Non-contact Sports Research Articles

Is contact sport participation associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy or neurodegenerative decline? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We sought to evaluate a potential association between contact vs. non-contact sport participation and long-term neurologic outcomes and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). PubMed/Embase/PsycINFO/CINAHL databases were queried for studies between 1950-2020 with contact and non-contact sports, longitudinal assessment >10 years, and long-term neurologic outcomes in four-domains: I) clinical diagnosis; II) CTE neuropathology; III) neurocognition; and IV) neuroimaging. Of 2561 studies, 37 met inclusion criteria, and 19 contained homogenous outcomes usable in the meta-analysis. Domain I: Across six studies, no significant relationship was seen between contact sport participation and antemortem diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease or death related to such a diagnosis (RR1.88, P=0.054, 95%CI0.99, 3.49); however, marginal significance (P<0.10) was obtained. Domain II: Across three autopsy studies, no significant relationship was seen between contact sport participation and CTE neuropathology (RR42.39, P=0.086, 95%CI0.59, 3057.46); however, marginal significance (P<0.10) was obtained. Domain III: Across five cognitive studies, no significant relationship was seen between contact sport participation and cognitive function on the Trail Making Test (TMT) scores A/B (A:d=0.17, P=0.275,95% CI-0.13, 0.47; B:d=0.13, P=0.310, 95%CI-0.12, 0.38). Domain IV: In 10 brain imaging-based studies, 32% comparisons showed significant differences between those with a history of contact sport vs. those without. No statistically significant increased risk of neurodegenerative diagnosis, CTE neuropathology, or neurocognitive changes was found to be associated with contact sport participation, yet marginal significance was obtained in two domains. A minority of imaging comparisons showed differences of uncertain clinical significance. These results highlight the need for longitudinal investigations using standardized contact sport participation and neurodegenerative criteria.

Comparison of Various Metrics of Repetitive Head Impact Exposure And Their Associations With Neurocognition in Collegiate-Aged Athletes.

Characterize the levels of various metrics of repetitive head impacts (RHI) in contact (CS) and non-contact (NCS) sport athletes and determine the extent to which they are associated with fluid cognition. Collegiate-aged athletes (n = 176) completed semi-structured interviews about participation in contact sport. RHI was operationalized based on current sport (CS/NCS), the cumulative number of years of participation, age at first exposure (AFE), and based on recently proposed traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) categories. The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery assessed fluid cognition. General linear models compared RHI metrics between CS and NCS athletes and tested associations of RHI measures with fluid cognition. CS athletes had more years of RHI exposure, higher rates of "extensive" exposure based on TES criteria, and were more likely to have AFE before age 12 relative to NCS (ps < .001). A subset of NCS athletes, however, reported prior RHI at levels categorized as being "extensive" based on TES criteria (5%), while a larger minority had AFE before 12 (34%). No adverse associations of RHI and fluid cognition were observed (ps > .05). Across all RHI metrics, more or earlier RHI was associated with better episodic memory (ps ≤ .05). Secondary analyses showed this effect was driven by women. Current results find no evidence that RHI in collegiate-aged athletes is associated with worse neurocognition. Although there was extensive overlap among RHI measures, results demonstrate that categorizing athletes based on their current sport undercounts the lifetime RHI exposure in many NCS athletes.

Joint Injury and Rehabilitation in Taekwondo-Short Review

Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art combining foot (tae) and hand (kwon) techniques. It is among the most popular martial arts worldwide and became an official Olympic discipline in 2012. Taekwondo can be divided into two types kyorugi and poomsae, kyorugi is full-contact sport, such as The Olympic Taekwondo, and the other is non-contact sport, which mainly focuses on performances and demonstrations, the non-contact sport known as “Poomsae”. In order to achieve results in various competitions, the training of ordinary athletes focuses on sparring (Olympic style) taekwondo. In recent years, however, many experienced athletes have begun to engage in mind training centered on the unity of posture (Poosae). Poosae is the only non-contact training in taekwondo. Poomsae consists of 13 defined patterns of movement, which are repeated over and over in practice.

