Current sports medicine reports最新文献

Abstract: Football (soccer) is the most popular sport worldwide. A wide variety of injuries occur at different competitive levels. Some of these injuries are rare, but may have devastating consequences for players, such as anterior cruciate ligament rupture. On the other hand, there are more common injuries, such as mild muscle strains, that usually result in a short return-to-play period. There is a paucity of existing evidence supporting the use of specific preventative practices for certain injuries. The purpose of this review is to highlight current injury prevention measures that are used among professional football players and to review the level of evidence for each specific program. The resources available in professional football can lend itself to conduct high-level research to develop injury prevention programs.

Abstract: On January 2, 2023, Damar Hamlin collapsed after a routine tackle during a nationally televised football game and was diagnosed with commotio cordis. This rare but dangerous condition occurs when a blunt chest impact disrupts the heart's rhythm, leading to cardiac arrest. Hamlin's survival, thanks to immediate CPR and defibrillation, highlights the risks athletes face from chest trauma and the importance of timely response. This paper reviews current literature on commotio cordis, emphasizing its under-recognition in sports. It explores prevention strategies, including enhanced protective gear, sports rule changes, and preparticipation screening. The review also stresses the need for educating athletes and coaches on the risks and proper emergency response protocols with commotio cordis. With these measures, the incidence of commotio cordis in sports can be significantly reduced.

Abstract: Black individuals in the United States experience a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease, driven by higher prevalence of traditional risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia, as well as the enduring impact of structural racism, socioeconomic inequality, and environmental injustice. These disparities contribute to elevated cardiovascular mortality and sudden cardiac death, including among competitive athletes. Additionally, Black athletes face a higher risk of cardiac arrest and are more likely to have preparticipation electrocardiograms misclassified as abnormal, which can lead to inappropriate disqualification from sport. Current diagnostic standards reinforce systemic bias and perpetuate the myth of biological racial determinism. Instead, a race-conscious approach - one that integrates the social determinants of health, develops inclusive diagnostic reference ranges, and ensures equitable access to preventive care - can reduce false positives, improve risk stratification, and foster more equitable clinical decision-making. Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive strategies, including upstream investment in equitable health systems and downstream implementation of culturally competent, evidence-based care tailored to athletes' needs. By shifting the focus from race as a biological construct to race as a proxy for structural inequities, sports cardiology can advance toward a more just and prevention-focused model that improves cardiovascular outcomes for all athletes.

Abstract: Cervical spine injuries in mixed martial arts athletes present unique challenges, especially regarding return to play after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. While single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has shown favorable return to play outcomes in collision sports, mixed martial arts involves higher cervical impact forces, increasing the risk of adjacent segment disease, muscle imbalances, and proprioceptive deficits. Return to play following multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion remains controversial, with limited data and no standardized guidelines. Rehabilitation post-anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for mixed martial arts athletes should focus on early mobilization, trunk stabilization, advanced neck-specific exercises, and addressing psychological barriers like fear-avoidance behavior through multidisciplinary care. These concepts are highlighted through a case study of a 37-year-old professional Ultimate Fighting Championship athlete who successfully returned to competition within 6 months after two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This case emphasizes phased rehabilitation strategies, from postoperative management to precompetition training, underscoring gaps in advanced cervical training and psychological support. Future research should develop evidence-based guidelines to enhance safety performance in mixed martial arts.

Abstract: Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability in both the United States and worldwide. In comparison to nonexposed controls, athletes, including tactical athletes such as military members and first responders, have higher rates of osteoarthritis. Management of osteoarthritis in the athletic population is largely similar to management of osteoarthritis in the general population, with a strong emphasis on conservative management. The focus of this article is to provide an evidence-based overview of the conservative management of osteoarthritis in athletic individuals to include exercise, biomechanical interventions, pharmaceutical modalities, as well as emerging nonpharmaceutical modalities such as extracorporeal shockwave therapy, radiofrequency ablation, Tai Chi, and acupuncture.