de Vos PRP Achilles tendinopathy

Platelet-rich plasma injection for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial

de Vos RJ, Weir A, van Schie HT, et al. JAMA 2010 · PMID 20068208 · doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1986

Randomised trialManagementBasic scienceCitation checked

Question: Does a PRP injection added to eccentric loading improve pain and function in chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy?
Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled single-centre RCT in the Netherlands.
Patients: Adults with chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy.
Intervention: PRP injection plus eccentric exercise programme
Comparison: Saline injection plus eccentric exercise programme
Primary outcome: VISA-A score at 24 weeks
Key result: Both groups improved, with no significant difference in VISA-A between PRP and saline at 24 weeks.
Limitations: Single centre with a modest sample; a single injection of one PRP preparation, which may not generalise to all PRP formulations.
Impact on practice: A landmark negative placebo-controlled trial showing PRP adds nothing to eccentric loading for Achilles tendinopathy; supports exercise-based rehabilitation as first-line care.