Outcomes In Athletes Research Articles

Return to Play Guidelines in Pediatric Concussion: A Systematic Review of Current Literature.

Pediatric concussions, particularly in youth sports, are a significant public health concern, with up to 18% of children experiencing one by age 17. Return-to-play (RTP) guidelines aim to protect athletes from the adverse effects of repeated injuries, but these protocols vary widely based on factors such as age, sport, and geography. This review synthesizes current literature on RTP guidelines for pediatric concussions to provide evidence-based recommendations. A systematic search of PubMed was conducted using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms "return to play," "pediatric concussion," and "mild traumatic brain injury." Studies published between January 2000 and December 2023 were included if they focused on RTP protocols for children aged 5 to 17. After screening 60 articles, 45 were selected for review. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. RTP protocols showed significant variability influenced by age, gender, and sport type. Common themes included initial rest followed by a gradual return to activity. Female athletes generally required longer recovery periods. Multidisciplinary care and early therapeutic interventions, such as vestibular therapy, were associated with better outcomes and faster recovery. There is a need for standardized, evidence-based RTP guidelines to address inconsistencies in concussion management. Future research should focus on creating universally applicable protocols, with attention to gender, sport-specific factors, and early intervention to improve recovery outcomes for young athletes.

Effectiveness of Self-Management Programs Among Athletes With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a highly prevalent overuse knee injury in athletic populations associated with pain and functional limitations, exacerbated by activities such as running, pivoting, cycling, and jumping. Self-management programs empowering athletes to take an active role in controlling their symptoms for chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as patellofemoral pain syndrome have grown in popularity. However, the efficacy of self-management programs specifically for athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome is unclear due to limited and heterogeneous evidence. The systematic review study will evaluate the effectiveness of self-management programs on pain and function, in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and PsycINFO databases will be systematically searched using terms related to "patellofemoral pain syndrome," "self-management," and "athletes." Interventional studies that are randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials will be included, comparing self-management programs to other treatments or control conditions among athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Four reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data using the COVIDENCE software, and assess the quality of the study and evidence using the Pedro scale of risk of bias tool and GRADE approach, respectively. If feasible, a meta-analysis will be performed using the RevMan (version 5.4; the Cochrane Collaboration). The systematic review is currently in the search phase, with the authors refining search strings for the selected databases. The final search strings are expected to be ready by March 2024, and the review is projected to be completed by July 2024. This systematic review protocol outlines a rigorous methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of self-management programs among athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. The findings will inform clinical practice and guide the development of tailored interventions to optimize outcomes for athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome. PROSPERO CRD42023492746; https://tinyurl.com/c5jze9ca. PRR1-10.2196/58340.

Male Endurance Athletes: Examination of Energy and Carbohydrate Availability and Hormone Responses

Background: This study investigated the effects of decreased energy availability (EA) and carbohydrate availability (CA) on reproductive and metabolic hormones in male endurance-trained athletes. Methods: Thirteen athletes (age: 26.08 ± 4.3 years; weight: 70.9 ± 6.5 kg; height: 179.9 ± 4.2 cm) participated in two training weeks with varying training volumes (low [LV] and high [HV]). The participants logged their diet and exercise for seven days and provided blood samples to measure hormone levels (Testosterone [T], insulin, leptin, cortisol, and interleukin-6 [IL-6]). Results: Results showed that 46.2% (HV) and 38.5% (LV) of participants were at risk for low EA (≤25 kcal/kg FFM·d-1), while 53.8% (HV) and 69.2% (LV) had low CA (<6 g/kg). Strong positive correlations were found between leptin and body fat percentage (DXABFP) in both weeks (HV: r(11) = 0.88, p < 0.001; LV: r(11) = 0.93, p < 0.001). Moderate correlations were observed between T and DXABFP (r(11) = 0.56, p = 0.05) and negative correlations between leptin and fat intake (r(11) = −0.60, p = 0.03). Regression analyses indicated significant relationships between DXABFP and T (F(1,11) = 4.91, p = 0.049), leptin (HV: F(1,11) = 40.56, p < 0.001; LV: F(1,11) = 74.67, p < 0.001), and cortisol (F(1,11) = 6.69, p = 0.025). Conclusions: These findings suggest that monitoring body composition and macronutrients can be clinically useful for male athletes, especially those without access to blood testing. Ultimately, a greater understanding of health and performance outcomes for male athletes is needed.