Longitudinal alterations in cerebral perfusion following a season of adolescent contact sport participation compared to non-contact athletes

BackgroundCerebral blood flow (CBF) change, a non-invasive marker of head injury, has yet to be thoroughly investigated as a potential consequence of repetitive head impacts (RHI) via contact sport participation in youth athletes. We examined pre-to post-season differences in relative CBF (rCBF), arterial transit time (ATT), and neurocognition between adolescent contact sport (CS; 79.4% of which were football players) and non-contact sport (NCS) athletes. MethodsAdolescent athletes (N = 57; age = 14.70 ± 1.97) completed pre- and post-season clinical assessments and neuroimaging. Brain perfusion was evaluated using an advanced 3D pseudo-continuous ASL sequence with Hadamard encoded multiple post-labeling delays. Mixed-effect models tested group-by-time interactions for rCBF, ATT, and neurocognition. ResultsA significant group-by-time interaction was observed for rCBF in a cluster consisting primarily of frontal and parietal lobe regions, with regional rCBF increasing in CS and decreasing among NCS athletes. No significant interaction was observed for ATT. A significant group-by-time interaction was observed for verbal memory and visual motor speed, with NCS athletes improving and CS athletes exhibiting lower performance from pre-to post-season in comparison. ConclusionsAlterations in rCBF and variability in cognition, not purported neurovasculature changes (measured by ATT), were observed following one season of CS participation. Further study surrounding the clinical meaningfulness of these findings, as they related to adverse long-term outcomes, is needed.

ANÁLISE DO COMPORTAMENTO ESPORTIVO E DA SITUAÇÃO ATUAL DOS JOVENS ESTUDANTES SOB O CONTEXTO DA COVID-19

ABSTRACT Introduction With the repeated covid-19 epidemic, people have gradually realized the importance of physical exercise, so the sports enthusiasm of young students has also been improved to a certain extent. Objective Analyze the sports behavior and status in adolescent students under the background of covid-19. Methods A questionnaire survey was used in this paper. The questionnaire design is carried out from three aspects: current exercise status, changes of physical exercise, and sports behavior motivation of young students. Results Students and parents prefer exercises at home or in the open space of a relatively safe and single community, choosing non-contact sports that can be completed by a single person or are far away from each other. Improvement in both frequency and duration of exercise was observed in the young students, and most had a gain in psychological quality. Conclusion Physical education teachers must fully match the actual situation of the epidemic’s current development by choosing effective teaching methods to promote the continuous development of young students’ physical quality. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

Investigating Longitudinal Continuity of Persistent White Matter Alterations in Sport-related Concussion Using Individualized Analyses

Background: Sport-related concussion (SRC) has been shown to lead to acute and long-term alterations in white matter (WM) organization. The Centers for Disease Control estimates around 283,000 children each year seek medical attention for SRC/recreation-related traumatic brain injury. However, literature on subject-specific longitudinal WM abnormalities in SRC is limited.Purpose: Given the heterogeneous nature of SRC on WM microstructure, the goal of this study is to investigate the longitudinal continuity of persistent white matter alterations using a subject-specific approach.&#x0D; Methods: MRI is a non-invasive imaging modality suitable for detecting neuropathophysiological changes after SRC. Compared to conventional anatomical MRI, using diffusion MRI to probe WM microarchitecture may provide additional sensitivity.The diffusion MRI data from 50 participants were obtained from the CARE consortium, a prospective multisite study examining the natural history of concussion. Each concussed athlete underwent MRI scan at three time points: (1) 24-48 hours after concussion, (2) asymptomatic state, and (3) 7-days after returned to play. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics were computed and Z-scored based on a normal distribution template created from non-contact sport controls. Potential WM alterations indicated by extreme deviations of Z-score maps were calculated for all diffusion metrics in each concussed participant and time point.&#x0D; Results: WM alterations persistent across all three timepoints manifested in 76%, 62%, and 82% of the participants as quantified by increases of mean, axial, and radial diffusivity, respectively. 58% of the participants had fractional anisotropy decreases. For NODDI metrics, 82% and 86% of the participants showed increases of isotropic volume fraction and orientation dispersion index, respectively.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study demonstrated that by applying subject-specific analysis, extreme Z-score voxels can be identified across time in the same or spatially proximal brain regions suggesting persistent WM abnormalities beyond apparent clinical recovery.

