Injury In Women Research Articles

Pressing, pressure and re-aggressing as tactical movement of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in women's soccer.

A better understanding of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury mechanisms in female soccer can guide better research on both prevention programs and late-stage rehabilitation for the return-to-sport process. This narrative review investigates the technical and tactical game situations in female soccer linked to ACL injury mechanisms. Through a literature search, we reviewed scientific literature to identify soccer-specific technical movements and tactical patterns that increase the risk of ACL injuries in female players. Articles were retrieved through Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and PubMed Central. Inclusion criteria were: 1) studies on ACL injury mechanisms in women's soccer; 2) studies examining soccer techniques/tactics to identify non-contact injury mechanisms. Gray literature was included to supplement limited indexed data, aiming to stay within author guidelines. Female athletes experience a 2-8 times higher risk of ACL injury than males, with 70% of these injuries being non-contact. Common scenarios leading to these injuries involve ball possession/non-possession phases, tactical actions (pressing, pressure, re-aggression), and technical movements (cutting, changing direction). Tactical aspects, particularly pressing and re-aggression, are key contributors to ACL injury risk regardless of ball possession. In female soccer, ACL injuries are related to non-contact injury mechanisms during technical and tactical situations. The knowledge and study of these situational patterns of play, such as pressing, re-aggression, pressure, and cutting maneuvers, are essential to target prevention strategies and return-to-sport processes objectively.

Mechanisms and Trends in Women's Lacrosse Head and Musculoskeletal Injuries: A 15-Year Review of National Injury Data.

Head injury rates in lacrosse may be higher among women compared with men. Understanding these trends can guide appropriate injury prevention for female athletes. Injuries most commonly involve the head, with no significant decline over the study period; contact with other players would be the most common injury mechanism. Descriptive epidemiological. Level 3. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried (January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2022) for women's lacrosse injuries presenting to United States (US) emergency departments (EDs). Patient demographics, injury diagnosis, body part injured, disposition, and clinical narrative were extracted. The provided narrative identified the mechanism of injury. Linear regression analysis assessed trends over time. An estimated 57,635 women's lacrosse injuries occurred during the study period extrapolated from 1899 evaluated NEISS cases. The mean age was 15.81 ± 5.35 years, with 68.3% of injuries sustained by high school (14- to 18-year-old) players. Over one-third of all injuries were to the head (national estimate [NE], 19,358; 33.6%), followed by the ankle (NE, 10,475; 18.2%), then the knee (NE, 6969; 12.1%). Strain/sprains were most common (NE, 19,402; 33.7%) followed by closed head injury (CHI)/sports-related concussion (SRC) (NE, 11,794; 20.5%) and contusion/abrasion (NE, 10,605; 18.4%). ED presentations of CHIs/SRCs and fractures remained elevated with no significant decline over the study period (P > 0.05), despite a significant decrease in strains/sprains and contusions/abrasions (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01, respectively). The most common injury mechanism was collision/contact with another player (NE, 10,664; 18.5%). An estimated one-third of women's lacrosse players in the study sample had a head injury. CHIs and SRCs accounted for 20.5% of all injuries. Given the high proportion of contact-related head injuries, headgear mandates and improved player safety protocols may be warranted.

Bone turnover biomarkers reflect radiation-induced bone injuries in women with non-metastatic rectal cancer.

Preoperative radiotherapy (RT) for non-metastatic rectal cancer reduces local recurrence rates but can cause pelvic insufficiency fractures. Despite the high morbidity from RT-induced skeletal injuries, predictive and preventive measures are lacking. How these injuries are reflected by bone biomarkers are largely unknown. The aim was to assess longitudinal changes in bone biomarkers and their relation to RT-related bone injuries in women with rectal cancer. This longitudinal cohort study includes 47 women with non-metastatic rectal cancer treated with surgery ± preoperative RT with or without chemotherapy. Sclerostin, bioactive sclerostin, C-terminal telopeptide cross-links of collagen type I (CTX), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and type I procollagen intact N-terminal propeptide (PINP) were measured at baseline, after RT, and 1 yr postoperatively. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging was used for detection of skeletal injury. Sixteen of 36 (44%) irradiated women had radiation-induced bone injuries and were compared to 11 women (RT-) and 20 women (RT+) without bone injuries. Serum CTX, BALP, and PINP increased during the first year after RT in women with radiation-induced bone injuries. The difference in mean change of CTX (p=.037) and BALP (p=.042) was conferred by longitudinal regression analyses adjusted for serum estradiol. Serum sclerostin and bioactive sclerostin remained stable over time. Taken together, bone markers may be of interest for future research on fracture prediction or preventive measures in women susceptible to radiation-induced bone injury. Due to few measure points, the full pattern cannot be captured regarding the relation over time between bone biomarkers and skeletal injury from irradiation.

