Blood injections may help relieve pain in athletes suffering from chronic tennis elbow, according to a Greek study recently published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Researchers led by Christos Thanasas of Henry Dunant Hospital in Athens, Greece injected patients’ elbows with either whole blood or platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, blood spun in a centrifuge to separate out the red blood cells. The group found that both treatments reduced elbow pain but that platelet-rich plasma was more effective than whole blood. Thanasas said the study indicated that PRP might work for patients who have exhausted other treatments. While PRP has become popular among athletes—Rafael Nadal and Tiger Woods have both received the treatment—some doctors question its efficacy.
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