Injury Prevention Research Articles

Geospatial analysis of injury severity on major roads in Ghana (2017–2020): implications for targeted injury prevention and control initiatives

BackgroundRoad safety authorities in high-income countries use geospatial motor vehicle collision data for planning hazard reduction and intervention targeting. However, low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) rarely conduct such geospatial analyses...

CNS and Thorax Injury and Associated Risks Factors in Equestrian Sports.

Equestrian sports continue to gain popularity in the United States and are associated with a high injury rate, especially involving the central nervous system and thorax. Due to this high rate of injury and the potential for long-term consequences associated with participation, an understanding of the unique risks of this sport is needed. To describe severe injury in equestrian sports and review the role that protective gear plays in injury mitigation. The PubMed Database was searched using the search terms "equestrian" and "horse" combined with "spinal cord injury," "head injury," "traumatic brain injury," "experience levels," and "demographics." A total of 53 papers were selected based on their relevance of epidemiology, risk factors, and management of injuries sustained during equestrian activities. Case studies, randomized controlled trials, prospective studies, and retrospective studies were all included for further review. Systematic review. Level 4. None. Injuries to the thorax, including fractures, pneumothoraces, internal organ contusions, and crush injuries, have been cited in multiple national and international trauma registries as the most prevalent injury location in equestrians; however, head and neck injuries, high cervical spine fractures, and closed head injuries are reported to be associated with the highest rates of mortality. Helmets provide protection against skull fracture and traumatic brain injury. Vests were not associated with diminished rates of spinal cord injuries; however, they may provide protection to the thorax. Riding experience also plays a role in reducing the prevalence of injury. Equestrian-related activities are associated with a high risk of injury despite protective measures. Protective gear can mitigate some injury risk but does not protect against spinal injury. Continued investigation into improving protective equipment, rider education, and preventative strategies to mitigate this risk is needed.

Health And Performance Promotion in Youth (HAPPY) hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster randomised trial: comparison of two strategies to implement an injury prevention exercise programme in Danish youth handball

ObjectiveTo investigate if a combination of an online and onsite implementation strategy was superior to an online-only strategy in enhancing the use of an injury prevention exercise programme (IPEP) and...

“I’d rather do that (Knee Control) than be injured and not able to play”: a qualitative study on youth floorball players’ and coaches’ perspectives of how to overcome barriers for injury prevention exercise programme use

This study explored youth floorball players’ and coaches’ perspectives on using the injury prevention exercise programmes (IPEPs) Knee Control or Knee Control+ (Knee Control programmes) and how to overcome barriers...

Endoplasmic reticulum stress promotes oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis: A novel mechanism of citrinin-induced renal injury and dysfunction

Citrinin (CTN) has been reported to induce renal failure and structural damage, but its nephrotoxic effects and mechanisms are not fully understood. Therefore, we established a model by orally administering CTN (0, 1.25, 5, or 20 mg/kg) to mice for 21 consecutive days. Histological and biochemical analyses revealed that CTN caused structural damage to renal tubules, increased inflammatory cell infiltration, and elevated levels of serum markers of renal function (creatinine, urea, and uric acid). Moreover, mRNA transcript levels of the inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were increased, indicating the occurrence of an inflammatory response. Furthermore, exposure to CTN induced renal oxidative stress by decreasing antioxidant GSH levels, antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT) activities, and increasing oxidative products (ROS, MDA). In addition, CTN increased the expression of proteins associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER)stress and apoptotic pathways. ER stress has been shown to be involved in regulating various models of kidney disease, but its role in CTN-induced renal injury has not been reported. We found that pretreatment with the ER stress inhibitor 4-PBA (240 mg/kg, ip) alleviated CTN-induced oxidative stress, NF-κB pathway mediated inflammatory response, and apoptosis. Interestingly, 4-PBA also partially alleviated renal structural damage and dysfunction. Thus, ER stress may be a novel target for the prevention and treatment of CTN-induced renal injury.

Point prevalence and risk factors for pressure ulcers in hospitalized adult patients: a cross-sectional study.

