Non-contact Injuries Research Articles

Using the Y-balance Test as a Predictor Tool for Evaluating Non-contact Injuries in University League Football Players: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Background Football is a highly competitive sport, and participants can experience various contact and non-contact sports injuries in the sporting process. In any elite sport, screening players using different scientific tools is an important injury prevention strategy. The Y- Balance test (YBT) was found to be a predictive tool for non-contact injury. However, the use of criteria from these tests to predict injuries has not been substantiated and should be further investigated. Purpose The aimof this study was to determine the predictors for injury among athletes using baseline YBT, number of matches, and minutes of physical activity; the cutoff scores for predictors of injury, including baseline YBT, number of matches, and minutes of physical activity; andthe clinical prediction rules for predicting injury in this population. Methods A total of 39 young student football players were included in this study. The mean age was 20.28 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.83 kg/m2. A baseline assessment of the participant's characteristics was taken and each participant performed the YBT once before starting the league. After the university league football players had finished their tournament, we asked them questions related to non-contact injuries. Results The results showed that the prevalence of injury was 17.95% among this population. An increase in the YBT score was significantly associated with a decrease in the odds of having an injury [odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94 (0.88, 0.99), p = 0.047). In addition, the number of matches was significantly associated with an increase in the odds of having an injury p = 0.012. However, the minutes of physical activity were not statistically significant p = 0.065.The highest Youden index was ≤97.89, with a sensitivity of 87.50% and specificity of 71.43%, for the posterior medial reach and ≤92.88, with a sensitivity of 90.62% and specificity of 57.14%, for the posterior lateral reach.The clinical prediction rule was an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.88. Conclusions The results of the study provide evidence for the potential utility of the YBT as a predictor tool for evaluating non-contact injuries in university league football players. By identifying players with lower YBT scores who were at higher risk for injury, targeted interventions could be implemented to address functional movement deficits and potentially reduce injury risk.

Effect of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program in collegiate female football players over three consecutive seasons.

This study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of the FIFA 11+ for one-season and over three consecutive seasons on the injury incidence rates in collegiate female football players in terms of duration of intervention. A total of 763 collegiate female football players from seven teams belonging to Kanto University Women Football Association Division 1 in 2013-2015 seasons were included in the study. At the start of the study, 235 players were assigned to a FIFA 11+ intervention group (four teams, 115 players) and a control group (three teams, 120 players). The intervention period was set to three seasons, and the players were followed up during this period. The one-season effect of the FIFA 11+ was investigated after each season. The effect of continuous intervention was verified in 66 and 62 players from the intervention and control groups who continued the study for all three seasons, respectively. The one-season intervention showed significantly lower total, ankle, knee, sprain, ligament injury, noncontact, moderate and severe injury incidence rates in the intervention group in each season. Regarding the continuous intervention, compared with the first season, the injury incidence rates in lower extremity, ankle, and sprain, decreased in the intervention group by 66.0%, 79.8%, and 82.2%, respectively, in the second season, and by 82.6%, 94.6%, and 93.4%, respectively, in the third season, indicating the persistent effect of the FIFA 11+. In conclusion, the FIFA 11+ is an effective program for lower extremity injury prevention in collegiate female football players, and preventive effects persist with continuation of the program.

The impact of sport-specific physical fitness change patterns on lower limb non-contact injury risk in youth female basketball players: a pilot study based on field testing and machine learning.

