Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy uses Your Body’s Own Plasma for Healing
At Full Circle Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, PRP is one of the most trusted regenerative options for patients who want real pain relief and improved function without surgery. PRP uses a concentrated portion of your own platelets to support the natural healing process inside joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
Our founder Courtney Kelm has spent more than twenty-five years working in health care and has helped thousands of patients find meaningful pain relief without surgery. She combines clinical experience, attention to detail, and advanced regenerative training to offer PRP injections that are safer, more precise, and more effective than what many practices provide.
We have treated patients who want to stay active, avoid surgery, recover from sports injuries, and manage chronic orthopedic conditions in a natural way. Every PRP treatment is performed with ultrasound guidance for accuracy and safety, and we use a high quality centrifuge system that produces a consistent, concentrated platelet product.
This page focuses on orthopedic PRP only. Full Circle does not perform cosmetic PRP for hair, skin, or aesthetic procedures.
What PRP Is and How It Works
Your blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Platelets hold growth factors that help repair tissue, support healing, and reduce inflammation. PRP works by concentrating these platelets and injecting them into the affected area so the body can focus its natural healing process exactly where it is needed.
Typical blood contains about six percent platelets. When PRP is prepared through a high quality centrifuge, the platelet concentration can reach five to ten times that amount. This higher concentration gives PRP its therapeutic effect.
PRP is used for:
- Knee pain including strains, sprains, and early osteoarthritis
- Tendon injuries such as tennis elbow or rotator cuff irritation
- Chronic overuse injuries
- Muscle injuries
- Ligament sprains
- Joint irritation or degeneration
- Persistent pain that has not improved with physical therapy or steroid injections
PRP is appropriate for many orthopedic concerns, but every patient is evaluated first to determine if it is the right choice.
What Happens During a PRP Procedure
Your appointment includes several steps that make the treatment safe and effective.
- A small sample of blood is taken from your arm, similar to a routine lab draw.
- The blood is placed in our centrifuge machine where platelets are separated and concentrated.
- The treatment area is cleaned and prepared.
- Local anesthetic is used to minimize discomfort.
- Courtney injects the PRP into the affected area using ultrasound guidance for accuracy.
- You rest in the office for several minutes before leaving.
Most visits take less than an hour. PRP is considered a minimally invasive procedure and does not require sedation, stitches, or time off from daily life beyond simple rest.
What to Expect After PRP
It is common to feel sore or achy for two to three days after treatment. Some patients notice soreness for up to seven to fourteen days as the healing process becomes active. This is normal and expected.
General guidance includes:
- Avoid anti-inflammatory medications for one week
- Use Tylenol if needed
- Avoid ice during the early healing phase
- Rest the area for several days
- Resume light activity after ten to fourteen days
- Resume normal training or sport after about one month, depending on the area treated
Most patients feel improvement between six and eight weeks. Some progress sooner, while others need more time depending on the severity of the injury or condition.
Research supports that a series of two or three PRP injections can be more effective than one. Courtney makes individualized recommendations for each patient.
Risks and Considerations
PRP is considered a safe procedure because it uses your own platelets. Complications are rare but may include:
- Increased pain after injection
- Infection
- Irritation of nerves or soft tissue
- Scar tissue or calcification at the injection site
Courtney discusses all risks, benefits, and alternatives during your consultation.
PRP vs A2M
Full Circle also offers A2M, another regenerative option that focuses on slowing the progression of arthritis by targeting specific inflammatory proteins. PRP is generally more effective for tendon injuries and partial tears, while A2M is often recommended for joint degeneration.
A2M has its own dedicated service page, but both treatments use your own blood and are prepared through our high-quality centrifuge system.
Why Patients in Phoenix Choose Full Circle for PRP
Many clinics in Phoenix offer PRP, but results depend heavily on the provider’s experience, platelet concentration method, accuracy of injection, and ability to identify appropriate candidates.
Patients choose Full Circle because:
- Courtney has more than twenty-five years of clinical experience
- Every injection is performed by Courtney, not an assistant
- More than one hundred five-star Google reviews reflect consistent results
- Only orthopedic PRP is offered, no cosmetic procedures
- Ultrasound guidance is used for every injection
- A high-quality centrifuge system produces a consistent PRP concentration
- Treatment plans include guidance on activity, recovery, and long-term support
Patients regularly travel from across Phoenix and nearby areas because they want a regenerative option that is both safe and clinically effective.
Conditions PRP Can Support
PRP may be recommended for:
- Knee sprains or tendon irritation
- Early osteoarthritis
- Tennis elbow and other tendon injuries
- Muscle injuries
- Ligament sprains
- Chronic pain that has not improved with conservative treatment
- Overuse injuries
- Conditions where tissue repair is needed
If PRP is not the right option for you, Courtney will offer alternatives that fit your goals.
Begin with a PRP Consultation in Phoenix
A consultation is the best way to understand if PRP is the right treatment for you. Courtney will review your medical history, imaging, activity goals, and the severity of your symptoms. If PRP is appropriate, she will explain the plan step by step, so you know what to expect.
Schedule your appointment and learn how Platelet Rich Plasma can support healing and help you return to the activities you enjoy.
FAQ: PRP Injections | Phoenix
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections use concentrated platelets from your own blood to support healing in joints, tendons, and ligaments. PRP delivers growth factors directly to the affected area to help decrease inflammation, encourage tissue repair, and reduce orthopedic pain without surgery. It works with your body’s natural healing process and is often used for injuries such as tendon irritation, sprains, joint pain, or partial tears.
PRP therapy can help tendon injuries such as tennis elbow, chronic muscle injuries, early osteoarthritis, knee pain, partial tears, and overuse injuries. Many patients choose PRP when they want to manage pain naturally and avoid steroid injections.
Yes. PRP is considered generally safe because it uses your own plasma and platelets. There are minimal risks of allergic reaction. The main potential risks come from the injection process itself, such as temporary soreness or irritation at the injection site.
Most patients feel sore for two to three days. Many return to light activities or physical therapy within two weeks and can return to normal activities within a month. Full improvement usually appears between six and twelve weeks as tissue heals.
A small blood sample is collected and placed in a centrifuge machine that separates concentrated platelets from red blood cells and plasma. These concentrated platelets contain growth factors that support tissue repair.
Many patients do well with one treatment. For tendon injuries or chronic issues, a series of two treatments spaced four weeks apart can offer stronger results. Each plan is individualized.
Most patients describe mild pressure or discomfort. A local anesthetic is used before the injection, and the area may feel sore for a few days as the healing process begins.
PRP can help manage pain and support joint health in early stages of osteoarthritis. For more advanced arthritis, A2M may be recommended as it targets the chemicals that worsen joint degeneration.
Steroid injections reduce inflammation but do not promote healing and can weaken tissue over time. PRP therapy supports tissue repair with your own growth factors and has minimal long-term risks.