Common Sports Research Articles

Sports participation as a reflection of social inclusion in youth: a holistic exploration of sport within young people’s lives

ABSTRACT The positive statistical outcomes associated with participation in sport for young people are commonly used to support claims that sport has the potential to promote social policy goals, especially those related to social inclusion. In this paper, we examine this claim by drawing on interview data from the Norwegian qualitative longitudinal study Inequality in Youth. We investigate how young people’s organized sports participation is related to social inclusion and overall security by focusing on three common sport participation trajectories: not participating, opting out and participating continuously. We find that those who did not participate constituted a particularly selected group that more often was characterized by a situation of struggle related to structural issues such as class and ethnicity; organized sports participation seemed to be less viable in their situation. For ethnic-majority non-participators, this was due to struggles with a complex set of challenges related to family, school, and health, which made sport participation difficult, whereas ethnic-minority non-participators often thrived in other arenas of life but struggled to find activities within traditional sports organizations that suited their preferences. In contrast, the young people in the study who participated continuously and those who opted out of sport had a life situation characterized by an overall sense of security and belonging, with sport first and foremost being a part of their overall life situation. Generally, they shared a sense of security and optimism and a strong degree of social inclusion that their sports participation easily fit into. On the basis of our findings, we concluded that in Norway, where organized sports’ cultural standing is strong, rather than young people’s sport participation promoting social inclusion, their sport participation is a reflection of their life situation in general, and in particular whether they already are socially included.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Graft Options.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is one of the most common orthopaedic sports medicine surgeries. Its prevalence in the sports medicine sphere is matched by the numerous options of different techniques. Chief among these is graft selection, which most commonly falls into 1 of 4 options: bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft, hamstring tendon autograft (HT), quadriceps tendon autograft, and allografts. The most frequently used allografts include BPTB, HT, tibialis anterior or posterior tendon, and Achilles tendon. Each graft option possesses unique advantages and disadvantages. BPTB autograft demonstrates the fastest incorporation via bone-to-bone healing. It also yields a lower revision rate and greater return-to-sport rate compared with HT. However, because of donor-site morbidity, anterior knee pain and kneeling pain can occur. There is also a small risk of patellar fracture as well as patellar tendon rupture. HT autograft requires a smaller incision than BPTB and preserves the extensor mechanism. Patients are at risk for knee flexion weakness, saphenous nerve injury, and potential graft loosening over time secondary to bone tunnel widening. Quadriceps tendon autograft may be harvested with minimally invasive techniques. As with HT, the all soft-tissue composition allows use in skeletally immature patients. Although early studies show promise, knee extension weakness has been documented, and long-term outcomes are less clear. Allograft possesses no donor-site morbidity and reduced surgical time; however, allografts are associated with the greatest failure rate in young athletes and a lower return-to-sport rate compared with autografts. They also incur a greater financial cost than autografts. To be proficient at performing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, it is important that the sports medicine surgeon be well versed in the various graft options and the ideal patient populations for whom they are best used.

Ankle injury due to supination trauma: Potential factors worsening patient outcome

PurposeSupination trauma is a common sports injury, and often leads to chronic ankle instability. This study analyses whether indications of healing can be detected 2 weeks after supination trauma. MethodsThis prospective, monocentric study at a German Medical Center examined patients with acute supination trauma. Only patients with severity levels 2-3 were included in the study, and were advised to wear an orthosis for 5 weeks starting in the emergency room. The follow-up period was two weeks after trauma (follow-up examination 1/FE1: swelling of the ankle joint, tenderness over the lateral ligament complex and the syndesmosis, questionnaire). Nine months after injury (follow-up examination 2/FE2), these patients were interviewed by telephone using a questionnaire surveying current complaints in everyday life, sports, and work, as well as the general healing process. ResultsForty-one patients aged 35.1 years (±10.5) were included in the study. The presence of hematoma two weeks post-injury (n=6) correlated significantly with inability to work (p=0.02). Calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) tenderness was seen in 36 patients, posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL) tenderness in 29 patients, and syndesmosis tenderness in 9 patients. All patients who reported pressure pain at the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) at FE1 were significantly more likely to experience feelings of instability at FE2 (p=0.011). All patients who reported instability at FE1 had significantly greater problems climbing stairs at FE2 (p=0.003). All patients with hematoma and instability two weeks post-injury had a persistent feeling of instability at FE2. Patients with hematoma and pressure pain at the ATFL at FE1 had persistent pain through FE2. ConclusionsPersistent hematoma, pressure pain at the ATFL or feelings of instability two weeks after ankle sprain increase the likelihood of symptoms persisting for up to nine months post-injury. Physicians and patients should be well informed about the treatment guidelines and not underestimate this injury. In general, further studies are necessary to clarify why acute ankle sprains often lead to persistent complaints.

