Pathophysiology of Skeletal Muscle Injury

Abstract

The pathophysiology of muscle injury is a complex process, which is not yet fully understood. There is a variety of risk factors, which influence the location, severity, and resulting limitations that injuries cause. The pathophysiology is unique to each of the three most common primary injuries contusions, lacerations, and strains. The structural makeup of the musculoskeletal system also has a large influence in the biomechanics of our movement, and thus on the locations of injuries and the requirements of healing.

Our knowledge of the pathophysiology of muscle injury is rapidly expanding. Muscle injury follows the well-described process seen in healing of many different types of tissue—inflammation, repair, and remodeling. The more we learn about the inflammation phase, the more it becomes clear that this phase sets the stage for the repair and remodeling to follow. Our understanding of satellite cells, myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), and many of the other unique cellular pathways required to help heal muscles is still evolving. Once injuries have been stabilized, remodeling of the injury plays an important role in returning to full function. To fully maximize return to function, there must be a coordinated effort to limiting the damage caused by inflammation, minimize scar formation, and maximize the remodeling phase with well-established rehab protocols.