REFINAMENTO DE BIOMARCADORES DE SALIVA MI-RNA PARA CONCUSSÃO RELACIONADA AO ESPORTE

ABSTRACT Introduction: The changes in brain structure caused by a sports-related concussion may initially be indistinguishable, however, the irreversible deleterious effects are noted in the long term. An early diagnosis may provide the patient with a better recovery chance and increased survival. For this purpose, this paper studies the feasibility of a diagnosis for concussion by microRNA (mi-RNA) biomarkers contained in the saliva of athletes. Objective: Verify whether salivary miRNAs could be considered good biomarkers for sports concussion. Methodology: Salivary mi-RNA levels were determined from 120 saliva samples of 120 players. There were 43 with a diagnosis of concussion and 77 without a diagnosis of concussion. Samples from players with a concussion were collected 30 minutes prior to activity, samples from individuals who did not engage in physical activity were also compared. Results: On the evaluation of 30 miRNA from individuals with a concussion between contact and non-contact sports there was high detection reliability(P&lt;.05). Both miR-532-5p and miR-182-5p showed reduced amounts of physical activity. The miRNA-532-5p and miRNA-182-5p show significant results among 43 subjects from pre-exercise to post-exercise. The miRNA-4510 showed a significant result (p &lt; 0.05) between contact and non-contact sport types. The amount of miRNA-4510 expanded in 20 individuals in the contact sport at post-exercise but remained normal in the non-contact sports group. Conclusion: The salivary miRNAs are reliable biomarkers for concussion. Evidence Level II; Therapeutic Studies – Investigating the results.

Early ACLR and Risk and Timing of Secondary Meniscal Injury Compared With Delayed ACLR or Nonoperative Treatment: A Time-to-Event Analysis Using Machine Learning

Background: Surgical and nonoperative management of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries seek to mitigate the risk of knee instability and secondary meniscal injury. However, the associated risk and timing of secondary meniscal tears have not been completely elucidated. Purpose: To compare risk and timing of secondary meniscal injury between patients receiving nonoperative management, delayed ACL reconstruction (ACLR), and early ACLR using a machine learning survival analysis. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A geographic database was used to identify and review records of patients with a diagnosis of ACL rupture between 1990 and 2016 with minimum 2-year follow-up. Patients undergoing ACLR were matched 1:1 with nonoperatively treated controls. Rate and time to secondary meniscal tear were compared using random survival forest algorithms; independent models were developed and internally validated for predicting injury-free duration in both cohorts. Performance was measured using out-of-bag c-statistic, calibration, and Brier score. Model interpretability was enhanced using global variable importance and partial dependence curves. Results: The study included 1369 patients who underwent ACLR and 294 patients who had nonoperative treatment. After matching, no significant differences in rates of secondary meniscal tear were found (P = .09); subgroup analysis revealed the shortest periods of meniscal survival in patients undergoing delayed ACLR. The random survival forest algorithm achieved excellent predictive performance for the ACLR cohort, with an out-of-bag c-statistic of 0.80 and a Brier score of 0.11. Significant variables for risk of meniscal tear for the ACLR cohort included time to return to sports or activity ≤350 days, time to surgery ≥50 days, age at injury ≤40 years, and high-impact or rotational landing sports, whereas those in the nonoperative cohort model included time to RTS ≤200 days, visual analog scale pain score >3 at consultation, hypermobility, and noncontact sports. Conclusion: Delayed ACLR demonstrated the greatest long-term risk of meniscal injury compared with nonoperative treatment or early ACLR. Risk factors for decreased meniscal survival after ACLR included increased time to surgery, shorter time to return to sports or activity, older age at injury, and involvement in high-impact or rotational landing sports. Pending careful external validation, these models may be deployed in the clinical space to provide real-time insights and enhance decision making.

