International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy最新文献

Accurately monitoring training intensity is essential in older adults to optimize adaptations and reduce injury risk. While the OMNI-Resistance Exercise Scale for elastic bands (OMNI-RES EB) has been validated post-exercise, applying it from the first repetition (RPE-1) may provide a quick, non-invasive method to individualize training without maximal testing-improving prescription accuracy, limiting fatigue, and supporting autoregulation in vulnerable populations. The purpose of this study was to validate RPE-1 during moderate-velocity elastic resistance training in physically active older adults with prior experience using elastic-band exercise, by analyzing its predictive validity, reliability, and neuromuscular and cardiovascular responses across effort levels. # Study type Quasi-experimental cohort study. # Methods A convenience sample of twelve healthy older adults (≥60 years) with >3 months of experience in elastic band resistance training performed standing military press sets to failure with an elastic band at four target RPE-1 levels (2-8 out of 10). The band color was chosen based on the participant's RPE-1 on the first repetition. Neuromuscular activity of the anterior deltoid and triceps brachii was recorded using surface electromyography, and heart rate, blood pressure, and total repetitions were also measured. Inter-session test-retest reliability of RPE-1 was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Neuromuscular activity progression was examined across the four RPE-1 levels. Concurrent validity was evaluated through the relationship between RPE-1, total repetitions, and physiological responses. # Results Six women and six men volunteered to participate (66.75±3.49 years; BMI: 24.99±4.32 kg/m2). RPE-1 was strongly associated with neuromuscular activation in both the anterior deltoid (p<0.001, ηp²=0.83) and the long head of the triceps brachii (p=0.001, ηp²=0.52), showing a strong linear increase with perceived effort. RPE-1 also predicted total repetitions (r=-0.71; R2=0.50), independently of participants' strength level, measured by handgrip strength. Reliability was high across variables (ICC=0.84-0.94). Cardiovascular responses did not differ significantly between intensities. Neuromuscular activation increased across set segments, with marginal gains beyond 75% of total volume. # Conclusion RPE-1 via the OMNI-RES EB scale is a valid, and reliable tool for regulating elastic resistance training intensity in older adults, enabling early, efficient, and individualized prescription strategies. # Level of evidence 3b.

The Single Leg Bridge (SLB) is widely prescribed for core and posterior chain strengthening, but normative endurance values are lacking. Establishing benchmarks may enhance rehabilitation, performance screening, and injury risk assessment. # Hypothesis/Purpose The purpose of this study is two-fold: The first is to establish normative values for the SLB endurance test, which physical therapists can use as a reference for rehabilitation. The second is to evaluate whether visually assessing SLB form loss is as accurate as using an app with angle detection in measuring the total duration of SLB during endurance testing. # Study Design Cross-sectional study # Methods Participants were recruited through flyers and word of mouth on the Georgia Southern University campus and within the Savannah community. Participants were excluded if they had medical conditions or recent injuries that could affect single-leg bridge performance. All participants completed a standardized warm-up, followed by a single bilateral trial of the SLB test. Endurance time was recorded using clinician visual estimation and the Angles App, which identified >10° hip deviation from starting position. After excluding outliers, descriptive statistics established normative values, and Pearson correlations assessed agreement between methods. # Results Seventy-seven asymptomatic participants (mean age 20.3 years; 77.7% female, 17.3% male) participated in the study. Adjusted normative values were 65.2 seconds (SD = 32.7) for the dominant leg and 63.9 seconds (SD = 33.7) for the nondominant leg. Strong, statistically significant correlations were observed between clinician visual and app-based measures (dominant leg: r = 0.815, p < 0.001; nondominant leg: r = 0.837, p < 0.001). # Conclusions This study provides the first normative SLB endurance values for healthy young adults. Findings demonstrate that clinician visual estimation strongly aligns with app-based analysis, supporting use of the SLB test in clinical environments where technology access may be limited. The SLB uniquely challenges posterior chain and gluteal endurance under unilateral stabilization and may complement existing core endurance assessments. # Level of Evidence Level 3.

The menisci of the knee are situated between the femur and the tibia. There are two (medial and lateral) wedge-shaped fibrocartilage discs that help to transmit compressive, shear, and rotational loads through the knee. Meniscus injuries are common in sports and activities of daily living that require squatting and pivoting. Acute meniscus injury is more common in sports that involves pivoting and cutting. These acute tears can occur in conjunction with other injuries, such as tears of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, whereas older individuals may have a degenerative tear. An older, more seasoned meniscus may be more prone to tears even during what appear to be simple activities, such as getting off the floor or squatting to garden. Accurate diagnosis of meniscus injuries is essential for appropriate treatment planning and optimizing patient outcomes. Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) offers a portable, real-time, and cost-effective alternative, gaining traction in rehabilitation and sports medicine settings. MSKUS has emerged as a valuable, non-invasive imaging modality for evaluating meniscus injuries, including meniscus tears and their structural properties, composition and continuity. This manuscript will review the utility of MSKUS in evaluating medial and lateral meniscus injuries, including anatomy, common injury patterns, sonographic techniques, and clinical implications for rehabilitation professionals. Diagnosis of acute meniscus injury by physical examination is often challenging and is frequently misdiagnosed. By integrating MSKUS into clinical practice, providers can improve diagnostic accuracy, enhance diagnostic confidence, monitor healing progression, and guide rehabilitation strategies to achieve optimal patient outcomes for those with knee meniscus injuries.

