How far have biological therapies come in regenerative sports medicine?

Abstract

Regular engagement in sports produces many health benefits, but also exposes to increased injury risk. The quality of medical care available is crucial not only for sports trauma but also to avoid overuse syndromes and post-traumatic degenerative conditions. Areas covered: We provide background information on some clinical needs in sport injuries and describe the main families of biological products used in clinical practice. We also discuss limitations of the current clinical experience. Expert opinion: Sport and exercise impairment affects different segments of the population with different needs. The exceptional demands of elite athletes and subsequent media coverage have created hype around regenerative therapies. Statistical evidence, whether weak (cell products) or moderate (PRPs), is not enough to drive medical decisions because of the heterogeneity of the biological products available and their application procedures. Moreover, the specific needs of the different segments of the population along with the available clinical evidence for each musculoskeletal condition should be considered in the decision-making process. There is urgent need to develop regenerative protocols combined with post-intervention rehabilitation, and gather meaningful clinical data on the safety and efficacy of these interventions in the different populations segments.

Effect of a Collagen-Based Compound on Morpho-Functional Properties of Cultured Human Tenocytes

“…In a recent case series, promising results have been reported with autologous tenocyte injection [11]. However, there is still little evidence to support the use of biological therapies for treatment of GTPS [12].…”

Mesenchymal stromal cell products for intra-articular knee injections for conservative management of osteoarthritis

“…Sports injuries of the knee and secondary joint problems are common, especially in sports associated with high impact activities and/or torsional loading, such as skiing and field-based sports, including soccer, football and basketball among others. 1 One of the most popular sports in the world, soccer, shows an alarming trend of knee injuries, mainly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears often associated with meniscal injuries and secondary cartilage damage, leading to a deterioration of sports performance. Moreover, continuation of sporting activities accelerates the onset and progression of osteoarthritis (OA).…”

Intra-articular platelet-rich plasma vs corticosteroids in the treatment of moderate knee osteoarthritis: a single-center prospective randomized controlled study with a 1-year follow up

“…This approach, however, has limited efficacy in delaying disease progression, as well as undesirable potential side effects when administered in high doses and frequency [8,9]. In this context, PRP is proposed as a potential treatment, capable of improving the clinical condition of patients with osteoarthritis [10][11][12][13][14][15]. A limited number of publications in PRP, in which PRP has been compared to corticosteroid for the treatment of early knee OA, are available in the literature [16][17][18].…”