Translational sports medicine最新文献

Background: Rugby involves frequent, high-intensity collisions. While cumulative fatigue is known to impair performance, recent evidence suggests a dissociation between subjective fatigue and objective performance. Understanding this gap is critical for optimizing training and reducing injury risk in collision sports.

Methods: Twenty-nine amateur male rugby players each performed 30 maximal-effort tackles against a stationary tackle dummy. The kinetics and kinematics tackle motion was captured using a 3D motion analysis system (Vicon Motion Systems Ltd, UK) including 10 motion capture cameras. The subjective fatigue, encompassing physical, mental, and motivation aspects, was assessed using visual analog scales at four distinct time points (Pre, Post1, Post2, and Post3). The objective performance was evaluated through countermovement jump (CMJ) height and tackle variables (velocity, momentum, and kinetic energy) extracted from the tackle motion. The analyses included repeated-measures ANOVA, Friedman tests, linear mixed models, and Spearman's correlations.

Results: Physical and mental fatigue increased significantly over time (p < 0.05), particularly after the 20th tackle. However, despite a slight improvement in CMJ performance, no statistically significant changes were detected in kinetics and kinematics parameters. A moderate positive association was revealed between CMJ height and tackle velocity, as determined by correlational analysis. However, no significant relationship was found between subjective fatigue and CMJ height.

Conclusion: Repeated tackling led to substantial subjective fatigue without corresponding declines in objective performance. This dissociation suggests that athletes may experience fatigue without associated actual performance impairment. Perceived fatigue increased markedly after around 20 tackles. However, performance decline may occur only beyond this threshold, which was not reached in the present protocol. These results highlight the need to integrate subjective and objective assessments when monitoring athletes to optimize training and reduce injury risk.

Introduction: This study explored single-leg jump testing as a quantitative measure of functional capacity by analyzing jump performance metrics (JPM) and the associated onset of muscle activity in Achilles tendinopathy (AT) participants compared to healthy controls (CON). Methods: Twenty-four males participating in running sports (12 AT, 12 CON) performed the testing battery on a force plate, including vertical jumps, reactive jumps (RJs), and drop jumps. Analyzed JPM included ground contact time, flight time, peak force during jumps and landings, jump height, modified reactive strength index, and net impulse. Additionally, the limb-symmetry index was compared between groups along with the onset of seven lower limb muscles measured by surface electromyography. Results: Multivariate comparisons showed no significant differences in JPM or limb-symmetry index between AT and CON participants. Solely, the AT group presented an earlier onset of tibialis anterior during RJs (p=0.005). Discussion: In conclusion, single-leg jump testing in the targeted population indicated no generalized changes in overall functional capacity or onset of muscle activity, except in one jump for one specific muscle. However, the descriptively observed increased variability might suggest heterogeneous coping strategies in the presence of AT, highlighting the need for individualized assessments to detect performance deficits.

Introduction: Low performance development (LPD) has been related to several training-related, biological or psychosocial factors. However, there is still hardly any comprehensive research on its multifactorial nature. This study explored whether factors previously associated with LPD manifest as cross-disciplinary pattern combinations across such athletes.

Methods: Cluster analyses were computed based on performance-related (speed and strength of the lower body), biological (ratio TNFα:IL10; fT3, leptin, insulin) and psychosocial (perceived social support; mental well-being) data from 62 of 296 elite athletes whose performance development was below the samples' average range. Group comparisons were calculated for demographic, anthropometric, nutritional and sleep-related variables, as well as for additional psychosocial (critical life events; perceived stress) and biological (single inflammatory markers) variables.

Results: Six patterns were identified, which could be described via domain-specific characteristics (lower body dynamics and social support), via an interdisciplinary combination of factors (social support, mental well-being and/or lower body dynamics) or by no characteristic pattern at group level.

Conclusion: In general, this study extends research on LPD and illustrates the limited validity of generalisations while emphasising the additional value of individualisation for athletes who drop behind their peers. Moreover, the identified patterns point to the limitations of taking a cross-disciplinary approach at group level.

Meniscal tear repair has become the gold standard modality for treating different types of meniscal tears. Despite the availability of numerous repair techniques, the ideal approach remains unclear, especially for complex and irreparable tears. Recently, innovative techniques have emerged to address these challenges, including hybrid/salvage techniques, meniscal scaffolds, and the introduction of biologics as part of the treatment. However, to date, no comprehensive review has provided an overview of the latter adjuncts to surgical intervention and aid in the management of irreparable meniscal tears. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the most common meniscal tear repair techniques, with a particular emphasis on the latest advancements in hybrid and salvage strategies. In addition, we will explore the role of biologics, including platelet-rich plasma and stem cells, in enhancing repair outcomes and assisting less experienced surgeons in treating complex, irreparable tears.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/tsm2/1176787.].

Purpose: This study investigated effects of delayed initial loading in comparison to a standard regime following an Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) on tendon cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration by using 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) measurements. Methods: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Forty-eight patients with an ATR were randomized to a Standard regime with weight-bearing after 6 weeks or a Delayed regime with weight-bearing after 12 weeks postsurgery. Achilles tendon CSA, fat fraction, and vascularization were measured on both the injured and the uninjured side using MRI and US at 12 and 52 weeks. Results: The injured tendon was significantly larger (> 300%) than the uninjured tendon for both the distal and proximal parts (p < 0.0001). The CSA of the distal part was smaller in the Delayed group at 3 months (p=0.038), but not at 12 months. Fat fraction in the tendon increased in both groups. The Delayed group had significantly less vascularization compared with the Standard group at 3 months, and the vascularization decreased in both groups from 3 to 12 months. Conclusion: In comparison to the Standard treatment, the Delayed group had reduced CSA and vascularization for the distal part of the tendon after 3 months. After a year, these differences had become insignificant. From 3 to 12 months, the distal parts of the injured tendon showed an accumulation of fat in both groups. Not only the rupture site but also the entire tendon was affected by the inflammatory repair response. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04263493.