To estimate the point prevalence of and risk factors associated with the development of pressure ulcers at a university hospital in Brazil. This study was conducted on 196 participants using a structured questionnaire, physical examination of the skin, and the Braden scale. The Mann-Whitney U, χ2, or Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the participants and the associations of variables with pressure ulcers. A modified multivariate Poisson regression model was built considering the presence of pressure injuries and the independent variables. The point prevalence of pressure ulcers was 10.71% and was significantly associated with less than 12 years of schooling (p=0.0213), use of antihypertensive drugs during hospital stay (p=0.0259), diagnosis of systemic hypertension (p=0.0035), and diabetes mellitus. Lower scores on the Braden scale (p=0.0001) were positively associated with the presence of pressure ulcers. Furthermore, cardiovascular disease (p=0.0267) and diaper use (p=0.0001) were associated with the presence of pressure ulcers. Moreover, they were also associated with prolonged hospital stay, advanced age, less than 12 years of schooling, use of antihypertensive drugs, hypertension, diabetes, and lower Braden scale scores. Health professionals should be aware of the risk factors associated with pressure ulcers, evaluate patient skin daily, and offer prevention. Our findings support the need to allocate resources for the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries.

Magnetically responsive micro-clustered calcium phosphate-reinforced cell-laden microbead sodium alginate hydrogel for accelerated osteogenic tissue regeneration

The rising prevalence of bone injuries has increased the demand for minimally invasive treatments. Microbead hydrogels, renowned for cell encapsulation, provide a versatile substrate for bone tissue regeneration. They deliver bioactive agents, support cell growth, and promote osteogenesis, aiding bone repair and regeneration. In this study, we synthesized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Sp) coated with a calcium phosphate layer (m-Sp), achieving a distinctive flower-like micro-cluster morphology. Subsequently, sodium alginate (SA) microbead hydrogels containing m-Sp (McSa@m-Sp) were fabricated using a dropping gelation strategy. McSa@m-Sp is magnetically targetable, enhance cross-linking, control degradation rates, and provide strong antibacterial activity. Encapsulation studies with MC3T3-E1 cells revealed enhanced viability and proliferation. These studies also indicated significantly elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells, as confirmed by Alizarin Red S (ARS) and Von Kossa staining, along with increased collagen production within the McSa@m-Sp microbead hydrogels. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) and gene expression studies supported the osteoinductive potential of McSa@m-Sp, showing increased expression of osteogenic markers including RUNX-2, collagen-I, osteopontin, and osteocalcin. Thus, McSa@m-Sp microbead hydrogels offer a promising strategy for multifunctional scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.

1-Year Prevalence and Factors Related to Injuries and Illnesses in Japanese Judo Collegiate Athletes.

Despite its rich history and widespread participation, the research surrounding injuries and illness in judo remains relatively limited compared to other sports. The primary aim of this research was to investigate injuries and illness within a previous year in Japanese collegiate judo athletes and analyze possible factors associated with these. This was a cross-sectional observational study using a web-based survey to collect data on the 1-year prevalence of injuries and illness. This study involved 564 judo athletes (67% males), aged between 18 and 25 years. Of these, 344 athletes (61%) reported one or more injuries within the previous year, and 49 reported illness (9%). The more judo experiences the athlete acquired, the less likely they were to sustain an injury (OR: 0.9; 95% CI: 0.56-1.10; p-value < 0.05) or illness (OR: 0.9; 95% CI: 0.81-1.00; p-value < 0.05). Support of an athletic trainer was associated with 1.7 times increased odds of sustaining an injury (95% CI: 1.19-2.49; p-value < 0.05). Athletes with obese BMI status (BMI > 30) had 3.1 times higher odds of becoming ill (95% CI: 1.41-6.95; p-value = 0.005), and athletes training more than 5 days per week had the odds of becoming ill increased by 5.1 times (95% CI: 1.11-23.21; p-value = 0.036). Judokas with fewer years of experience and with obese status should be targeted in efforts to prevent injury and illness. Moreover, the support of an athletic trainer and the impact of weekly training days should be targeted in research efforts.

Advances in Intelligent Sports Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators

In the realm of intelligent sports, the integration of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) marks a transformative approach toward energy sustainability and more advanced athletic monitoring. By leveraging the principle of triboelectricity, TENGs ingeniously convert mechanical energy from athletes’ movements into electrical energy, which offers a green and efficient power solution for wearable technology. This paper presents an innovative study on the application of TENG technology in sports science, with the results illustrating the potential utility of TENGs in revolutionizing the way we monitor, analyze, and enhance athletic performance. Through the development of self-powered wearables and equipment, TENGs facilitate real-time data collection on physiological and biomechanical parameters, ultimately enabling personalized training adjustments and injury prevention strategies. Our findings underscore the dual benefit of TENGs in promoting environmental sustainability by reducing the overall reliance on traditional energy sources and growing the capabilities of intelligent sports systems. This research contributes to the burgeoning field of nano-energy sports applications while setting the stage for future explorations into the optimization of TENG integration in athletic performance enhancement. Finally, the paper concludes by discussing remaining challenges in this area and opportunities for further research.

