Healing From Within: the Future of Knee Arthritis Treatment Without Surgery

PRP vs. Cortisone for Knee Osteoarthritis: a Look at the Research

The Evidence Is In

For decades, corticosteroid (cortisone) injections have been the go-to option for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). But a new sweeping review of over 60 years of research suggests it may be time for a major shift. A 2025 study published in The Knee systematically analyzed 356 clinical studies, covering over 24,000 patients who received either cortisone or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. The results were striking: PRP surpassed cortisone in patient volume, study count; and quality of evidence.

📈 What the Data Showed

• PRP was evaluated in more randomized controlled trials (119 RCTs vs. 103 for cortisone)
• More patients were treated with PRP (15,113) compared to cortisone (9,322)
• PRP studies have surged in the past 4 years, overtaking cortisone in 2020

While cortisone remains widely endorsed by many medical guidelines, it’s increasingly clear that its benefits are short-lived—often peaking within just 6 weeks.

On the other hand, multiple studies have now shown PRP offers longer-lasting relief and a better safety profile, with fewer side effects, and no risk of joint degradation associated with repeated cortisone use.

📚 Why This Matters
Despite mounting clinical evidence and consistent real-world results, major medical organizations still favor cortisone and discourage PRP use—citing a “lack of evidence.” This new review challenges that stance. According to the authors, PRP not only has more evidence now, but better evidence—highlighting the need to revisit and revise outdated treatment guidelines.

🧬 The Orthohealing Perspective
At Orthohealing Center, we’ve long championed advanced, cutting-edge, non- / minimally-invasive approaches like PRP because they align with our philosophy: treat the source(s) of the problem, not just the symptoms. This study further validates what our experience has shown—PRP is not an alternative therapy anymore. It’s becoming the standard for patients seeking safe, proven, and science-backed nonsurgical relief.

Ready to explore a personalized treatment plan for your knee pain?
If you’ve tried cortisone injections without lasting results—or are simply looking for a safer, alternative—PRP may be the right next step.

Have questions about your options, lifestyle strategies, or emerging research like this?—contact the Orthohealing Center today to schedule a consultation: (310) 453-5404.

Source https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0968016025000699