Exercise and Recovery After PRP: A Timeline

Exercise and Recovery After PRP: A Timeline

One of the most common questions patients ask after a PRP procedure is: when can I get back to my normal activity? The answer depends on the treated area and injury severity, but here’s a general framework — and the reasoning behind each stage.

The Core Principle

PRP works by triggering a controlled biological healing response. Exercise and physical load are part of that process — but timing matters. Too much activity too soon disrupts the early healing environment. Too little activity too late slows tissue remodeling. The goal is progressive loading that supports repair without overwhelming it.

Avoid NSAIDs — including ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, and Aleve — for at least six weeks following your procedure, preferably through the full three-month healing window. Natural anti-inflammatory supplements including turmeric, arnica, and high-dose CBD should also be avoided during this period, as they suppress the same healing response your procedure is designed to amplify. If you’re experiencing pain, discuss appropriate options with your care team.

Days 1–5: Rest and Range of Motion

Keep activity limited to everyday household movement. No exercise targeting the treated area. Monitor the injection site for signs of infection and contact your care team with any concerns.

Unaffected areas of the body can be exercised lightly after 3–5 days — for example, lower body exercises if the treated area is a shoulder — as long as it doesn’t increase pain at the procedure site.

Expect swelling and soreness. This is the intended response, not a complication.

Days 5–14: Gentle Movement

Introduce light walking. No running, no weight-bearing exercises, and limit stair use if the hip or knee was treated.

Once the injection site has fully closed, pool walking and gentle swimming with a kickboard or pool noodle are appropriate. Water-based exercise provides movement stimulus with minimal joint load.

Weeks 2–6: Low-Impact Loading

Continue walking and pool exercise. A stationary bike is appropriate during this window. Avoid running, hiking on uneven or inclined terrain, and repetitive resistance training.

The operating principle here: exercise at roughly half your normal capacity. If it hurts, stop. Gentle movement modalities — stretching, yoga, tai chi, pilates — are well-suited to this phase.

Weeks 6–8: Introduce Aerobic Work

Light aerobic exercise with minimal joint impact is appropriate — elliptical and rowing machines work well at this stage. Increased blood flow supports the ongoing repair process, but attention to pain response remains essential.

Week 8 and Beyond

Return to normal activity — including running, skiing, sport-specific training, and heavy resistance work — is appropriate once you have physician and physical therapist clearance and the preceding weeks have been largely pain-free.

Physical therapy, beginning approximately one week post-procedure, is a standard component of the Albano Clinic protocol and should run parallel to this exercise progression. Your physical therapist will advance your program based on your actual response rather than a fixed calendar.