Background: In recent years, identifying players with injury risk through physical fitness assessment has become a hot topic in sports science research. Although practitioners have conducted many studies on the relationship between physical fitness and the likelihood of injury, the relationship between the two remains indeterminate. Consequently, this study utilized machine learning to preliminary investigate the relationship between individual physical fitness tests and injury risk, aiming to identify whether patterns of physical fitness change have an impact on injury risk. Methods: This study conducted a retrospective analysis by extracting the records of 17 young female basketball players from the sport-specific physical fitness monitoring and injury registration database in Fujian Province. Sports-specific physical fitness tests included physical performance, physiological, biochemical, and subjective perceived responses. The data for each player was standardized individually using Z-scores. Synthetic minority over-sampling techniques and edited nearest neighbor algorithms were used to sample the training set to address the negative impact of class imbalance on model performance. Feature extraction was performed on the dataset using linear discriminant analysis, and the prediction model was constructed using the cost-sensitive neural network. Results: The 10 replicate 5-fold stratified cross-validation showed that the lower limb non-contact injury prediction model based on the cost-sensitive neural network had achieved good discrimination and calibration (average Precision: 0.6360; average Recall: 0.8700; average F2-Score: 0.7980; average AUC: 0.8590; average Brier-score: 0.1020), which could be well applied in training practice. According to the attribution analysis, agility and speed were important physical attributes that affect youth female basketball players' non-contact lower limb injury risk. Specifically, there was enhance in the performance of the 1-min double under, accompanied by an increase in urinary ketone and urinary blood levels following the agility test. The 3/4 basketball court sprint performance improved, while urinary protein and RPE levels decreased after the speed test. Conclusion: The sport-specific physical fitness change pattern can impact the lower limb non-contact injury risk of young female basketball players in Fujian Province, specifically in terms of agility and speed. These findings will provide valuable insights for planning athletes' physical training programs, managing fatigue, and preventing injuries.

The effect of bisphosphonate and platelet-rich plasma in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: an article review

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/fn9kA601YVo ACL rupture is a common injury often resulting from previously healthy individuals' non-contact knee injuries. ACL rupture in young adults and teenagers are becoming more common, contrary to earlier theories that suggested ACL damage was uncommon in skeletally immature people. This risk is significantly raised by concomitant meniscal injury whether or not an ACL reconstruction is undertaken. Although surgical management with allograft or autograft reconstruction can be achieved successfully, there are some serious complications following ACL reconstruction. The supply of autografts is limited, especially in situations with numerous ligament injuries or re-ruptures, which might result in morbidity at the donor site. Allografts can increase the spread of illness and trigger an inflammatory response, which is a drawback. There has been much interest in a tissue-engineered ACL graft because of these issues and current developments in bioengineering and regenerative medicine. According to recent research, following an ACL repair, the bone marrow density surrounding the knee area diminishes. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Bisphosphonate are the substrates that could ameliorate this phenomenon. Therefore, this review aims to compile evidence of PRP and bisphosphonate and its effect on the tendon-bone interface in ACL reconstruction.

Injury prevention strategies at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup display a multifactorial approach and highlight subjective wellness measurements

