Evaluation of the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of muscle injuries of the lower limb grade 2A-2B in professional football players

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of injections of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of muscle injuries of the lower limb grade 2A-2B in professional soccer players. Materials and methods: a retrospective analysis of the duration and the methods of muscle damage treating in several leading professional football (soccer) clubs in Russia was carried out. Methods and duration of muscle injury treatment were analyzed during two seasons in several leading Russian clubs, whose players are included in the Russian Football Premier League, Europa League UEFA, UEFA Champions League and who represent their National Teams. The study included players with muscle injuries of the lower extremities grade 2A-2B according to the classification of the British Athletic Association (67 people, average age 27±4.8 years, height 182±5.9 cm, weight 77±5.8 kg). Football players were divided into two groups according to the type of treatment: using local injections of PRP (34 people) and without using them (33 people). 12 people received PRP once in a volume of 8-10 ml. 6 people received one injection every 5-7 days (a total of 2-3 injections of PRP in a volume of 3-5 ml). 16 people received one injection every 5-7 days (a total of 2-3 injections of PRP in a volume of 8-10 ml). During the study, information was recorded on the total duration of treatment (before the start of regular training activity) and on the development of relapses (repeated trauma in the same place within two months after entering the general group). Result: the use of local injections of PRP does not significantly affect the duration of treatment and the number of relapses, regardless of the location of the damage and its severity. The total duration of treatment was 15 days among all players. In the group using local injections of PRP the total duration of treatment was 18 days and 14 days in the group without using RTP. Relapses were seen in 10 % of cases among all players. In the group using local injections of PRP relapses were seen in 9% and in 12 % in the group without using RTP. Conclusions: during the study, the effect of local PRP injections on the duration of treatment of muscle injuries of grade 2A-2B, on the number of relapses and on the duration of treatment of muscle injuries of various localizations was not found. The absence of statistically significant changes in the duration of treatment may be due to differences in the protocol for the administration of PRP. Future work should focus on comparing the various protocols for introducing PRP.

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