Abstract
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) are treatments made from a patient’s own blood. They may support repair in selected tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint injuries. PRF is a newer platelet product that forms a natural fibrin network, which can hold platelets and growth factors near the treatment area. This article explains the correct terms, how PRF differs from PRP, the sports injuries that may be evaluated for treatment, and how integrative chiropractic care and rehabilitation can support recovery. It also reviews the multidisciplinary care model at Injury Medical Clinic PA in El Paso, Texas.
A Quick Terminology Correction: PRP, PRF, and “PFP”
The accepted medical terms are platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). “Platelet fibrin plasma,” sometimes shortened to “PFP,” is not the standard term used in most medical research.
Both treatments are autologous, meaning they come from the patient’s own blood. A clinician draws blood and processes it in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate useful components. Platelets help with clotting and release growth factors and other signals involved in tissue repair. PRP is used in sports medicine for selected tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint problems (Hospital for Special Surgery [HSS], 2024; Johns Hopkins Medicine, n.d.; Yale Medicine, n.d.).
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
PRP is usually a liquid plasma product with a higher platelet concentration than normal blood. It is injected into or near injured tissue, often with ultrasound guidance.
Doctors may consider PRP for:
- Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
- Patellar or Achilles tendinopathy
- Plantar fascia pain
- Selected rotator cuff injuries
- Mild ligament or muscle injuries
- Osteoarthritis-related joint pain
PRP is not a guaranteed cure. It cannot automatically repair a complete tendon tear, replace missing cartilage, or remove the need for surgery after a severe injury. Research is more supportive for some chronic tendon conditions and knee osteoarthritis than for many acute injuries. Results also vary because PRP products are prepared in different ways (Milano et al., 2019; HSS, 2024).
What Makes Platelet-Rich Fibrin Different?
PRF is often called a second-generation platelet concentrate. It is commonly prepared without an added anticoagulant. Because clotting is not delayed, the product forms a natural fibrin network.
Depending on the method, PRF may be a clot, membrane, gel-like product, or injectable liquid that slowly forms a matrix. This three-dimensional fibrin structure can hold platelets, white blood cells, growth factors, and signaling molecules near the treatment site. It may release some biological signals over a longer period than certain liquid PRP preparations (Grecu et al., 2019; Costa et al., 2025).
PRF is not the same as stem cell therapy. Some preparations may contain a small number of circulating repair-related cells, but PRF should mainly be described as a fibrin- and platelet-based blood product.
How PRF May Support Sports Injury Healing
A sports injury can damage collagen fibers, small blood vessels, and the structure of a tendon, ligament, or muscle. The body responds with inflammation, clotting, new tissue production, and remodeling.
PRF may help by providing:
- A temporary fibrin scaffold
- Concentrated platelet signals
- Local support for repair cells
- Gradual release of some growth factors
- Targeted delivery to injured tissue
These features make PRF interesting for orthopedic and sports medicine care. Still, direct human evidence for injectable PRF remains limited. Reviews describe it as promising but call for better clinical trials, clearer preparation standards, and long-term outcome studies (Grecu et al., 2019; Costa et al., 2025).
Which Sports Injuries May Be Evaluated for PRF?
A qualified clinician may consider PRF after reviewing the diagnosis, imaging, health history, previous care, and activity goals. Possible uses include selected cases of:
- Chronic tendinopathy
- Partial tendon injuries
- Mild-to-moderate ligament injuries
- Slow-to-heal muscle strains
- Joint irritation or early degeneration
- Post-surgical tissue support
A complete tendon rupture, unstable joint, fracture, infection, major nerve injury, or rapidly worsening weakness needs prompt medical evaluation. PRF should never delay surgery or emergency treatment when either is needed.
Why an Injection Alone Is Not a Complete Plan
A platelet injection is placed into damaged tissue, but it does not automatically correct the movement pattern that overloaded the area. The athlete may still have poor joint motion, weak stabilizing muscles, limited balance, an uneven gait, or training errors.
For example, a runner with patellar tendon pain may also have limited ankle motion, weak hip muscles, poor landing control, or a sudden increase in training. If those problems remain, the healing tissue may continue to receive too much stress. PRF or PRP should therefore be combined with a planned rehabilitation program.
How Integrative Chiropractic Care Fits Into Treatment
Integrative chiropractic care addresses the mechanical side of recovery. The goal is to improve comfortable movement, reduce unnecessary stress on the injured area, and rebuild the skills needed for the patient’s sport.
Care may include:
- Joint mobilization or carefully selected manipulation
- Soft-tissue treatment
- Mobility and corrective exercise
- Progressive strength training
- Balance and coordination work
- Running, lifting, throwing, or landing analysis
- Gradual return-to-sport testing
Treatment must be adjusted after an injection. Heavy loading, aggressive treatment, or direct pressure near the treated area may not be appropriate early in recovery. The injection clinician and rehabilitation provider should agree on restrictions and progression.
Research describes possible roles for chiropractic care in pain management, musculoskeletal function, and team-based sports care. However, claims that chiropractic treatment directly improves athletic performance remain uncertain. In this plan, its main purpose is to assess movement, manage musculoskeletal symptoms, guide rehabilitation, and support a safe return to activity (Lin et al., 2023; Miners, 2010).
A Dual Biological and Mechanical Approach
PRF and chiropractic rehabilitation address different parts of the same injury:
- PRF supports the local biological environment with an autologous fibrin and platelet product.
- Chiropractic and rehabilitation care address movement through joint care, strength, flexibility, balance, and sports technique.
A coordinated plan may include diagnosis, medical screening, image-guided treatment when appropriate, early protection, gradual loading, strength work, and sport-specific testing. Recovery should be based on symptoms, movement quality, tissue capacity, and the demands of the sport—not only on a fixed calendar.