ObjectiveTo report the injury prevention programs utilised by top-level female footballers competing internationally. MethodsAn online survey was administered to physicians of the 24 competing national teams at the 2019 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Women's World Cup. The survey included 4 sections regarding perceptions and practices concerning non-contact injuries: (1) risk factors, (2) screening tests and monitoring tools, (3) preventative strategies, and (4) reflection on their World Cup experience. ResultsFollowing responses from 54% of teams, the most common injuries encountered included muscle strains, ankle sprains, and anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. The study also revealed the most important injury risk factors during the FIFA 2019 World Cup. Intrinsic risk factors include accumulated fatigue, previous injury, and strength endurance. Extrinsic risk factors include reduced recovery time between matches, congested match schedule, and the number of club team matches played. The 5 most used tests for risk factors were flexibility, joint mobility, fitness, balance, and strength. Monitoring tools commonly used were subjective wellness, heart rate, minutes/matches played, and daily medical screening. Specific strategies to limit the risk of an anterior cruciate ligament injury included the FIFA 11+ program and proprioception training. ConclusionThe present study revealed multifactorial approaches to injury prevention strategies for women's national football teams at the FIFA 2019 World Cup. Challenges to injury prevention program implementation reflect time limitations, schedule uncertainties, and varying club team recommendations. Level of evidenceIV.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Hiatus From Sports Activities on Injuries Observed Among Division I NCAA Athletes.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly disrupted athletic activities, including those in the Pacific 12 (Pac-12) Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It is currently unknown how the disruption in training and competition impacted athletes' risk of injury upon resumption of activities. To describe and compare the rate, timing, mechanism, and severity of injuries among collegiate athletes across multiple sports in the Pac-12 Conference before and after the COVID-19 pandemic-associated hiatus of intercollegiate athletic activities. Descriptive epidemiology study. Descriptive and injury data among intercollegiate athletes from both the season before the hiatus and the season after the hiatus were acquired from the Pac-12 Health Analytics Program database. Injury elements (timing of injury onset, injury severity, mechanism, recurrence, outcome, need for procedural intervention, and event segment during which the injury took place) were compared by time using the chi-square test and a multivariate logistic regression model. Subgroup analyses were performed on knee and shoulder injuries among athletes participating in sports with traditionally high rates of knee and shoulder injuries. A total of 12,319 sports-related injuries across 23 sports were identified, with 7869 pre-hiatus injuries and 4450 post-hiatus injuries. There was no difference in the overall incidence of injury between the pre-hiatus and post-hiatus seasons. However, the proportion of noncontact injuries was higher in the post-hiatus season for football, baseball, and softball players, and the proportion of nonacute injuries in the post-hiatus season was higher among football, basketball, and rowing athletes. Finally, the overall proportion of injuries sustained by football players in the final 25% of competition or practice was higher in the post-hiatus season. Athletes competing in the post-hiatus season were observed to have higher rates of noncontact injuries and injuries sustained in the final 25% of competition. This study demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic has had varied effects on athletes from different sports, suggesting that many factors must be considered when designing return-to-sports programs for athletes after an extended absence from organized training.

Epidemiology of Injuries in Elite Male Futsal Players.

This study aimed to describe and characterize injuries sustained by elite male futsal players in Portugal. Prospective cohort study. Top-tier Portuguese league in the 2019 to 2020 season. One hundred sixty-seven players from 9 elite/international-level (tier 4) futsal teams. The location, type, body side, body part, mechanism of injury, severity, occurrence, days lost, training, and match exposure were collected. Injury incidence, prevalence, and burden. The study was conducted during an 8-month season. A total of 133 injuries were recorded, and 92 (67.6%) players sustained injuries. The overall time-loss injury incidence was 4.5 injuries per 1000 hours of exposure. Injury incidence during matches was higher than during training sessions (25.9 vs 3.0 per 1000 hours of exposure, respectively). Average time loss was 9 days, and moderate injuries were the most frequent (44%), followed by mild injuries (24%). Injury burden was 73.8 days lost per 1000 hours of total player exposure. Sprains/ligament (29%) and muscle rupture/tear/strains (32%) were the most common injuries. The groin (19%), thigh (17%), knee (19%), and ankle (15%) were the most affected body areas. Noncontact injuries were the most reported mechanism (65%), and 24% were overuse injuries. This study showed that elite/international-level (tier 4) male futsal players are more prone to noncontact injuries, primarily affecting the lower limbs. The incidence during match play increased by 9-fold compared with training sessions.

Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test Anterior Reach Asymmetry and Noncontact Lower Limb Injury in Subelite Young Male Soccer Players With Different Training Experiences

Poor single-leg balance performance is associated with an increased risk of sustaining lower limb injuries in team sports. However, it is unclear whether this relationship is modified by the level of training experience (years of training experience). The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether soccer players’ single-leg balance performance is related to lower limb injuries in noncontact situations with different levels of training experience. Subelite young male soccer players performed the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test with the dominant and the nondominant leg at the beginning of the preseason. Due to COVID-19 rules, the occurrence of lower limb injuries during the second half of the competitive season was documented. The odds of injury were calculated based on a previously reported Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test cut-off score for side-to-side anterior reach difference (≥4 cm). Twelve soccer players sustained a lower leg injury in noncontact situations. Only four of them had an anterior reach difference equal to or above the cut-off score. Soccer training experience has no significant influence on the association between Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test anterior reach asymmetry and noncontact lower limb injury in young male players.

