Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 5, 2026
Preparation, Procedures and Evaluation of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Published on: January 4, 2019
The effectiveness of prolotherapy in treating knee osteoarthritis in adults: a systematic review
Fadi Hassan1, Suad Trebinjac2, William D Murrell3,4
1Good Hope Hospital, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, B75 7RR, UK.
Introduction:
Osteoarthritis (OA) often leads to symptoms such as pain, stiffness and decreased function. OA is treated with a wide range of modalities, both conservatively and surgically. Prolotherapy has been used to treat various musculoskeletal problems and has shown some promise.
Sources Of Data:
Searches of the electronic databases, PubMed, ISI web of science, PEDro and SPORTDiscus, were conducted for all Level 1-4 studies published from inception through to December 2016.
Areas Of Agreement:
Ten studies were evaluated and results show significant improvement in scores for pain, function and range of motion, both in the short term and long term. Patient satisfaction was also high in these patients (82%).
Areas Of Controversy:
Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity of outcome measures and populations.
Growing Points:
Moderate evidence suggests that prolotherapy is safe and can help achieve significant symptomatic control in individuals with OA.
Areas For Developing Research:
Future research should focus on larger sample size, standardization of treatment protocol and basic science evidence.
