PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is frequently discussed alongside stem cell therapy, and the two are sometimes confused as the same category of treatment — they're mechanistically distinct, with somewhat different evidence profiles.
| PRP | Stem cell therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| What's delivered | Concentrated platelets from your own blood, containing growth factors | Living stem cells, typically from bone marrow or adipose tissue |
| Evidence maturity | Generally more established, particularly for tendon and mild-to-moderate joint conditions | Growing evidence base, generally considered for more significant pathology |
| Typical cost | Generally lower | Generally higher |
| Invasiveness | Simple blood draw and injection | More involved harvesting process (bone marrow or fat tissue) |
PRP is often a reasonable, more conservative, better-established first step for mild-to-moderate conditions, with stem cell therapy considered for more significant pathology or if PRP hasn't provided adequate improvement. This isn't a universal rule, but a common and sensible clinical approach worth discussing with your physician.
When PRP alone is often sufficient
Mild tendon injuries, early-stage joint conditions, and cases where a lower-cost, lower-complexity first step makes clinical sense are commonly treated with PRP before considering stem cell therapy.
When stem cell therapy is more likely to be recommended
More significant joint degeneration, cases that haven't responded to PRP, or specific conditions where stem cells' broader mechanism of action (see our MSC explainer) is more clinically relevant.
A fair question for your consultation
Ask directly why PRP versus stem cell therapy (or a combination) is being recommended for your specific case — a thoughtful, case-specific answer is a strong positive signal about the provider's overall approach.
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