Paramagnetic contrast medium in high-level athletes with lower limb muscle injuries: can it make the return to sport safer reducing the recurrence rate?

The contrast medium in the follow-up of muscle injuries may be useful in determining the degree of scar stability in a healing injury. Injuries with a high MC index were found to be 'unstable', with a higher rate of recurrence than those with a low MC index. Resumption of competitive activity after achieving not only clinical resolution but also a satisfactory MC index value may increase the safety of return to the field and reduce the recurrence rate.