This Week in Orthobiologics: Research, Revenue, Results

Highlights

• Today’s Research Article - PRP Outlasts Steroids in the Long Game of Healing Plantar Fasciitis.

• Questions from the Field - Viscosity Matters: When to Mix PRP with Protein Concentrate—and When Not To.

• Let’s Get Down to Business - Price with Confidence—Don’t Apologize for Value.

• Come Join Us - Meet Us in Person—Where Regen Medicine Gets Real.

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Today’s Research Article

Beneficial Effects of Platelet‐Rich Plasma on Improvement of Pain Severity and Physical Disability in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Trial

Babak Vahdatpour, Lida Kianimehr, Ahmad Moradi, Shila Haghighat

Read the full article here.

Summary:

This randomized clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) compared to corticosteroids in treating chronic plantar fasciitis. Thirty-two patients were randomly assigned to receive either PRP or corticosteroid injections. Pain severity and physical ability were measured over a 6-month follow-up period using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Roles and Maudsley Score (RMS). While corticosteroids provided faster short-term relief, PRP showed more sustained improvement, with significant pain reduction and enhanced physical ability observed from the third month onwards.

Sonographic assessments revealed improvements in plantar fascia thickness, echogenicity, and biconvexity in both groups, though differences between them were not statistically significant. The study concluded that PRP offers longer-lasting relief and functional benefits compared to corticosteroids, likely due to the healing effects of growth factors and cytokines in PRP. This supports its use as a preferred treatment in managing plantar fasciitis, especially for patients seeking long-term improvement.

Talking Points for Doctors to Patients: Why Choose PRP