Platelet-Rich Plasma in Muscle Injuries: When and How It Can Be Used

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Abstract

Presenting a significant problem in clinical medicine, skeletal muscle regeneration (after injuries, in atrophic disorders, etc.) is limited by fibrous scar formation, slow healing time, and a high rate of injury recurrence. Unfortunately, not many alternatives exist to the generally accepted conservative RICE principle for treating muscle injuries. Local platelet-rich plasma (PRP) application is popular in the field of sports medicine as an autologous source of growth factors that are believed to have potential therapeutic implications. However, several concerns have been raised as to whether high concentrations of TGF-β contained in PRP itself may have a negative effect in regard to fibrosis and the lack of any preclinical data. Although it is believed to be already used by many sports physicians, there is no evidence-based protocol for using PRP in treating muscle injuries. This chapter explains the reason behind it and proposes the best time frame to use PRP in muscle injuries according to physiological healing processes.

Keywords

Satellite Cell Platelet Rich Plasma Muscle Injury Muscle Regeneration Satellite Cell Activation 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Abbreviations

MSTN

Myostatin

NSAID

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

PRP

Platelet-rich plasma

R.I.C.E.

Rest, ice, compression, elevation

TGF-β

Transforming growth factor beta

WADA

World Anti-Doping Agency

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Orthopaedic SurgeryUniversity Medical Center MariborMariborSlovenia

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