Hip adduction and abduction strength in different test positions and their relationship to previous groin injuries in women footballers

ABSTRACT Hip strength has been shown to influence the incidence of injury in women’s football. The first objective of our study was to examine the differences in isometric strength of the adductors and abductors between two test positions (0° vs. 45° hip angle). Our second objective was to verify the sensitivity of the two test positions in discriminating between women footballers with and without a history of groin pain in the last twelve months. One hundred and one elite players from the Slovenian women’s football league were tested. The isometric strength of the adductors, abductors, and the ratio between hip abductor and adductor strength in two different test positions were assessed. We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05; effect size range 0.12–0.13) between the two test positions in hip adduction, abduction strength, and abductor/adductor strength ratio. The ROC analysis showed that only the abductor/adductor strength ratio at the 0° hip angle position can differentiate between players with and without a history of groin pain, with an optimal cut-off point of ≤ 1.01 (p < 0.05; AUC = 0.734). The results should help practitioners plan hip strength training for returning to sport or preventing groin pain among women football players.

Four distinct patterns of anterior cruciate ligament injury in women’s professional football (soccer): a systematic video analysis of 37 match injuries

BackgroundTo identify mechanisms and patterns of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in adult women’s professional football by means of video match analysis.MethodsACL match injuries sustained in Germany’s first women’s league...

A Model for Causality of Pitching-related Overuse Injuries in Women's Fastpitch Softball.

Fastpitch softball is a popular women's sport, and athletes, particularly pitchers, are at high risk for overuse injury. Softball-related injury rates are low; however, the prevalence of overuse injuries is high. Injuries at the high school and collegiate levels occur early in the season, and approximately 50% of shoulder and elbow injuries in softball are attributable to overuse. Survey research showed 77% of high school pitchers pitch with pain, and 73% of collegiate pitchers reported an overuse injury in the previous season. Modifiable and non-modifiable intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors contribute to injury risk in a model that can be used in history taking, clinical examination, and management of softball-related injuries. In this manuscript, we present a scoping review of fastpitch softball injury research by competitive levels from 1990 to present. We also introduce a model for overuse injury causality in this athlete population. With this information, clinicians will be able to identify risk factors related to injury in softball pitchers. More research is needed to make evidence-based recommendations for injury prevention in this athlete population.

A global survey exploring tackle training knowledge, attitudes and practices of women's rugby union coaches

The coaching and performance context in women's rugby is not well understood, despite growing popularity worldwide. The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes and tackle training practices of women's rugby coaches in relation to tackle safety and performance. A globally distributed online survey exploring coaches’ knowledge, attitudes and practices towards tackling women's rugby was completed by 357 coaches (mean age 41 ± 0.6 years) from 58 countries. The cross-sectional survey was distributed from March 2023 to June 2023. Survey development was guided by the Health Action Process Approach and informed by coaching experts, research evidence synthesis, and guidelines for international tackle safety programmes. Coaches believed that the risk of tackle injury in women's rugby is high and that proper tackle technique for safety is very important. More than 75% of coaches had never completed a tackle-specific training course, with only 39% aware of the availability of such courses. Time spent on controlled-contact and full-contact activities varied from 0 to 40+ min per week, averaging 10–20 min for both types of training. Barriers to the effectiveness of tackle training related to sociocultural factors, coach knowledge gaps, training environments, and player training considerations. Coach education, improved infrastructures, and physical development were ranked the highest priorities for improving tackle safety and performance. These findings inform future implementation strategies for tackle safety and performance in the context of women's rugby, highlighting the need to involve coaches in providing practical solutions, and the role of education and institutional/organisational support in facilitating such improvements.

Groin injuries in women's premier league football in Norway: A two-season prospective cohort study describing clinical and imaging characteristics.

