taken and processed in a centrifuge to prepare the platelet-rich component, which is then injected into the targeted knee joint or musculoskeletal area.
Can PRP help knee osteoarthritis?
Potentially. Several recent systematic reviews suggest PRP may improve pain and function for some people with knee osteoarthritis. However, results vary and NICE states that evidence of efficacy remains limited in quality.
Does PRP regrow knee cartilage?
There is not currently convincing evidence that PRP reliably regenerates damaged knee cartilage. A 2026 review of structural imaging outcomes found limited and inconsistent changes after treatment.
Is PRP approved by NICE for knee osteoarthritis?
NICE does not simply classify the procedure as universally recommended or prohibited. Its current guidance states that PRP raises no major safety concerns but that efficacy evidence is limited in quality, so it should be used with special arrangements around governance, consent and monitoring.
Is PRP safe?
Current NICE guidance identifies no major safety concerns, although all injections have potential risks. Temporary pain, swelling, stiffness or tenderness can occur. A recent safety review found mild pain and swelling were the most commonly reported adverse effects.
Does a PRP injection hurt?
You may feel discomfort during injection and temporary soreness afterwards. The level of discomfort differs between patients and according to the area being treated.
How many PRP injections will I need?
There is no universal number. Some people may be treated once, while others may be advised to have a short course. The decision depends on diagnosis, response and individual clinical assessment.
How quickly does PRP work?
PRP does not normally produce immediate results. Some people may notice changes over the following weeks or months, while others may experience little or no meaningful improvement.
How long do PRP knee injections last?
Research has demonstrated improvements at various follow-up periods, including three, six and twelve months, but results vary considerably between patients and studies. We therefore do not guarantee a particular duration of effect.
Can I exercise after a PRP knee injection?
You may need to temporarily avoid strenuous activity and heavy loading of the treated knee. We provide personalised advice about when to restart exercise and whether a gradual rehabilitation programme is appropriate.
Is PRP better than a steroid injection?
The treatments work differently. Steroid injections can provide short-term relief in selected patients, while PRP is a biological treatment using your own blood. Some research suggests PRP may provide longer-lasting improvement in some people, but there is no single treatment that is best for everybody.
Is PRP better than hyaluronic acid?
Several recent reviews suggest PRP may improve some pain and function outcomes more than hyaluronic acid, although results vary substantially between studies. NICE does not routinely recommend intra-articular hyaluronan for osteoarthritis.
Should I still do physiotherapy if I have PRP?
Often, yes. Exercise and rehabilitation remain important parts of musculoskeletal care. NICE recommends tailored therapeutic exercise for everyone with osteoarthritis. PRP should usually complement rather than replace an appropriate rehabilitation plan.
Can PRP prevent me needing a knee replacement?
PRP should not be presented as a guaranteed way of avoiding joint replacement. Some patients may experience symptom improvement, but advanced osteoarthritis may still ultimately require surgery. NICE recommends considering joint-replacement referral when symptoms substantially affect quality of life despite appropriate non-surgical treatment.
How much are PRP knee injections at your Birmingham clinic?
Our current initial MSK PRP consultation costs £75, and PRP treatment currently costs £495 per session. The number of sessions is determined following clinical assessment.
Where is your PRP knee clinic in Birmingham?
Our clinic is located at 38 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3EB. We provide clinician-led PRP treatment for selected joint, tendon and musculoskeletal conditions.
