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Typical injuries: how they are treated
Meniscus tear
A common injury when twisting on a planted foot. Degenerative tears are often treated without surgery; with a locked knee or a large fresh tear in a young player, meniscus repair is discussed.
ACL rupture
The most serious injury in football. Players who want to return to pivoting sport are usually advised to have reconstruction; return to matches takes at least 9–12 months.
Ankle sprain
The most common football injury. Functional treatment with a brace and balance training is usually better than a cast; severe tears heal in 6–12 weeks.
Knee cartilage injuries
Bruising and cartilage defects after collisions. Treatment depends on the size of the defect: from rehabilitation and injections to surgical cartilage repair.
Muscle injuries
Strains of the hamstrings, adductors and quadriceps. The basis of treatment is staged rehabilitation; evidence for PRP injections in muscle injuries is still insufficient.
Returning to activity: key principles
Recovery after the procedure
On the day of the injection you can walk and return to your hotel on your own. Intense load on the joint is best avoided for 1–2 days; ice helps with swelling. Then you gradually return to normal activity and exercise. The effect is assessed after 6–12 weeks; if there is no improvement, the clinic physician revises the plan.
Staged return
Mobility and strength are restored first, then straight-line running, changes of direction, training with the ball and only then match play. Each stage must be free of pain and swelling.
Preventing re-injury
Warm-up programmes such as FIFA 11+ reduce the risk of knee and ankle injuries; hamstring strengthening and balance training matter.
Return-to-play decision
Readiness for matches is judged by functional tests, not just by time. The physician and coach decide together.
Clinic and method matching — free of charge
Describe your case and attach your MRI report. We will identify clinics that use the relevant methods and forward your request to them. No obligation; we reply within 24 hours.
Send a requestWho it is not suitable for and possible risks
Contraindications
- Active infection — at the injection site or systemic, with fever.
- Active cancer or ongoing chemotherapy.
- Blood clotting disorders or a low platelet count. Anticoagulants are discussed with the physician.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — the procedure is usually postponed.
- A corticosteroid injection into the same area in recent weeks.
- A complete tendon or ligament rupture with loss of function — surgical repair is usually needed.
Possible risks
- Pain and swelling at the injection site for 1–3 days.
- Bruising where blood or fat tissue is taken.
- Rarely, infection. The procedure is therefore performed under sterile conditions with ultrasound or X-ray guidance.
- The effect may be absent or smaller than expected.
If any of these apply to you, mention it in your request. The coordinator will check with the clinic physician whether treatment is possible. Contact a coordinator.
Scientific evidence
Studies of regenerative methods show mixed results. Clinic physicians rely on research including the following:
- Andia I et al. Platelet-rich plasma for muscle injury and tendinopathy. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev, 2013.
- Sheth U et al. Efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma use for orthopaedic indications: a meta-analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2012.
Next steps: Treatment methods · Treatment cost · How treatment in Germany is organised
Questions
Often yes. Degenerative tears in adults are usually treated without surgery: in trials exercise therapy gave results comparable to arthroscopy. Surgery is discussed for a locked knee and a large fresh tear in a young player — then the meniscus is repaired rather than removed whenever possible.
It depends on the injury: after an ankle sprain from a few days to 2–3 months, after a muscle injury usually a few weeks, after ACL reconstruction no earlier than 9–12 months. Return-to-play decisions are based on functional tests, not just time.
PRP injections have not been on the WADA prohibited list since 2011. For other cell products and any medication, check the current WADA list and agree the treatment with the team physician before the procedure — a therapeutic use exemption is obtained if needed.
The key is long, staged rehabilitation: restoring extension and thigh strength, then running, jumping and changes of direction. Returning to matches before 9 months is risky, as the chance of re-rupture increases. Injections may complement rehabilitation but do not replace it.
RegenPAS is a patient service centre in Munich, not a clinic. We review your images and symptoms and send a request to several partner clinics at once. Clinics that can accept you send their own conditions and price; prices differ between clinics, and you choose the option that suits you. The coordinator replies within 24 hours, and a clinic physician’s preliminary opinion follows in 1–3 business days. We then arrange the appointment, visa invitation, interpreter, transfers and accommodation. Treatment decisions are made by the clinic physician. Contact a coordinator.
Your MRI (or CT, X-ray) report and the images if you have them, plus a short description of your symptoms and previous treatment. Send them via the form on the website — the assessment is free and without obligation: the coordinator replies within 24 hours, and the clinic physician’s preliminary opinion follows in 1–3 business days.
The cost depends on the method, the diagnostics needed and the clinic itself: prices differ between clinics. We request offers from several clinics and send you their conditions and quotes so you can compare. Price guidance is on the treatment cost page. For an outpatient procedure, 2–3 days in Munich are usually enough: examination, procedure and follow-up visit.