Gym-Related Injuries and its Prevention and Treatment Strategies

In contemporary society, health and fitness have received more and more attention and become an important venue for the public to pursue physical health and good posture. However, in the actual fitness exercise, because most exercisers lack the correct cognition of their own athletic ability, physical condition and movement norms, in the daily exercise process, there will often be unpredictable sports injuries. At the same time, the lack of professional knowledge in the self-treatment of injury leads to the aggravation of injury, which has a negative impact on all aspects of daily life such as my study and work. However, current research on fitness related sports injuries is relatively limited. Through the analysis of the characteristics of sports injuries, understanding the causes of sports injuries in current fitness exercises can provide an important reference basis for how to correctly deal with and prevent common sports injuries, and then improve the fitness consciousness of our people at the social level, and help the construction of a well-off society in an all-round way.

Mechanism and Prevention of Acute Knee Joint Injury During Exercise

Anatomically, the knee joint is the most complex joint in the human body. It consists of the medial and lateral condyles of the femur, the medial and lateral condyles of the tibia, and the patella. From the perspective of kinematics, the knee joint is one of the most critical joints to complete various actions in the human movement. Due to these two characteristics, it has also become a high incidence of sports injuries. Especially in sports activities, sports knee injury is extremely common, so it must be paid attention to, especially professional athletes, denying that it may affect the careers. This study mainly analyzes the common sports injuries of the knee joint and their mechanisms, and discusses the common sports injuries of the knee joint, as well as the mechanism of the knee joint injury and how to prevent the knee joint injury from three aspects, so as to prevent the small problems and help the development of sports.

Adaptive Phase-Locked E-Skin for Sports Physiology and Medicine.

The pursuit of creating materials that replicate the flexibility, stability, and advanced perceptual capabilities of human skin, attributes honed through natural evolution, represents a long-term objective in pioneering fields such as electronic skin (e-skin) research. However, conventional e-skin often struggles with stability and functionality in harsh sports environments, resulting in the degradation of the intimate interface over time. Inspired by the innate biphasic structure of human subcutaneous tissue, an adaptive phase-locked e-skin (APLE) is presented, designed to seamlessly conform to dynamic sports environments, offering robust applications in sports physiology and medical contexts without malfunctioning. The APLE allows one to laminate onto the skin with consistent homeostasis, providing a foundation for advancing data-driven sports physiology and creating personalized sports plans. Additionally, APLE offers immediate on-site medical treatment for common sports injuries, including hemostasis and sutureless wound closure. Ultimately, the reported multifunctional e-skin can provide significant value in managing sport-related burdens through digital and people-centered physiology monitoring, along with real-time sport healthcare.

Trends in Pediatric Neck Injuries During Sporting Activities.

