Dr. Drew Otten, NMD

Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy

DD

Jun 20, 2025By Dr. Drew Otten

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy: What Is It and How Does It Work?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is one of many autologous orthobiologic therapies. Let’s dive into what that actually means!

 
What Does “Autologous” Mean?
Autologous simply means that the solution we use is derived from the patient’s own body.
In the case of PRP, we are harvesting blood to use for the therapy.

 
What Does “Orthobiologic” Mean?
Orthobiologic means:

  • It’s a biologic substance
  • Used for orthopedic (musculoskeletal) purposes


So, PRP is a biologically derived treatment used to address injuries and dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system.

 
How Is Platelet Rich Plasma Made?
PRP is made by:

  • Drawing blood from a patient
  • Centrifuging it (spinning rapidly)
  • This separates blood components by density
  • The platelets are then extracted within a small portion of the plasma

This creates what’s known as platelet-rich plasma — a concentrated mix of platelets suspended in plasma.

 
Why Platelets? - Why are platelets useful in treating musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain conditions?

Platelets:

  • Provide a concentrated source of growth factors
  • Modulate inflammation
  • Promote tissue repair
  • Support nerve repair

They contain alpha granules that store key growth factors, including:

  • Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
  • Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)
  • Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
  • Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)
  • Nerve growth factor (NGF), among others [1–5]
     
    How Does PRP Work Once Injected?
    When injected into tissue, PRP:
  • Stimulates cellular proliferation
  • Promotes angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation)
  • Enhances extracellular matrix synthesis
  • Reduces long-term inflammation
  • All of these processes are vital to healing and recovery after musculoskeletal injury. [1–6]

 
What Makes Otten Medical’s PRP Different?
At Otten Medical, we pride ourselves on preparing high-quality PRP that:

  • Is made in a sterile environment
  • Achieves a therapeutic dose
  • Is customized to the patient’s specific needs
  • ⚠️ Unfortunately, this is not always the norm in clinics across the country.

 
What’s Next?
Stay tuned for more articles from Otten Medical on:

  • PRP dosing
  • The importance of achieving a therapeutic dose
  • How to tailor PRP specifically for each patient

References:

Cecerska-Heryć E, Goszka M, Serwin N, et al. Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews. 2022;64:84-94. doi:10.1016/j.cytogfr.2021.11.003. Applications of the Regenerative Capacity of Platelets in Modern Medicine. 

Dos Santos RG, Santos GS, Alkass N, et al. Cytokine. 2021;144:155560. doi:10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155560. The Regenerative Mechanisms of Platelet-Rich Plasma: A Review.

Etulain J. Platelets. 2018;29(6):556-568. doi:10.1080/09537104.2018.1430357. Platelets in Wound Healing and Regenerative Medicine.

Everts P, Onishi K, Jayaram P, Lana JF, Mautner K. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(20):E7794. doi:10.3390/ijms21207794. Platelet-Rich Plasma: New Performance Understandings and Therapeutic Considerations in 2020.

Sheean AJ, Anz AW, Bradley JP. Arthroscopy : The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery : Official Publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association. 2021;37(9):2732-2734. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2021.07.003. Platelet-Rich Plasma: Fundamentals and Clinical Applications. 

Cleveland Clinic. (2024, December 22). Platelet‑rich plasma (PRP) injection. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved June 20, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/platelet-rich-plasma-prp-injection