Skip to content
Chandler Biologic Index
Options compared line by line

Chandler Biologic Index

What to ask about sore joints and regenerative care made from blood or marrow

What do people ask before considering platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, and bone marrow aspirate concentrate, or BMAC? They ask about relief, cost, and what happens on the day of care.

Those are fair questions from anyone with a sore joint. We’ll answer them plainly while respecting the advice from your own doctor.

Does PRP work?

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma, which begins with blood drawn from your arm. Spinning gathers platelets into less liquid; these tiny blood pieces help form clots after a cut. Some people report less soreness, but careful studies don’t give one steady answer. Please ask how the findings fit your joint, exam, and health.

How are PRP and BMAC different?

PRP comes from blood drawn from your arm and spun before use. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate, or BMAC, uses soft tissue taken from the pelvis and spun. The pelvis is numbed for that draw and can feel tender later. Current research hasn’t shown better relief from BMAC than from PRP.

How do biologic injections compare with cortisone?

Biologic injections are care prepared from blood or marrow, rather than a manufactured drug. Cortisone is a medicine placed in the joint to calm soreness. Cortisone may help sooner, while some PRP results appear later. Your exam and the cause of soreness matter when you compare these choices.

How long might PRP help?

There isn’t one set length of relief that fits every person. Some people feel no change, and the studies don’t agree about how long improvement lasts. Ask when people in the study were checked after their care. Then ask whether they had the same joint problem you have.

What does PRP cost?

The PRP injection cost can change with the number of visits and care afterward. Ask whether the written price includes the blood draw, the procedure, later checks, and calls about a concern. PRP and BMAC are often paid for by the patient. You’ll want the total in writing before deciding whether the cost suits you.

Where can I talk through my options in Chandler?

Bring your reports, medicine list, and notes about when soreness rises or eases. You’re also welcome to bring a family member who can listen. At 1100 S. Dobson Rd., Suite 210, Chandler, AZ 85286, you can meet QC Kinetix medical providers who examine you and discuss regenerative treatments prepared from blood or marrow.

Sources

  1. The 2025 Cochrane review of stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis pooled 25 randomised trials (1,341 participants) and found that, compared with placebo injection, stem cell injection MAY slightly improve pain (1.2 points better on a 0-10 scale, 7 studies, 445 participants) and function (14.2 points better on a 0-100 scale, 7 studies, 432 participants) up to six months - both rated LOW-certainty evidence, downgraded for indirectness (cell source, preparation and dose varied across studies) and suspected publication bias, since up to three larger RCTs were conducted and withdrawn before reporting results. Radiographic progression was not assessed in any included study.

    Whittle SL, et al. — Stem cell injections for osteoarthritis of the knee.. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2025. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013342.pub2.

  2. RESTORE, the largest and most rigorously blinded placebo-controlled PRP trial in knee OA (n=288, participant-, injector- and assessor-blinded), gave three weekly injections of a commercial leukocyte-poor PRP or saline. At 12 months the change in knee pain was -2.1 vs -1.8 points (difference -0.4; 95% CI -0.9 to 0.2; P=.17) and the change in medial tibial cartilage volume was -1.4% vs -1.2% (difference -0.2%; P=.81). Twenty-nine of 31 prespecified secondary outcomes showed no between-group difference. The authors concluded the findings do not support the use of PRP for knee OA.

    Bennell KL, et al. — Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial.. JAMA, 2021. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.19415.

  3. A meta-analysis of 27 Level I studies (1,042 PRP, 226 BMAC, 1,128 HA patients) found significantly better post-injection WOMAC, VAS and subjective IKDC scores for BOTH PRP and BMAC compared with hyaluronic acid - and NO significant difference between PRP and BMAC on any outcome score. This is the clearest published statement that the two most-marketed orthobiologics perform the same as each other in the knee.

    Belk JW, et al. — Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis Who Receive Platelet-Rich Plasma or Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Injections Have Better Outcomes Than Patients Who Receive Hyaluronic Acid: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.. Arthroscopy, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2023.03.001.

  4. A meta-analysis of 8 trials (648 patients, judged at low risk of bias overall) comparing intra-articular PRP with intra-articular corticosteroid found PRP significantly better for pain, stiffness and function at 3, 6 and 9 months (P<0.01), with the largest effects at 6 months (SMD -0.78) and 9 months (SMD -1.63). Three PRP injections a week apart outperformed a single injection over 12 months.

    McLarnon M, Heron N. — Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injections versus intra-articular corticosteroid injections for symptomatic management of knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis.. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2021. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-021-04308-3.

  5. FDA states verbatim of stem cell products, stromal vascular fraction (adipose-derived cells), umbilical cord blood, Wharton's jelly, amniotic fluid and exosome products: 'None of these products have been approved for the treatment of any orthopedic condition, such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis, disc disease, tennis elbow, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, neck pain, or shoulder pain.' The only FDA-approved stem cell products in the United States are blood-forming (hematopoietic progenitor) cells derived from umbilical cord blood, approved only for disorders of blood production, and there are currently NO FDA-approved exosome products.

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and Exosomes. FDA (Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research), 2020.

What to bring to a medical visit

Your notes can show the clinic team when soreness starts and which motions hurt. Please bring old reports and the list of medicines you take.

Ask why the joint is sore, which care fits, and what you’ll need to do afterward. Keep the answers tied to your daily tasks.

Book an appointment