Comparison Of Injury For Non-contact Sports (track) Versus Contact Sports (rugby)

PURPOSE: Contact events are considered as the main factor leading to injury in Rugby Union, induced by a high injury incidence. Running is an important part both in rugby and track athletics, and the injury incidence rates for running is significantly lower than contact event injuries in rugby. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the injury characteristics of rugby and track running, intended to inform the athlete, coach and strength and conditioning expert who may be involved with both sports. METHODS: Rugby injury characteristics were described by retrospectively analysing three seasons of injury data from 1,400 players collected by Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRIS) from male and female amateur rugby clubs (contact sport), and comparing those findings with the results of high-quality experimental literature about track running injuries (non-contact sport) with more than 4000 runners. RESULTS: Contact events are the main cause of injuries for rugby players, especially for forwards position players. Strain (28.6%), sprain (24.3%), haematoma/contusion (11.1%), and concussion (11.3%) were the most common injuries, which were mainly located in the head (16.7%), shoulder (13.4%), thigh (13.2%), knee (11.7%) and ankle/foot (13.8%), and mainly occurred during matches. The data collected from the running literature show the significant difference of injury characteristic between running and rugby. Overuse is the primary mechanism of running injuries. The majority of injuries were musculoskeletal injuries. Injuries in lower extremities account for a large proportion of all running injuries (64-87%), and the knee was the most commonly injured joint (28%), followed by foot/ankle (26%), lower leg (16%). Rugby injuries mostly occur in match plays (81%), running injuries occur in training (73%). CONCLUSIONS: Contact events contribute to a large proportion of rugby injuries, whilst most running injuries were musculoskeletal injuries caused by overuse. For running injuries, improving the standard injury definitions and adhering to an international injury epidemiology study consensus will be beneficial to increase the consistency and comparability of different studies and across sports. Supported by the Irish Rugby Football Union, Irish Research Council, and the Health Research Institute UL.

Prevalence of Rotator Cuff Tears Among Older Tennis Players and Its Impact on Clinical Findings and Shoulder Function.

Tennis is a noncontact sport playable at an individual's own pace. Thus, it is popular among the older adults. It is known that older adults often suffer from rotator cuff tears (RCTs), which may affect tennis activity. However, the prevalence and influence of RCTs on tennis play among older players are not well-known. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of RCTs in older tennis players and its impact on physical findings and shoulder function. A cross-sectional study. Fifty-three tennis players (mean age: 70.7y; range: 60-83y) participating in a recreational-level tennis tournament were examined in this study. An ultrasonographic examination of both shoulders was performed to detect RCTs. Relationships between RCTs of the dominant shoulder and clinical findings, shoulder pain, and shoulder function including range of motion, shoulder strength, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand-Sports Module score were assessed. RCTs were detected in 19 (36%) dominant shoulders and 6 (11%) nondominant shoulders. Asymptomatic RCTs were detected in 11 (58%) dominant shoulders and 5 (83%) nondominant shoulders. Increased crepitus and more positive results in the empty can test, and infraspinatus test were observed in the dominant shoulders with RCTs than in those without; however, there was no difference in shoulder pain, range of motion; strength; Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score; and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand-Sports Module score between the players with and without RCTs. One-third of the older tennis players in this study had RCTs in the dominant shoulder with some positive physical sign of an RCT. However, shoulder pain and shoulder function did not differ between the players with and without RCTs, suggesting that RCTs had a minor impact on the tennis performance in the participants of this study.

Return to Sport Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Women’s Indoor Volleyball

Women’s volleyball participation has increased over the past four decades resulting in a rise of sports-related injuries during practice and competition. Although volleyball is considered a non-contact sport, the sport requires jumping, landing, pivoting, directional changes, and digging which can lead to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction. There are limited studies on guidelines for safe return to volleyball competition after an ACL injury. A volleyball-specific functional rehabilitation program is critical for optimal return to sport following ACL reconstruction. A volleyball athlete must be trained and proficient in jumping and landing to serve, hit, and block as well as pivot, cut, and change direction on the court to retrieve balls or prepare a set. Proper landing mechanics from a jump become a crucial part of post-operative ACL rehabilitation to avoid re-injury and ensure safe return to competitive sport. A critical part of ACL rehabilitation is following a criteria-based approach exhibiting progressions in range of motion, mobility, strength, neuromuscular control, agility, and cardiovascular training. Incorporating volleyball-specific skills early in the athlete’s rehabilitation program allows re-training of important skills during a time when then athlete is removed from play. Volleyball-specific tasks can be integrated early in proprioceptive and neuromuscular training drills and eventually progressed towards more challenging court-based tasks as the athlete advances through the phases of their rehabilitation program. Collaboration and communication of a multidisciplinary team made up of physicians, physical therapist, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning specialists, coaches, and parents must work together to determine an athlete’s readiness for return to sport (RTS). It is important to take into consideration the athlete’s sport, risk of re-injury, demands of the sport, and their psychological readiness when facilitating RTS decisions.

