Platelet Loading Over Time: Higher Concentration & Multiple Treatments Provide Best PRP Results for Osteoarthritis

A review published this month (May 2025) looks at the effect of PRP on large joint osteoarthritis over time and finds that more is better (1). The study looked at PRP treatments in knee, hip, and shoulder osteoarthritis (OA). Here’s what it found: 

Key Findings:

• Pain and Function Improvement: Patients experienced significant improvements in pain and function, over the long term. Specifically, there was a 49% improvement in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores at 6 months and a 45% improvement at 12 months. 

• More Movement Is Better: The study identified high levels of sports activity, particularly at the competition level, were associated with better outcomes. The authors suggest that PRP therapy should be systematically offered to competitive sports practitioners. For non-athletes, any increase in physical activity is beneficial.

• More PRP Is Better: The authors found that multiple PRP injections was associated with better outcomes. They propose that multiple PRP injections, spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart, could serve as a viable treatment option for OA.

• Platelet Dose Is Key: A higher platelet dose per treatment was associated with greater improvements in pain. The average platelet dose in this review was only 3 billion per injection and the patients who had higher doses did better. Our average platelet dose at Cascade Regenerative Medicine is, in accordance with up to date evidence, over 10 billion per injection (2).

  • *The way to know what you’re getting is to simply ask your doctor: how many platelets will be in my injection? Not the multiplication factor. Platelets can be tested with in-office equipment. If they cannot give you a specific answer (the actual number), then you’re in the wrong place. They are just trusting a salesperson if they don’t test. We test every batch for every patient and know the exact platelet dose of every treatment we administer. 

Osteoarthritis is a condition that takes years and decades to develop. The best treatment is something that addresses the underlying root cause of the inflammation- degeneration cycle, like PRP, over a sustained period of time. We are activating your self-healing response to stem the tide of aging, wear & tear, and time. 

Schedule a visit with us today to see what cutting-edge protocols, expertly-made PRP, and precision-delivered injections look like and feel the difference.

References:

1. Bonin N, Noailles T, Gaillard R, Klouche S, Bohu Y. Platelet-rich plasma treatment for large joint osteoarthritis: retrospective study highlighting a possible treatment protocol with long-lasting stimulation of the joint with an adequate dose of platelets. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025;26(1):383. doi:10.1186/s12891-024-07309-4

2. Berrigan W, Tao F, Kopcow J, Park AL, Allen I, Tahir P, Reddy A, Bailowitz Z. The effect of platelet dose on outcomes after platelet rich plasma injections for musculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2024;17(12):570–588. doi:10.1007/s12178-024-09922-x