Video analysis of Achilles tendon ruptures in professional male football (soccer) reveals underlying injury patterns and provides strategies for injury prevention

PurposeIn professional football (soccer), Achilles tendon ruptures are severe injuries. Video analysis promotes a better understanding of the underlying situational and biomechanical patterns, and provides a roadmap for future research to improve the management and prevention of Achilles tendon ruptures. The purpose of this study was to identify injury patterns contributing to acute Achilles tendon ruptures in professional male football players.MethodsProfessional male football players with an acute Achilles tendon rupture were identified using an online database. For every in-competition injury, the corresponding football match was detected. Video footage of the injury was accessed using Wyscout.com or publicly available video databases. Situational patterns and injury biomechanics of the injury frame were independently analysed by two reviewers using a standardised checklist and a motion analysis software. Finally, consensus was reached to describe the main injury patterns of Achilles tendon ruptures in professional male football players.ResultsThe search identified video footage of 80 Achilles tendon ruptures in 78 players. Most injuries (94%) occurred through indirect or non-contact mechanisms. The kinematic analysis revealed characteristic joint positions at the time of injury consisting of hip extension, knee extension, ankle dorsiflexion, foot abduction, and foot pronation in most cases. The underlying direction of movement was from flexion to extension (knee) and from plantarflexion to dorsiflexion (ankle). Player actions identified as main injury patterns were stepping back (26%), landing (20%), running/sprinting (18%), jumping (13%), and starting (10%).ConclusionMost Achilles tendon ruptures in professional male football players are closed-chain indirect or non-contact injuries. Sudden loading to the plantarflexor musculotendinous unit remains to be the main component for most cases. By achieving a better understanding of underlying injury mechanisms, this study provides new strategies for the prevention of Achilles tendon ruptures.Level of evidenceLevel IV.

Likely Pathogenic Variants of Cav1.3 and Nav1.1 Encoding Genes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Could Elucidate the Dysregulated Pain Pathways.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal multisystem neurodegenerative disease associated with progressive loss of motor neurons, leading to death. Not only is the clinical picture of ALS heterogenous, but also the pain sensation due to different types of pain involvement. ALS used to be considered a painless disease, but research has been emerging and depicting a more complex pain representation in ALS. Pain has been detected even a couple years before the symptomatic stage of ALS, referring to primary pain associated with muscle denervation, although secondary pain due to nociceptive causes is also a part of the clinical picture. A new non-contact dying-back injury mechanism theory of ALS recently postulated that the irreversible intrafusal proprioceptive Piezo2 microinjury could be the primary damage, with underlying genetic and environmental risk factors. Moreover, this Piezo2 primary damage is also proposed to dysregulate the primary pain pathways in the spinal dorsal horn in ALS due to the lost imbalanced subthreshold Ca2+ currents, NMDA activation and lost L-type Ca2+ currents, leading to the lost activation of wide dynamic range neurons. Our investigation is the first to show that the likely pathogenic variants of the Cav1.3 encoding CACNA1D gene may play a role in ALS pathology and the associated dysregulation or loss of the pain sensation. Furthermore, our reanalysis also shows that the SCN1A gene might also contribute to the dysregulated pain sensation in ALS. Finally, the absence of pathogenic variants of Piezo2 points toward the new non-contact dying-back injury mechanism theory of ALS. However, molecular and genetic investigations are needed to identify the functionally diverse features of this proposed novel critical pathway.