Education is necessary but not sufficient for addressing disparities in concussion knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions

ABSTRACT Introduction Concussion leads to immediate cognitive, physiological, psychological, and emotional consequences that, if left untreated, may persist resulting in longer-term effects. Concussion education programs provide students with the knowledge necessary for them to make an informed decision to seek care should an injury occur. Methods In this observational cohort study, youth participating in public middle or high school athletics in a suburban county in Pennsylvania were asked to complete a survey to assess their concussion knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions before and after concussion education. Results All students increased scores from pre- to posteducation (mean difference, 0.08 to 0.67). Students from noncontact sports, higher grades, and higher Child Opportunity Index (COI) schools tended to have higher scores both before and after concussion education compared to students from contact sports, lower grades, or lower COI schools. Discussion Disparities were identified before and after the educational intervention between sport participation, grade level, and schools with different COI. Although concussion education was successful, with students showing improvement in all questions related to concussion knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions, this study identifies a need for the development of more equitable educational support systems. Understanding these differences may provide opportunities for targeted educational strategies, which might result in improved outcomes for younger athletes, those participating in contact sports, and those from lower COI schools.

Low energy availability surrogates are associated with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport outcomes in male athletes

ObjectivesTo determine the association between surrogates of low energy availability (EA) and proposed health and performance outcomes of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) in a clinical sample of adolescent...

Adaptive Sport and Recreational Therapy: A Scoping Review to Explore Practices for the Profession

Adaptive sports provide athletes with disabilities with independent engagement while increasing their physical health and skill-building abilities. Recreational therapy prides itself as the primary discipline implementing adaptive sports for individuals with disabilities, yet efficacy needs to be determined. A scoping review was conducted using recreational therapy/therapeutic recreation online journals, and standardized checklists with predefined criteria to extract details on study design, procedures, outcomes, and study quality. Data were analyzed by three researchers using a structured, blinded review. Four themes emerged about recreational therapy services and adaptive sports: Fostering positive athlete outcomes, the importance of including both components of physical health and skill competency, social benefits for athletes, and facilitation considerations for adaptive sports within recreational therapy services. Findings warrant additional research on adaptive sports and recreational therapy services and recommendations for practice are discussed, such as establishing best practice guidelines for this specialty area.

Athletic Identity and Sport Injury Processes and Outcomes in Young Athletes: A Supplemental Narrative Review.

Background: Identity formation, a primary developmental task of adolescence, may be particularly relevant to another commonly occurring event for young athletes-sport injury. Relationships between a subdimension of self-identity-athletic identity-and sport injury processes and outcomes have been documented in the general athlete population. The purpose of this supplemental narrative review is to explore the potential role of athletic identity in the risk of injury occurrence and responses to and consequences of injury among young athletes. Methods: Studies on athletic identity in relation to sport injury, with a focus on young athletes, were extracted from a recent scoping review and identified through an updated literature search from April 2020 through June 2024. A total of 23 studies were examined. Results: Across the studies reviewed, high levels of athletic identity were associated with a reluctance to report injury-related symptoms, a tendency to endorse attitudes and behaviors reflecting a willingness to play through pain and injury, intensified physical and psychological symptoms after injury, a disposition toward over-adhering to rehabilitation, high levels of postinjury coping skills, and better functional and return-to-sport outcomes after injury among young athletes. Conclusions: Athletic identity may, therefore, be a source of both strength and vulnerability in young athletes in terms of sport injury processes and outcomes.

Inflated effect estimates for vitamin D supplementation are driven by common meta-analytical errors.

Han et al. (J Int Soc Sports Nutr 16:55, 2019) sought to quantify the effects of vitamin D supplementation on strength outcomes among athletes in a meta-analysis. The authors reported a pooled effect size (standardized mean difference; SMD) of -0.75 (95% CI: -1.82 to 0.32, p = 0.17) in favor of supplementation, but the analytical approach was not appropriate for a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials and the effect sizes were calculated incorrectly. This letter discusses how these issues impact the results and interpretation of the paper, then provides an update on the estimated average effect of vitamin D on strength outcomes in athletes. Identified errors included the use of within-group rather than between-group effect size metrics, the use of standard error values in place of standard deviations, and failure to account for correlated observations within the model. The data were reanalyzed after correcting for these common meta-analytic errors. The results of this reanalysis reflect a dramatically smaller and statistically nonsignificant pooled effect estimate of SMD = 0.16 (-0.24 to 0.56, p = 0.43) in favor of supplementation. Further, the model from this reanalysis has more favorable statistical characteristics than the original analysis, as evidenced by a fairly symmetrical funnel plot and a nonsignificant result for Cochrane's Q test (Q = 5.02, p = 0.41). In order to disseminate robust information to sports nutrition practitioners and researchers, it is critically important for meta-analyses to produce valid effect estimates that are appropriate for the underlying study designs and calculated without error. This letter highlights common errors to inform the calculation and interpretation of future meta-analyses in sports nutrition.

