Comparison of the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment and physiotherapy on pain, functionality, kinesiophobia and quality of life in female patients diagnosed with gonarthrosis

Gonarthrosis (knee osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disease characterized by joint pain and joint dysfunction that causes progressive and irreversible loss of knee joint cartilage. In our study, it was aimed to question the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment and physiotherapy and compare the effects of these treatments in the treatment of female knee ostoarthritis patients aged 40 years or older. In our study, a total of 61 patients, 31 patients in PRP group and 30 patients in PT (physiotherapy) group, were evaluated. The PRP group received a total of 3 doses of PRP injections, each at 4-week intervals. The physiotherapy program including manual therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, ultrasound and hotpack was applied to the PT group for 3 weeks (15 sessions). Home exercise program were recommended to both groups and patients were followed for 12 weeks. Patients were evaluated at pre-treatment, week 4, week 8 and week 12 using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale for functionality, Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale for kinesiophobia and Short Form-36 (SF-36) for quality of life. In both groups, there was a decrease in VAS, WOMAC and Tampa scores and an increase in Lysholm scores according to evaluation of pre-treatment. There was no differance in these parameters between the two groups (p>0.05). A differance was found in favor of the PRP group in the evaluation of week 8 of the physical functioning, physical health and the evaluation of week 12 of the health change subparameters of the SF-36 questionnaire (p<0.05). In other sections of the questionnaire, the two groups were found similar to each other (p>0.05). As a result of our study, we could say that both treatment were found effective in decreasing pain and kinesiophobia, increasing functionality and quality of life and found similar in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. From this point of view, we could conclude that the physiotherapy program which we used, which has a lower-cost and non-invasive, should be preferred primarily in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.