Identification of potential risk factors for lower limb injuries in female team-sport athletes: a prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT Objectives The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to assess the associations between lower limb injuries in female team-sport athletes and a number of factors. The potential risk factors explored included (1) lower limb strength, (2) history of life-event stress, (3) family history of ACL injuries, (4) menstrual history, and (5) history of oral contraception use. Methods One hundred and thirty-five female athletes aged between 14 and 31 years (mean: 18.8 ± 3.6 years) from rugby union (n = 47), soccer (n = 72), and netball (n = 16) volunteered to participate in this study. Demographics, history of life-event stress, injury history and baseline data were obtained prior to the competitive season. The following strength measures were collected: isometric hip adductor and abductor strength, eccentric knee flexor strength and single leg jumping kinetics. Athletes were then followed for 12 months, and all lower limb injuries sustained were recorded. Results One hundred and nine athletes provided one-year follow-up injury data, of whom, 44 suffered at least one lower limb injury. All athletes who reported high scores for negative life-event stress sustained lower limb injuries. Non-contact lower limb injury was positively associated with weak hip adductor strength (OR: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.78–0.98; p = 0.017), and between-limb adductor (OR: 5.65; 95%CI: 1.61–19.7.; p = 0.007) and abductor (OR: 1.95; 95%CI: 1.03–3.71; p = 0.039) strength asymmetries. Conclusion History of life event stress, hip adductor strength, and between-limb adductor and abductor strength asymmetries offer potential novel avenues for investigating injury risk factors in female athletes.

Examining the Distribution of Bone Bruise Patterns in Contact and Noncontact Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Background: Bone bruises are commonly seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and can provide insight into the underlying mechanism of injury. There are limited reports that have compared the bone bruise patterns between contact and noncontact mechanisms of ACL injury. Purpose: To examine and compare the number and location of bone bruises in contact and noncontact ACL injuries. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Three hundred twenty patients who underwent ACL reconstruction surgery between 2015 and 2021 were identified. Inclusion criteria were clear documentation of the mechanism of injury and MRI within 30 days of the injury on a 3-T scanner. Patients with concomitant fractures, injuries to the posterolateral corner or posterior cruciate ligament, and/or previous ipsilateral knee injury were excluded. Patients were stratified into 2 cohorts based on a contact or noncontact mechanism. Preoperative MRI scans were retrospectively reviewed by 2 musculoskeletal radiologists for bone bruises. The number and location of the bone bruises were recorded in the coronal and sagittal planes using fat-suppressed T2-weighted images and a standardized mapping technique. Lateral and medial meniscal tears were recorded from the operative notes, while medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries were graded on MRI. Results: A total of 220 patients were included, with 142 (64.5%) noncontact injuries and 78 (35.5%) contact injuries. There was a significantly higher frequency of men in the contact cohort compared with the noncontact cohort (69.2% vs 54.2%, P = .030), while age and body mass index were comparable between the 2 cohorts. The bivariate analysis demonstrated a significantly higher rate of combined lateral tibiofemoral (lateral femoral condyle [LFC] + lateral tibial plateau [LTP]) bone bruises (82.1% vs 48.6%, P < .001) and a lower rate of combined medial tibiofemoral (medial femoral condyle [MFC] + medial tibial plateau [MTP]) bone bruises (39.7% vs 66.2%, P < .001) in knees with contact injuries. Similarly, noncontact injuries had a significantly higher rate of centrally located MFC bone bruises (80.3% vs 61.5%, P = .003) and posteriorly located MTP bruises (66.2% vs 52.6%, P = .047). When controlling for age and sex, the multivariate logistical regression model demonstrated that knees with contact injuries were more likely to have LTP bone bruises (OR, 4.721 [95% CI, 1.147-19.433], P = .032) and less likely to have combined medial tibiofemoral (MFC + MTP) bone bruises (OR, 0.331 [95% CI, 0.144-0.762], P = .009) compared with those with noncontact injuries. Conclusion: Significantly different bone bruise patterns were observed on MRI based on ACL injury mechanism, with contact and noncontact injuries demonstrating characteristic findings in the lateral tibiofemoral and medial tibiofemoral compartments, respectively.