Return-to-Play Post-Myocarditis for Athletes: To Play or Not to Play?

Myocarditis is a condition marked by inflammation of the heart muscle, which can lead to serious outcomes such as sudden cardiac death (SCD) and life-threatening arrhythmias. While myocarditis can affect any population, athletes, especially those engaged in high-intensity training, are at increased risk due to factors such as reduced immunity and increased exposure to pathogens. This review examines the clinical presentation, current guidelines, diagnostic challenges, and the significance of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in detecting myocardial inflammation and scarring. Current guidelines recommend a period of exercise restriction followed by thorough reassessment before athletes can return-to-play (RTP). However, there are several knowledge gaps, including the implications of persistent late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on CMR and the optimal duration of exercise restriction. Additionally, the psychological impact of myocarditis on athletes highlights the importance of incorporating mental health support in the recovery process. A shared decision-making approach should be encouraged in RTP, considering the athlete's overall health, personal preferences, and the potential risks of resuming competitive sports. We have proposed an algorithm for RTP in athletes following myocarditis, incorporating CMR. Future research is warranted to refine RTP protocols and improve risk stratification, particularly through longitudinal studies that examine recovery and outcomes in athletes.

Effect of septoplasty on physical performance

The nasal septum is a key component of the nasal structure, affecting proper airflow and providing support for the nasal structures. A deviated septum (DSN) can lead to breathing disorders, impaired nasal patency, recurrent nosebleeds, olfactory disorders and frequent upper respiratory tract infections. In competitive sports, where ventilation performance is critical, septal deviation can adversely affect athletic performance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of septoplasty on patients' physical performance. Methodes This article is based on the available literature found in the Google Scholar, PubMed database with the use of key words such as ,,septoplasty'', ,,nasal septal deviation'', ,,septoplasty quality of life'', ,,nasal septal deviation athletes'', ,,septoplasty sport'', ,,nasal obstruction sport''. Results Conducted studies show that surgical correction of a deviated nasal septum improves physical performance as well as respiratory and cardiovascular functions. Restoring proper airflow through the nose after surgery leads to a noticeable improvement in physical performance, highlighting the significance of septoplasty in enhancing patient comfort and improving athletic outcomes.

Coach Training Participation and Athlete Life Skill Development: Findings from The US National Coach Survey

ABSTRACT Coaches are critical to the promotion of positive sport experiences, yet little research explores the relationships among coaches’ backgrounds and positive youth development (PYD). This study explores the relationships among factors such as coach preparation and coach and athlete outcomes among the 7,354 coaches involved in the US National Coach Survey. Prior participation in training focused on sport skills and tactics and PYD predicted greater perceived impact on athlete life skill development (RMSEA = .019, CFI = .998, SRMR = .005). Prior training in developing sport skills and tactics, life skills development, and mental health predicted higher satisfaction and success as a coach. Years of coaching, having been evaluated, satisfaction as a coach, prior training in life skills, and the value of life skill development were significantly and positively associated with greater perceived impact on athletes’ life skill development. Certification/licensure did not predict perceived impact (R2 = 20.1%). Implications for coaches, administrators, and coach education programs are drawn.