DUSP6 protein action and related hub genes prevention of sepsis-induced lung injury were screened by WGCNA and Venn

During a sepsis infection, the lung is extremely susceptible to damage. A condition known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may develop in extreme circumstances. The primary objective of this research is to identify important genes that are related with both sepsis and lung injury. These genes have the potential to act as novel biomarkers in the investigation of sepsis-induced lung injury prevention strategies. It was possible to download from GEO data both the sepsis-related dataset (GSE64457) and the lung injury-related dataset (GSE40839). In the GSE64457 dataset, using the “limma” package in R revealed 429 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with logFC values more than or equal to −1 and p values <0.05. There were 266 genes that were up-regulated and 163 genes that were down-regulated. Through the use of Gene Ontology (GO), it was discovered that the majority of the DEGs were associated with the inflammatory response (BP terms), a particular granule lumen (CC terms), and protein binding (MF terms). By doing a pathway enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), researchers were able to identify DEGs that were mostly associated with the NOD-like receptor signalling pathway, the TNF signalling pathway, and Epstein-Barr virus infection. Within the GSE40839 dataset, Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) yielded a total of 7 modules, from which it was possible to screen out 2 critical modules and 693 key genes. The important genes and DEGs were both subjected to a Venn analysis. Finally, 14 genes that overlapped (ARL4A, LAIR1, MTHFD2, TSPAN13, DUSP6, PECR, CBS, TES, ASNS, SYNE1, FGF13, LCN2, KLF10, BCAT1) were closely associated to the incidence and development of sepsis-induced lung injury. This indicates that these genes are the essential genes to avoid the occurrence of sepsis-induced lung injury. This study provides novel strategies for preventing lung harm brought on by sepsis.

Demographic and Injury Characteristics as Potential Risk Factors for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: A Multicentric Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are prevalent and can have debilitating consequences, with various factors potentially influencing their occurrence. This multicentric study aimed to comprehensively analyze the epidemiological characteristics of ACL injuries. We hypothesized that specific patient characteristics, such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and sports involvement, would be associated with distinct injury patterns and risk profiles. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the medical records of 712 patients aged 15-60 diagnosed with ACL rupture. Data on demographics, injury mechanisms, associated injuries, graft type, and sports involvement were collected. Results: The majority of patients were male (93.1%), aged 15-30 years (80.2%), and overweight (66.7%). Autografts were the predominant graft choice (96.07%). Associated injuries were present in 79.5% of cases, with medial meniscus ruptures being the most common (37.36%). Sports-related (49.3%) and non-sports-related (50.7%) injuries were nearly equal, with non-contact injuries more prevalent (71.1%). In the sports-related subgroup, associated injuries emerged as a significant risk factor for ACL rupture (p = 0.014, OR = 1.596, 95% CI: 1.101-2.314), whereas non-contact mechanisms showed borderline significance (OR = 0.75, p = 0.09). Moreover, younger athletes were more susceptible to sports-related injuries (p = 0.024), with football being the primary sport involved. Conclusions: This study identified a high prevalence of concomitant injuries with ACL injury, which increased the risk of ACL injury, particularly in sports-related cases. Age-related differences in injury patterns highlight the need for age-appropriate preventive measures, especially for younger athletes participating in high-risk sports. This underscores the need for comprehensive injury assessment, targeted prevention strategies, and optimized clinical management approaches tailored to different populations' specific characteristics and risks.

Epidemiology of orthopedic injuries among inpatients admitted at a tertiary teaching and referral hospital in Kenya: a retrospective cross-sectional study

