Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM
Board-certified podiatric surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI
Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Prp Platelet Rich Plasma Foot Ankle can significantly impact your daily life and mobility. Our Michigan podiatrists provide expert evaluation and evidence-based treatment — from conservative care to minimally invasive procedures — to relieve your symptoms and restore function. Same-day appointments available in Howell and Bloomfield Hills, MI.
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Medically Reviewed | Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan
Quick Answer:
Quick Answer: PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy is an advanced regenerative treatment using concentrated platelets from your own blood to promote healing of damaged tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Used for chronic tendinitis, ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis, PRP stimulates the body’s natural healing response. Treatments typically involve 1-3 injections spaced 4-6 weeks apart, with improvement often seen within 2-3 months.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative regenerative medicine approach that harnesses your body’s natural healing potential to address chronic foot and ankle injuries. PRP is concentrated from your own blood and contains growth factors and cytokines that promote tissue healing, reduce inflammation, and stimulate regeneration of damaged tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. At Balance Foot & Ankle PLLC, Dr. Tom Biernacki uses ultrasound-guided PRP injections to precisely deliver treatment to injured tissues, maximizing therapeutic benefit.
PRP is effective for various chronic foot and ankle conditions that don’t respond adequately to conservative treatment including Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, peroneal tendon injuries, ankle ligament sprains, and early-stage arthritis. The procedure involves drawing a small sample of your blood, processing it to concentrate platelets, and injecting the PRP directly into the injured tissue under ultrasound guidance. Most patients require 1-3 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart. Recovery is quick with minimal downtime.
Benefits of PRP include using your body’s own healing factors (no synthetic materials), reducing inflammation and pain, promoting tissue regeneration and strengthening, and potentially avoiding surgery for some chronic injuries. Most patients begin noticing improvement within 2-3 months, with maximal benefit often seen at 3-6 months post-treatment. Success rates are high for appropriate indications when performed by experienced practitioners like Dr. Biernacki.
Dr. Tom's Product Recommendations
Compression Ankle Sleeve Recovery
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Graduated compression sleeve supporting ankle during PRP recovery and managing post-injection inflammation
Dr. Tom says: “This compression sleeve helped manage swelling after my PRP injection and supported my ankle during recovery”
PRP therapy post-injection compression and support
Acute severe injuries requiring other interventions
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Orthopedic Ankle Stabilizer Brace
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Medical-grade ankle brace for stability and protection during PRP recovery and tissue healing
Dr. Tom says: “My doctor recommended this brace after my PRP treatment to protect my ankle while healing occurred”
PRP recovery ankle stabilization and continued support
Acute phase requiring complete immobilization
Disclosure: We earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
✅ Pros / Benefits
- Uses your own biological material with no synthetic substances
- Promotes tissue healing and regeneration naturally
- Minimally invasive with quick recovery
- Can potentially avoid surgery for some chronic injuries
❌ Cons / Risks
- Requires multiple treatments over several months
- Results take 2-3 months to become apparent
- Insurance often doesn’t cover as it’s considered regenerative medicine
Dr. Tom Biernacki’s Recommendation
PRP therapy represents an exciting advance in regenerative medicine for foot and ankle injuries. I’m impressed by how effectively it works for chronic tendinitis, ligament injuries, and early arthritis. The fact that it uses patients’ own biological material makes it very attractive, and healing outcomes are often excellent.
— Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM | Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon | Balance Foot & Ankle
Frequently Asked Questions
How is PRP different from corticosteroid injections?
PRP promotes healing and tissue regeneration, while corticosteroids reduce inflammation short-term. PRP is often better for long-term healing of chronic injuries, while corticosteroids provide quicker short-term pain relief.
How many treatments do I need?
Most patients benefit from 1-3 PRP treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart, though this varies based on the injury.
When can I resume activity after PRP?
Most patients can resume light activity within days, with gradual return to full activity as healing progresses. Dr. Biernacki provides specific activity guidelines.
Does insurance cover PRP?
Most insurance plans don’t cover PRP as it’s considered regenerative/experimental medicine. However, costs are typically reasonable compared to surgical alternatives.
In-Office Treatment at Balance Foot & Ankle
If home treatment isn’t providing relief for your prp platelet rich plasma foot ankle, our podiatry team at Balance Foot & Ankle can help with same-day evaluations and advanced in-office care.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I see a podiatrist?
If symptoms persist past 2 weeks, affect your normal activity, or are accompanied by red-flag symptoms (warmth, redness, swelling, inability to bear weight).
What does treatment cost?
Most diagnostic visits and conservative treatments are covered by Medicare and major insurers. Out-of-pocket costs vary by your specific plan.
How quickly can I get an appointment?
Most non-urgent cases see us within 5 business days. Urgent cases (sudden pain, possible fracture) typically same or next business day.
Ready to Get Relief?
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Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.
- Plantar Fasciitis: Diagnosis and Conservative Management (PubMed)
- Plantar Fasciitis (APMA)
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (PubMed / AAFP)
- Heel Pain (APMA)