7280 Pituitary Dysfunction Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Female Athletes: Neuropsychological and Psychological Functioning

Abstract Disclosure: L.Ó. Eggertsdóttir Claessen: None. M.K. Jónsdóttir: None. H. Kristjánsdóttir: None. S.H. Lund: None. I. Unnsteinsdóttir Kristensen: None. H.Á. Sigurjónsdóttir: None. Background: Pituitary dysfunction (PD), as well as neuropsychological and psychological symptoms, have been reported following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). These symptoms may be due to the brain injury itself or PD as hypopituitarism (HP) can have neuropsychological and psychological effects. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report neuropsychological and psychological outcomes in female athletes with PD following sport-related mTBI. Subjects: Female athletes aged 18 to 45 years currently active in or retired from soccer, team handball, basketball, ice hockey, and martial arts who answered an online questionnaire regarding mTBI history and mental health were included (n = 508). Of the 308 women who reported one or more mTBI, 166 (53.8%) accepted to participate in a further interview and neuropsychological tests. All 166 women were subsequently invited to participate in a medical interview. Of those 151 accepted (90.9%) and 131 (86.7%) of them participated in pituitary hormone screening blood tests (SBT). Methods: The online questionnaire included a post-concussion symptom scale, and mental health scales evaluating symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and quality of life. Sleep disturbances were evaluated, and neuropsychological tests were performed in the psychological interview. The Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). Executive functioning, visual search, motor and processing speed, divided attention, working memory, and intellectual abilities were also measured. The SBT were taken at 8 a.m. and included S-IGF1 (age dependant reference range), S-cortisol (values < 350 nmol/L were considered abnormal), S-prolactin (reference range 4.79 - 23.3 μg/L), S-TSH (reference range 0.270 - 4.20 mIU/L), S-fT4 (reference range 12 - 22 pmol/L), S-FSH, S-oestrogen, and S-progesterone measurements. If SBT were repeatedly O-RV, detailed endocrinological tests were performed for each axis as indicated. Results: Following a detailed endocrinological evaluation, 16 women were diagnosed with PD (HP n = 6, hyperprolactinemia n = 10) following mTBI. Women with PD had a significantly higher mean SART error score than women with normal pituitary function (PF) (16.7 and 12.8 respectively; p = 0.04). No other significant differences in neuropsychological outcome were found between the two groups. Moreover, there was not a significant difference with regards to mTBI symptoms, anxiety, depression, stress, QOL or insomnia between women with PD and those with normal PF. Conclusions: Sustained attention or inhibitory performance may be affected in women with PD following mTBI as they had a higher mean SART error score than women with normal PF. No other significant difference in neuropsychological or psychological outcome was demonstrated. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Arthroscopic Repair for Posterior Shoulder Instability is Associated with Favorable Outcomes and High Return to Sport or Work: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PurposeThe purposes of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to assess clinical outcomes of primary arthroscopic repair for unilateral PSI in all patients, to evaluate clinical outcomes in athletes, and to compare clinical outcomes between contact and overhead athletes. MethodsA systematic review was performed using PRISMA Guidelines. Included studies reported on primary arthroscopic treatment of PSI with at least 1 year of follow-up. Studies were excluded if they were not in English, included revisions/open procedures or anterior/multidirectional instability, had fewer than ten patients or no full text available, or were biomechanical analyses/descriptions of surgical technique. Primary outcomes were rates of return to sport (RTS), return to preinjury level (RTPL), recurrent instability, and revision surgery. Outcomes were evaluated in all patients and all athletes, with further subdivision for contact and overhead. ResultsOf the 1,504 screened studies, 30 met inclusion criteria (1,649 shoulders). Mean age at surgery was 23.3 years (range: 12.4-65 years), and mean follow-up was 35.5 months (range: 12-140.4 months). There were 1051 males and 196 females. RTS rates were 91.7% among all patients and 90.9% in all athletes, with no statistical difference between contact and overhead athletes (92.8% vs. 88.1%, P=.176). RTPL rates were 78.7% among all patients and 75.6% in all athletes, with no statistical difference between contact and overhead athletes (90.8% vs. 62.3%, P=.072). Recurrent instability rates were 7.0% among all patients and 8.0% in all athletes, with no statistical difference between contact and overhead athletes (7.3% vs. 7.4%, P=.981). Revision rates were 3.7% among all patients and 3.3% in all athletes, with no statistical difference between contact and overhead athletes (6.8% vs. 0%, P=1). ConclusionPrimary arthroscopic treatment of PSI is associated with favorable outcomes and high return to sport and work rates. Recurrent instability and pain were the most common reasons for revision. Level of EvidenceLevel IV: Systematic review and meta-analysis of Level II to IV studies

Alterations in hamstring properties of athletes with hamstring strain injuries can impact jump-landing performance.