Planning the Microcycle in Elite Football: To Rest or Not to Rest?

To examine the association between the programming of days off (ie,no pitch training, days off feet) within turnarounds of varying length and injury rate in elite soccer. Retrospective data from 56 team seasons of players belonging to 18 elite teams performing in top leagues including the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Bundesliga, Scottish Premiership, Major League Soccer, and the Dutch Eredivisie from January 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed (total of 1578 players, 2865 injuries, 2859 noninternational matches, and 12,939 training-session days). The turnarounds examined lasted from 3 to 8days. Only injuries with ≥3-day time loss were retained for analysis. The authors then looked at the injury rate within each microcycle in relation to the presence of a day off or not and its programming sequences in relation to the previous match (ie,day off at D + 1 vs D + 2 for the day after the match or the following, respectively). During 3- and 7-day turnarounds, the sequences including the day off feet at D + 2 were associated with 2 to 3 times lower overall noncontact injury rates than the other programming sequences (Cohen d: 0.9-2.7). For the other turnarounds, the differences between the sequences were unclear. The programming of a day off (or at least "off feet") at D + 2 may be associated with moderately to largely lower incidence of noncontact injuries, especially during 3- and 7-day turnarounds.

Miswired Proprioception in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Relation to Pain Sensation (and in Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness)—Is Piezo2 Channelopathy a Principal Transcription Activator in Proprioceptive Terminals Besides Being the Potential Primary Damage?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal neurodegenerative multisystem disease, with an unknown pathomechanism, resulting in progressive motoneuron loss. In 90-95% of cases, ALS is sporadic, but close to 10% of ALS is familial with inherited gene mutations from family members. Recently, a non-contact dying-back injury mechanism theory of ALS postulated that irreversible intrafusal proprioceptive terminal degeneration induces the non-resolving progressive impairment of the proprioceptive circuitry, leading to motoneuron loss, progressive overloading and depletion of the central nervous system, and eventually to death. The current manuscript proposes that irreversible Piezo2 channelopathy of this proprioceptive terminal degeneration induces constantly activated and dysregulated transcription process in ALS, providing access to underlying pathogenic gene variants and letting the cell-type-specific noncoding DNA mutations become more apparent. This opinion piece proposes that ALS genes are associated with the Piezo2 channelopathy mechanism both downstream and upstream, and their mutations, along with the aging process, could explain the non-contact dying-back injury mechanism theory of ALS. Moreover, irreversible microinjury of the Piezo2 ion channel could be the primary damage or the root cause of death in ALS. Finally, the current manuscript also depicts the pathomechanism as to why ALS is considered a painless disease.

Application of an in silico approach identifies a genetic locus within ITGB2, and its interactions with HSPG2 and FGF9, to be associated with anterior cruciate ligament rupture risk