To describe the prevalence, incidence, and burden of groin injuries in the Norwegian women's premier football league and to describe their clinical and imaging characteristics. During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, players in the Norwegian women's premier league reported groin injuries weekly, using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems (OSTRC-H2). We calculated weekly prevalence, incidence, and burden of groin injuries. The team physical therapists classified the player-reported injuries based on the Doha classification system. Injuries with more than 3 days' time loss or reported in 2 consecutive weeks were eligible for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). On average, 3.9% (95% CI: 3.4-4.4) of players reported a groin injury at any time; of which 78% caused time loss. The incidence rate was 1.6 injuries/1000 h (95% CI: 1.3-2.0) and their burden was 11 days lost/1000 h. The physical therapists examined 67 of 124 player-reported groin injuries (53%). Adductor-related injury was most common (55%) followed by iliopsoas (15%) and rectus femoris-related (12%). Pubic-related injuries caused most time loss (median: 24 days, IQR: 5-133). In this study, 42 injuries were investigated with MRI; 8 (19%) showed no changes, 6 (14%) an acute musculotendinous lesion, and 32 (76%) a nonacute finding (e.g., central symphyseal disc protrusion, tendinopathies). The incidence rate and burden of groin injuries were high. Adductor-related injuries were most common, but pubic-related injuries caused most time loss. Most MRI examinations demonstrated nonacute findings.

Marital Rape as Structual Violence in the Legal System

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) stands as a significant concern for mental health professionals and advocates for women's rights. In this realm, marital rape is identified as the unwelcome sexual acts a husband imposes on his wife, frequently accompanied by physical violence and threats, instilling fear and injury in women. Despite the profound trauma it causes, marital rape is not universally illegal or considered a severe crime in some areas. The lack of attention to marital rape by society and the legal frameworks, especially in the context of increasing awareness of women's health, warrants a closer look. This study seeks to explore the influence of societal views on marital rape on the seeming leniency of the legal system and proposes possible remedies. It is clear that in societies with deep-rooted patriarchal values, where a husband's authority is prioritized, marital rape is normalized as a form of structural violence, thereby undermining the legal system's response. Addressing this issue requires strict legal reforms, including joining international frameworks and comprehensive public education to raise awareness.

Anterior knee laxity is greater in athletic females who attain menarche at a younger age.

Females with above-average anterior knee laxity values are at increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of menarche age (MA) and menarche offset on anterior knee laxity in young, physically active women. Anterior knee laxity (KT-2000) and menstrual characteristics (per self-report) were recorded in 686 Slovenian sportswomen from team handball, volleyball and basketball club sports (average years sport participation: 7.3 ± 3.6 years). Females were stratified into four groups based on their self-reported age at menarche: 9-11, 12, 13 and 14+ years. Anterior knee laxity was compared across MA groups using a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni correction, with and without controlling for factors that could potentially differ between groups and influence anterior knee laxity. Females were then stratified into four groups based on the number of years they were away from their age at onset of menarche. Groups were compared using a univariate ANOVA with Bonferroni correction, with and without controlling for factors that differed between groups and could influence anterior knee laxity. Anterior knee laxity was greater in females who attained menarche at 12 years of age (6.4 ± 1.5 mm) or younger (6.6 ± 1.6 mm) compared to 14 years of age or older (5.8 ± 1.2 mm) (p < 0.001; partial η2 = 0.032). Anterior knee laxity was 0.7-1.4 mm greater in females who were 5 or more years away from menarche compared to those who were within 2 years of menarche (5.8 ± 1.3 mm; p < 0.001). Anterior knee laxity is greater in females who attained menarche at a younger age and in females who are 5 or more years postmenarche. Age of menarche represents a critical pubertal event that is easy for women to recall and may provide important insights into factors that moderate anterior knee laxity, a risk factor for ACL injury in women. Level IV.

Genes Associated with Muscle, Tendon and Ligament Injury Epidemiology in Women’s Amateur Football Players

Background: There is a lack of specific genetic studies regarding injuries in women’s football. However, different genetic factors have been associated with tendon/ligament injuries in women football players. The aim of the study was to examine the genotypic frequencies of genes associated with injury risk and epidemiology in women’s amateur football players and the aetiology of injuries. Methods: In total, 168 women’s amateur football players from football clubs in the Spanish second division league and Caucasian descent were enrolled in this prospective observational cross-sectional study. AMPD1 (rs17602729), ACE (rs4646994), ACTN3 (rs1815739), CKM (rs8111989) and MLCK (rs2849757 and rs2700352) polymorphisms were genotyped. The characteristics of 169 non-contact injuries during the 2022/2023 season were classified following the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Consensus Statement for reporting injuries as follows: musculoskeletal, tendon/ligament, injury setting; and severity. The disequilibria of polymorphisms were estimated using the Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE). The characteristics of the injuries were recorded, and the genotype characteristics were analysed. The genotype frequencies of all polymorphisms were compared between non-injured and injured football players and injury aetiologies. Results: The AMPD1 genotype distribution differed between tendon/ligament injured and non-injured (p = 0.003) with a higher frequency in the TT genotype and T allele. The genotype distribution was different for the CKM and MLCK c.37885C&gt;A polymorphisms in training and match injuries (p = 0.038 and p = 0.031, respectively). In the ACTN3 and AMPD1 polymorphisms, the distribution of the TT genotype in both genes showed a higher frequency in severe injuries (all p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Tendon/ligament injury epidemiology in women’s amateur football players was associated especially with the TT genotype of the AMPD1 gene. The TT genotype of the AMPD1 and ACTN3 genes was also associated with severity, and the CKM and MLCK polymorphisms were associated with injury settings.