Level of evidence: V.

Background: Scapular dyskinesis (SD) is a common co-morbidity with shoulder complex injuries. However, the presence of shoulder pain (SP) with SD is inconsistent, suggesting a need for individualized assessment and treatment approaches. The purpose of this case report is to describe the differential diagnosis of an athlete with SD and SP and a rehabilitation strategy integrating physical therapy (PT) with a Stroke Efficiency Rating Analysis/Injury Risk Assessment (SER/IRA) to identify biomechanical faults during the tennis serve.

Case description: A 23-year-old male tennis player with right SP was referred to PT by his coach. The subject's SP had been intermittent for nine years, presenting during and after serving and recently intensified, limiting his activities of daily living (ADLs). The subject was diagnosed with secondary shoulder impingement with long head of the bicep and rotator cuff tendinopathy attributed to SD. He completed a 16-week, four-phase rehabilitation program incorporating the SER/IRA and revisions to the biomechanics of his service action, leading to symptom resolution and return to pain-free tennis and ADLs.

Outcomes: The subject's pain level during and after playing tennis decreased from 8/10 to 1/10 following the intervention. The Upper Extremity Functional Score improved by 11 points, while the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (disability/symptom and work/sports modules) decreased by 20.87 and 56.25 points, respectively, reflecting clinically meaningful change. The subject returned to tennis and ADLs without pain and remained unrestricted six months after discharge.

Discussion: This case highlights the effectiveness of combining individualized stroke analysis with evidenced based rehabilitation for an individual with SD and SP. The SER/IRA provided insight into the subject's movement quality, guided treatment progression, augmented rehabilitation, and facilitated collaboration between the physical therapist and coach. Such tools may help promote long-term pain reduction, expedite return-to-play, and optimize performance for players with SP and/or SD.

Level of evidence: Level 4.

Objective: The use of an abdominal contraction is a therapeutic maneuver to help stabilize the spine. It is unknown if executive cognitive distraction (ECD or "Stroop effect") influences a participant's ability to perform an abdominal contraction in a unipedal functional situation. The purpose was to determine the effect executive cognitive distraction has on abdominal bracing maneuver (ABM) execution in healthy participants while performing a unipedal functional task.

Design: Repeated measure cohort design.

Methods: Thirty healthy individuals, ranging 20-41 years were recruited from a local university to participate. Participants used an ABM to volitionally stabilize the spine or No-ABM, with and without ECD, while performing the Y-Balance Test (YBT). Surface electromyography (EMG) on participants' moving and stance side lower extremity (LE) internal obliques (IO) and external obliques (EO) while performing YBT in the anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) directions. Surface EMG was reported as a percentage of the participants' maximum voluntary muscle amplitude. Stroop incorporated an established ECD auditory program whereby masculine and feminine terms were discerned and participants responded by motion of their fingers. A 2 (ABM) X 2 (ECD) repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) tested for significant interactions and main effects during each YBT direction.

Results: The participants' age mean was x= 27.2 yrs, with ± 5.1 years SD, 18 females and 12 males. A main effect for ABM strategy in all YBT directions, where both IO and EO muscle amplitudes were significantly greater during the Yes-ABM condition (p<0.001). Also, a main effect for Stroop in the PM YBT direction, where the mean reach distance was significantly greater during the No-ECD condition (p=0.006).

Conclusion: Healthy participants were able to perform a ABM during an LE reaching task, even when cognitively distracted. However, distraction did affect PM reach distances. The findings indicate participants should be able to use an ABM while performing unipedal activities that incorporate dynamic balance. Future research is required to determine the effect cognitive distraction has during an athletic or activity of daily living.

Level of evidence: 3.

Background: Previous research on upper extremity range of motion has compared in-person to virtual measures for sagittal plane motions (flexion/extension) showing good-excellent reliability. Since upper extremity evaluation includes motion in all planes, it is important to assess whether transverse plane motion (rotation, supination, pronation) can be reliably measured during a virtual assessment.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability (test/re-test inter-rater and intra-rater) of goniometric measurements of shoulder internal rotation and forearm pronation/supination obtained in-person and virtually.

Study design: Observational cohort, Reliability study.

Methods: Subjects 18-60 years of age with no upper extremity injuries were recruited for range of motion (ROM) testing in a standing position with measurements performed with a standard goniometer. Shoulder internal rotation was measured using the Hand-Behind-the-Back method and forearm pronation/supination were measured with shoulder adducted to the body and elbow flexed. Before in-person measurements were obtained, a static image of end range was captured using a mobile device with a camera. Within 10 days of the in-person measurements, clinicians measured the range of motion on the static image using the same standard goniometric methods as the in-person measurements. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were determined via intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) at the 90% and 95% confidence level.

