# Tendon soreness changes with the body part and the movement *PRP Therapy Scottsdale — platelet-rich plasma and tendon soreness* > PRP therapy Scottsdale information for elbow, heel, Achilles and shoulder soreness, with plain home care and study results. ## A coffee cup can bring out an aching elbow in the morning A heel may sting on the first steps, while a shoulder aches during dressing. These pains often settle at rest and return during the same movement. Tendons tie muscles to bones, and doing one task often can make them sore. PRP refers to platelet-rich plasma; a machine spins your drawn blood and separates the portion rich in platelets. ## Elbow and heel soreness may improve only after several months In one tennis elbow study, PRP didn’t beat the comparison care at twelve weeks. At twenty-four weeks, people given PRP reported better elbow comfort and daily arm use. Plantar fasciitis is soreness from the thick band that runs under the foot. Its studies favor PRP over a steroid shot from about three to six months. The findings can’t predict your result. An exam must first confirm which tissue is causing the heel or elbow soreness. ## PRP has not eased lasting soreness in the tendon behind the ankle The Achilles is the strong cord running down the back of the ankle. Studies found that PRP didn’t ease its lasting soreness more than comparison care. Shoulder reports differ because they cover strains, small tears and care given during surgery. A new inability to raise the arm needs a prompt exam. A pop behind the ankle followed by weak walking may mean a tear. Get quick care if you can’t raise that heel or press the foot down during a step. ## Ease the painful chore but keep comfortable movement Cut back gripping, hills or overhead work that causes sharp soreness. Easy movement may keep the nearby joint from growing stiff. Add effort slowly after daily tasks feel calm again. If soreness lingers, note the exact movement and what changed. Bring that note to the exam and report any sudden loss of strength. The clinician can check the tendon, nearby joint and painful movement. Pain spreading from the neck or back may not begin in the tendon. Describe where it starts before you choose treatment. ## Sources 1. A 12-centre randomized controlled trial of 230 patients with chronic lateral epicondylar tendinopathy compared tendon needling with leukocyte-enriched PRP against tendon needling alone. At 12 weeks there was no significant difference (55.1% versus 47.4% pain improvement; P=.163). At 24 weeks the PRP group reported 71.5% versus 56.1% pain improvement (P=.019), a 83.9% versus 68.3% success rate (P=.037), and significantly less residual elbow tenderness (29.1% versus 54.0%; P=.009). No significant complications occurred in either group. Mishra AK, Skrepnik NV, Edwards SG, et al. — [Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma for chronic tennis elbow: a double-blind, prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial of 230 patients](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23825183/). *American Journal of Sports Medicine*, 2014. DOI: 10.1177/0363546513494359. 2. A systematic review and meta-analysis of nine randomized trials (239 PRP patients, 240 corticosteroid patients) in chronic plantar fasciitis found statistically significant differences in VAS pain favouring PRP at 1-1.5, 3, 6 and 12 months, and in AOFAS function favouring PRP at 6 and 12 months (no difference at 1 and 3 months). Hurley ET, Shimozono Y, Hannon CP, et al. — [Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Corticosteroids for Plantar Fasciitis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32426407/). *Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine*, 2020. DOI: 10.1177/2325967120915704. 3. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 54 patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, all doing eccentric exercises, VISA-A scores improved 21.7 points with PRP and 20.5 points with saline over 24 weeks - an adjusted between-group difference of -0.9 (95% CI -12.4 to 10.6), excluding the predefined relevant difference of 12 points. PRP added nothing to eccentric loading. de Vos RJ, Weir A, van Schie HT, et al. — [Platelet-rich plasma injection for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20068208/). *JAMA*, 2010. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.1986. 