There Is Substantial Variation in Rehabilitation Protocols Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Survey of 46 American Orthopaedic Surgeons

To identify the clinical practice preferences of orthopaedic surgeons regarding anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) rehabilitation through a survey of members of the Arthroscopy Association of North American (AANA) and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). An online survey was distributed to members of AANA and AOSSM between November 2020 and September 2021. Participants reported on their clinical preferences for ACLR protocol development and patient selection, use of technology in ACLR recovery and rehabilitation, and preferences for advancing through multiple phases of the rehabilitative process. Responses from 46 orthopaedic surgeons were analyzed. Patient-reported outcome measures were not found to be utilized often at various phases of the perioperative period. Thirty-eight (82.6%) participants reported utilization of postoperative bracing. There was no consensus on when participants allow their patients to advance through rehabilitation, but most report waiting 3 to 4 months for advancement to jogging/lateral movement, 6 to 8 months for return to noncontact sport, and 9 months of more for return to unrestricted sport. Many participants utilize functional and strength testing with associated limb symmetry indices to determine patient readiness to return to sport, with 18, 26, and 25 participants reporting use of functional testing and 28, 26, and 27 participants reporting use of strength testing at the return to jogging/lateral movements, noncontact return to sport, and unrestricted return-to-sport phases, respectively. This study provides an insight into the rehabilitative protocols and modalities utilized for ACLR by orthopaedic surgeons in practice across the United States. There is notably substantial variation in rehabilitative patterns and preferences, particularly with regards to what constitutes criteria for progressing patients through the phases of returning to unrestricted sport. Additionally, our findings show that while many surgeons believe that quantitative assessment technology could be beneficial in decision-making for returning patients to sport, there are still many barriers that stand in the way of its implementation into clinical practice. Postoperative rehabilitative protocols after ACLR vary by surgeon.

Physical therapy recommendations for injury prevention in alpine skiing

Introduction: Alpine skiers face high speeds, significant forces, natural and unnatural obstacles, and various environmental conditions on the slopes. Thus, they are highly exposed to certain injuries, amongst which the most common are those to the knee followed by injuries to the spine, shins, head, as well as arm and thumb injuries. Purpose: The purpose was to systematically review the scientific literature on injuries, risk factors, and prevention in competitive alpine skiing and to provide recommendations for injury prevention in the field of physical preparation, kinesiotherapy, and/or specific exercises, and to determine which exercise program would be most appropriate for an alpine ski racer. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, and COBISS databases were used with PRISMA method to review the physical therapy recommendations for injury prevention in alpine skiing. Results: 10 studies were included in the final systematic review. We have not found any evidence-based prevention programs that are not older than 10 years on the topic of physical preparation for alpine ski racers. We found that most often, the literature describes prevention in terms of equipment, course preparation, course safety awareness, and the experience of the skier. Conclusions: The recommendation for the most efficient prevention according to the current literature is to follow the above preventive measures in combination with appropriate physical preparation, where we recommend relying on research evidence in other (non-contact) sports that have similar injury mechanisms as alpine ski racing.

The Initiation and Developmental Course of Prescription Drug Misuse Among High School Athletes During the Transition Through Young Adulthood.

The objective of this study was to examine the extent to which involvement in high-contact, semicontact, or noncontact sports during the 12th grade is associated with the initiation and developmental course of prescription drug misuse (PDM) between ages 17/18 years and 27/28 years. Data were collected from a national multicohort panel sample of US 12th-graders (cohorts 2006-2017; n=4,772) from the Monitoring the Future Study who were followed for a decade, through age 27/28 years. Approximately 31% of high school seniors indicated PDM at baseline (age 17/18 years). While past-year PDM remained relatively stable between ages 17/18 years and 27/28 years, participation in both noncontact (adjusted odds ratio =1.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.91) and contact (adjusted odds ratio =1.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 2.28) sports in the 12th grade increased the odds of initiating prescription stimulant misuse during the 10 years following high school as compared with respondents who did not participate in these types of sports in the 12th grade. To our knowledge, this is the first national study to have assessed how sports participation during high school is associated with the initiation and developmental course of PDM from adolescence to young adulthood. These findings reinforce the need for PDM screening during adolescence, as nearly 1 in 3 high school seniors engage in PDM. Increased prescription stimulant misuse following high school warrants ongoing monitoring during young adulthood, especially among athletes.

