Injury. 2026 Jul 31;57(10):113547. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2026.113547. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Muscle contusion injuries frequently cause inflammation, hypoxia, and impaired regeneration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy have been proposed as potential treatments for enhancing muscle recovery. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PRP and HBO therapy on muscle regeneration following contusion injury and assess their potential synergistic effect.
METHODS: A controlled laboratory study was conducted using a muscle contusion model in sixty C57BL6J mice, which were divided into five groups: control, sham, HBO, PRP, and PRP+HBO. HBO therapy was administered at 2.5 atm for 25 min, three cycles per day over 10 days, while PRP was injected twice, on days 1 and 6. Muscle regeneration was evaluated using histological staining, immunofluorescence, muscle wet weight, and contractile function tests, including assessments of fast-twitch and tetanic strength.
RESULTS: The results demonstrated that HBO treatment alone showed statistically significant improvements in the number of regenerating myofibers and tetanus strength, compared to the sham group. However, the magnitude of the HBO treatment effects might not have been as substantial as those observed in the PRP and PRP+HBO groups. PRP and PRP+HBO significantly increased regenerating myofiber counts compared to the sham group (P < 0.001) and prevented muscle atrophy, as shown by higher muscle wet weights (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: PRP and PRP+HBO mitigated the adverse effects of muscle contusion in mice, with PRP + HBO potentially exerting a synergistic effect in restoring fast-twitch strength and improving tetanus strength to levels seen in uninjured muscles.
STUDY DESIGN: Level III, Controlled Lab Study.
PMID:42551085 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2026.113547