Results: The inter-rater reliability (ICC≥0.94) and intra-rater reliability (ICC≥0.91) for all in-person and virtual measurements were classified as excellent (SEM: 0.79-1.74°, MDC90: 2.12-4.06°, MDC95: 2.20-4.82°). When combining the three examiners' measurements for each motion, there was a statistically significant difference between in-person and virtual internal rotation (77.5±9.0° vs. 75.3±9.0°, p=0.001). The only statistically significant difference found between examiners occurred for the in-person measurement of pronation (examiner 3: 3.9° greater compared to examiner 1, p=0.044).

Conclusion: Virtual assessment compared to in-person goniometric measurements showed excellent inter- and intra-rater reliabilities (ICC >0.75). This suggests clinicians trained in goniometry can utilize this technique either in person or on a virtual platform. Level of Evidence 3b.

Background: Comparing static postural stability between the involved and uninvolved legs in individuals 12 weeks after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), and against healthy controls, may provide insight into rehabilitation progression.

Purpose: To compare static single-leg postural stability between the injured and uninjured legs of individuals 12 weeks post ACLR, and to a control group of healthy, physically active individuals.

Study design: Case-control study.

Methods: Twenty-nine participants (17 male, 12 female; age = 20.9 ± 5.0) 12 weeks post ACLR and 87 healthy controls (51 male, 36 female; age = 19.4 ± 1.2) volunteered. Static single-leg postural stability was assessed using an AMTI force plate under eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions. Ground reaction force in three directions were recorded for each condition. Comparisons were made between the ACLR group and controls, as well as between the involved and uninvolved legs within the ACLR group. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each variable. Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon signed rank tests identified significant differences, and effect sizes were computed.

Results: There were no significant differences within the ACLR group or between the ACLR and control groups for any static postural stability variable.

Conclusions: Under the specific static postural stability test administered, individuals 12 weeks post ACLR did not show significant differences in static postural stability between their involved and uninvolved legs, or when compared to healthy controls. These findings suggest that static postural stability is either not significantly impacted by ACLR or that deficits resolve by 12 weeks post-surgery and may not need to be a primary focus of early rehabilitation. Alternatively, it is also possible that the challenge imposed in the current study was not sufficient to challenge the components required for postural stability and clinicians should consider integrating more difficult tasks.

Level of evidence: 3.

Background: There is a paucity of research examining injury in field hockey athletes compared to other sports such as Australian football and soccer. The injury profile of pre-elite Australian hockey athletes is unknown.

Purpose: The primary aims of this research were to (1) determine the prevalence of injuries/illnesses at the start of a tournament and following an 8-day tournament; (2) describe injuries/illnesses and injury incidence rates at the 2024 U/18 Hockey Australia Championships (HAC). Secondary aims were to (1) assess whether the drag flicking hockey skill is correlated with injury and (2) compare athlete self-report injury/illness surveillance method with first aid observer injury reporting.

Study design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Methods: Four hundred and twenty-nine female and male athletes competing at the 2024 U/18 HAC were invited to participate. Two injury/illness surveillance methods were adopted: 1) athlete self-report and 2) third-party recording. The self-report method involved athletes completing the Modified Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire at the start and end of the tournament. The existing third-party method required the first aid officer to record injuries/illnesses they observed. Descriptive analysis of injuries/illnesses was completed. Logistical regression was used to assess the relationship between drag flicking and injury.

Results: Three hundred and ninty-eight athletes participated (16-18yo, 50% male, 50% female). At the end of the tournament, self-report data identified 126 athletes that experienced 203 injuries (96 sports incapacity [SI] injuries) and 44 athletes had an illness (4 SI illnesses). Sixty-nine females sustained 122 injuries (58 SI injuries) and 57 males sustained 81 injuries (38 SI injuries). The third-party method of injury tracking captured 13 injuries during the tournament while the self-report method identified 135 injuries. The most frequently injured area was the lower limb: knee (n = 30), followed by the lower leg/achilles (n = 27) and ankle (n = 23). There was no relationship between drag flicking and injury (aOR 1.44 (95%CI 0.83 to 2.48), p = 0.19).

Conclusion: There was a high injury rate at the 2024 U/18 HAC. Females sustained more injuries and at a higher rate compared to males. Lower limb injuries were most frequent, providing clear direction for injury prevention strategies.

Level of evidence: Level 3.

Over the span of 25 years, the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy (IFSPT) has grown from its founding in 2000 in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands to a Federation of more than 40 member organizations. The IFSPT was officially recognized as a member organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy in 2003. Since then, it has partnered with the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy (in 2010), defined the core competencies for sports physiotherapists, launched the pathway to become a Registered International Sports Physical Therapist, and inaugurated its own World Congress in 2015, with the sixth congress planned for December 2026. This perspective reviews these milestones, notes remaining global disparities, and outlines priorities in equity, digital health, and sustainability.

Level of evidence: 5.