PRP & Orthobiologics in Los Angeles

Start here

“Orthobiologic” is a category, not a promise.

The term is used for a range of biologically derived products intended to influence a joint, tendon, muscle, ligament, or bone environment. Definitions and terminology are not fully standardized, so the exact product and intended goal should always be stated.

Platelet-rich plasma

PRP is an autologous orthobiologic prepared from your own blood. It contains concentrated platelets in plasma, but it is not a stem-cell treatment.

Cell, tissue, and exosome products

Products described as bone marrow-derived, adipose-derived, amniotic, umbilical, or exosome-based differ substantially in composition, processing, evidence, and regulatory status.

Related injection options

Some resources include viscosupplementation within a broad orthobiologics category. This site discusses hyaluronic acid separately as a related, non-cell option with different evidence, labeling, cost, and coverage.

Biologic does not automatically mean regenerative.

A treatment may aim to change symptoms or the local biologic environment without regrowing cartilage, restoring a torn structure, or reversing the underlying disease.

Diagnosis-specific evidence

PRP evidence changes with the diagnosis.

This evidence matrix is a decision aid, not a ranking of treatments. Study results depend on the diagnosis, comparison treatment, PRP preparation, injection protocol, and rehabilitation plan. A positive result for one condition should not be generalized to another.

01
Knee osteoarthritis

Current signal: This is the most extensively studied PRP application. Pooled placebo-controlled evidence reports average improvements in pain and function, while rigorous saline-controlled trials have also been negative. The 2026 AAPM&R guidance supports considering PRP for selected patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis who remain symptomatic after core conservative care.
Clinical frame: Exercise, activity planning, weight management when relevant, and other appropriate treatments remain foundational. PRP is an optional symptom-focused treatment, not a cartilage-regrowth procedure.
Start with the complete knee osteoarthritis care guide
Read the evidence, candidacy, dose, medication, and aftercare guide
After a knee osteoarthritis diagnosis: begin with the beginner exercise program or use the advanced progression when appropriate.
02
Rotator cuff tendinopathy or partial tear

Current signal: Individual trials have reported differing results, but the 2025 AAOS guideline does not support routine PRP use for rotator cuff tendinopathy or partial tears.
Clinical frame: Confirm whether pain is coming from the rotator cuff, a tear, stiffness, arthritis, instability, or another source. Progressive rehabilitation remains the usual starting point.
After this diagnosis is established: use the rotator cuff exercise program as a rehabilitation starting point.
03
Lateral elbow tendinopathy

Current signal: A meta-analysis limited to placebo-controlled trials did not find PRP superior to saline for pain or function. Comparisons against corticosteroid can appear more favorable because corticosteroid may help earlier yet perform poorly over longer follow-up.
Clinical frame: Load modification and progressive wrist and grip strengthening come first. PRP is not a predictable shortcut around rehabilitation.
After this diagnosis is established: use the lateral elbow exercise program as a rehabilitation starting point.
04
Patellar tendinopathy

Current signal: Evidence remains limited and inconsistent. In a multicenter randomized trial, neither leukocyte-rich nor leukocyte-poor PRP outperformed saline when every group also completed supervised heavy slow resistance rehabilitation.
Clinical frame: Progressive tendon loading and management of jumping, running, and training demand remain central. An injection should not displace that plan.
After this diagnosis is established: use the patellar tendon exercise program as a rehabilitation starting point.
05
Midportion Achilles tendinopathy

Current signal: A large high-quality randomized trial found no clinically meaningful benefit from a single PRP injection compared with sham at six months.
Clinical frame: PRP is not routinely supported for this diagnosis. Progressive calf loading, activity planning, and reassessment for alternative diagnoses remain the foundation.
After this diagnosis is established: use the Achilles exercise program as a rehabilitation starting point.
06
Plantar fasciopathy

Current signal: Recent meta-analyses report possible intermediate-term pain benefit compared with corticosteroid, shockwave therapy, or placebo, but results are heterogeneous and functional outcomes are not consistently better.
Clinical frame: Confirm the source of heel pain and first address load, footwear, calf and plantar fascia capacity, and other established non-operative options.
Learn how persistent tendon and related loading pain is evaluated
After this diagnosis is established: use the plantar fascia exercise program as a rehabilitation starting point.

Why pooled tendon evidence and diagnosis-specific trials can disagree

A 2025 meta-analysis across several chronic tendinopathies reported a modest average pain reduction after first-line care had failed, but it also found substantial differences in tendon sites, PRP preparations, comparison treatments, and study methods. That finding supports individualized shared decision-making, not a blanket recommendation for every tendon.