BackgroundOrthopedic injuries are serious and continue to be a concern for healthcare systems worldwide. Approximately 90% of the estimated traumatic injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries. In Kenya, there is a dearth of information on orthopedic injury patterns that could be used to prioritize injury prevention measures and to help hospital management teams allocate resources appropriately. The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiology of orthopedic injuries admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital.MethodsThis was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Overall, 720 charts were reviewed. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, pearson chi-square test and logistic regression.ResultsOverall, 85% were aged 15–64 years. Approximately 80% were male, married or single. Patients with primary or secondary education composed 72%. Road traffic accidents (59.4%) and falls (24.7%) were the most common mechanisms of injury. A total of 99.9% of the inpatients were Kenyans. Open injuries were 40.1%. Lower limb (67.4%) and upper limb (26.9%) injuries were the most common. Inpatients aged 15–24 years were 74% less likely to have upper limb injuries than those aged 0–14 years (p = 0.023). However, those aged 15–24 years were 19.250 times more likely to have spine injuries than those aged 0–14 years (p = 0.008). Males were 68.6% and 51.2% less likely to have pelvic injury and comorbidities, respectively, than females (p < 0.001). Patients with secondary and tertiary education were 2.016 (p = 0.003) and 2.3 (p < 0.001) times more likely to have upper limb injuries, respectively, than those with no or preschool education. Similarly, those with tertiary education were 2.079 times more likely to have comorbidities than those with no or preschool education (p = 0.017).ConclusionMost of the inpatients with orthopedic injuries were young, male involved in Road traffic accidents and therefore Kenya National Transport and Safety Authority needs to enforce road safety measures to reduce road carnage. Those with higher education and children were more likely to have upper limb injuries. Females were more likely to have pelvic injuries and co-morbidities. Lower and upper limb injuries were the most common injuries and this should guide resource allocation in management of orthopedic injuries.

Safe2Play in youth ice hockey: injury profile and risk factors in a 5-year Canadian longitudinal cohort study

Introduction Ice hockey is a popular global sport with growing participation for boys and girls yet remains a high-risk sport for injury. While the evidence for some risk factors, such as bodychecking policy is well established, other risk factors such as player sex have been understudied. The objectives of this study were to examine factors associated with rates of game-related injury, game-related injury resulting in >7 days of time-loss, and practice-related injury in youth ice hockey. Materials and methods Safe2Play was a five-year prospective cohort study (2013–2018). All injuries were identified using validated injury surveillance methodology. Multilevel Poisson regression (adjusting for cluster by team and including multiple imputation of missing covariates) was used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for player sex, age group, bodychecking policy, year of play, level of play, weight, previous injury within last 12 months, previous lifetime concussion history, and position. Results A total of 4418 male and female ice hockey players (representing 6584 player-seasons) participating in under-13 (ages 11–12), under-15 (ages 13–14) and under-18 (ages 15–17) age groups were recruited. There were 1184 game-related and 182 practice-related injuries. Factors associated with game-related injury included female sex (IRR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.18–2.08), previous injury (IRR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.26–1.70) and lifetime concussion history (IRR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.23–1.62). Goaltenders had a lower rate of injury (IRR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.40–0.72) relative to forwards, as did players exposed to policy disallowing bodychecking in games (IRR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.35–0.55). Female sex (IRR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.10–3.28) and lifetime concussion history were also significantly associated with practice-related injury (IRR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.08–2.18). Conclusions Based on data from a large 5-year Canadian youth ice hockey longitudinal cohort, several factors associated with injury were identified. Future injury prevention strategies should consider age, sex, previous concussion and injury history, and body checking leagues. Future research in female youth ice hockey including female-only leagues should be a priority to inform prevention strategies in this understudied population.

Prevalence of injuries and intimidation in schoolchildren in the Coffee Region

La intimidación escolar se refiere a comportamientos agresivos, humillantes o excluyentes, dirigidos constantemente a personas en condición de vulnerabilidad. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue estimar las prevalencias de lesiones e intimidación escolar de una muestra de escolares del Eje Cafetero. Para ello se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal con alcance descriptivo, en el que se desarrolló un análisis secundario de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud Escolar - ENSE 2017. Participaron 4.353 adolescentes del Eje Cafetero entre 12 y 17 años, de los cuales 51.8% son mujeres y 47.8% hombres, de los grados séptimo a undécimo. Los resultados establecen que el 24.8% de los escolares encuestados reportaron lesiones serias y el 14.2% indicaron que fueron intimidados el último mes. El 23.5% afirman que participaron en una pelea física, y el 17% que han sido víctimas al menos una vez. El 37.9% han sido agredidos verbalmente en los últimos 30 días, y el 6.6% han sido rechazados en el último mes. Se concluye que es importante prevenir situaciones de violencia en los contextos escolares del Eje Cafetero, así como acentuar la necesidad de fortalecer la atención con propuestas en el ámbito educativo.

The point prevalence of South African male soccer players' injuries in the Gauteng province.

