Research in Sports Medicine最新文献

The purpose of the study was to describe helmet fitting characteristics and influence of prior helmet fitting, issuance and initial season in a sample of youth football athletes. Helmet fit was assessed for 69 athletes aged 8-14 years using a standardized, 9-point inspection. Associated variables for improper fit consisted of previous fitting of helmet for the season, helmet issuance [team/school issued or purchased individually] and year of helmet initial season within 3 years of current season. A series of chi-square tests for association were conducted between the overall helmet fit and the associated variables. In total, 53.6% of youth football athletes had an improperly fit helmet, with 20.3% having ≥ three inspection items not meet fitting criteria. There were no associations between proper fit and previous fitting (p = 0.52), helmet issuance (p = 0.96) and year of initial season (p = 0.23). In conclusion, there were no associations between proper helmet fit and prior fitting, helmet issuance or year of initial season.

The role of a sports mouthguard has been well established as one of protecting teeth from trauma particularly during contact sports. The aim of this study is to review the roles of sports mouthguard at both an elite and recreational level. From the history of the first mouthguards, to a modern custom-made mouthguard, the role of the mouthguard has expanded. This review will look at the development of the mouthguard, the materials used to manufacture modern mouthguards and the different types available to elite and recreational athletes from a variety of sports. The mouthguard is now recognized as an essential piece of preventative equipment by many authors. This article shows that comfort, respiration and speech are not negatively affected by a well-fitting mouthguard. Many sports do not mandate the use of mouthguards but those that do have seen a significant reduction in oro-facial trauma incidence.

Musculoskeletal injuries are common in both general and sporting populations and contribute to significant healthcare costs, lost workdays and compromised performance of daily activity and sport. Despite various rehabilitation models being available to health and rehabilitation practitioners, there are some inconsistencies in structure, terminology and specificity across these. The current narrative review critically evaluates existing rehabilitation models, frameworks and phased approaches, identifying limitations related to structure, content and specificity. Additionally, a novel multicomponent exercise rehabilitation model is proposed which adopts a non-linear, concurrent approach to attribute development and integration of progression guidance. Using a multicomponent approach, a structured yet adaptable progression framework is provided that could help optimize rehabilitation outcomes, minimize detraining and enhance individuals' readiness for return to sport or daily activity.

This study aimed to examine the acute effects of prolonged static stretching (SS) versus dynamic stretching (DS), followed by either tennis-specific activation or rest, on physical performance in collegiate tennis players. A randomized crossover trial was conducted with 31 collegiate tennis players. Each participant completed three interventions: (A) SS + activation, (B) DS + activation, and (C) SS + rest. Lower limb muscles were stretching for 3 minutes per group. The activation were tennis footwork drill for 6 minutes. Physical performance was assessed after stretching and after activation using sit-and-reach flexibility, standing long jump (SLJ), agility T-Test, and hand grip strength. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA was used. Immediately after stretching, SS significantly improved flexibility (sit-and-reach: p < 0.05) but impaired SLJ performance (p < 0.05) and agility (p < 0.05) compared to DS. Crucially, after sport-specific activation exercises, the initial performance declines observed following SS were mitigated, resulting in no significant differences between SS and DS in subsequent SLJ and T-Test performances. Prolonged SS improves flexibility, it temporarily impair agility and explosive performance, however, these drawbacks can be effectively offset through subsequent sport-specific activation exercise.

Gait retraining programs take a structured approach to altering a runner's gait, often with the goal of decreasing footstrike angle and increasing cadence, as these outcomes have been correlated to a reduced rate of injury and optimal performance. Minimalist footwear, or running barefoot entirely, has been explored as a tool for gait adjustment in runners, largely due to the increased feedback from ground forces experienced by the runner. This systematic review aims to decipher the effect of gait retraining with minimalist footwear or barefoot running on footstrike angle and cadence. The comparison group included runners that underwent gait retraining in traditional footwear. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in footstrike angle, indicating more forefoot striking, in the experimental group, but no significant changes in cadence. This demonstrates promise in utilizing minimalist footwear or barefoot running as an adjunct to gait retraining in runners.

This case report details the conservative management of a complete adductor longus tendon tear in a semi-professional forward footballer. The injury occurred while reaching for the ball with the uninjured limb, with the injured limb in closed kinetic chain. After confirming the injury severity with a magnetic resonance scan, the medical team opted for a conservative approach due to the small tendon retraction. Treatment was based on task progression, ensuring the player could complete exercises with tolerated pain. Rehabilitation consisted of unsupervised gym and on-field exercises progressed separately, including overall strength, mobility, adductor strength, balance, plyometrics, running, kicking and small-sided games. Additionally, pain during the squeeze test and eccentric adduction strength were assessed at different points. The player returned to play 96 days after the injury and has remained active since. The framework supported a safe return to play without surgery or the need for supervised rehabilitation sessions.

