PRP Therapy for Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is one of the most strongly supported indications for PRP. Multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have compared PRP to cortisone and to placebo, and the pattern is consistent: cortisone often wins in the first few weeks, but by 3–6 months and beyond PRP produces better, more durable improvement in pain and grip strength — while cortisone results frequently fade or relapse.

This durability advantage is why many sports-medicine clinicians now favor PRP over repeat steroid injections for chronic, treatment-resistant epicondylitis. The same rationale applies to medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow), though it is less studied.

PRP is a procedure, not an FDA-approved medication, and results vary. Candidacy and expectations are reviewed individually at consultation.

Tennis elbow often responds to a single ultrasound-guided PRP injection, though some chronic cases benefit from a second injection 4–6 weeks later. The visit takes about 45 minutes: blood draw, centrifuge spin, and the guided injection (sometimes with needle fenestration of the tendon). You drive yourself home.

Expect 3–7 days of soreness — that is the healing response, so avoid anti-inflammatory medication during this window and ease off heavy gripping. A short eccentric-loading rehab program supports the result. Improvement typically builds over 6–12 weeks as the tendon remodels.