Tendon and muscle injuries are common in elite and weekend athletes. Treatment of
these injuries in both groups is rapidly evolving. Sports medicine patients are demanding
better and less invasive solutions for all types of musculoskeletal disorders. In
this context, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a potential solution. PRP
is a fraction of whole blood containing concentrated growth factors and proteins.
These cytokines direct tissue healing through autocrine and paracrine effects. The
number of basic science, animal, and human investigations of PRP for tendon and muscle
injuries worldwide has risen sharply in recent years. These studies are helping clinicians
better understand the mechanisms of PRP and are guiding novel treatment protocols.
In this paper, the value of PRP as a treatment for acute or chronic tendon and muscle
disorders is explored.
Keywords
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Article info
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: Allan Mishra has a license agreement with Biomet Biologics.
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© 2008 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
