Highlights
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Today’s Research Article: Can PRP Unlock Frozen Shoulders? Discover how PRP boosts mobility in adhesive capsulitis—what works, what doesn’t, and what it means for your practice.
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Questions from the Field: Skip the Steroids? Dr. Ariana DeMers shares why PRP and protein concentrate may be the game-changer for inflamed joints.
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Let’s Get Down to Business: “I Need to Think About It”—Now What? Master the art of turning hesitant patients into confident ones—without the sales pitch.
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Come Join Us: Where the Best in Orthobiologics Meet! Level up your practice with exclusive live events, workshops, and networking you don’t want to miss!
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Today’s Research Article
Effects of platelet-rich plasma injection on pain, range of motion, and disability in adhesive capsulitis: A prospective, randomized-controlled study
Çağlar Karabaş, Havva Talay Çalış, Ulaş Serkan Topaloğlu, Çiğdem Karakükçü
Summary:
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have been explored as a treatment option for adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder. This randomized-controlled study examined the effects of intra-articular PRP injections on pain, range of motion (ROM), and disability in 40 patients diagnosed with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis. Patients in the PRP group received two ultrasound-guided injections biweekly, while both groups followed a home-based exercise program. The results indicated significant improvements in ROM for active and passive flexion, abduction, and external rotation in the PRP group after 12 weeks, compared to the control group. However, pain reduction and disability improvement, as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), were similar in both groups.
The study suggests that while PRP injections may not significantly reduce pain or disability in adhesive capsulitis, they can enhance joint mobility when combined with exercise therapy. PRP’s growth factors may contribute to tissue repair and inflammation modulation, potentially aiding recovery. The findings align with previous studies suggesting PRP’s regenerative potential in musculoskeletal conditions, but further research is needed to establish its long-term efficacy. The study highlights the importance of exercise in managing adhesive capsulitis and indicates that PRP could be a complementary treatment to improve ROM in patients resistant to standard care.
Talking Points for Doctors to Patients: Why Choose PRP
