The application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries: a narrative review

Background The increasing participation in sports, driven by the popularity of physical activity and advancements in sports science, has led to a rise in sports injuries. Traditional treatments for sports injuries typically involve physical therapy and pharmacological interventions. However, drug th...

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Main Authors: Ruihan Wang, Junqiu Wang, Tianyu Liu, Wei Wang, Shiqin Yin, Menglang Peng, Lei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Annals of Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2541092
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author Ruihan Wang
Junqiu Wang
Tianyu Liu
Wei Wang
Shiqin Yin
Menglang Peng
Lei Zhang
author_facet Ruihan Wang
Junqiu Wang
Tianyu Liu
Wei Wang
Shiqin Yin
Menglang Peng
Lei Zhang
author_sort Ruihan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Background The increasing participation in sports, driven by the popularity of physical activity and advancements in sports science, has led to a rise in sports injuries. Traditional treatments for sports injuries typically involve physical therapy and pharmacological interventions. However, drug therapy often suffers from low bioavailability, and analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications may also cause side effects such as gastrointestinal irritation and cardiovascular risks. To amplify the range of therapeutic options in the domain of sports injuries, microneedles (MNs) have emerged as a promising alternative.Methods A comprehensive review of English literature from the past two decades and more was performed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The search utilized the keywords ‘microneedle,’ ‘sports injury,’ ‘drug delivery,’ etc. Original research articles, clinical studies, and reviews pertinent to the subject were included, while irrelevant and duplicate publications were excluded from the analysis.Results The diverse types and materials of MNs make them promising tools for treating sports injuries. These applications facilitate not only the targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals and biological materials but also enable continuous medical supervision through the assessment of subcutaneous metabolites.Conclusion The application of MNs in the management of sports injuries holds significant promise for therapeutic interventions and medical monitoring, offering valuable insights for future innovation in sports science applications.
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spelling doaj-art-ecdc59b0beb644739a67d617dc020be22025-08-20T04:00:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAnnals of Medicine0785-38901365-20602025-12-0157110.1080/07853890.2025.2541092The application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries: a narrative reviewRuihan Wang0Junqiu Wang1Tianyu Liu2Wei Wang3Shiqin Yin4Menglang Peng5Lei Zhang6Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaCapital Medical University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaDepartment of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, ChinaBackground The increasing participation in sports, driven by the popularity of physical activity and advancements in sports science, has led to a rise in sports injuries. Traditional treatments for sports injuries typically involve physical therapy and pharmacological interventions. However, drug therapy often suffers from low bioavailability, and analgesic and anti-inflammatory medications may also cause side effects such as gastrointestinal irritation and cardiovascular risks. To amplify the range of therapeutic options in the domain of sports injuries, microneedles (MNs) have emerged as a promising alternative.Methods A comprehensive review of English literature from the past two decades and more was performed across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The search utilized the keywords ‘microneedle,’ ‘sports injury,’ ‘drug delivery,’ etc. Original research articles, clinical studies, and reviews pertinent to the subject were included, while irrelevant and duplicate publications were excluded from the analysis.Results The diverse types and materials of MNs make them promising tools for treating sports injuries. These applications facilitate not only the targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals and biological materials but also enable continuous medical supervision through the assessment of subcutaneous metabolites.Conclusion The application of MNs in the management of sports injuries holds significant promise for therapeutic interventions and medical monitoring, offering valuable insights for future innovation in sports science applications.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2541092Microneedlessports injuriessports medicine
spellingShingle Ruihan Wang
Junqiu Wang
Tianyu Liu
Wei Wang
Shiqin Yin
Menglang Peng
Lei Zhang
The application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries: a narrative review
Annals of Medicine
Microneedles
sports injuries
sports medicine
title The application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries: a narrative review
title_full The application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries: a narrative review
title_fullStr The application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries: a narrative review
title_full_unstemmed The application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries: a narrative review
title_short The application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries: a narrative review
title_sort application prospect of microneedles for sports injuries a narrative review
topic Microneedles
sports injuries
sports medicine
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/07853890.2025.2541092
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