2D:4D digit ratio and its relationship to BMI, sporting choices and physiological predispositions among women

The 2D:4D digit ratio has been established as a biomarker of the level of exposure to prenatal sex hormones’ balancebetween prenatal testosterone (PT) and estrogenne levels. Higher 2D:4D indicates lower PT exposure and vice versa. Data suggests that PT exposure is linked to a risk-taking attitude and physical aggressiveness, both of which are requirements in contact sport. A possible correlation between 2D:4D and human body mass index has also been identified. The aim of the study was to examine the relation between 2D:4D ratio and choice of sport. It was assumed that female soccer players who choose a contact sport would have a lower 2D:4D ratio (thus experiencing higher exposure to PT) than female volleyball players (selecting non-contact sport). The analysis was also aimed at identifying whether a correlation between prenatal testosterone level and BMI exists. The participant sample consisted of 103 women – 36 volleyball players, 33 soccer players and a control group (N=34). Measurements were collected in 2019–2020. The results suggest that 2D:4D was significantly different in women practicing various sports (contact and non-contact sports). Women engaged in contact sports had lower 2D:4D than women engaged in non-contact sports, and vice versa (p&lt;0.05). 2D:4D correlated positively with BMI and body weight – the higher the 2D:4D ratio, the higher the BMI and body weight (and vice versa) (p&lt;0.05). Low 2D:4D (high PT exposure) may predict the choice of more risky, aggressive contact sports, and vice versa. High 2D:4D may predict a higher BMI and body weight, and vice versa.

Pain Perception in Contact Sport Athletes: A Scoping Review.

Contact sports athletes are regularly facing acute physical pain in part of their sport; however, the literature investigating pain perception in these athletes remains scarce. This scoping review aimed to explore the literature surrounding pain perception in contact sport athletes and to compile and understand how it is studied. The search strategy consisted of using index terms and keywords in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global search engines. Results from 11 studies revealed that a mix of team contact sports and combat sports are studied and are included under the umbrella of contact sports. These athletes are being compared with non-athletes as well as athletes from non-contact sports. The cold pressor test and the pain pressure test are the two predominant methods used to investigate physical pain. This review highlights the need to clearly define sports based on contact levels expected in play to better define the types of pain athletes are facing in their practice. Athletes' level of play as well as years of experience should also be more rigorously reported. While contact sport athletes seem to have a higher level of pain tolerance than both active controls and non-contact athletes, themethods of pain testing are not always justified and appropriate in relation to the pain induced during contact sports. Future experimental studies should use pain testing methods relevant to the pain experienced during contact sports and to better justify the rationale for the choice of these methods.

Age of First Concussion and Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical Outcomes in NCAA Collegiate Student Athletes.

Concussions are common among youth athletes and could disrupt critical neurodevelopment. This study examined the association between age of first concussion (AFC) and neurocognitive performance, psychological distress, postural stability, and symptoms commonly associated with concussion in healthy collegiate men and women student athletes. Participants included 4267 collegiate athletes from various contact, limited-contact, and non-contact sports (1818 women and 2449 men) who completed baseline assessments as part of the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. Psychological distress was assessed with the Brief Symptom Inventory 18; neurocognitive performance was assessed with the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT); symptoms commonly associated with concussion were assessed with the ImPACT Post-Concussion Symptom Scale; postural stability was assessed with the Balance Error Scoring System. Generalized linear models were used to examine the effects of AFC on clinical outcomes separately in men and women. Later AFC was associated with lower global (Exp(B) = 0.96, P = 0.001) and somatic (Exp(B) = 0.96, P = 0.002) psychological distress on the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 and faster ImPACT reaction time (B = - 0.003, P = 0.001) in women. AFC was not associated with any clinical outcomes in men. Younger AFC was associated with some differences in psychological distress and reaction time among women but not men; however, these results are likely not clinically meaningful. Sociodemographic disparities, pre-existing conditions, and sport type may impact clinical and cognitive outcomes in collegiate athletes more than concussion history. Future work should examine the relationship between AFC and lifespan-related outcomes.

The acute effect of arousing and relaxing music on athletes’ mood: A study to identify the difference between contact and non-contact sports

The purpose of this study is to determine the acute effect of arousing and relaxing music on mood variables among contact and non-contact sports participants. This experimental study was conducted recruiting 52 male athletes from contact sports (n=26) and non-contact sports (n=26) aged range from 23 to 26 years with more than five years of experience in their sports. Participants listen to either arousing or relaxing music for 15 minutes before they complete the Brunel Mood Scale which measured their mood. Each athlete listened to both music types randomly on two consecutive dates. Data were not normally distributed (P &lt; 0.05). Hence, non-parametric tests were used to analyse the data. To analyse the effect of arousing and relaxing music on all participants, Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used, and results showed that vigour is significantly high after listening to arousing music, and tension and depression mood variables were significantly high with relaxing music (p &lt; 0.00). To find the effect of both music types on contact and non-contact sport athletes, the Mann-Whitney U test was used, and results revealed that there is a significant difference between contact and non-contact sport athletes on fatigue (p = 0.01) and confusion (p = 0.02) mood variables after listening to the arousing music. The findings indicate that there is an acute effect of music type on some mood variables among the athletes. Hence, listening to music can rapidly change athletes’ mood and music can be used to increase arousal or relax athletes during competitions. More research is needed to confirm the outcome of this study.

Risk Prediction of Injury Among Recreational Badminton Players in India.

Since badminton has emerged as a frequently played non-contact recreational sport in India, it is essential to document the injury patterns and incidence. However, there is no existing literature on this topic among Indian players. A web-based questionnaire was circulated among recreational badminton players across North India, enquiring about demographic details, injury characteristics, and factors associated with an injury like BMI, warm-up practice, and physical training. Data of 237 eligible participants revealed an injury incidence rate of 57.1%. The ankle and dominant-side shoulder were the most common anatomical regions affected. The most common injury types were ligament sprain and muscle/tendon strain. Factors like age, frequency, duration of play, type of footwear, BMI, prior warm-up, court surface, and physical training were significantly associated with injury incidence on univariate logistic regression analysis. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found male gender, a lack of prior warm-up, inadequate physical training, and age group between 26 and 30years to be four independent risk factors for injury. The recreational badminton player of India had a relatively higher incidence of injury compared with the limited published data from other countries. Modifiable factors like a proper warm-up before the game, regular physical fitness training, and injury awareness programs can reduce the injury rates. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-022-00663-y.

Automatic segmentation model of intercondylar fossa based on deep learning: a novel and effective assessment method for the notch volume.

BackgroundNotch volume is associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Manual tracking of intercondylar notch on MR images is time-consuming and laborious. Deep learning has become a powerful tool for processing medical images. This study aims to develop an MRI segmentation model of intercondylar fossa based on deep learning to automatically measure notch volume, and explore its correlation with ACL injury.MethodsThe MRI data of 363 subjects (311 males and 52 females) with ACL injuries incurred during non-contact sports and 232 subjects (147 males and 85 females) with intact ACL were retrospectively analyzed. Each layer of intercondylar fossa was manually traced by radiologists on axial MR images. Notch volume was then calculated. We constructed an automatic segmentation system based on the architecture of Res-UNet for intercondylar fossa and used dice similarity coefficient (DSC) to compare the performance of segmentation systems by different networks. Unpaired t-test was performed to determine differences in notch volume between ACL-injured and intact groups, and between males and females.ResultsThe DSCs of intercondylar fossa based on different networks were all more than 0.90, and Res-UNet showed the best performance. The notch volume was significantly lower in the ACL-injured group than in the control group (6.12 ± 1.34 cm3 vs. 6.95 ± 1.75 cm3, P < 0.001). Females had lower notch volume than males (5.41 ± 1.30 cm3 vs. 6.76 ± 1.51 cm3, P < 0.001). Males and females who had ACL injuries had smaller notch than those with intact ACL (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005). Men had larger notches than women, regardless of the ACL injuries (p < 0.001).ConclusionUsing a deep neural network to segment intercondylar fossa automatically provides a technical support for the clinical prediction and prevention of ACL injury and re-injury after surgery.