The side hop test (SHT) has been proven to be a highly valid assessment tool for the ankle joint. However, previous studies have not revealed which joints affect the SHT time. Thus, interpreting the SHT time correctly may be challenging. Investigating factors that determine the SHT time would provide important basic information regarding the SHT. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the kinetic factors related to the SHT time in healthy individuals. Twenty healthy male college soccer players formed our study population. Three-dimensional motion analysis was conducted during the SHT. The SHT time and peak torque power (hip, knee, and ankle) during the medial hop (MC) and lateral hop contact (LC) phases in the SHT were calculated. The relationship between the SHT time and peak torque power was examined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. In terms of concentric power, significant negative correlations were found between the SHT time and peak concentric hip power in the sagittal (r = -0.77 to -0.67) and frontal planes (r = -0.74 to -0.47) in each phase. For eccentric power, significant positive correlations were found between the SHT time and peak eccentric ankle power in the sagittal plane (r = 0.48-0.50) in each phase. In addition, significant positive correlations were found between the SHT time and peak eccentric hip power in the frontal plane (r = 0.55) in MC, peak eccentric hip power in the sagittal plane (r = 0.63), and eccentric ankle power in the frontal plane (r = 0.52) in LC. Our results showed that concentric and eccentric power were important for the hip and ankle joints, respectively, and different functional requirements depended on the joint. Based on these findings, clinicians can use the SHT to assess an athlete's condition and appropriately determine their safe return to sports.

The present review summarizes findings from the NOODLE ("predictioN mOdels fOr enDurance athLetEs") study. The research aimed to refine variables obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in a large cohort of highly trained endurance athletes by adjusting general reference values and predictive equations to better reflect the unique physiological profiles of this population. Ventilatory efficiency, oxygen uptake efficiency slope, oxygen uptake efficiency plateau, and peak oxygen pulse were analyzed, as they were recently applied in various models concerning risk stratification and treatment optimization. As more people engage in endurance sports, tailored CPET assessments are crucial for accurate performance evaluation and health monitoring. By characterizing differences between general formulas and those suited for endurance athletes, we offered improved tools for optimizing training and ensuring athlete safety. The findings are in line with the existing trend of precision medicine that tailors diagnostics, treatments, and interventions to individual patients' characteristics. Moreover, we review the recent advances from widely applied CPET-obtained indices, such as maximum oxygen uptake, maximum heart rate, and breathing reserve. We also gave the recommendation for a comprehensive CPET assessment based on the relationships between all of the variables.

Background: Running-related injuries are the most common reason to quit running. There is a gap of knowledge on the use of running equipment as a predictor of running-related injuries in running populations. Objective: To investigate if runners not using equipment while running have a higher rate of running-related injuries compared with runners using running equipment. Design and Methods: Cohort study with an 18-month follow-up, including runners > 18 years old. Exposure was defined as running equipment use, grouped by specific equipment: ankle or knee braces, - tape, insoles, compression socks, jogging stroller, and backpack. Additional groups included participants using multiple types of equipment, those unsure about their equipment use, and those who both indicated uncertainty and selected equipment. Results: Of the 7347 runners included, 3713 (51%) sustained a running-related injury. Runners using knee braces (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48 [95% CI: 1.14-1.92]), ankle tape (HR = 2.10 [95% CI: 1.44-3.07]), knee tape (HR = 1.83 [95% CI: 1.19-2.82]), insoles (HR = 1.34 [95% CI: 1.20-1.49]), compression socks (HR = 1.14 [95% CI: 1.02-1.27]), or multiple types of equipment (HR = 1.27 [95% CI: 1.15-1.40]) were more prone to injury, while runners using a jogging stroller were less prone (HR = 0.63 [95% CI: 0.39-0.99]). No significant associations were observed for ankle braces (HR = 1.52 [95% CI: 0.90-2.58]), backpacks (HR = 1.00 [95% CI: 0.87-1.14]), runners uncertain about equipment (HR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.25-1.44]), and uncertain runners who still selected equipment (HR = 1.01 [95% CI: 0.61-1.67]). Conclusion: Runners using certain types of running equipment (e.g., compression socks, insoles, and/or knee brace) while running had higher hazard rates for running-related injuries compared with runners not using running equipment. Owing to the predictive nature of the study, no causal claims between equipment use and running-related injuries can be made.

The lower limbs are critical to athletic performance in handball, with strength and power being key variables. Previous studies have shown the importance of studying the rate of force development and the reactive strength index to enhance sports performance and prevent sports injuries. Given the limited research on this subject, the objective of this study was to analyze the effects of plyometric, neuromuscular, and strength training on performance and injury-related kinetic and biomechanical factors in female handball players and to identify commonly used functional and biomechanical tests for injury risk and performance assessment. This systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and included eight clinical trials. These studies compared various training programs between the control and experimental groups, focusing on biomechanical analysis, strength training, plyometrics, neuromuscular, and standard training. The findings of this systematic review demonstrate the benefits of incorporating supplementary training into traditional handball training, specifically focusing on strength parameters and plyometric and proprioceptive exercises. Furthermore, controlling eccentric actions and addressing body asymmetries between the dominant and nondominant lower limbs reduces the risk of injuries and accelerates the rehabilitation process for injured handball players.