Hamstring strains may alter the contractile properties of the muscle and affect functional movement. Thus, this study evaluated the association between the hamstring properties and the jump-landing performance in athletes with hamstring strains. Sixteen hamstring-injured athletes and 16 healthy controls were recruited. The mechanical properties and contractile function of the hamstring were assessed in both the injured and non-injured legs. The control group was tested only in the matched injured leg. The kinetic outcomes during squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tasks were analyzed to evaluate the jump-landing performance. The injured limb exhibited higher muscle tone (P=0.042) and stiffness (P=0.010), but lower flexibility (P=0.002) and strength (P=0.040) than the control limb. The injured limb showed a poorer jumping performance (P=0.037 for jump height) and landing performance (P=0.011 for landing force and P=0.004 for loading rate) during the CMJ task compared to the control limb. All the hamstring properties showed mild-to-moderate correlations with the jump-landing performance. Impairments in the muscle properties following hamstring strain impact the jumping and landing performance, leading to degraded sports outcomes in athletes with hamstring injuries. Thus, more attention should be paid to tissue property changes following hamstring strain injuries to develop effective strategies for restoring muscle function and improving sports performance.

Low Energy Availability Surrogates Are Associated With Relative Energy Deficiency In Sport Outcomes In Male Athletes

Low Energy Availability Surrogates Are Associated With Relative Energy Deficiency In Sport Outcomes In Male Athletes

Concussion in Female Athletes of Contact Sports: A Scoping Review.

Recent studies have described higher incidences of concussion, with more severe symptoms and worse outcomes in female athletes compared with male athletes. To compile current knowledge about sex-specific differences in incidence, biomechanics, biomarkers, imaging, and outcomes of concussion in athletes participating in contact sports to better understand which fields should be explored in more detail. Scoping review; Level of evidence, 3. The PubMed database was searched for articles published between January 2000 and November 2020 using the Medical Subject Headings terms "craniocerebral trauma" and "brain concussion" combined with the contact sports "football,""soccer,""hockey," and "boxing." Eligibility criteria were based on the recommendations of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. It focused on sex-specific differences within 5 major topics: (1) epidemiology, (2) biomechanics, (3) biomarkers, (4) imaging, and (5) specific concussion outcome variables, including neurocognitive performance, injury severity, and behavioral and psychological symptoms. A total of 22 studies were included. Eight studies investigated the incidence of concussion, with 4 of the 8 finding a significantly higher incidence rate for female versus male athletes. Six studies that focused on biomechanics found that female athletes received fewer impacts with lower magnitudes. One study addressed biomarkers, showing that S100 calcium-binding protein B and neuron-specific enolase were increased after a game in female athletes, and the level of increase was similar to the changes found in male athletes. Based on the 3 imaging studies, affected brain tissue was greatest in areas associated with tau pathology in chronic traumatic encephalopathy. One study showed a lower hypointensity burden index after a season of ice hockey for female athletes, while another study showed more regions with white matter alterations. Seven studies examined concussion outcomes, with 4 studies showing more severe neuropsychological deficits; in addition, female athletes reported more and worse symptoms than male athletes. The results of this review indicated that female athletes had a higher risk of sustaining a concussion, although they received fewer impacts with lower magnitudes than male athletes. Biomarkers were able to be used equally for both sexes. Female athletes also had a higher neuropsychological deficit and increasingly worse symptoms after a concussion.

A Psychological Intervention Reduces Doping Likelihood in Italian Athletes: A Replication and Extension

Research on doping prevention has proliferated in recent years as evidenced by the development of several anti-doping interventions. However, researchers have rarely examined whether an anti-doping intervention delivered and evaluated in one population is similarly effective in a different population. The purpose of our research was to determine whether the psychological intervention developed by Kavussanu et al. (2022) and originally delivered in British and Greek athletes, was equally effective as the standard educational intervention in preventing doping (i.e., by influencing our primary and secondary outcomes) in young Italian athletes. Eligible participants were identified via a screening survey administered to 540 athletes from 46 clubs in Italy. A total of 15 sport clubs (121 athletes; 16.95% female; aged 18.52 ± 2.15 years) were assigned to one of three conditions: a psychological intervention, an educational intervention, or a no-intervention control group. Each intervention consisted of six one-hour sessions delivered to small groups of athletes over six weeks. Athletes completed measures of doping likelihood, anticipated guilt, moral disengagement, and self-regulatory efficacy pre-intervention, post-intervention, and two months later. Control group participants completed the same measures at the same time points. The two interventions were similarly effective in reducing doping likelihood and increasing anticipated guilt from pre to post, while the control group showed no change; these effects were maintained at follow up. Both interventions reduced moral disengagement and increased self-regulatory efficacy from pre to post relative to the control group, and these effects were maintained at follow-up. In conclusion, our study broadly replicates previous findings and highlight the need for anti-doping organisations to target psychological variables and doping-relevant information in anti-doping education.