Knowledge of Postpartum Mothers about Kegel exercises for Perineal Wound Healing

The World Health Organization reported 2.7 million perineal injuries in women giving birth in 2009, reaching 6.3 million in 2020. A study was conducted to determine postpartum mothers' knowledge about kegel exercises to prevent perineal wounds. The study involved 30 respondents, with 83% having less knowledge than others. The majority had less knowledge of housework, tertiary education, and health workers. The study suggests that more knowledge is needed from health workers, electronic media, and print media. Respondents' knowledge about Kegel exercises for healing perineal wounds was based on information sources, the majority had little knowledge with health workers as many as 15 people (50%) and the minority had enough knowledge with electronic media as many as 2 people (7%).

Characteristics of First Aid Types for Pelvic Trauma in Women Injured During Local Military Conflicts

AIM OF STUDY. To assess the types and scope of first aid for pelvic injuries in women in conditions of local military conflict. MATERIAL AND METHODS. To achieve this goal, an analysis of injuries received during local military operations carried out in the Republic of Chechnya from 1991 to 2000 was carried out. The treatment was carried out on the basis of the surgical hospital of medical organization No. 9 in Grozny. The severity of the injury was determined retrospectively using the Field Surgery Scale, distinguishing four degrees of severity. Injured patients with combined injuries to the chest, abdomen, and head were excluded. The average age of patients was 34 [28; 40] years. The total number was 86. RESULTS. As the study shows, group A included 54 (62.8 %), and group B included 32 (37.2 %) patients. The distribution by group is presented as follows: in group A, 44 (51.2 %) shrapnel wounds, 10 (11.6 %) gunshot wounds. In group B, there were, respectively, 25 shrapnel (29.1 %) and 7 gunshot (8.1 %) wounds. Further analysis showed that penetrating wounds predominated, which were observed in 67 (77.9 %) cases, non-penetrating wounds were only revealed in 19 (22.1 %) cases (r = 0.97, p &lt; 0.05, statistically significant). Distribution by groups: in group A there were 48 (55.8 %) and 6 (7.0 %), respectively, in group B there were 19 (22.1 %) and 13 (15.1 %) observations. Anti-shock measures, which include pain relief and infusion therapy, were carried out in 31 (36.0 %) cases in group A and in 5 (5.8 %) cases in group B (r = 0.97, p &lt; 0 .05, statistically significant). At the same time, in the group of patients where first aid was provided by random witnesses or as self-help, the n

#ReadyToplay: hamstring injuries in women’s football – a two-season prospective cohort study in the Norwegian women’s premier league

ABSTRACT In this two-season prospective cohort study (2020–2021), we aimed to describe the characteristics, clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of hamstring injuries in the Norwegian women’s premier league. Hamstring injuries were examined by team physiotherapists using a standardised clinical examination and injury form. Injury location and severity (modified Peetrons classification) were graded based on MRI by two independent radiologists. Fifty-three hamstring injuries were clinically examined, 31 of these with MRI. Hamstring injuries caused 8 days (median) lost from football (interquartile range: 3–15 days, range: 0–188 days), most were non-contact and occurred during sprinting. Gradual-onset (53%) and sudden-onset injuries (47%) were evenly distributed. The injuries examined with MRI were classified as grade 0 (52%), grade 1 (16%) or grade 2 (29%). One proximal tendinopathy case was not graded. Grade 2 injuries caused more time loss than grade 0 (19 ± 8 vs. 7 ± 7 days, p = 0.002). Of injuries with MRI changes, 60% were in the m. biceps femoris, mainly the muscle-tendon junction, and 40% in the m. semimembranosus, most in the proximal tendon. Compared to previous findings from men’s football, a higher proportion of hamstring injuries in women’s football had a gradual onset and involved the m. semimembranosus, particularly its proximal tendon.