Multidisciplinary Care at Injury Medical Clinic PA
Injury Medical Clinic PA in El Paso, Texas, uses a multidisciplinary model. Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CCST, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, provides integrative chiropractic care and participates in functional medicine, personal injury care, rehabilitation, and related services. His clinical observations focus on movement patterns, joint mechanics, strength, lifestyle factors, and the patient’s functional goals. Clinic materials identify Dr. Jimenez as a doctor of chiropractic, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, and a clinical director.
Dr. Maria Guadalupe Cardenas, MD, serves with Dr. Jimenez as the practice’s medical director and collaborative physician. Clinic materials describe her as board-certified in internal medicine with more than 40 years of experience. Public NPPES-derived information identifies her as an internal medicine physician with NPI 1164426748 and associates Texas medical license J2933 with her record. Some clinic pages display 1164426749, but the public provider record lists 1164426748.
This team structure helps keep roles clear. Medical oversight may include reviewing health conditions, medications, blood disorders, infection risk, laboratory findings, and injection suitability. Chiropractic and rehabilitation care can focus on movement, strength, joint function, and return-to-activity planning.
Dr. Jimenez’s clinical observations may guide individual care, but they should be presented as practice-based experience rather than proof that every patient will respond in the same way.
Safety and Patient Selection
Because PRP and PRF come from the patient’s own blood, allergic rejection is unlikely. Possible problems still include temporary pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, or injury to a nearby structure.
Treatment may be delayed or avoided with:
- A serious infection
- Very low platelet levels
- Certain blood disorders
- Severe anemia
- Uncontrolled medical illness
- Active cancer in some situations
- Medication-related bleeding concerns
Patients should not stop aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, blood thinners, or other medicines without instructions from the prescribing clinician. Medication decisions must be based on the patient’s medical needs and health history (Yale Medicine, n.d.).
Setting Realistic Expectations
PRF is not an instant repair. Tissue remodeling takes time, and the patient may need activity changes, bracing, rehabilitation, nutrition support, better sleep, and a gradual return to training.
A sound recovery plan should answer:
- What structure is injured?
- How severe is the damage?
- Why did the injury happen?
- Can it heal without surgery?
- What goals must be met before returning to sport?
PRF may be useful as part of a larger plan, but it should not be marketed as a guaranteed cure.
Conclusion
PRP and PRF are related but different blood-based treatments. PRP is a concentrated platelet product in plasma. PRF forms a natural fibrin scaffold that may hold platelets and healing signals near an injury. PRF is promising for selected sports injuries, but its research base is smaller and less standardized than the evidence for PRP.
Combining an appropriate platelet treatment with integrative chiropractic care and progressive rehabilitation may address both the biological needs of the tissue and the mechanical factors that continue to stress it. At Injury Medical Clinic PA, coordination between Dr. Alex Jimenez and Dr. Maria Cardenas supports a team-based plan that brings together medical oversight, functional medicine, chiropractic care, personal injury services, and rehabilitation.
References
Costa, F. R., et al. (2025). The role of injectable platelet-rich fibrin in orthopedics: Where do we stand? Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 47(4), 239. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47040239
Grecu, A. F., Reclaru, L., Ardelean, L. C., Nica, O., Ciucă, E. M., & Ciurea, M. E. (2019). Platelet-rich fibrin and its emerging therapeutic benefits for musculoskeletal injury treatment. Medicina, 55(5), 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55050141
Hospital for Special Surgery. (2024, September 29). Platelet-rich plasma injections.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). Platelet-rich plasma injections.
Jimenez, A. (n.d.). Board-certified nurse practitioner Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC.
Lin, A. F. C., Piong, S. Z., Wan, W. M., Li, P., Chu, V. K., & Chu, E. C. P. (2023). Unlocking athletic potential: The integration of chiropractic care into the sports industry and its impact on the performance and health of athletes and economic growth in China and Hong Kong. Cureus, 15(4), e37157. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37157
Milano, G., Sánchez, M., Jo, C. H., Saccomanno, M. F., Thampatty, B. P., & Wang, J. H.-C. (2019). Platelet-rich plasma in orthopaedic sports medicine: State of the art. Journal of ISAKOS.
Miners, A. L. (2010). Chiropractic treatment and the enhancement of sport performance: A narrative literature review. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 54(4), 210–221.
ProviderWire. (2026). Dr. Maria G. Cardenas, MD: Internal medicine physician in El Paso, Texas.
Texas Medical Board. (n.d.). Look up a license.
Yale Medicine. (n.d.). Platelet-rich plasma injections in sports.
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and physical medicine, as well as wellness, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and facilitate clinical collaboration with specialists across disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and the jurisdiction in which they are licensed. We utilize functional health and wellness protocols to treat and support care for musculoskeletal injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters and issues that directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice. Our office has made a reasonable effort to provide supportive citations and identify relevant research studies for our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies upon request to regulatory boards and the public.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Multidisciplinary Licensing & Board Certifications:
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License #: TX5807, Verified: TX5807
New Mexico DC License #: NM-DC2182, Verified: NM-DC2182
Multi-State Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN*) in Texas & Multi-States
Multi-State Compact APRN License by Endorsement (42 States)
Texas APRN License #: 1191402, Verified: 1191402 *
Florida APRN License #: 11043890, Verified: APRN11043890 *
New York APRN License #: N25929, Verified: APRN-N25929*
License Verification Link: Nursys License Verifier
* Prescriptive Authority Authorized
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
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Dr. Maria Cardenas, MD
(Board Certified in Internal Medicine)
Medical Director & Collaborative Physician
NPI # 1164426749
MD License #: J2933