Partial sleep deprivation affects the athletic performance of Sanda athletes: An RCT study

This study explored the effects of partial sleep deprivation (PSD) on Sanda athletes' athletic performance, an area with limited research. Using a randomized crossover controlled trial with 18 male athletes, the PSD group had 4 h of sleep while the NSN group had 8 h. Results showed that after PSD intervention, the RAT time significantly increased compared to the NSN group (P = 0.0311). However, there was no significant change in CMJ (P = 0.2396) or YBT (left leg: P = 0.2767, right leg: P = 0.3225) between the PSD and NSN groups. In the Wingate test, the PSD group exhibited significant reductions in Pmax and Pave at 10s, 30s, and 60s (P＜0.0001), as well as a significant decrease in Prel at 60s (P＜0.0001), with no significant differences in Prel at 10s and 30s. These findings underscore the detrimental impact of limited sleep on anaerobic performance and agility in Sanda athletes, emphasizing the need for proper sleep management for optimal athletic outcomes.

Analysis of Running Techniques and Physical Factors on the Sprinter Ability of Grade V Elementary School

This study investigates the relationship between running techniques, physical factors, and the sprinting abilities of fifth-grade elementary school students. Through direct observation and measurement of students’ running techniques, as well as assessments of their physical attributes such as speed, leg muscle strength, and flexibility. This research aims to identify key factors that contribute to sprinting performance. Statistical analysis reveals a significant positive correlation between proper running techniques characterized by a forward-leaning posture, synchronized arm-leg movements, and correct foot landing and enhanced sprinting ability. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the importance of physical factors, with findings showing that students possessing greater leg muscle strength and flexibility exhibit superior sprinting capabilities. The correlation analysis underscores the strong influence of both running techniques and physical attributes on sprinting performance, indicating that improvements in these areas can lead to enhanced athletic outcomes. These findings have practical implications for the development of targeted training programs in elementary schools, emphasizing the enhancement of running techniques and physical conditioning. By focusing on structured training that incorporates muscle strengthening, flexibility improvement, and technique refinement, educators can help students maximize their athletic potential and encourage lifelong healthy habits. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing sprinting abilities and offers a foundation for optimizing physical education practices for young athletes.

Return to Play Outcomes in Elite Athletes after Cervical and Lumbar Motion Preservation Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Systematic Review. The primary purpose of this article was to survey the present literature and report on return to play outcomes in elite athletes after undergoing motion preservation spinal surgery. For elite performance, athletes require adequate mobility and throughout the trunk, torso, and spine to achieve maximal force production. Therefore, elite athletes that have failed conservative treatment may seek to undergo motion preserving surgical options such as total disc arthroplasty and lumbar microdiscectomy. Individual studies have reported on return to play (RTP) outcomes following individual motion preservation surgical procedures, no systematic reviews have formally to reported on RTP outcomes, post-operative performance, and reoperation rates on these procedures in elite athletes. A systematic review was conducted from inception until February 2024 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. One reviewer queried PubMed for relevant studies that reported on RTP outcomes in elite athletes following motion preservation spinal surgery (MPSS) based on title and abstract (n=1,404). After the original search query, an additional reviewer screened full length articles. A total of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Special consideration was given to RTP rates, post-operative performance, and reoperation rates. A total of 612 elite athletes from the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League, and other professional sporting organizations underwent cervical and lumbar MPSS to treat various spinal pathologies. Various motion sparing techniques were used to treat various pathologies. After undergoing MPSS, RTP rates ranged from 75-100% for lumbar cases and 83.3-100% for cervical cases. Most athletes successfully returned to sport between. Post-operative performance varied with some athletes performing at the same level prior to surgery and some performing at a decreased level. Motion preservation spinal surgery is a feasible option when properly indicated. Future studies are needed to compare return to sport rates, post-operative performance, and re-operation rates between motion preservation spinal surgery to spinal arthrodesis.