For other joints, ligaments, acute muscle injuries, or non-specific pain, evidence is limited, inconsistent, or negative. PRP should be discussed as an optional symptom-focused treatment, not as a guaranteed cure. The intended outcome should be concrete, such as improving pain, function, training tolerance, or participation.

PRP quality

The letters “PRP” do not describe one standardized product.

Preparation systems can produce meaningfully different platelet doses, volumes, and cell compositions. Product characterization makes the treatment easier to interpret and more reproducible.

How many platelets?

Final platelet concentration and injected volume can be used to calculate total deliverable platelets. Concentration alone is incomplete.

What else is present?

Leukocytes, neutrophils, and red blood cell contamination can distinguish biologically different preparations.

What is the full protocol?

Preparation method, injection number, image guidance, aftercare, and rehabilitation all affect how a treatment should be understood.

Read the detailed knee PRP platelet-dose evidence and its limits

Claims and safety

Be specific about what is being offered.

PRP is not a stem-cell injection. It is a blood-derived product prepared from the patient receiving it.
Device clearance is not the same as treatment approval. FDA clearance of a preparation device does not prove that the resulting injection treats a particular orthopedic diagnosis.
Unapproved products deserve extra caution. The FDA warns that stem-cell, adipose-derived, umbilical, amniotic, and exosome products marketed for orthopedic conditions may be unapproved and can carry serious risks.
Marketing terms are not product descriptions. Ask for the source, processing, composition, regulatory status, evidence for the exact diagnosis, cost, and alternatives.

Autologous does not mean risk-free.

Temporary soreness or swelling is common. Bleeding or bruising, infection, injury to nearby structures, and a fainting reaction are uncommon but possible. Seek prompt assessment for fever, rapidly worsening pain or swelling, spreading redness or warmth, or drainage.

Do not stop a medicine or supplement on your own.

Never stop prescribed aspirin, an antiplatelet medicine, or an anticoagulant without coordination with the prescribing and procedural clinicians. Review nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and supplements too. Exact stop windows are medicine-specific, and evidence that a particular window changes PRP outcomes remains limited.

The consultation

Begin with a diagnosis and a decision, not an injection order.

01
Confirm the pain generator
Review the history, examination, imaging when useful, and whether the proposed target plausibly explains the symptoms.
02
Review foundational care
Discuss activity planning, rehabilitation, health factors, medication options, and whether more time or a different diagnosis-specific plan is appropriate.
03
Compare options honestly
Clarify expected benefit, uncertainty, alternatives, risks, cost, insurance coverage, product availability, and what would count as a useful response.
04
Build the aftercare plan
Set activity limits, pain guidance, follow-up, and a progressive loading plan before returning to higher-demand movement or sport.

A consultation does not guarantee a same-day injection. Bring prior images and reports, a complete medication and supplement list, details of prior injections, rehabilitation notes, and the activities you most want to restore.

Common questions

PRP and orthobiologics FAQs

What are orthobiologics?

Orthobiologics is an umbrella term for biologically derived products used with the goal of influencing a musculoskeletal environment. Definitions vary. This website focuses on platelet-rich plasma prepared from your own blood.

Is PRP a stem-cell treatment?

No. Platelet-rich plasma is prepared from your own blood and concentrates platelets in plasma. It is not a stem-cell injection.

Does PRP regrow cartilage?

PRP may improve pain and function for some patients with knee osteoarthritis, but it has not been shown to reliably regrow cartilage, reverse arthritis, or prevent future joint replacement.

Is hyaluronic acid an orthobiologic?

Definitions vary. Some orthopedic resources include viscosupplementation within a broad orthobiologics category. This site discusses hyaluronic acid separately as a related, non-cell viscosupplementation option because it is distinct from autologous PRP and has different product-specific evidence, labeling, cost, and coverage. Read the hyaluronic acid guide.

Are stem-cell or exosome injections offered as routine orthopedic treatments?

This website does not present stem-cell, adipose-derived, umbilical, amniotic, or exosome products as routine treatments. Ask any clinic to identify the exact product, source, processing, regulatory status, evidence for your diagnosis, and known risks.

Where can I see Dr. Swisher to discuss PRP?

Dr. Swisher evaluates patients at UCLA Health locations in Westwood and West Hills. Call 310-319-1234 for the most direct scheduling path. Candidacy, product availability, cost, and timing are reviewed first, so a procedure is not guaranteed at the initial visit.

Evidence

Sources and further reading

These sources include guidance, supportive evidence, negative evidence, and regulatory information.

Evidence and recommendations can change. This page is educational and does not establish whether PRP or another procedure is appropriate for a particular patient.

PRP and orthobiologics in Los Angeles.

Which guide should I read?