ABSTRACT We developed a Biomedical Knowledge Graph model that is phenotype and biological function-aware through integrating knowledge from multiple domains in a Neo4j, graph database. All known human genes were assessed through the model to identify potential new risk genes for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures and Achilles tendinopathy (AT). Genes were prioritised and explored in a case–control study comparing participants with ACL ruptures (ACL-R), including a sub-group with non-contact mechanism injuries (ACL-NON), to uninjured control individuals (CON). After gene filtering, 3376 genes, including 411 genes identified through previous whole exome sequencing, were found to be potentially linked to AT and ACL ruptures. Four variants were prioritised: HSPG2:rs2291826A/G, HSPG2:rs2291827G/A, ITGB2:rs2230528C/T and FGF9:rs2274296C/T. The rs2230528 CC genotype was over-represented in the CON group compared to ACL-R (p < 0.001) and ACL-NON (p < 0.001) and the TT genotype and T allele were over-represented in the ACL-R group and ACL-NON compared to CON (p < 0.001) group. Several significant differences in distributions were noted for the gene-gene interactions: (HSPG2:rs2291826, rs2291827 and ITGB2:rs2230528) and (ITGB2:rs2230528 and FGF9:rs2297429). This study substantiates the efficiency of using a prior knowledge-driven in silico approach to identify candidate genes linked to tendon and ACL injuries. Our biomedical knowledge graph identified and, with further testing, highlighted novel associations of the ITGB2 gene which has not been explored in a genetic case control association study, with ACL rupture risk. We thus recommend a multistep approach including bioinformatics in conjunction with next generation sequencing technology to improve the discovery potential of genomics technologies in musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries. Highlights A biomedical knowledge graph was modelled for musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries to efficiently identify candidate genes for genetic susceptibility analyses. The biomedical knowledge graph and sequencing data identified potential biologically relevant variants to explore susceptibility to common tendon and ligament injuries. Specifically genetic variants within the ITGB2 and FGF9 genes were associated with ACL risk. Novel allele combinations (HSPG2-ITGB2 and ITGB2-FGF9) showcase the potential effect of ITGB2 in influencing risk of ACL rupture.

Predictive modeling of lower extremity injury risk in male elite youth soccer players using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression.

To (1) identify neuromuscular and biomechanical injury risk factors in elite youth soccer players and (2) assess the predictive ability of a machine learning approach. Fifty-six elite male youth soccer players (age: 17.2 ± 1.1 years; height: 179 ± 8cm; mass: 70.4 ± 9.2kg) performed a 3D motion analysis, postural control testing, and strength testing. Non-contact lower extremities injuries were documented throughout 10months. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was used to identify the most important injury predictors. Predictive performance of the LASSO model was determined in a leave-one-out (LOO) prediction competition. Twenty-three non-contact injuries were registered. The LASSO model identified concentric knee extensor peak torque, hip transversal plane moment in the single-leg drop landing task and center of pressure sway in the single-leg stance test as the three most important predictors for injury in that order. The LASSO model was able to predict injury outcomes with a likelihood of 58% and an area under the ROC curve of 0.63 (sensitivity=35%; specificity=79%). The three most important variables for predicting the injury outcome suggest the importance of neuromuscular and biomechanical performance measures in elite youth soccer. These preliminary results may have practical implications for future directions in injury risk screening and planning, as well as for the development of customized training programs to counteract intrinsic injury risk factors. However, the poor predictive performance of the final model confirms the challenge of predicting sports injuries, and the model must therefore be evaluated in larger samples.

SURFING ON THE WORLD STAGE: ACUTE AND OVERUSE INJURIES AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR THE COMPETITIVE AND RECREATIONAL SURFER

Surfing has rapidly grown in popularity as the sport made its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Surfing injuries are becoming more relevant with the globalisation and increasing risks of the sport, but despite this, little is known about surfing injuries or prevention strategies in either the competitive or recreational surfer.We reviewed the literature for the incidence, anatomical distribution, type and underlying mechanism of acute and overuse injuries, and discuss current preventative measures. Four online databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to March 2020.This review finds that skin injuries represent the highest proportion of total injuries. Acute injuries most frequently affect the head, neck and face, followed by the lower limbs. Being struck by one's own board is the most common mechanism of injury. Surfers are injured at a frequency of 0.30–6.60 injuries per 1000 hours of surfing.Most prior studies are limited by small sample sizes, poor data collection methodology and geographical constraints. The scientific literature on surfing injuries under-represents overuse musculoskeletal injuries and the efficacy of prevention strategies for surfing-related overuse musculoskeletal injuries has not been studied. Injuries to the head and neck pose greater risks to a surfer's morbidity and mortality, yet there is no consensus on the management protocol of spinal injuries that occur in open water. Non-contact acute ligament injuries have increased as surfing manoeuvres have become more acrobatic, and overuse musculoskeletal injuries are highly correlated with paddling.Further research is needed to establish preventative measures for both acute and overuse surfing injuries and to ensure the increasing popularity of surfing is met with an improved understanding of sport risks and safety. Specifically, we recommend research be prioritised regarding the efficacy of training programmes to prevent surfing-related overuse musculoskeletal injuries.

