PRP has come in and out of fashion over the years and always struggled to get a proper foothold because the evidence behind it has not been conclusive. Cochrane, an ethical group of people who review and collate an enormous amount of research in an effort to tell us overall, less biased results, recently concluded that PRP is NOT EFFECTIVE in treating lateral elbow pain.
Lateral Elbow Pain often assumed to be 'Tennis Elbow', is one of the injuries where PRP is most commonly recommended and used as treatment. There's mountains of research on the treatment of this condition, and the only common positive results come from a combination of treatment targeting the strength around the elbow, shoulder and neck - so hard work people!
But, as we all know, if we're offered an easier way, we take it.
Well, as mentioned above, the evidence is in. The easier way doesn't work. And given that it doesn't work in the lateral elbow, we need to keep asking the question, 'Does it work anywhere?' We don't know yet, but given the high cost, we believe you should really be thinking twice before signing up. And whilst you're thinking twice, give REHAB a really good go, make sure that you've got the right PHYSIO on board, and that you are doing strengthening exercises, not just getting a rub and some electrotherapy!
