Prolotherapy vs PRP for Knee Pain London — Which Produces Better Results?
If you have been researching regenerative treatment options for knee pain you have almost certainly come across both Prolotherapy and PRP — Platelet Rich Plasma therapy. Both are promoted as non-surgical alternatives to steroid injections. Both use the body’s own biology to stimulate repair. And both are increasingly available at London clinics.
But they are fundamentally different treatments with different evidence bases, different cost profiles and for most knee pain presentations — very different outcomes. In this post we compare them directly, explain how each works and explain why at Proback we choose Prolotherapy and Prolozone as our primary regenerative approach for knee pain rather than PRP.
What Is PRP and How Does It Work?
PRP — Platelet Rich Plasma — is produced by drawing a sample of the patient’s own blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors and injecting the resulting solution into the affected joint or tissue. The growth factors in the concentrated platelets are intended to stimulate the body’s healing response.
PRP has been widely adopted in sports medicine and orthopaedics over the past two decades and attracts significant research interest. The theory is compelling — using the patient’s own concentrated healing factors to repair damaged tissue. The reality is more complicated.
What Is Prolotherapy and How Does It Work?
Prolotherapy uses a natural dextrose solution injected precisely into damaged ligaments, tendons and soft tissue structures to trigger a controlled inflammatory healing response. The dextrose stimulates the body to lay down new collagen at the injection site, progressively strengthening and repairing the damaged structures from within. There is no blood draw, no centrifuge and no preparation time — the solution is natural, standardised and well understood in its mechanism of action.
At Proback we combine Prolotherapy with Prolozone — medical grade ozone delivered into the knee joint alongside the Prolotherapy — which adds powerful anti-inflammatory and tissue oxygenating effects that complement the structural repair stimulus of Prolotherapy. This combination consistently produces better outcomes than either treatment alone for knee pain presentations.
What Does the Evidence Show?
PRP has a large body of research — but the results are notably inconsistent. Multiple systematic reviews and Cochrane analyses have found that while some PRP studies show benefit for knee osteoarthritis the quality of evidence is low to moderate and results vary significantly between studies. Part of the problem is that PRP is not standardised — the platelet concentration, activation method and volume differ widely between clinics and studies, making direct comparison difficult.
Prolotherapy for knee pain has a more consistent evidence base. Rabago et al 2013 demonstrated significant and sustained improvement in knee osteoarthritis pain and function with dextrose Prolotherapy compared to controls at 52 weeks. Reeves and Hassanein 2000 showed significant improvements in a double blind randomised controlled trial. A direct comparison of 5% dextrose against corticosteroid injection demonstrated significantly better outcomes for dextrose at six months and beyond. The mechanism is well understood and the solution is standardised — 15% dextrose in properly performed Prolotherapy — producing reproducible results across practitioners and settings.
Cost — A Significant Difference
PRP typically costs between £300 and £600 per injection at London clinics — and most conditions require multiple injections. The centrifuge equipment, blood processing and additional clinical time make PRP inherently more expensive.
Prolotherapy at Proback is £275 for the first area and £85 for each additional area in the same session — significantly more accessible, particularly for patients requiring multiple sessions or both knees treated together.
Which Is Better for Knee Osteoarthritis?
For knee osteoarthritis specifically the published evidence slightly favours Prolotherapy for structural ligamentous repair and long term stability. Prolozone addresses the articular cartilage environment and inflammatory component simultaneously — which PRP alone cannot do to the same degree. Our combination of Prolotherapy and Prolozone addresses both the structural and the inflammatory components of knee arthritis in a single session, at a significantly lower cost than PRP.
Proback does not currently offer PRP. We plan to introduce it in 2027 as a complementary option for specific presentations where the evidence supports it as an addition to our existing regenerative programme.
Pricing and Next Steps
Our initial consultation is on special offer at £110 — reduced from £270 — and includes a full clinical examination, standing X-rays where required and a dedicated results appointment where your findings and a personalised treatment plan with full pricing are presented before you commit to anything further. One knee £275 per session, both knees together £360. 15% discount when prepaying for a full course upfront.
Give us a call on 0207 976 6648 or email victoria@proback.co.uk.
Proback Clinic, 4 Evelyn Mansions, Carlisle Place, Victoria, London SW1P 1NH. Five minutes from Victoria station.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prolotherapy better than PRP for knee pain?
For most knee pain presentations — particularly osteoarthritis, ligament laxity and structural instability — the evidence for dextrose Prolotherapy is more consistent and more reproducible than PRP. Prolotherapy is also significantly more cost effective. At Proback we combine Prolotherapy with Prolozone for the most comprehensive results — addressing both the structural and inflammatory components of knee pain simultaneously.
How much does Prolotherapy cost compared to PRP in London?
PRP typically costs £300 to £600 per injection at London clinics. Prolotherapy at Proback is £275 for the first area and £85 for each additional area — significantly more accessible particularly for patients requiring multiple sessions. Both knees treated together in one session is £360.
Does Proback offer PRP for knee pain?
We do not currently offer PRP. We plan to introduce it in 2027 as a complementary option for specific presentations. Our current primary regenerative approach for knee pain is Prolotherapy and Prolozone — which consistently produces strong clinical outcomes at significantly lower cost.
How many Prolotherapy sessions are needed for knee pain?
Most knee pain patients require between three and six sessions spaced two to four weeks apart for the best and most lasting results. The exact number recommended for your specific presentation is confirmed at your results appointment before you commit to anything.
Can Prolotherapy help bone on bone knee arthritis?
Yes — bone on bone knee arthritis is one of our most common and most successfully treated presentations. We cannot regenerate cartilage that is no longer there — but Prolotherapy and Prolozone create a significantly better joint environment that reduces pain and improves function meaningfully, often enough to delay or avoid knee replacement entirely.
What is the difference between Prolotherapy and Prolozone for knee pain?
Prolotherapy uses a natural 15% dextrose solution to stimulate new collagen production and structural repair in the damaged ligaments and soft tissue around the knee. Prolozone adds medical grade ozone to improve oxygenation within the joint, reduce inflammation and stimulate repair at a cellular level. We combine both in the same session for the most comprehensive results — the ozone addresses the joint environment while the Prolotherapy addresses the structural component.
Give us a call on 0207 976 6648 or email victoria@proback.co.uk.
Proback Clinic, 4 Evelyn Mansions, Carlisle Place, Victoria, London SW1P 1NH. Five minutes from Victoria station.