Epidemiology of hamstring injuries in 538 cases from an FC Barcelona multi sports club

ABSTRACT Objectives Hamstring injuries are the most common muscle injuries in team sports. The aims of this study were to describe the epidemiology of hamstring muscle injuries in the professional and amateur sport sections of a multi-sport club Football Club Barcelona (FCB) and to determine any potential correlation between return-to-play (RTP) and injury location, severity of connective tissue damage, age, sex, and athlete’s level of competition. Methods This descriptive epidemiological study with data collected from September 2007 to September 2017 stored in the FCB database. The study included non-contact hamstring injuries sustained during training or competition. Results A total of 538 hamstring injuries were reported in the club’s database, of which 240 were structurally verified by imaging as hamstring injuries. The overall incidence for the 17 sports studied was 1.29 structurally verified hamstring injuries per 100 athletes per year. The muscle most commonly involved in hamstring injuries was the biceps femoris, and the connective tissue most frequently involved was the myofascial. There was no evidence of a statistically significant association between age and RTP after injury, and no statistically significant difference between sex and RTP. However, the time loss by professionals was shorter than for amateurs, and proximal hamstring injuries took longer RTP than distal ones. Conclusion In the 17 sports practiced at multi-sport club, the incidence of hamstring injury was 1.29 per 100 athletes per year. Players from sports in which high-speed sprinting and kicking are necessary, and amateurs, were at higher risk of suffering a hamstring injury. In addition, proximally located hamstring injuries involving tendinous connective tissue showed the longest RTP time. Age did not seem to have any influence on RTP. Documenting location and the exact tissue involved in hamstring injuries may be beneficial for determining the prognosis and RTP.

Predicting Injuries in Football Based on Data Collected from GPS-Based Wearable Sensors.

The growing intensity and frequency of matches in professional football leagues are related to the increasing physical player load. An incorrect training model results in over- or undertraining, which is related to a raised probability of an injury. This research focuses on predicting non-contact lower body injuries coming from over- or undertraining. The purpose of this analysis was to create decision-making models based on data collected during both training and match, which will enable the preparation of a tool to model the load and report the increased risk of injury for a given player in the upcoming microcycle. For this purpose, three decision-making methods were implemented. Rule-based and fuzzy rule-based methods were prepared based on expert understanding. As a machine learning baseline XGBoost algorithm was considered. Taking into account the dataset used containing parameters related to the external load of the player, it is possible to predict the risk of injury with a certain precision, depending on the method used. The most promising results were achieved by the machine learning method XGBoost algorithm (Precision 92.4%, Recall 96.5%, and F1-score 94.4%).

ANÁLISE E MEDIDAS PREVENTIVAS DE LESÕES SEM CONTATO NO FUTEBOL

ABSTRACT Introduction: Soccer is characterized by high intensity and great competitiveness, and several sports injuries frequently occur; one of the main categories of injuries is the non-contact ones. Objective: Study the situation of non-contact injuries in soccer and analyze its preventive measures. Methods: The experimental group adopted the intermittent training method to strengthen the proprioception and coordination ability of the athletes. In contrast, the control group adopted mainly traditional aerobic training, with a 40-day duration. Results: Among non-contact injuries in soccer sports, lower limb sprain and joint injuries represented an eminently serious proportion. After preventive exercise, the total FMS test score of the experimental group was 16.75 points, an increase of 26.03%, and that of the control group was 14.14 points, an increase of 3.49%. The performance of the experimental group was significantly improved. Conclusion: The sports training mode proposed in this study significantly reduces the probability of non-contact injuries during sports. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.