Muscle injury is a relatively common sports injury and can occur in many different ways. Overall muscle strain injury occurrence among athletes is approximately 18%. Within this, muscles that cross two joints, such as the hamstrings, quadriceps and the calfs are more common among injuries due to increased loads. Hamstring strain injuries represent 29% of all sports injuries. Reinjury can often occur with a frequency between 12 and 21%. As athletes are the main recipients of muscle strains, there are many studies evaluating return to sports as well as the treatment involved. Studies show the tremendous cost of lost days due to hamstring and muscle strains.
With this in mind, there is increased interest in optimising Sports injury treatment. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been commonly utilised as an additional measure to improve the healing process, modulate inflammation, and promote recovery. Here we will cover how this is the case.
PRP Usage in Sports Injuries
PRP is produced by obtaining and harvesting your own platelets from a small sample of your own blood. Platelets and leukocytes are separated from red blood cells and used on a therapeutic level to stimulate healing and facilitate repair of damaged tissue. Additionally, activating agents such as thrombin and calcium can be added to release of bioactive growth factors.
Platelets are in high concentration within PRP, and release of several growth factors that are essential in the healing process. Data exists to suggest optimal concentrations of platelets are more than five times the normal levels.
PRP has been used in various disciplines of medicine, from maxillofacial surgery to stimulating hair follicles. In orthopaedics and musculoskeletal medicine, PRP has been shown to have benefit in treating conditions such as tennis elbow, knee osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis. Also, surgical techniques such as anterior cruciate ligament/Meniscus reconstruction, rotator cuff repair, Achilles tendon repair, and fracture healing have shown a benefit when augmented with PRP application. Chronic tendon injury and muscle injury is an attractive avenue for treatment with PRP because of the relatively non-invasive means in which it is administered and the potential for restoration of soft tissue architecture after injury.
Basic science behind PRP treatment for sports injury
Basic science research has demonstrated that muscle and tendon regeneration on normal healing and important bioactive growth factors
In addition to tissue healing, PRP has been suggested to play a role in the modulation of inflammatory cells and pain control. The mechanism is likely through regulation of inflammatory pathways. PRP does show quantifiable amounts of interleukins (IL) 1, 6, 7, and 10, which can be specifically pro or anti-inflammatory in nature. The results from previous studies has revealed that PRP can not only enhance the tissue healing process but also decrease pro-inflammatory CD68-positive and apoptotic cells (cell death).
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Don’t let pain, joint damage, sports injuries or arthritis get in the way of allowing you to do what you want. Schedule a consultation at Dynamic Osteopaths today, and let us treat your injury, provide pain relief and get you back to your full and active lifestyle. We have clinics operating out of Solihull (Henley-In-Arden), Birmingham (Harborne/edgbaston) & Bromsgrove (Barnt Green).
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