When different musculoskeletal conditions occur in the areas of the hips, knees, and shoulders, it can cause a great deal of pain. Platelet- rich plasma (PRP) therapy is being used as a new and effective treatment for eliminating pain from many musculoskeletal conditions.
This treatment provides you with pain relief, and it also works to help the area heal, which will prevent the condition from becoming 
worse over time. This treatment has shown to be very successful with osteoarthritis of the knee, hip and shoulder, along with treating tears, sprains, fractures, and several other conditions.
How does it help?
PRP therapy helps improve musculoskeletal conditions through a variety of actions. When your body is injured, its response is to deliver platelet-rich cells to the area of injury. The PRP therapy procedure involves injections of platelet-rich plasma, which helps the body to initiate repair and attract the stem cells necessary for proper healing.
While these cells do occur naturally, your body often doesn’t get enough of them to provide the results needed for healing at a rapid rate. By injecting the area with high levels of the cells, this procedure intensifies the body’s ability to repair the injured site.
How is it done?
Platelets and plasma both contain many factors that are essential for cell recruitment, multiplication, and specialization. These processes are necessary for adequate healing. PRP is given to the patient under ultrasound guidance, so the doctor can precisely place the PRP into the right area.
The process of PRP therapy is actually done using samples collected from your own blood. A small amount of blood is drawn from your body, and then it is placed inside of a machine that works to spin the blood at a fast rate, which will separate the platelets from the liquid part.
The platelets that have separated from the blood are then put into a needle, which is injected into the area of injury. This will jump start the healing process. Due to the fact that your own blood is used for this process, your body readily accepts the platelet and begins using 
these new cells to repair the site immediately.
How long does it take?
The process of using platelet-rich plasma for hip, knee, and shoulder problems is relatively quick, taking about one to two hours. This actually includes the preparation of the platelets from your blood, along with the recovery time needed after the injections. Many medical professionals are turning to this method as a first course of action because it allows the body to heal and gets rid of pain without more invasive methods, such as surgical procedures.
The injections are typically given over the course of six months, and two to three injections are given in total. Most patients feel relief after the first or second injection.
