Exercise induced muscle damage may be improved by a single dose of intra-muscular platlet rich plasma: a pilot study

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is being increasingly used in the modern medicine as a material stimulating, regenerating and accelerating tissue healing, including muscle injuries in sports. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of PRP on strength recovery in exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD). A baseline value was established in six healthy male volunteers during maximal voluntary strength isometric contractions (MVC) of the elbow flexors in both arms. This was followed by MVC performance (80% IRM) concentric-eccentric exercise of both elbow flexors until point of exhaustion, and 24 h later the subjects were injected with PRP in the non-dominant arm (PRP-arm). Maximal isometric strength and muscle soreness was compared before and at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) between the arms. The results indicate that the muscle soreness was significantly decreased in PRP administered arm when compared to control-arm, however, the levels for isometric flexors peak torque (PT) and average strength (AS) significantly declined in the bout arm post exercise induced muscle damage. Administration of PRP had no effect on the muscle strength parameters, however, flexor PT values were higher in PRP administered arm compared to the control arm, but this was only achieved on the second day of post-exercise induced muscle damage.