4. A 24-site, 240-patient participant-blinded randomized trial of a single intratendinous PRP injection versus a sham (subcutaneous dry needle) for chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy found VISA-A scores of 54.4 versus 53.4 at six months (adjusted mean difference -2.7; 95% CI -8.8 to 3.3) against a 12-point minimal clinically important difference. The authors stated the findings do not support the use of this treatment for chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Kearney RS, Ji C, Warwick J, et al. — [Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection vs Sham Injection on Tendon Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34255009/). *JAMA*, 2021. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.6986. 5. An updated meta-analysis of six randomized trials (422 patients) found no benefit of PRP over placebo for Achilles tendinopathy on VISA-A at 3 months (mean difference 1.7; 95% CI -1.8 to 5.2), 6 months (0.5; 95% CI -8.5 to 9.3) or 1 year (-7.9; 95% CI -27.3 to 11.6), nor on VAS pain at 3 months. Funnel-plot asymmetry suggested publication bias inflating apparent benefits. The authors wrote that PRP should not be used to treat Achilles tendinopathy until high-quality trials show a clear clinical benefit. Barreto ESR, Antunes Junior CR, Silva IC, et al. — [Is Platelet-rich Plasma Effective in Treating Achilles Tendinopathy? A Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39745256/). *Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research*, 2025. DOI: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000003349. 6. PATH-2 randomised 230 adults with acute Achilles tendon rupture managed non-surgically to PRP or a placebo dry-needle injection across 19 UK hospitals, with a central laboratory confirming the PRP was of good quality with the expected growth-factor content. At 24 weeks there was no detectable difference in muscle-tendon function (limb symmetry index 34.7% versus 38.5%; adjusted mean difference -3.9%; 95% CI -10.5% to 2.7%) or in any secondary outcome or adverse-event rate. Keene DJ, Alsousou J, Harrison P, et al. — [Platelet rich plasma injection for acute Achilles tendon rupture: PATH-2 randomised, placebo controlled, superiority trial](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31748208/). *BMJ*, 2019. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l6132. 7. The Cochrane review of platelet-rich therapies for musculoskeletal soft-tissue injuries concluded there is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of platelet-rich therapy for treating musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries, overall and for individual conditions - including pooled data from six trials of PRP applied during rotator cuff repair surgery, which showed no statistically or clinically significant long-term functional difference. The review ended with an explicit call for standardisation of PRP preparation methods. Moraes VY, Lenza M, Tamaoki MJ, et al. — [Platelet-rich therapies for musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24782334/). *Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews*, 2014. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010071.pub3. 8. The devices used to spin PRP at the point of care are cleared by FDA as clinical centrifuges, product code JQC, a Class I device under 21 CFR 862.2050 - for example the Biomet GPS Platelet Separation Kit (K030555, cleared 2003) and the Harvest SmartPrep2 / SmartPrep Platelet Concentration System (K103340, cleared 2010). That clearance covers the equipment that separates blood. It is not an FDA approval of platelet-rich plasma as a treatment for osteoarthritis, tendinopathy or any other orthopedic condition, and copy must never blur the two. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (Center for Devices and Radiological Health) — [510(k) Premarket Notification database and Product Classification: JQC, Centrifuges (Micro, Ultra, Refrigerated) For Clinical Use, 21 CFR 862.2050](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPCD/classification.cfm?ID=JQC). *FDA accessdata (CDRH device databases)*, 2003. ## An exam comes before a treatment choice At its Scottsdale office, QC Kinetix medical providers—clinicians who examine you—offer PRP, a non-surgical regenerative treatment made by drawing, spinning and concentrating your blood. Book a free consultation: --- The sore joint and the next useful step come first. What may cause a sore joint, what can ease the ache and why an exam may help in Scottsdale. Plain Scottsdale information about aching joints, steps at home and choices after an exam. This Scottsdale field guide is run by the owners of the QC Kinetix Phoenix-area clinics, so a consultation arranged through these pages can benefit their business; readers can use the study links to check every evidence label. © 2026 Scottsdale PRP Field Notes. General health education only; diagnosis and treatment decisions require a qualified clinician who can evaluate the person.