Use of Cystoinflation to Prevent Urinary Tract Injuries in Patients with Placenta Previa

Introduction: There is insufficient evidence to support the use of cystoinflation to prevent bladder injury in women with placenta previa. The purpose of this study is to find the effectiveness and safety of cystoinflation to prevent bladder injury in women with placenta previa. Methods: The study was conducted at Gynecology &amp; Obstetrics Department, lady Willing-don hospital, Lahore for six months duration . The research was conducted by forming two groups. Women in Group-A (inflated urinary bladder) had significantly lower bladder injury as compared to women in Group-B (deflated urinary bladder). i.e. 1.9% vs. 11.32%, p-value=0.050. Results: Homeostatic sutures requirement was significantly higher in Group-B as that of Group-A. i.e. 15.1% vs. 18.9%, p-value=0.604 Duration of hospital stay showed no significant difference between groups. i.e. 96.2% patients in Group-A and 88.7% patients in Group-B discharged from hospital within 3-4 days. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, women presenting with placenta previa had significantly lower incidences of bladder injury as a result of cystoinflation during cesarean section.

Urinary Nephrin: A Potential Biomarker of Early Glomerular Injury in a Cohort of Pregnant Women Attending Routine Antenatal Care Services.

Introduction: Glomerular injury may occur during pregnancy as a consequence of systemic disease and pregnancy-related medical complications. While urinary nephrin has been shown to provide early identification of preeclampsia (PE) in high-risk pregnancies, the role of urinary nephrin in determining glomerular injury in pregnant women is yet to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the use of urinary nephrin as a predictor for early glomerular injury in a study conducted at the Townville University Hospital. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted. All pregnant women with a full dataset (n = 273) were classified into three categories according to their urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR): normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria. Continuous variables were compared between groups, and the cut-off value for the urinary nephrin-to-creatinine ratio (NCR) was determined to predict albuminuria as an indirect indicator of early glomerular injury. The percentages of pregnant women who had elevated nephrinuria were calculated for each of the ACR categories. Results: Urinary NCR positively correlated with urinary ACR (r = 0.29, p < 0.0001). Urinary NCR increased comparably in women with normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria. Using a cut-off value of 14 ng/mg, nephrinuria was detected in 65% of women with normoalbuminuria, 95% with microalbuminuria and 100% with macroalbuminuria. Of the normoalbuminuric women who had an elevated urinary NCR (> 14 ng/mg), 78% were diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder and 63% were diagnosed with diabetes in pregnancy. In women with PE, urinary NCR and ACR were significantly higher when compared to women who did not develop PE. The AUC of the ROC for urinary NCR was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.650-0.824), with a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 36% to predict glomerular injury and a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 42% to predict glomerular injury of PE. Conclusion: The study found that urinary NCR were elevated not only in women with micro- and macroalbuminuria but also in pregnant women with normoalbuminuria. Increased urinary NCR without increased urinary albumin may be associated with early glomerular injury. Urinary NCR may be a more sensitive marker than microalbuminuria to detect early glomerular injury in women with systemic disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

45 Providing a Definition of Head Injuries Increases Reported Trauma in Women Between 30 and 50

Objective:Utilization of an objective measure to evaluate history of head trauma has been demonstrated to have a significant effect on the amount of sustained trauma reported by the individual, in athletic male populations. The ability to generalize this definition across a more diverse population remains an opportunity; a report from the World Health Organization recognized that 93% of current research on mild traumatic brain injuries omitted gender specific data. Further, relative to reports in young adults, research on the effects of concussions in midlife remain sparse. Researchers hypothesized that women between the ages of 30 and 50 from a general population would report additional head injuries when provided with an objective definition similar to those previously used in male athletes.Participants and Methods:Highly educated (M=16.7 years, SD=2.1 years) women between the ages of 30 and 50 (M=40.3, SD= 5.1) completed an online web-based survey. The survey probed for demographic information tied to participation in sports &amp; related activities, individual history of head trauma, as well as a series of objective measures. Participants were first asked to provide a history of head trauma, in absence of an objective definition; they were then provided with an objective definition similar to what was previously documented to be effective in the literature, and then asked to provide a reassessment of sustained trauma.Results:A Wilcoxen Signed Rank test indicated a significant change in number of reported head injuries, pre and post definition (z= 4.06, p&lt;.0001). The number of head injuries reported increased for 42% of the population, for this portion of the sample the median increased fourfold. To better understand the differences between those who reported an increase, and those who didn’t, researchers performed an examination of commonalities between those groups. A Chi-Square Test of Independence indicated a significant relationship (chi=7.03, p&lt;.01) between participation in sports (recreational, organized) and change in reported head injuries: 21% of individuals without a sport history increased the number of reported head injuries, in contrast 58% of individuals with a sport history increased the number of head injuries reported.Conclusions:Consistent with the literature in male athletes, providing a definition of a head injury significantly increased the number of reported head injuries in women, between 30 and 50 years of age. This finding indicates that providing a definition can improve reported concussion history within a more diverse population. This fourfold increase for 42% of our population could bear significant implications for those receiving clinical care. Further, given that the definition utilized was especially effective at correcting history of reported head injury in those who participated in sports, it’s adoption within clinical communities evaluating athletic populations seems especially promising.

