The effects seem to differ widely for patients. Some notice pain and function improvement within days, others take several weeks, and some people receive no benefit at all. Those who do get pain relief usually report it lasting from six – twelve months, after which re-injection is an option.  

Both our Nurse Practitioner and Sports & Exercise Medicine Physician are able to perform the injection. Their information is located on our 'About Us' page.

Systemic adverse reactions to Cingal are low. Infection is a low risk with any joint injection. Some people may notice; local pain, redness, warmth, swelling, which usually ease within a few days. We recommend applying an ice pack to the knee and taking some simple pain relief to ease the discomfort.  

The injection process itself only lasts a few minutes.

Wear shorts, loose pants or bring some with to get changed into. 

Generally, joint injections are more painful than normal muscular injections. The injection will cause some pain as it is given, however we do use a local anaesthetic with the injection. However, while it differs from person to person, most patients tolerate it well. You may feel soreness and/or aches for 24-72 hours after the injection. 

Yes, please bring the most recent version of your MRI or X-Ray. 

Yes, you can drive immediately after your injection. 

You may return to work and your normal day-to-day activities immediately after the injection. 

You should refrain from heavy lifting and strenuous activities for 24–48 hours or until symptoms from the injection have subsided. 

Simple pain relief such as Panadol or Panadeine along with icing the knee regularly for 48 hours is all that is generally required. You can also take anti-inflammatories if you need. 

It is not a requirement to perform the injection under ultrasound. However, this can be done on request or when clinically indicated.  

Our fees are located here: Fee

Patients can get up to 80% back from their private health cover on the injection, depending on their level of cover. 

Please check with your individual health fund for rebate amounts. A letter can be provided by our rooms to assist your case.

Autologous Concentrated Plasma (ACP, or Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)) is derived from your own blood. Both processes involves spinning or centrifuging the blood until it separates into layers.

‘Plasma’ is the liquid component of blood, being mostly water, but it also includes proteins, nutrients, glucose, and antibodies, among other components.

Platelets are a natural part of the blood that help it clot when an injury occurs; a person with defective platelets or too few platelets will bleed excessively. However, platelets, when ‘activated’, can also secrete substances called growth factors and other proteins that regulate cell division, stimulate tissue regeneration, and promote healing. It is these substances that are of interest in PRP treatments.

White blood cells (WBC), or leukocytes, are your immune system cells. They protect your body against disease and foreign invaders.

Red blood cells (RBC), or erythrocytes, are the most common blood cell and are principally vehicles for transporting oxygen around your body.

When blood is centrifuged, it separates into three layers: Plasma, the “buffy coat”, and the red cell pack.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) systems harvest the entire ‘buffy coat’, which is the thin central layer that contains most of the platelets, white blood cells and usually some red blood cells as well.

The Autologous Conditioned Plasma (ACP) system is designed to harvest only the top portion of the buffy coat with the younger, lighter platelets, but very few red or white blood cells which are heavier and lower down.  Scientific research has found that the presence of red and white blood cells can retard any healing response and reduce anti-inflammatory effects.

The theory behind injecting ACP into the arthritic knee is that the cocktail of growth factors, proteins and other substances delivered will:

• Reduce pain by altering the way the pain receptors are functioning
• Inhibit inflammation
• Stimulate a healing response and slow down the progression of osteoarthritis
• Increase the production of natural lubricating fluid in the joint

Both our Nurse Practitioner and Sports & Exercise Medicine Physician are able to perform the injection. Their information is located on our 'About Us' page.

Recent evidence suggests that a higher platelet dose in PRP preparations is critical for providing better results in arthritis and tendonitis.

A recently published review compared studies on different PRP systems for knee arthritis. The authors found better results in systems with an average platelet dose of five billion. Conversely, systems with an average platelet dose of only 2.5 billion had less favourable outcomes.

Another study that compared low- and high-platelet concentration PRP systems found better results for high-platelet concentration systems at 6 and 12 months post-injection. 

So, a higher platelet dose and concentration has a more significant pain-relieving effect on knee arthritis. Arthrex ACP max provides an average of 7 to 12 billion platelets in one injection. 

Because your own blood is used, there is no risk of transmissible disease or reaction to a foreign body. Infection is a low risk with any joint injection.  

Local anaesthetic is not used for the injection as it has been shown to be harmful to joint cartilage. Patients may experience discomfort for approximately 24 hours after the injection. Simple analgesia such as Panadol and the use of ice can help alleviate these symptoms. 

Anti-inflammatory medications should be avoided for 7 days after the injection so as not to inhibit any healing cascade put into effect by the ACP or PRP. You may return to work and other normal activities immediately after treatment, but should refrain from strenuous activity for one week. 

As PRP max provides, on average, 7 to 12 billion platelets in one dose, we believe only one injection is needed for arthritis and tendonitis. This ‘one-injection’ treatment saves time and money and reduces the risk of adverse outcomes with multiple injections.

The consultation will take about 45 – 60 minutes due to the time to take blood and allow the centrifuge to spin twice. The injection itself only lasts a few seconds. 

Wear shorts, loose pants or bring some with to get changed into. 

Generally, joint injections are more painful than normal muscular injections. The injection will cause some pain as it is given. However, while it differs from person to person, most patients tolerate it well. You may feel soreness and/or aches for 24-72 hours after the injection. 

No, unfortunately, local anaesthetic interferes with the effectiveness of the injection so in general we don’t use it.

Yes, please bring the most recent version of your MRI or X-Ray. 

Yes, you can drive immediately after your injection.

You may return to work and your normal day-to-day activities immediately after the injection.

You should refrain from heavy lifting and strenuous activities for 7 days.

Simple pain relief such as Panadol or Panadeine along with icing the knee regularly for 48 hours is all that is generally required. Avoid using anti-inflammatories for 7 days after the injection to not inhibit any healing processes put into effect by the ACP treatment. 

The result is different for each person. It can take several weeks to months to see the full effects of the PRP injection. 

It is not a requirement to perform the injection under ultrasound. However, this can be done on request or when clinically indicated. 

Our fees are located here: Fee

Yes there is a medicare rebate for your consultation. This increases each year on average patients receive