PRP and ACP therapy

in Berlin

Regenerative joint and tendon therapy using the body's own healing mechanisms

Chronic joint pain, tendon irritation, and sports injuries can no longer be treated solely with medication or surgery. In modern orthopedics, we increasingly rely on the body’s own healing mechanisms to reduce inflammation and promote regeneration.

One innovative approach is PRP therapy (platelet-rich plasma), in which growth factors from the patient’s own blood are used in a targeted manner. A frequently used variant of this is ACP therapy (autologous conditioned plasma), which is particularly pure and well-tolerated.

What is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is plasma rich in platelets, obtained by processing the patient’s own blood. The platelets it contains are rich in growth factors that play a central role in the body’s natural healing processes.

These growth factors promote blood circulation, stimulate cell regeneration, and have an anti-inflammatory effect. This makes PRP particularly suitable for degenerative joint diseases, tendon irritations, and sports injuries.

Advantages of PRP therapy

Use of the body’s own substances → no allergic reactions
Minimally invasive and can be performed on an outpatient basis
Treatment duration is usually less than 30 minutes.
Pain reduction and improved mobility
Supports healing in chronic conditions and sports injuries
No artificial additives or medications are necessary.

What is ACP?

ACP therapy is a special form of PRP treatment. Through a standardized processing procedure, the plasma is additionally “conditioned.” This removes unwanted components and yields a particularly pure, highly concentrated plasma .

This variant offers excellent tolerability and is frequently used in orthopedics for osteoarthritis, cartilage damage, and tendon irritation. ACP is well-researched and has become established in sports orthopedics and conservative pain therapy.

Advantages of ACP therapy

Standardized processing for high efficacy
Very good tolerability
Outpatient, rapid treatment
Especially suitable for osteoarthritis and tendon disorders
Especially suitable for osteoarthritis and tendon disorders

Für Sportler besonders geeignet

Physical activity is healthy – but it also carries a certain risk of injury. In Germany, around 1.5 million people suffer a sports injury every year. Joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons are frequently affected. Injuries to the ankle , knee , shoulder , and elbow are particularly common.

Typical causes:

abrupt movements
Overloads
Falls
Incorrect loading

Typical complaints after sports injuries

Swelling and pain in the affected area
Restriction of mobility
Feeling of instability in the joint
Loss of function in muscles or tendons

Especially in the case of sports injuries, ACP therapy can help to inhibit inflammatory processes, accelerate healing and restore mobility.

Treatment procedure

1. Individual diagnostics

The process begins with a thorough examination and consultation. This will determine whether PRP or ACP is suitable for your symptoms.

2. Blood draw

A small amount of blood is taken from a vein in the arm – similar to a laboratory test.

3. Aufbereitung

The blood is processed in a special centrifuge for approximately 5 minutes. During this process, the platelet-rich plasma is separated from the rest of the blood and concentrated.

4. Injection into the affected area

The processed plasma is injected directly into the affected joint, tendon tissue, or muscle area. No additives or foreign substances are used.

5. Follow-up treatment

You will usually be mobile again immediately after the injection. Light physical activity is permitted, but strenuous activity should be avoided for a few days.

Duration : under 30 minutes
Frequency : 3 to 5 treatments at intervals of approximately 1 week.

Applications of PRP and ACP

Osteoarthritis (e.g., knee, hip, shoulder, ankle)
Cartilage damage in early and middle stages
Chronic tendon irritations (e.g., tennis elbow, Achilles tendon)
Sports injuries to muscles, tendons or ligaments
Back pain and muscular irritation
Postoperative support for healing

Especially in the early stages of osteoarthritis, PRP or ACP therapy can help to slow down the progression and postpone surgery.

Benefits and risks

Benefits and risks of PRP and ACP therapy

Advantages of PRP and ACP therapy

Natural healing process

Since the patient’s own blood is used, there is no risk of allergic reactions or intolerances.

Improved regeneration

The concentrated platelets promote cell regeneration, reduce inflammation and accelerate the healing process.

Few side effects

The treatment is minimally invasive and generally well tolerated.

Outpatient procedure

The therapy can be performed without hospitalization and usually only takes a few minutes.

Wide range of applications

Particularly effective for tendon irritation, osteoarthritis, sports injuries and as support after surgery.

Pain relief

Many patients report a significant reduction in pain and improved mobility.

Possible risks and side effects

Local reactions

Temporary swelling, redness, or tenderness at the injection site is possible.

Pains

Short-term pain may occur after treatment, but usually subsides quickly.

Infection risk

As with any injection, there is a small risk of infection, which is minimized by using sterile techniques.

Individual impact

The results may vary depending on the initial findings and individual healing capacity.

Several sessions are necessary

For optimal results, several treatments are often necessary.

Who is suitable?

Who is this therapy suitable for?

This therapy is particularly suitable for patients who:

seek a natural treatment with few side effects
Sports injuries, osteoarthritis or tendon irritations have
wish to avoid or postpone surgery
would like to be treated in addition to physiotherapy or conservative pain therapy
suffer from back pain of muscular origin

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the treatment painful?

The stem cells are harvested under local anesthesia and are well tolerated by most patients. The injection into the affected joint is also generally perceived as minimally stressful.

When will the first results be noticeable?

Initial improvements often occur within a few weeks. However, the full effect often takes several months to develop and depends on the individual clinical picture.

How long does the effect last?

Many patients report positive effects lasting one to three years. However, the duration of the effect varies from individual to individual, and repeating the treatment may be beneficial in certain cases.

Are there any risks or side effects?

The procedure is generally considered safe. However, in rare cases, infections, local irritation, or pain at the donor site can occur. We will inform you in detail about all possible risks beforehand.

Will the costs be covered by health insurance?

In most cases, this is a self-pay service, as stem cell therapy is not yet part of the regular benefits package of statutory health insurance providers. However, partial coverage by private insurers is possible and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

What alternatives are there?

Proven treatment options include physiotherapy, drug-based pain therapy, injections with hyaluronic acid or autologous blood, and surgical interventions, including joint replacement in cases of advanced osteoarthritis.