The 3 major challenges of medical technologies in the sports world

Challenge n°1: treating injuries using minimally invasive approaches

In the most serious cases, particularly traumatic ones, some athletes have to resort to orthopedic surgery following their injury. The main challenge is to minimize trauma, post-operative pain and the risk of infection.  The goal is to also preserve the musculature and joints as much as possible, so that they can resume sporting activities as soon as possible. To this end, minimally invasive surgeries are preferred and are being developed thanks to improved surgical techniques and the appearance of specific medical devices. This is particularly true of the arthroscope, an instrument comprising an optical system used to visualize joints and surgical instruments. Once inserted into centimeter-sized incisions, this device enables surgeons to visualize and reach the area to be treated, without having to damage or remove surrounding tissue. This technique is used in many indications, notably for knee and shoulder surgery, and is gradually being developed in France for spinal surgery. Other non-invasive therapies are being developed for sports-related injuries for which there are currently few treatments. This is particularly true for concussions, for which there are 100,000 cases annually in France. Despite this, diagnosis, treatment and support are limited¹Francetvinfo.fr. French medtech RegenLife is developing a photobiomodulation technology to target neuroinflammation linked to certain neurological diseases, and has been running a clinical trial since late 2022 on sports-related concussions.

Challenge n°2: optimizing sportsmen and women’s recovery

With the aim of returning to sport as quickly as possible, the second major challenge for an injured athlete is to monitor the evolution of the injury as closely as possible toensure the best possible recovery and re-athletization.

Injury assessment relies in particular on precise measurement tools adapted to the areas under study. The Genourob company, for example, is developing devices to assess the condition and performance of knee ligament structures, thus improving patient care. Their GNRB product is an arthrometer, an instrument that measures joint amplitude as a function of applied forces. In particular, the company specializes in the study of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), which is frequently injured  in pivot sports.

Sportsmen and women generally undergo a phase of recovery of the injured muscle or joint, followed by a second phase of resumption of sport. As part of conventional treatment by healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, medical devices can be used to optimize recovery. These include electrostimulators and pressotherapy devices, both of which can also be used by non-injured athletes.

Challenge n°3: perfecting medical devices for parasports

In addition to products and technologies designed for surgery, treatment or recovery, another major application of medical devices in the world of sports concerns parasport. Indeed, one of the major challenges facing disabled athletes is to acquire the most appropriate and effective devices for their sport. The first prostheses designed for competition appeared in the 1980s. Today, they are increasingly sophisticated, aerodynamic, made of lightweight materials and are more comfortable when they make  contact with the patient’s skin. Prosthetic sports blades from Össur, for example, are designed for femoral and tibial amputees and are developed in carbon-fiber composite material. Several models are available for different  athletic disciplines, including, sprinting, long-distance running and long jumping. Their curved shape enables them to store energy during compressionand thus in turn  propel the athlete.

Other devices, such as wheelchairs, are becoming increasingly innovative, thanks to their weight and the addition of a third wheel for certain sports.

In sport, the quest for performance and the need to treat injuries as quickly as possible drive medical technology players to innovate. While these new approaches, products and techniques benefit athletes, they also find use in other patients. RegenLife, for example, is currently testing triphotonic stimulation for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, while Hopper’s ambition is “to enable anyone with a lower-limb amputation to take part in physical activity without being limited by technical or economic considerations”. The development of innovative medical technologies is a major challenge for players in the sector, and Alcimed can help you understand this market and develop these innovations. Don’t hesitate to contact our team!

About the author,

 Auriane, Consultant in Alcimed’s Healthcare team in France