This study aimed to investigate the acute local and remote effects of foam rolling (FR) applied to the knee flexors, and its influence on cervical spine range of motion (ROM). Given the anatomical continuity within the superficial back line, outcomes were also assessed at the cervical spine to explore potential myofascial chain-mediated effects. Thirty-seven participants (25.4 ± 4.28 years) completed two conditions: a control condition (CC) and an FR intervention applied exclusively to the right thigh's knee flexors. Outcome measures reported were collected both locally (right-knee flexors) and remotely (cervical spine) and included skin temperature (TsK), tissue hardness (TH), and ROM, assessed at baseline and immediately post-intervention. No significant changes in TsK were observed. TH significantly decreased in the biceps femoris (p < 0.001), semitendinosus/semimembranosus complex (p < 0.001) and right cervical region (p = 0.021), but not in the left cervical region (p = 0.279). All ROM measures showed statistically significant improvements following FR (p < 0.001 to p = 0.006), including right hip flexion, cervical flexion and extension, right and left cervical rotation, and right and left cervical inclination . FR acutely increased ROM both locally and remotely, accompanied by reductions in TH without changes in TsK. Notwithstanding the transmission of forces through myofascial chains remains a plausible explanation, the observed improvements in remote ROM, without a concomitant thermal change, may indicate the contribution of alternative mechanisms, such as neurophysiological adaptations, that warrant further investigation.

Oral health problems have been reported by athletes to negatively affect their performance, therefore improved oral health has the potential to enhance performance. Reduced performance due to poor oral health is unacceptable and preventable. A rapid literature review was undertaken. Oral diseases such as caries, erosive tooth wear and periodontal diseases do not present with pain in their early stages, and athletes may delay a dental check or even treatment until they perceive a problem. Oral health promotion in sport is most likely to be successful if it is embedded within overall athlete general health and performance promotion. Most members of the athlete support team are not experts in this area and therefore specialist input is needed. Regular checks, provided through oral health screening, are important, not only to identify oral diseases at an early stage but as an opportunity to enhance motivation towards a high standard of oral health.

The purpose of this study is to determine the prior injury patterns in relationship to the subsequent new injuries of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears within the National Basketball Association (NBA). A systematic search was performed of two publicly available online sources to aggregate the injury history of athletes who sustained anterior cruciate ligament tears within the National Basketball Association. To examine previous injury trends by mechanism of injury, each injury was then further sub-classified into three previously identified mechanisms: 1) single leg casting; 2) bilateral pro-hop; 3) single-leg landing after contact. One hundred and twenty-five occurrences of ACL injuries were reviewed between 1981 and 2023. For each ACL injury, the involved player's injury history was recorded including the injury report date, location, type/categorization, most recent game played, and days missed due to injury. Thirty-four ACL injuries were preceded by a time-loss injury (at least 1 game missed) within 90 days, including 14 within 30 days. Previous knee and/or ankle injuries occurred within one-year of 40% of the ACL tears. Understanding the link between previous minor and moderate injury and subsequent major injury will help practitioners better identify and stratify risk when considering return to competition.

Injuries are common in both artistic and rhythmic gymnastics due to intense training, biomechanics, and previous injuries. Despite different apparatus and movement patterns, both disciplines pose a high injury risk. This study compared injury prevalence, types, affected body regions, and risk factors between artistic and rhythmic gymnasts. A retrospective survey was conducted in gymnastics clubs with 92 female gymnasts (39 artistic, 53 rhythmic), aged 7-24 years. Since the data were not normally distributed, the Mann-Whitney U-test was used. Artistic gymnasts had a significantly higher injury rate (2.95 per career) compared to rhythmic gymnasts (0.96; p < .01). The Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant differences across athlete categories (p = .07), but training frequency (p < .001) and experience level (p < .001) influenced injury numbers. Post hoc tests revealed that gymnasts training five times per week reported more injuries. Chi-square tests showed that shoulder, wrist, elbow, and ankle injuries were more common in artistic gymnastics. Artistic gymnasts also required more intensive treatments. Most injuries occurred during training. The most frequent treatment was rest with cooling and creams, followed by physical therapy. Recovery time was longer in artistic gymnasts, with some taking over six months to return.