Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (32): 8502-8511.doi: 10.12307/2026.461

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Application of self-healing hydrogels for sports injury prevention and rehabilitation#br#

Meng Yihao1, Zhang Shuai2    

  1. 1Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou 221018, Jiangsu Province, China; 2Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei Province, China
  • Accepted:2026-02-08 Online:2026-11-18 Published:2026-04-29
  • Contact: Zhang Shuai, PhD, Lecturer, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, Hebei Province, China
  • About author:Meng Yihao, PhD, Lecturer, Xuzhou University of Technology, Xuzhou 221018, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Social Science Fund (General Project), No. 22BTY082 (to ZS)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A novel smart material, namely self-healing hydrogel, has caught much attention in sports medicine and rehabilitation engineering. This is on account of its high water content, favorable biocompatibility, tailorable mechanical traits, and the intrinsic ability to self-heal after sustaining. 
OBJECTIVE: To systematically survey the progress of self-healing hydrogels in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries.
METHODS: A search was conducted on authoritative domestic and international databases including CNKI, X-mol, and PubMed. Research literature involving self-healing hydrogels and sports medicine was selected. English and Chinese search terms included "self-healing hydrogel, sports injury repair, activity monitoring, smart rehabilitation, wearable sensors." Based on the inclusion criteria, 136 articles were finally included in this review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Self-healing hydrogels are really good at repairing ligaments, tendons, cartilage and bone tissue. They provide essential mechanical support and help cells to stick together, grow and develop. By releasing drugs or growth factors at a controlled rate, they can reduce inflammation, provide pain relief and speed up recovery. In the fields of motion monitoring and rehabilitation, these self-healing materials are used as core layers in flexible sensors. These sensors monitor movement, posture and joint stress in real time. They use virtual reality, augmented reality, and telemedicine to make rehabilitation training more intelligent and precise. Self-healing hydrogels are progressively evolving toward integrated platforms that combine monitoring, therapy, and rehabilitation. Although substantial progress has been achieved in recent years, challenges remain in terms of mechanical durability, rapid healing efficiency, large-scale manufacturing, and clinical translation. Future research should focus on the design and optimization of high-strength, multi-stimuli-responsive hydrogels, while integrating sports biomechanics with artificial intelligence to establish data-driven and personalized rehabilitation models. Moreover, advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and developing standardized evaluation systems will be essential to provide more scientific and standardized strategies for the prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation of sports injuries.


Key words: self-healing hydrogel, sports injury repair, sports injury prevention, sports monitoring, smart rehabilitation, wearable sensors

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