The ever-evolving game of soccer is a complex physical contact team sport, exposing its participants to injury. To identify the point prevalence of soccer injuries among young amateur, semi-professional, and professional South African male soccer players. The participation of male amateur (n=54), semiprofessional (n=34), and professional (n=57) players provided a cross-sectional overview of the nature of the most predominant types and anatomical sites of injuries affecting soccer players (average age 23.9±4.7 years). All participants completed the Fuller soccer injury questionnaire, ISAK somatotype profiling and knee flexion/extension isokinetic concentric peak torque (Nm) evaluations at 60°/s. Fifty per cent of the players sustained soccer injuries (X 2=0.9). Knee (20%) and ankle (19%) were the most vulnerable sites (X 2=0.00001). Knee-injured players' right quadriceps torque (199±37 vs 223±38 Nm) and percentage right quadriceps torque relative to body mass (286±54 vs 311 ±39%) was significantly weaker than the non-injured players (p<0.01). The injured players' right hamstrings/quadriceps (H/Q) torque ratio further significantly differed from the non-injured players' H/Q torque ratios (79±17 vs 70±9%) (p<0.01). Male soccer players experience neuromusculoskeletal injuries, with their knees and ankles being the most vulnerable. Knee-injured players had weaker quadriceps isokinetic strength than non-injured players.

Research on the difference in plantar biomechanics among dance majors

Dance majors’ plantar biomechanics studies the functional and structural dynamics of their feet as they perform different dance moves and techniques. The primary objective is to comprehend which distinct dancing styles and approaches affect plantar biomechanics to possibly identify risk factors for injuries and guide dancers on how to prevent them. Dancing requires precise body alignment and movement, which leads to certain foot biomechanical variations that are vital for preventing injuries and improving performance. Distinct plantar biomechanics within dance majors (ballet and jazz) are examined to identify novel biomechanical factors. One hundred and fifty all fifty jazz dancers, fifty ballet dancers, and fifty non-dancers participated in the study. A 3D foot scanner and pressure measuring system are utilized for assessing variables such as arch elevation (AE), plantar pressure dispersion (PPD), and foot position (FP). Additionally, tests of gait ability using distinct foot biomechanics are carried out in various dance-related motions. For comparative assessment of such dancer groups, statistical techniques like Anova and Kruskal-wallis tests are used. Types of dance show different PPD formations, with jazz dancers including maximum midfoot pressure (MFP) and ballet dancers including maximum forefoot pressure (FFP), and both dancer groups have stronger ankle flexibility and toe flexion. Future research needs to assess the consequences of training plans and long-term modifications to gain an improved comprehension of how the biomechanically unique feet of dance majors necessitate targeted interventions for injury prevention and performance improvement.

Increased Utilization of Pitchers in NCAA Women’s Softball Compared to Men’s Baseball

BACKGROUND: Pitch count and rest time guidelines are widely employed in youth baseball to mitigate injury risk among pitchers. Similar recommendations are lacking in youth softball, despite evidence of potential overuse injuries from the underhand windmill pitching motion. This disparity in regulation may heighten injury susceptibility. Additionally, the composition of collegiate softball and baseball rosters differs significantly, with softball teams typically featuring fewer pitchers. This discrepancy may lead to increased pitching demands for individual softball pitchers, potentially exacerbating injury risks. Therefore, understanding the relationship between the number of pitchers, game appearances, and injury incidence is crucial for informing injury prevention strategies in both baseball and softball. We hypothesize that individual softball pitchers will have significantly more game appearances per season and pitch more innings per game and season as compared to baseball pitchers, and that softball rosters will average significantly fewer pitchers per team than baseball rosters. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I softball and baseball College World Series teams from 2016 to 2021. Individual data consisting of game appearances and season innings pitched facilitated calculations for innings per game. Team data included the number of athletes and pitchers per team. Statistical analysis comparing baseball and softball team continuous variables utilized Student’s t-test. Individual data, characterized by non-normal distribution, was evaluated with the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney Test. A significance level of p &lt; 0.05 was applied to all analyses. RESULTS: Softball pitchers had a significantly greater number of innings pitched per season (median 84.1 (21.0-143.2) vs 29.2 (10.0-56.1) p&lt;0.0001), game appearances per season (median 23.0 (10.0-32.0) vs 16.0 (9.0-21.0), p&lt;0.0001), and innings pitched per game (median 3.6 (2.2-4.7) vs 1.6 (1.1-2.8), p&lt;0.0001). Baseball rosters averaged significantly more total players (35.7 ± 3.9 vs 21.5 ± 2.8, p&lt;0.0001), more pitchers (15.7 ± 2.3 vs 4.5 ± 1.1, p&lt;0.0001), and a greater percentage of their roster was made up of pitchers (44.2% ± 6.4% vs 21.0% ± 4.4%, p&lt;0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study highlights a notable difference in collegiate softball pitcher utilization compared to baseball pitchers. Fewer pitchers on softball teams led to a higher cumulative workload per pitcher, with increased innings pitched per season, per game, and more game appearances. While the relationship between pitch count and injury risk is established in baseball, further research is needed to understand its implications for softball pitchers.

