Non-contact Musculoskeletal Injuries Research Articles

Effects of Balance and Proprioceptive Exercises on the Balance of Ice Hockey Players and the Risk of Lower Limb Injuries

Background. Most ice hockey injuries are contact, but about 15% are non-contact musculoskeletal injuries and lower body injuries account for 30-45% of all injuries in ice hockey players. It is believed that proprioception and balance training can improve neuromuscular control, improve its ability to synchronise the muscle joint to improve dynamic stability and improve human performance, so balance and proprioception are suggested exercises as a regular part of training. The aim. To determine the effects of a 6-week balance and proprioception training exercises on balance and lower extremity injury risk in ice hockey players. Material and methods. 20 men were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Six weeks were applied to the research group balance and proprioception exercises, twice a week for 45 minutes next to their regular training. The control group continued with regular training. Before and after the study, static balance was assessed by the flamingo test, dynamic balance and lower extremity injury risk by the modified star excursion test, and injury risk assessment using the Functional Movement Assessment. Results. In the intervention group after 6 weeks the static balance of the right and left leg improved statistically significantly (p<0,05), the dynamic balance of the right and left leg in the front, posteromedial, posterolateral directions (p<0,05), but functional movement patterns did not change statistically significantly (p>0,05). A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the dynamic balance of the left and right leg in the front, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions (p<0,05) and the static balance of the right leg (p<0,05). The results of the intervention group were better compared to the control group. Conclusions. After the application of balance and proprioception training exercises, the static and dynamic balance of ice hockey players improved and the risk of injury in ice hockey players decreased. Recommendations. Balance and proprioception exercises should be included in hockey physical training to improve static and dynamic balance and reduce the risk of injury. When performing balance and proprioception exercises, we recommend incorporating a variety of specific movements that are similar to those performed by athletes during training and competition. In order to determine the cause of injuries and their risk, it is very important to carry out regular tests, store them and analyse them. Keywords: balance, proprioception, hockey, injury risk

Comparison of Body Composition Changes and Non-Contact Musculoskeletal Injuries Among Professional First-Class Cricket Pace Bowlers

Background. Pace bowling is the most injury susceptible position in cricket due to repeated high intensity maneuvers. Previous studies on pace bowlers have considered anthropometric, biomechanical, and kinesiological factors for deciphering the injury etiology. Study purpose. The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the association of body composition parameters with the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries among pace bowlers in cricket. Materials and methods. A total of 44 healthy professional male pace bowlers (N=44; Age: 22.89±4.5 years; Height: 176±9 cm; Body weight: 76.34±8.09 kg; BMI: 21.4±3.1) were recruited from various cricket academies. They were assessed on anthropometrics, body composition, and aerobic fitness before the start of Indian cricket season (typically mid-September). Any non-contact sports injury accounting for significant time loss during the season was recorded followed by assessment of change in body composition status among injured and non-injured pace bowlers. Results. We found hamstring injury as the most prevalent injury (05/12). Lower back injury accounted for highest severity with time loss of 48 matches. Injured pace bowlers underwent higher training volume (hours/day; p=.009) prior to injury incidence, were significantly heavier, and had greater volume of total body water. All the pace bowlers gained significant amount of fat-free mass (FFM) from pre- to post-season. Conclusions. Higher training workload and higher body weight were associated with more injury risk among pace bowlers. Further research accommodating other predictive factors of body composition and psychomotor learning must be carried out to precisely predict injury risk among pace bowlers in cricket.

The impact of the menstrual cycle on orthopaedic sports injuries in female athletes.

There is a disparity in sport-related injuries between sexes, with females sustaining non-contact musculoskeletal injuries at a higher rate. Anterior cruciate ligament ruptures are between two and eight times more common than in males, and females also have a higher incidence of ankle sprains, patellofemoral pain, and bone stress injuries. The sequelae of such injuries can be devastating to an athlete, resulting in time out of sport, surgery, and the early onset of osteoarthritis. It is important to identify the causes of this disparity and introduce prevention programmes to reduce the incidence of these injuries. A natural difference reflects the effect of reproductive hormones in females, which have receptors in certain musculoskeletal tissues. Relaxin increases ligamentous laxity. Oestrogen decreases the synthesis of collagen and progesterone does the opposite. Insufficient diet and intensive training can lead to menstrual irregularities, which are common in female athletes and result in injury, whereas oral contraception may have a protective effect against certain injuries. It is important for coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists, doctors, and athletes to be aware of these issues and to implement preventive measures. This annotation explores the relationship between the menstrual cycle and orthopaedic sports injuries in pre-menopausal females, and proposes recommendations to mitigate the risk of sustaining these injuries.

Preseason intrinsic risk factors—associated odds estimate the exposure to proximal lower limb injury throughout the season among professional football players

Background/aimFootball players frequently face the occurrence of non-contact musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose of the study was to verify whether the evaluation of combined risk factors could produce a score system...

