Osteoarthritis is a common disease among older adults, and the knee joint is most commonly affected. Having an effective and safe treatment option is important to help us all live healthier, more active lives. A recent study, “Platelet Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis,” compared the effectiveness and safety of two common knee injection treatments: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Hyaluronic Acid (HA).

PRP is an advanced biocellular therapy that uses platelets from a patient’s own blood to help regulate inflammation, stimulate repair, and promote remodeling of damaged tissues. Alternatively, HA is a gel-like substance naturally found in the fluid of joints, which can be injected to supplement diminishing amounts. The PRP method helps the body actually heal itself, while the HA method simply replaces lost fluid in joints.