Effects of massage therapy and exercise therapy on recovery of shin splints injury in women's long distance running athletes

The high intensity of running athletes’ training to overtraining and athletes who are not optimal even forget to do stretching and cooling down causes shin splints injuries. This certainly interferes with the performance of athletes during training and competitions. This study aims to determine the effect of massage therapy and exercise therapy on the recovery of shin splint injuries in female long-distance runners in the master category. This type of research uses a quasi-experimental approach with a One-Control Group Pretest-Postest Design research design. The data collection technique used tests and measurements with a goniometer to measure the range of motion of the joints and a pain scale to determine the level of pain. The population in this study were female marathon athletes aged 42 years and over. The data analysis technique used the paired t-test after previously going through the normality test and homogeneity test. The results showed that there were significant differences in the treatment of massage therapy and exercise therapy, namely decreased pain and increased joint ROM with a value of p = 0.000 (p &lt; 0.05).

Archery-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries: An Epidemiological Study Revealing Injury Sites, Risk Factors, and Implications for Prevention.

While generally considered a safe sport, archery injuries are often the result of overuse or penetration and largely affect the upper extremities. Studies have shown that during training periods the average risk of injury is 4.4%. By studying mechanisms of injury and their prevalence nationally, this study aims to educate coaches, athletes, and equipment manufacturers on ways the sport can be safer from a clinical perspective. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Database was queried to analyze archery-related musculoskeletal injuries that occurred between 2013 and 2022. Approximately 43,083 injuries were recorded over a 10-year span, of which 8,038 were women and 35,367 were men. Men were thus 4.4 times more likely to experience injury during archery. Injury sites in men included the finger (66.2%), hand (17.1%), face (6.2%), shoulder (5.4%), and foot (5.1%). All reported injuries in women were finger-related. The most common diagnoses for men were lacerations (58.1%), fractures (12.7%), contusions and abrasions (7.5%), foreign body (5.9%), punctures (4.9%), and strains/sprains (4.9%). Women exclusively experienced lacerations, accounting for 100% of their injuries. The study identifies that lacerations were the most common archery-related injury that was treated in the ED. Additionally, the fingers were the most common site of injury. Findings from this study suggest that improved safety equipment, such as reinforced gloves, finger tabs, and forearm braces should be used by athletes to practice the sport more safely. Future research could involve studying injury rates in archers who use each combination of these safety precautions to investigate which gear is most protective.

BLADDER INFLATION PRIOR TO CESAREAN SECTION CAN PREVENT BLADDER INJURY IN HIGH RISK PATIENTS

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of inflating the urinary bladder immediately before cesarean section (CS) in reducing the chances of bladder injury in high-risk patients. This was a prospective randomized controlled trial. The study was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward 8, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi, from April 06, 2021 to September 30, 2021. Three hundred twenty-eight pregnant women who delivered by cesarean section and had one or more risk factors for urinary tract injury were recruited. The women were divided into two groups: Group A underwent bladder inflation using a triple-way Foley catheter before CS, while Group B served as the control group without bladder inflation with a Foley catheter before CS. In this study, urinary bladder injury was found in 5.5% of women in Group A who had bladder inflation, while 12.2% of women in Group B without bladder inflation had bladder injury. The efficacy in Group A and B was 94.5% and 87.8%, respectively. The results showed a significant association between the study group and urinary bladder injury (p=0.032). The study significantly reduced urinary bladder injuries, surgery time, blood transfusion, and hospitalization. Inflating the urinary bladder before cesarean section should be used to prevent bladder injury in women with risk factors for dense bladder adhesion.