Analysis of Lower Extremity Proprioception for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention: Current Opinion

Lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries-such as ACL injury-are common, and the majority of those injuries occur without external player contact. In order to prevent non-contact musculoskeletal injuries, athletes must rely on accurate sensory information (such as visual, vestibular, and somatosensory) and stabilize joints during athletic tasks. Previously, proprioception tests (the senses of joint position, movement, tension or force) have been examined using static tests. Due to the role of proprioception in achievement of joint stability, it is essential to explore the development of dynamic proprioception tests. In this current opinion, the basic background on proprioception is covered, and the research gaps and future directions are discussed.

Military personnel with self-reported ankle injuries do not demonstrate deficits in dynamic postural stability or landing kinematics

BackgroundThe odds of sustaining non-contact musculoskeletal injuries are higher in Special Operations Forces operators than in infantry soldiers. The ankle is one of the most commonly injured joints, and once injured can put individuals at risk for reinjury. The purpose of this study was to determine if any differences in postural stability and landing kinematics exist between operators with a self-reported ankle injury in the past one year and uninjured controls. MethodsA total of 55 Special Operations Forces operators were included in this analysis. Comparisons were made between operators with a self-reported ankle injury within one-year of their test date (n=11) and healthy matched controls (n=44). Comparisons were also made between injured and uninjured limbs within the injured group. Dynamic postural stability and landing kinematics at the ankle, knee, and hip were assessed during a single-leg jump-landing task. Comparisons were made between groups with independent t-tests and within the injured group between limbs using paired t-tests. FindingsThere were no significant differences in dynamic postural stability index or landing kinematics between the injured and uninjured groups. Anterior-posterior stability index was significantly higher on the uninjured limb compared to the injured limb within the injured group (P=0.02). InterpretationSingle ankle injuries sustained by operators may not lead to deficits in dynamic postural stability. Dynamic postural stability index and landing kinematics within one year after injury were either not affected by the injuries reported, or injured operators were trained back to baseline measures through rehabilitation and daily activity.

Preventive Biomechanics: A Paradigm Shift With a Translational Approach to Injury Prevention

Background: Preventive medicine techniques have alleviated billions of dollars’ worth of the economic burden in the medical care system through the implementation of vaccinations and screenings before the onset of disease symptoms. Knowledge of biomechanical tendencies has progressed rapidly over the past 20 years such that clinicians can identify, in healthy athletes, the underlying mechanisms that lead to catastrophic injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. As such, preventive medicine concepts can be applied to noncontact musculoskeletal injuries to reduce the economic burden of sports medicine treatments and enhance the long-term health of athletes. Purpose: To illustrate the practical medical benefits that could be gained from preventive biomechanics applied to the ACL as well as the need and feasibility for the broad implementation of these principles. Study Design: Literature review. Methods: The recent literature pertinent to the screening and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries was reviewed and compiled into a clinical commentary on the current state and applicability of preventive biomechanics. Results: Investigators have identified neuromuscular training protocols that screen for and correct the underlying biomechanical deficits that lead to ACL injuries. The literature shows that when athletes comply with these prescribed training protocols, the incidence of injuries is significantly reduced within that population. Such preventive biomechanics practices employ basic training methods that would be familiar to athletic coaches and have the potential to save billions of dollars in cost in sports medicine. Conclusion: The widespread implementation of preventive biomechanics concepts could profoundly affect the field of sports medicine with a minimum of initial investment.

RISK OF SPORTS-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES AMONG ELITE WOMEN BASKETBALL PLAYERS ACCORDING TO POSITION ON THE COURT AND SPORT RESULTS

Background. Basketball is a popular sport around the world, the number of players is growing, the probability to experience trauma is increasing, too. Studies have shown that women sustain 60% more injuries than men do. Pre- season physical examination helps to establish sports specific changes in the body of the athlete and to determine risk factors for training, competition, which cause injury to the players. Research aim was to analyse risk of non-contact musculoskeletal injuries in elite women basketball players according to the position on the court. Methods. The study involved 100 players in Lithuanian women basketball league who completed the questionnaire about the level of physical fatigue, performed Lower Quarter Y Balance Test™ and Functional Movement Screen ™ tests during pre-season physical examination in 2014. Data were analysed and compared according to player’s position on the court (guards and forwards). Results. The level of physical fatigue during pre-season period was low in both groups. Dynamic stability of the right leg was better in guards (composite score – 105.2 to 101.8 in forwards) while dynamic stability of the left leg remained the same in both groups. Guards had higher total scores in Functional Movement Screen™ tests pointing to the better quality of basic functional movement patterns. Conclusions. The guard’s playing efficiency during the season was higher than that of forwards and it was associated with better dynamic stability and higher level of physical fatigue at pre-season. Indirect indicators of non-contact musculoskeletal sport injuries showed that guards should have lower risk of non-contact sport-related injuries in women basketball.

Isotope scanning to diagnose osteomyelitis

<h3>Background/aim</h3> Football players frequently face the occurrence of non-contact musculoskeletal injuries. The purpose of the study was to verify whether the evaluation of combined risk factors could produce a score system to determine the probability of injury in football players during the Brazilian football season. <h3>Methods</h3> Sixty-two male professional soccer players recruited from&nbsp;the first and second division soccer teams, with ages between 18 and 36 years. Functional performance evaluations were carried out at the beginning of the preseason which included strength and jumping tests, history of injuries and characteristics of athletes. <h3>Results and conclusions</h3> The results were grouped and a score/monogram was constructed.