Upper limb functional testing: does age, gender, and sport influence performance?

BackgroundMusculoskeletal adaptations in overhead athletes are common in overhead athletes. As they also are involved in injury prevention, there as been an increase in their evaluation through shoulder screening over the last years. However, for some evaluations, and especially for functional testing, there is a lack of normative values, which limits the interpretation of the values measured. Moreover, the influence of age, gender, and sport on upper-limb functional tests remains underexplored. Methods587 athletes (handball players, rugby players, swimmers, tennis players, and volleyball players) performed a battery of upper-limb functional tests between 2018 and 2023, including the Modified Athletic Shoulder Test (M-AST), the Single Arm Medicine Ball Throw (SAMBT), the Seated Single Arm Shot Put Test (SSASPT), the Upper Limb Rotation Test (ULRT), the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (UQYBT), the Modified Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (MCKCUEST), and the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (PSET). In total, normative values as well as the influence of age, gender and sport on upper limb functional performance were obtained for 496 of them. ResultsThe M-AST revealed sport-specific adaptations, with dominant arms significantly outperforming non-dominant arms, notably in handball, rugby, and tennis. The SAMBT and SSASPT highlighted the influence of age and gender on upper limb power, with males consistently outperforming females. The ULRT demonstrated similar rotation in both arms across sports, while gender disparities were still observed. The UQYBT exhibited surprising consistency in upper-quarter balance across sports and age groups (p>0.05). The MCKCUEST showed age-related improvements in stability, while the PSET demonstrated age-related differences in posterior shoulder endurance in swimmers. ConclusionThis study contributes to advances in sports medicine by better understanding functional shoulder performances in upper limb athletes. The differences observed according to the sport, gender or age underscore the importance of sport-specific assessments and interventions. Moreover, the normative values provided will be essential for primary prevention as well as for determining return to play capacity after an injury or surgery.

The Relationship Between Nurses’ Knowledge and Needle Stick Injury Prevention Behavior

A frequent work accident in the hospitals is needle stick injury. Nurses always contact with blood, patient’s body fluids, punctured needles used by patients and other dangers which can be a medium of disease transmission. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between knowledge and needle stick injury prevention behavior. This study used a correlational analytical design with a cross-sectional method, and used cluster sampling techniques to obtain 88 respondents. The data were gathered by using the Lubis questionnaire to measure knowledge and behavior in the prevention of needle stick injury. Then, the data were analyzed by a contingency coefficient test. It was found that 83 nurses (94.3%) had good knowledge and 85 nurses (96.6%) had good behavior. The data about nurses’ knowledge was analyzed and obtained a value of p = 0.000 and a value of contingency coefficient = 0.444, meaning that there was a relationship between knowledge and needle stick injury prevention behavior. Prevention efforts can be carried out by providing guidance, training, direction, and supervision, so that nurses’ awareness increase and they can work safely.

BIOMEHANICAL AND POSTURAL EVALUATION OF OPTIMAL BIKE FIT FOR NON-TRAUMATIC INJURY PREVENTION AMONG CYCLISTS: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

This review article assesses the evidence for the efficacy of bike fit and its impact on cyclist’s posture in averting overuse injuries in cycling and provides a summary of research using a biomechanical approach to give evaluations of joint kinematics, kinetics, or muscle activity. Databases were searched for published material like Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar between 1980 and 2023. Posture, bike fit, and biomechanics of cycling were few keywords used. Twenty-four published articles were included in this review. Clearance of 1–2 inches should be present between the ground and tyres when the bike is lifted while straddling it, for straight and parallel to ground top tubes and sloping top tubes, respectively. Handlebar height should be 1–2 inches below the top of the saddle. The reach of the handlebars should be measured by placing an elbow on the tip of saddle and extended fingers should touch the transverse part of the handlebars. The ball of foot should sit over the pedal axis. In cyclist’s seated position, the knee flexion angle of the extended leg at 6 o’clock position should be 25–30[Formula: see text]. With pedals at 3 and 9 o’clock, the front of the patella should be directly in line with the front of the crank arm. About 10 to 15[Formula: see text] anterior saddle tilt significantly reduces low back discomfort.