Background: Although neck injuries secondary to sporting activities in the pediatric demographic presenting to the emergency department (ED) are common, predictors of needing higher-level care (HLC) outside immediate treatment and release are not clear. The aim of this study was to describe how these neck injuries present in the United States (US) and identify predictors of HLC. Methods: We interrogated the US National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database for presentations to the ED of pediatric patients (aged 6-18 years old) whose primary complaint was neck injury in the setting of sport between 2014 and 2023. Statistical analysis utilized weighted estimates to evaluate incidence and then univariate and multivariate regression analyses were carried out to identify parameters associated with HLC for these patients. Results: Overall, a national weighted total of 360,885 ED presentations were estimated to have occurred in the last decade without any statistical change over the years. The mean age was 12.7 years, with more males (60.0%) than females (40.0%). The most common race observed was Black (50.6%), and these injuries most commonly occurred at a sporting complex (62.9%). Neck strains (59.9%) were the most common diagnosis seen across all presentations, followed by neck pain (29.1%), neck contusions (including abrasion) (6.4%), neck fractures (1.7%) and neck lacerations (0.8%). Ultimately, the majority of presentations were treated and released from the ED (95.5%). There were 4.5% of presentations, however, that did require HLC. Older age (OR 1.07, p = 0.004), male gender (OR 1.51, p = 0.002), involvement of other body part(s) (OR 1.45, p = 0.007) and non-strain neck injuries (OR 11.8, p < 0.001) were all independent, statistically significant predictors of HLC. Football (18.6%) was the most common sport associated with these presentations overall, but this was driven mostly by male cases. For females, the most common sport associated with these presentations was cheerleading (12.3%). Conclusions: In the last decade, neck injuries secondary to sporting activities in the pediatric demographic presenting to the ED have remained consistent. We have identified a unique set of predictors for presentations requiring HLC. These findings can be used in tandem with the findings that there are a number of gender-specific sports that drive these presentations to develop more sensitive and specific protocols for both primary prevention and ED triaging.

Impact of Sports on Female Growth and Pubertal Development: A Cohort Study.

Introduction The participation of women in sports is increasing, and the rising training demands may impact growth and pubertal development. High-intensity sports are often linked to delayed growth and bone maturation due to energy deficits and intense regimens. These factors may increase the risk of injury and musculoskeletal issues.Additionally, elite athletes face higher incidences of eating disorders and the female athlete triad, affecting both physical and mental health. This article aims to examine the impact of various sports on female physiological development, particularly during puberty. Methods This retrospective observational study was conducted over six months and included female athletes aged 16-30 years involved in sports. Participants provided online consent. Data were collected through a self-administered electronic questionnaire, covering sociodemographic factors, menstrual cycle characteristics, growth patterns, pubertal development, lifestyle habits, and perceived effects on athletic performance. Responses, gathered using Google Forms® (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, United States), were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20 (Released 2011; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results The study included 121 female athletes (mean age: 20 years), with rugby (n=35), gymnastics (n=23), and soccer (n=22) as the most common sports. Participants generally began sports around age 11, with gymnastics athletes starting earlier than those in other sports. The median weekly training duration was six hours across three sessions, with most athletes competing nationally (n=82) or internationally (n=29). The median age at menarche was 12 years, occurring later in soccer, gymnastics, and triathlon athletes. Rugby and soccer players demonstrated greater height increases post-menarche, although seven athletes, primarily rugby players, did not reach their target familial height. Achievement of target height was significantly associated with the number of weekly training hours (p=0.019). Dietary restrictions were most common among rugby (n=7), gymnastics (n=6), and soccer (n=5) athletes. Eating disorders, primarily anorexia and bulimia, were observed in 11 athletes, particularly in rugby and gymnastics, and correlated with the age of thelarche. Injuries, notably in rugby and gymnastics, were frequent, and injury incidence was associated with the onset age of eating disorders. Conclusion This study highlights how intensive training, low-energy diets, and eating disorders negatively influence growth, pubertal development, and injury rates in female athletes.Heavy training loads combined with low-energy diets or eating disorders delay puberty, impair growth, and heighten injury susceptibility due to hormonal imbalances.

Return to Sports After Surgical Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tear in Young Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Young athletes who undergo surgery for a rotator cuff tear (RCT) are expected to return to sports (RTS) at the preinjury level. To determine the rate and level of RTS and associated factors after RCT surgery in young athletes. Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The inclusion criteria were studies in English evaluating RTS after surgical treatment of RCTs in athletes <40 years. Study quality was evaluated according to the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies scores. Fixed-effects and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to investigate the overall RTS rate and the ability to RTS at the preinjury level and explore the heterogeneity of the studies. Of 168 studies initially identified, 13 studies (332 athletes; 270 competitive and 62 recreational) were included. The mean age of the athletes was 26.1 years (range, 13.2-39 years). Eleven studies (289 athletes) reported the type of sports; the most common sports were baseball (n = 195), football (n = 47), and tennis (n = 13). A total of 25 athletes were lost to follow-up, leaving 307 athletes with postoperative RTS data for meta-analysis. The combined rate of RTS according to the fixed-effects model was 84% (95% CI, 80%-88%). The level of RTS was evaluated in 11 studies (251 athletes), and according to the random-effects models, the combined rate of RTS at the preinjury level was 63% (95% CI, 49%-77%). In a subgroup analysis, the rate of RTS at the preinjury level was significantly different between competitive athletes (61% [95% CI, 46%-76%]) and recreational athletes (89% [95% CI, 78%-99%]) (P = .004). Results of this review indicated that most young athletes were able to RTS after RCT surgery, and more than half were able to RTS at the preinjury level. Compared with competitive athletes, a higher proportion of recreational athletes were able to RTS at the preinjury level after surgery.

Decreasing Incidence of Youth Wrestling Injuries: A 10-Year Analysis of National Injury Data.

Wrestling is among the most common youth sports in the United States, with about 260,000 high school participants annually. There is a lack of literature investigating wrestling injury profiles and mechanisms of injuries. In the past 15 years, urgent care utilization has increased, and National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) concussion protocols have been developed and implemented. The purpose of this study was to analyze causes, diagnoses, body parts, and trends associated with wrestling injuries presenting to US emergency departments. It was hypothesized that there would be (1) decreased overall injuries presenting to emergency departments because of increased urgent care utilization and (2) decreased concussions because of the NFHS rule implementation and revision. Descriptive epidemiology study; Level of evidence, 3. Youth wrestling injuries presenting to US emergency departments between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022, were queried from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database. The data included date of presentation, age, sex, race, body part, injury diagnosis, disposition, and a brief injury narrative. National estimates (NE) were calculated using the associated statistical weight of the reporting hospital. Linear regressions were performed to investigate the relationship between year and NE for overall injuries, diagnoses, body parts, mechanisms of injury, and other subanalyses. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. A total of 8628 (NE = 296,502) wrestling injuries met the inclusion criteria for this study. The mean age at presentation was 14.3 ± 2.6 years (range, 3 to 18 years). The shoulder (NE = 43,207 [14.6%]), head (NE = 40,875 [13.8%]), and knee (NE = 30,218 [10.2%]) were the most injured body parts. The most common diagnoses were strain/sprain (NE = 91,924 [31%]), other/not stated (NE = 53,736 [18.1%]), and fracture (NE = 52,261 [17.6%]). Common mechanisms of injury included not specified (NE = 148,169 [50%]), impact with mat (NE = 61,557 [20.8%]), and abnormal rotation/strain (NE = 37,449 [12.6%]). Overall injuries (P = .01) (coefficient: -1763 [95% CI, -2963 to -563]) and concussions (P = .01) (coefficient: -178 [95% CI, -302 to -55]) statistically significantly decreased. Our study showed a trend in the decrease in overall injuries and concussions in high school wrestlers. Strains/sprains were the most common diagnoses with the shoulder being the most common site. Youth wrestlers would benefit from future research analyzing risks associated with these injuries as well as advances in protective gear.

The Effects of Sport Participation for Adults With Physical or Intellectual Disability: A Scoping Review.

Adults with physical or intellectual disability are less active than those without disability. To review literature regarding sport participation in adults with physical or intellectual disability. Specifically, to examine characteristics of available studies including participants, interventions, outcomes, and impact. A scoping review was completed. Searches of 6 databases and a trial registry plus citation tracking were undertaken. Two independent reviewers screened items for eligibility and extracted data about the studies, participants, interventions, and outcomes. A single reviewer extracted data to quantify impacts of sport participation, classified as favorable, insignificant, or unfavorable. 164 studies involving 11,642 participants were included. Most studies (128/164) used a cross-sectional design. Most participants were men (81%) with physical disability (135/164), and spinal cord injury was the most prevalent underlying health condition (54%). Most studies evaluated a mix of sports (83/164) in a disability-specific context (159/164), with basketball or wheelchair basketball being the most common individual sport (28/164). Physical impairment was the most frequently reported outcome domain (85/334 results). Sports participation impact was classified as 55% favorable, 42% insignificant, and 3% unfavorable. There were many favorable and few unfavorable outcomes for participation in sport for adults with physical or intellectual disability. More research is needed to address the evidence gaps of gender, health condition, and type of sport, and to use more rigorous research designs to evaluate the effects of sport participation. While new evidence is generated, we suggest adults with physical or intellectual disability be encouraged to engage in sport. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018104379.

A Survey of Common Sports Injuries Among the Male Handball Players of Indian Universities

A Survey of Common Sports Injuries Among the Male Handball Players of Indian Universities

Cardiac remodeling in elite young Asian female soccer players.

An athlete's heart (AH) varies depending on race, sex, age, and the type and intensity of training. Given that soccer is a common sport, evaluation of cardiac function in soccer players is important; however, few studies have analyzed adolescent soccer players. Therefore, this study, aimed to identify early changes in AH in soccer players by evaluating the echocardiographic findings of adolescent Asian female soccer players for whom existing data are scarce. We evaluated 20 Korean female under-20 national soccer team players and 42 age-matched healthy females. Participants provided physical examination data such as height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse, along with echocardiographic results. On echocardiography, parameters related to the morphology of the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) and those related to the systolic and diastolic function of the LV were measured. The athlete group had a lower blood pressure and pulse rate than the control group. Echocardiography indicated that both the LA volume index and LV volume in the athlete group were large by approximately 1.5 times compared with those in the control group. The LV wall thickness and mass index were also significantly large in the athlete group. For LV diastolic function, parameters indicating early diastolic filling were substantially higher in the athlete group than in the control group. Adolescent female soccer players exhibited differences in cardiac morphology and an enhanced diastolic function. Therefore, this study suggests that AH begins in adolescence, with changes in both morphology and function.

The Development of Basketball Learning Activities and Basketball Abilities Using Gamification Teaching Model for Advanced Vocational Student

Background and Aims The gamification teaching mode is a teaching method that integrates game elements into the teaching process. It stimulates students' enthusiasm and initiative and improves learning by creating a challenging and interesting play environment. In physical education teaching, the gamification teaching mode has been widely used, especially in improving students' basketball dribbling ability. Vocational students refer to those students who receive vocational education, and their learning goals pay more attention to the cultivation of practical skills and the improvement of application ability. As a common sport, basketball has important practical significance for higher vocational students. However, traditional basketball dribbling teaching is often based on technical training, which lacks enough interest and motivation, which can easily lead to the decline of students' learning interest and learning effect. Thus, the purposes of this study were 1) To develop learning activities for the gamification teaching model for the basketball course. 2)To compare basketball abilities using the gamification teaching model between the test and the post-test. And 3) To study student satisfaction with the gamification teaching model of the basketball course. Materials and Methods: The sample included 50 first-year students from Luzhou Medical Device Vocational College. In the first semester of 2023. Obtained by cluster random sampling technique. Research tools are used in lesson plans, basketball ability tests, and satisfaction questionnaires. In data analysis including percentages, means, standard deviations, and paired t-tests. Results: The results of the study were as follows; 1）The development of a gamification teaching model for the basketball course has an average suitability value for all plans equal to 4.38, which is at a high level. 2Students who studied using gamification teaching model learning activities had higher abilities of basketball post-test than pre-test at a statistical significance of.05 and 3）Students who learned using the gamification teaching model had overall satisfaction at a very high level. Conclusion: The basketball course's gamification teaching approach proved to be a highly appropriate and successful one, greatly enhancing students' post-test performance and generating exceptionally high levels of student satisfaction. According to the study, gamification can improve learning outcomes and increase student engagement in the classroom.

Patterns of Orbital Fractures Caused by Sports Injuries in Children

Sports injuries account for 11.3 to 42.1% of the facial fractures. Injuries from contact with a ball, a bat or stick, or another player raise safety concerns. The purpose of this study was to assess the patterns of sports-related maxillofacial injuries involving orbital bone fractures in children. This was a retrospective case series of children who presented to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta from 2015 to 2021, with orbital injuries resulting from sports. None. The outcome variables, including the fracture location, pattern, and the management of injury. The medical record were reviewed for the following variables: 1) demographic information, 2) mechanism of injury, 3) type of sport, 4) symptoms, 5) length of inpatient stay, and 6) duration of follow-up. Data were collected using a standardized collection form. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Overall, 101 patients (92 males) with an age of 13±3 met the inclusion criteria. The most common sport was baseball or softball (n=78, 77.2%). The mechanisms of injuries were largely due to collision with the ball (n=79, 78.2%) or with another player (n=13, 12.9%). Orbital fractures occurred mostly in the floor (n=87, 86.1%), followed by the medial wall (n=22, 21.8%), with an average of 1 surface involved. Maxillary sinus (n=23, 22.8%) and/or nasal bone (n=17, 16.8%) were the other facial bones outside of orbit commonly injured. The fractures patterns are minimally/nondisplaced (n=68, 67.3%), displaced (n=30, 29.7%), or comminuted (n=3, 3%). The managements include surgical and nonsurgical. Twenty-three patients (22.8%) underwent surgical intervention. Twelve of them had an emergent operation due to extraocular muscle entrapment. Sports injuries are a common cause of orbital trauma in children. Most injuries are due to baseball/softball from collision with the ball. They were mostly managed without surgery, except for the individuals that presented with entrapment, oculocardiac reflex, and a large-size defect. The information from this project could be utilized in implementing safety equipment use for participants to further prevent such injuries.

Return to Activity After Patellofemoral Osteochondral Fracture: A Comparison of Metallic Screw and Bioabsorbable Fixation.

Patellofemoral osteochondral fractures (OCFs) have the potential to hinder patients' function and quality of life. Several fragment fixation techniques have been described, with both metallic screw and bioabsorbable fixation showing favorable functional outcomes. Despite the promising results associated with both fixation methods, no study has directly compared their functional outcomes. To compare the functional and radiographic outcomes between bioabsorbable and metallic screw patellofemoral OCF fixation in an adolescent cohort. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. A retrospective review was conducted identifying surgically treated pediatric patients (<18 years of age) with OCFs of the patellofemoral joint. Inclusion criteria were treatment with metallic screw or bioabsorbable fixation (bioabsorbable compression screw, suture bridge, or chondral darts), with preoperative radiographs and operative notes available for review. Patient information, injury characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were collected with a specific focus on return-to-activity time and postoperative complications. Univariate analyses were conducted to compare radiographic and functional outcomes between groups. According to the study criteria, 37 knees in 37 patients (84% male), with a mean age of 14.2 ± 1.8 years, were identified. A total of 24 patients were injured during sports participation, with basketball and football being the most common sports. OCF fixation cohorts consisted of 12 patients treated with metallic screw fixation and 25 with bioabsorbable fixation. No statistically significant differences were appreciated when comparing median time to full activity between the fixation groups (P = .427). However, time to full activity was unequally distributed, with 66.7% of the metallic screw fixation group returning to activity later than the total cohort's median, compared with 42.9% of the bioabsorbable fixation group (P = .04). Two-thirds (8/12) of patients treated with metallic screws required return to the operating room for hardware removal compared with no patient treated with bioabsorbable fixation (P < .001). Two complications occurred with no significant differences appreciated between groups (P = .202). However, both postoperative complications were recorded in the metallic screw fixation group: 1 patient with osteochondral malunion and another with arthrofibrosis. This study demonstrated that pediatric patellofemoral OCFs had good outcomes with high healing and low complication rates regardless of fixation type. Because of the high rate of secondary hardware removal procedures, metallic screw constructs delayed the return to sports and activity time. Patients treated with bioabsorbable fixation did not require a secondary operation for hardware removal and thus were more likely to recover sooner. Future studies are necessary to assess the potential outcome differences between different types of bioabsorbable fixation methods. Based on these findings, surgeons can consider bioabsorbable fixation as an option for the management of OCF lesions.

"There is more that unites us than divides us". Optimizing talent transfer processes by clustering 34 sports by their task, individual and environmental similarities.

Sports are characterized by unique rules, environments, and tasks, but also share fundamental similarities with each other sport. Such between-sports parallels can be vital for optimizing talent transfer processes. This study aimed to explore similarities between sports to provide an objective basis for clustering sports into families by means of machine learning. An online survey was conducted, garnering responses from 1,247 coaches across 36 countries and 34 sports. The survey gauged the importance (0 = not important 10 = important) of 18 characteristics related to the sport and the athlete performing in that sport. These traits formed the basis for the categorization of a sport by means of machine learning, particularly unsupervised clustering, and the LIME feature explainer. Analysis grouped 34 sports into five clusters based on shared features. A similarity matrix illustrated the degree of overlap among sports. The application of unsupervised clustering emphasized the lack of a single overarching attribute across sports, marking a shift away from traditional clustering approaches that rely on a limited set of characteristics for talent transfer. The results highlight the importance of identifying common sports for talent transfer, which could prove advantageous in guiding athletes towards new sporting directions.

Spondylolysis in Adolescent Athletes: A Descriptive Study of 533 Patients.

The objective of this descriptive study was to evaluate spondylolysis in adolescent athletes, including age at time of injury, sport associated with injury, examination findings, site of injury, studies used for diagnosis, treatments, duration of treatment, and outcomes. This was a retrospective chart review of patients who presented with a diagnosis of spondylolysis over a 17-year period. Community primary care sports medicine practice. All patients between 10 and 20 years of age diagnosed with spondylolysis. There was no set intervention protocol. A variety of interventions and combination of interventions were used and determined by the treating physician on a case-by-case basis. Clearance for return to sport activity. Males comprised 317 of the 533 patients. Soccer, gymnastics/cheer, football, and basketball were the most common sports associated with spondylolysis. Bilateral injuries were most common. L5 was the most common level for injury. Bracing and formal physical therapy as treatments were associated with longer duration of care. Most patients were treated successfully with nonoperative treatment. Recurrence of injury was rare. Spondylolysis is a common cause of back pain in adolescent athletes. Males are more likely to experience these injuries and are older at presentation compared than females. Spondylosis may be encountered in many sports. Nonoperative treatment leads to successful outcomes in most patients.

Research progress of knee fibrosis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common sports injury, and ACL reconstruction is an effective surgery for this trauma. Most cases gain good recovery after surgery, while some patients may experience knee stiffness, which is characterized by joint fibrosis, leading to reduced joint mobility, pain, and dysfunction. Currently, various research studies have been conducted to unveil the mechanisms underlying this condition, identifying pre-, intra-, and post-operative risk factors, and testify the efficacy of different therapeutic methods against it. In this review, we summarize the current progress regarding the advancements in knee fibrosis after ACL reconstruction. The risk factors associated with knee fibrosis are systematically delineated, accompanied by an evaluation of the efficacy of various treatment modalities for both the prevention and mitigation of fibrosis. Furthermore, recommendations for future research directions are proposed, offering a foundational basis for subsequent investigations.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear: Individualized Indications for Non-Operative Management.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture represents a common sports injury that is mostly managed operatively. However, non-operative treatment can also play a role, despite the limited high-quality published data on ACL tear management. Both methods have shown favorable outcomes, but clear guidelines based on high-quality research are lacking. Several factors should be considered and discussed with the patient before deciding on the best treatment method. These include patient characteristics and expectations, concomitant injuries, and clinical evaluation, with laxity or/and instability being one of the most essential parameters examined. This should eventually lead to an individualized approach for each patient to ensure the best possible outcome. This review aims to delve into all parameters that are related to ACL rupture and guide physicians in choosing the most appropriate treatment method for each patient.