title: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Treating Degenerative Tendinopathies: A Randomized Control Trial with Synchronous Observational Cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study aimed to inform future research evaluating the effectiveness of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injection for tendinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized control trial (RCT) and synchronous observational cohort studies. For the RCT, consecutive consenting patients treated at an academic sports medicine clinic were randomly assigned to either a PRP or placebo control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Glen Sather Sport Medicine Clinic, Edmonton, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  The RCT included 9 participants with rotator cuff tendinopathy. The cohort study included 178 participants with a variety of tendinopathies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients receiving PRP were injected with 4 ml of platelets into the supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus, while patients in the placebo group were injected with 4 ml of saline. All participants undertook a 3-month standardized, home-based, daily exercise program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in the RCT were re-evaluated 3, and 6 months post-injection. Change scores before and after injection on pain, disability and MRI-documented pathology outcomes were compared. In the cohort study, pain and disability were measured at 1, 2 and 3 months post-injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the RCT, 7 participants received PRP and 2 received placebo injections. Patients receiving PRP reported clinically important improvements in pain (>1.5/10 on VAS), disability (>15 point DASH change), and tendon pathology while those receiving placebo injections did not. In the observational cohort, statistically and clinically significant improvements in pain and disability were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study provides information for planning future studies of PRP effectiveness. Preliminary results indicate intratendinous, ultrasound-guided PRP injection may lead to improvements in pain, function, and MRI-documented tendon pathology.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN68341698.
authors: Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Marni
authors: M
authors: Wesner
authors: Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Terry
authors: T
authors: Defreitas
authors: Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.|Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Bredy
authors: Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Louisa
authors: L
authors: Pothier
authors: Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Ziling
authors: Z
authors: Qin
authors: Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Ashley B
authors: AB
authors: McKillop
authors: Glen Sather Sports Medicine Clinic, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.|Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.|Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Douglas P
authors: DP
authors: Gross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome