Sports Injury Prevention Research Articles

Comparison of markerless and marker-based motion capture systems using 95% functional limits of agreement in a linear mixed-effects modelling framework

Biomechanics analysis of human movement has been proven useful for maintenance of health, injury prevention, and rehabilitation in both sports and clinical populations. A marker-based motion capture system is considered the gold standard method of measurement for three dimensional kinematics measurements. However, the application of markers to anatomical bony points is a time consuming process and constrained by inter-, intra-tester and session reliability issues. The emergence of novel markerless motion capture systems without the use of reflective markers is a rapidly growing field in motion analysis. However an assessment of the level of agreement of a markerless system with an established gold standard marker-based system is needed to ensure the applicability of a markerless system. An extra layer of complexity is involved as the kinematics measurements are functional responses. In this paper a new approach is proposed to generate 95% functional limits of agreement (fLoA) using the linear mixed-effects modelling framework for hierarchical study designs. This approach is attractive as it will allow practitioners to extend their use of linear mixed models to assess agreement in method comparison studies in all domains where functional responses are recorded.

Light imaging detection based on cluster analysis for the prevention of sports injury in tennis players

Light imaging detection based on cluster analysis for the prevention of sports injury in tennis players

Lower limb balance, ankle dorsiflexion, orofacial tissue pressure, and occlusal force of rugby players

This cross-sectional study examined the lower limb balance, ankle dorsiflexion, orofacial tissue pressure, and occlusal strength of rugby players. Twenty-six participants were divided into groups: rugby players (n ​= ​13) and healthy sedentary adults (n ​= ​13). Participants underwent an analysis of lower limb balance using a composite score (Y-Balance Test). Ankle dorsiflexion was measured using the Lunge Test. The Iowa Oral Performance Instrument was employed to measure orofacial tissue pressure. Bite force was measured with a dynamometer, and T-Scan assessed occlusal contact distribution. Data were analyzed using the t-test (p ​< ​0.05) and ANCOVA with age and weight as covariates, where it is possible to verify that these factors did not influence the results obtained. Significant differences were observed in the balance of the right (p ​= ​0.07) and left (p ​= ​0.02) lower limbs, where rugby players had lower composite scores. There were significant differences in the right (p ​= ​0.005) and left (p ​= ​0.004) lunges, with rugby players showing lower values, as well as lower tongue pressure (p ​= ​0.01) and higher lip pressure (p ​= ​0.03), with significant differences to sedentary participants. There was no significant difference in molar bite force and distribution occlusal contacts between groups. Rugby seems to reduce lower limb displacement, cause ankle hypomobility, lead to changes in orofacial tissues, particularly the tongue and lips. This study is significant for identifying significant differences between rugby players and sedentary individuals, providing new insights into the impact of rugby on health and performance, which can benefit sports training and injury prevention.

METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO INJURY PREVENTION IN FREESTYLE WRESTLING

The aim of this study was to explore methodological approaches of preventing injuries in freestyle wrestling. The analysis of the sources of the literature under study allows us to draw the following conclusions: prevention of sports injuries involves a number of organizational and methodological measures: continuous improvement of material and technical support, improvement of the conditions of training sessions and competitions, systematic professional development of sports doctors and coaches, compliance with the rules of medical control, improvement of physical, technical and tactical training, moral qualities of athletes, health promotion. From a pedagogical and methodological point of view, it is necessary to introduce into the training process special training on injury prevention at all stages of long-term training aimed at achieving and maintaining an optimal level of flexibility and targeted strengthening of the musculoskeletal system. The optimal level of flexibility is characterized by the fact that the available momentum of specific movements is slightly larger than the width of competitive exercises - the so-called "flexibility reserve", which minimizes the resistance to stretched muscles, so that the exercise is performed without excessive tension and reduces the possibility of injury in similar positions in competitive wrestling. For targeted strengthening of the musculoskeletal system, it is advisable to apply measures aimed at strengthening different parts of the spine, shoulder girdle, knee, tibiofemoral joints and increasing the elasticity of muscles and ligaments. The sets of exercises compiled for these purposes should be used throughout the entire sport career, including them in pre-training, the final part of the lesson, as well as in specialized and individual classes.

The deterministic condition for the ground reaction force acting point on the combined knee valgus and tibial internal rotation moments in early phase of cutting maneuvers in female athletes

BackgroundCombined knee valgus and tibial internal rotation (VL + IR) moments have been shown to stress the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in several in vitro cadaveric studies. To utilize this knowledge for non-contact ACL injury prevention in sports, it is necessary to elucidate how the ground reaction force (GRF) acting point (center of pressure (CoP)) in the stance foot produces combined knee VL + IR moments in risky maneuvers, such as cuttings. However, the effects of the GRF acting point on the development of the combined knee VL + IR moment in cutting are still unknown. MethodsWe first established the deterministic mechanical condition that the CoP position relative to the tibial rotational axis differentiates the GRF vector's directional probability for developing the combined knee VL + IR moment, and theoretically predicted that when the CoP is posterior to the tibial rotational axis, the GRF vector is more likely to produce the combined knee VL + IR moment than when the CoP is anterior to the tibial rotational axis. Then, we tested a stochastic aspect of our theory in a lab-controlled in vivo experiment. Fourteen females performed 60° cutting under forefoot/rearfoot strike conditions (10 trials each). The positions of lower limb markers and GRF data were measured, and the knee moment due to GRF vector was calculated. The trials were divided into anterior- and posterior-CoP groups depending on the CoP position relative to the tibial rotational axis at each 10 ms interval from 0 to 100 ms after foot strike, and the occurrence rate of the combined knee VL + IR moment was compared between trial groups. ResultsThe posterior-CoP group showed significantly higher occurrence rates of the combined knee VL + IR moment (maximum of 82.8%) at every time point than those of the anterior-CoP trials, as theoretically predicted by the deterministic mechanical condition. ConclusionThe rearfoot strikes inducing the posterior CoP should be avoided to reduce the risk of non-contact ACL injury associated with the combined knee VL + IR stress.

Efficacy of Core Strength Exercises in Enhancing Rebound Jump Performance in Martial Arts Athletes

Background and Aim: Core strength exercises have become a focus in sports performance and injury prevention research. The core muscles, which include the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and pelvic floor muscles, are instrumental in providing stability and power during athletic activities. The study focuses on the impact of core strength exercises on specific performance metrics—namely, the standing long jump and rebound jump—in martial arts athletes. Materials and Methods: The study employs a structured, eight-week intervention program to investigate the effects of core exercises on martial arts athletic performance. The study involves forty student-athletes from Guangzhou Sport University, divided into an Experimental Group (EG) and a Control Group (CG). Various physical tests are conducted both pre- and post-intervention to measure the effects. Statistical analyses, including Two-way ANOVA, are used to interpret the data. Result： For the standing long jump, the Two-way ANOVA showed no significant effect of training (F=1.129, p=0.291) or time point (F=0.587, p=0.446). Effect sizes, measured by Cohen's d, indicate a slight benefit in the core reinforcement group with a value of d=0.425, compared to d=0.111 in the non-reinforcement group. In the case of the rebound jump index, there is a pronounced effect from the group (F=4.92, p=0.03) and the time point (F=105.97, p&lt;0.001). Large effect sizes were observed, with d=2.5522 for the core reinforcement group and d=2.0457 for the no core reinforcement group. Conclusion: For standing Long Jump: Given the absence of a significant impact of core reinforcement on this metric, coaches, and athletes might consider incorporating other methodologies, such as plyometrics or attentional focus strategies, into their training regimen. For the rebound Jump Index: Core reinforcement exercises should be strongly considered for inclusion in warm-up routines for martial arts athletes, given the substantial effect size observed.

T2 mapping for quantitative assessment of ankle cartilage of weightlifters

The research into the prevention of sports injuries among the population, particularly juveniles, has become crucial due to the increasing participation in physical exercises like fitness. To assess the difference in T2 values of ankle talar cartilage between weightlifters and healthy volunteers using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique T2 mapping. Study design: Prospective. Prospective evaluation of T2 values of ankle cartilage of 50 weightlifters (30 adults and 20 juveniles) and 100 healthy volunteers (80 adults and 20 juveniles) using Siemens 3.0 T MRI with PDWI, T1WI, and T2 mapping sequences. Three physicians manually divided the talar cartilage of the ankle joint into six regions of interest. Three physicians utilized the anterior and posterior cut edges of the tibial cartilage as markers to identify the corresponding anterior and posterior cut edges of the talar cartilage on the sagittal MRI images. The medial and lateral sides were defined as half of the talar articular surface on the coronal plane. Differences in T2 values in each cartilage region were compared using independent sample T test or Mann–Whitney U test. The T2 values of talar cartilage were significantly increased in the athlete group relative to the volunteer group (35.11 and 31.99, P < 0.001), with the most significant difference observed in the juvenile athlete group compared to the volunteer group (34.42 and 28.73, P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the T2 value of ankle talar cartilage between weightlifters and healthy volunteers, and juveniles may be more vulnerable to overuse sports injuries. This study contributes to understanding the cartilage health of juvenile athletes and the prevention of sports injuries.

Retracted: Occupational Therapy and Prevention of Common Sports Injuries for Special Physical Training.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/6227377.].

Advanced MRI Approaches for Evaluating Common Lower Extremity Injuries in Basketball Players: Current and Emerging Techniques.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide accurate and non-invasive diagnoses of lower extremity injuries in athletes. Sport-related injuries commonly occur in and around the knee and can affect the articular cartilage, patellar tendon, hamstring muscles, and bone. Sports medicine physicians utilize MRI to evaluate and diagnose injury, track recovery, estimate return to sport timelines, and assess the risk of recurrent injury. This article reviews the current literature and describes novel developments of quantitative MRI tools that can further advance our understanding of sports injury diagnosis, prevention, and treatment while minimizing injury risk and rehabilitation time. Innovative approaches for enhancing the early diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in basketball players span a spectrum of techniques. These encompass the utilization of T2, T1ρ, and T2* quantitative MRI, along with dGEMRIC and Na-MRI to assess articular cartilage injuries, 3D-Ultrashort echo time MRI for patellar tendon injuries, diffusion tensor imaging for acute myotendinous injuries, and sagittal short tau inversion recovery and axial long-axis T1-weighted, and 3D Cube sequences for bone stress imaging. Future studies should further refine and validate these MR-based quantitative techniques while exploring the lifelong cumulative impact of basketball on players' knees. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Diagnostically significant dysplastic feature identification as a tool for managing connective tissue risks in sports medicine

Aim: to identificate the diagnostically significant signs of connective tissue dysplasia, detection of which will allow adequate sports activity selection, injury prevention and effective rehabilitation.Materials and methods: clinical-somatometric examination of 117 persons aged 18 to 49 years (35.14 ± 5.63 years) with recurrent musculoskeletal injuries occurred during habitual physical training was carried out. Corresponding subgroups were formed by age and gender. Ranked by significance clinic-morphological dysplastic features, identified by T.I. Kadurina and L.N. Abbakumova (2008), were used to assess the mesenchymal tissue state. The control group, comparable to the main group by age and sex, was represented by 36 healthy young people.Results: persons with a predisposition to musculoskeletal injuries have a high dysplastic sign incidence. It was proved that clinically significant of them are moderate to high degree myopia, gothic palate, excessively soft auricles, “crunch” during movements in the temporomandibular joint, pathological spine kyphosis, joint hypermobility, chest deformities, O- and X-shaped legs and varicose lower limbs. Clinically significant markers of connective tissue dysplasia were found to be modified with age and to have characteristic gender features.Conclusions: the study results have particular importance for injury-free physical activity and medical-biological support for sports activities.

Strategy of Preventing Sports Injuries of Students in Schools with Grounded Theory Approach

Strategy of Preventing Sports Injuries of Students in Schools with Grounded Theory Approach

Чинники ризику травм плеча в ігрових видах спорту

The Topicality of the Research Topic. Sports-related shoulder injuries and pain are a serious burden for athletes involved in sports that stress the shoulder. For game sports, there are many debatable issues regarding risk factors for sports injuries and ways to prevent them in connection with specific physical loads. The Purpose of the Article: to analyze and systematize the risk factors of sports injuries of the shoulder for further research into the problem of prevention of sports injuries in game sports. Research Material and Methods. For analysis, scientific sources were considered and selected based on the PRISMA approach, which includes the following stages: research question, search for scientific sources, their selection according to defined criteria, evaluation of selected scientific sources, and synthesis of information. Research Results. Analysis of the causes of sports injuries of the shoulder allows us to state that most often the injury occurs due to specific sports techniques in game sports and errors in the construction of the training process and organization of competitions. To systematize the risk factors of sports injuries, their division into external and internal is most often used. To prevent sports injuries, it is necessary to understand which risk factors can be controlled. For this purpose, based on the K.Mine model of risk factors for sports injuries in baseball, we have developed a similar model for game sports. It is proposed to distinguish modified (organizational, biomechanical, and socio-psychological) and unmodified (anatomic-physiological and personal) domains with corresponding risk factors for sports shoulder injuries. Conclusions. In domestic scientific sources, the external risk factors of sports injuries, especially those of a methodological and organizational nature, are widely analyzed. In foreign studies, considerable attention is paid to both external and internal risk factors. The vast majority of foreign researchers in the prevention of sports injuries focus on the study of unmodified factors. To develop preventive measures in game sports, we have developed our model of risk factors for shoulder sports injuries with five domains: organizational, biomechanical, social-psychological, anatomical-physiological, and personal.

Effectiveness of muscle energy techniques and friction massage in hamstring tightness amongst young athletes of Pakistan

Background: compromised hamstring flexibility is a risk factor to sports-related injuries, as muscular tightness is believed to reduce athletic performance. Different muscle energy techniques and friction massage are commonly practiced by manual therapists to improve hamstring flexibility. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of muscle energy technique and friction massage in hamstring tightness among young athletes in Pakistan Methodology: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Helping Hand Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences (HHIRS), Mansehra, and Neurological Orthopaedic and Sports Injury Services Mansehra (NOSIS). A total of n=60 young athletes between 18-25 years with hamstring tightness and limited straight leg raise range of motion (&lt;110⁰) were included in the study. The non-probability purposive sampling was used for data collection then the participants were randomly divided into Group A (n=20) received Post facilitation stretch (PFS), group B (n=20) received post-isometric relaxation (PIR), and Group C (n=20) which received deep friction massage through electronic massager. The athletic performance of the participants was assessed using the YMCA sit and reach test (S&amp;RT) for flexibility, agility run test (ART) for agility, vertical jump test (VJT) for explosive power, and 100-meter run test (RT) for speed and explosive power at baseline, 10th day, and 20th day of the intervention. Results: The participants had a mean age of 21.55±2.05 years. The result showed that participants who received PFS showed significant (p&lt;0.05) results as compared to PIR and FM after the 10th day, regarding VJT (p=0.006), ART (p=0.015), S&amp;RT (p&lt;0.001) and 100m RT (p&lt;0.001). After the 20th day, PFA showed better results than PIR and FM after the 10th day. The participant who received FM showed less improvement than the remaining two groups but statistically significant p&lt;0.05. Conclusion Muscle energy techniques, particularly PFS and PIR, proved effective in enhancing athletic performance parameters, including vertical jump, agility, and flexibility, among young athletes with hamstring tightness. These findings support their use in sports rehabilitation and injury prevention. Keywords: friction massage; hamstring tightness; manual mobilization technique; muscle energy technique; soft tissue mobilization post isometric relaxation; post facilitation stretch. Clinical Trail Number: NCT03680300

Causes, Precautions and Management of Risk Factors Associated with Sports Injuries

Sports injuries are considered a global health problem that needs a special focus on public health to minimize the risk factors of sports injuries [1]. Sports Injuries refer to injuries commonly occurring during sports or exercise, but they are not only confined to sports. It can also appear in our routine life events. Suppose a factory worker can get tennis elbow injuries, and Painter gets shoulder injuries. Likewise, gardeners develop tendinitis even though they may not participate in sports [2]. The common sports injuries are sprains, strains, swollen muscles, shin splints, rotator cuff injuries, knee injuries, fractures, and dislocations. Based on nature, we can divide it into two types, i.e. intrinsic injuries and extrinsic injuries. Intrinsic injuries are those injuries which take place inside the body, while those injuries that take place outside the body are called outside injuries. Sports Injuries can occur in any part of the body, such as bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage [3]. Sports injuries may be categorized as chronic or acute sports injuries. Chronic or overuse injuries develop in sports where an athlete needs long-term repetitive motion, like long-distance running, cycling and swimming [4]. Chronic sports injuries include arthritis, tendonitis, tennis elbow, repetitive strain injury (RSI) and runner's knee [5]. Likewise, acute sports injuries consist of those injuries which happen suddenly. Wrist fractures. Ankle sprains. Shoulder dislocations are the best examples of acute sports injuries [5, 6]. In other words, those injuries which take place suddenly and need a short period of recovery are term as acute sports injuries, such as strain, sprain, dislocation and muscle aches etc. Similarly, those injuries that develop gradually and need more time for recovery are called chronic injuries [7]. Poor training, anatomical problems, muscle weakness, tendons, exercising ligaments, and unsafe environments are all causative factors of sports injuries [8]. In association with factors, sports injuries are usually instigated by overuse, direct impact, or the application of force greater than the body part can structurally withstand [9]. The main causes of injuries during sports are; lack of proper training, overtraining, long-term playing the same sports, playing on hard surfaces, and improper shoes and sports kits [2]. As a serious health concern, learning about preventive measures is important for athletes, coaches, and managers [10]. Preventive measures of sports injuries include; physical fitness, awareness about skills and techniques, and warm and cool down [11-13]. Due to injuries, a sportsman completely loses their performance. In addition, as a result of injuries, a sportsman feels soreness, swelling, muscular weakness, fatigue and pain. Along with physical problems, many psychological issues, such as fear, tension, lack of focus, and poor self-confidence, are also linked with sports injuries [14-18]. Different first aid techniques can help manage the severe effects of sports injuries, such as injury prevention, injury identification and treatment, and injury rehabilitation [19, 20]. Likewise, developing a fitness plan comprised of cardiovascular, strength and flexibility exercises, warm-up and cool down, staying hydrated, using proper equipment, etc. also used to manage sports injuries [21, 22]. There are five basic steps for preventing sports injuries among children. These preventive measures include wearing protective gear, i.e. helmets, protective pads, and other gear, warm up and cooling down, knowing the rules of the game, watch out for others and don't play when injured [22].

Cross-Sectional Study to Explore the Prevalence of Shoulder Impingement and Its Association with Training Volume Among Cricketers in Sport Academies of Faisalabad

Purpose: Cricketers are vulnerable to high-risk injuries. Throwing and striking are the two activities that put the most strain and effort at the shoulder joint and leads to shoulder impingement and other problems. To explore the prevalence of shoulder impingement and its association with training volume among cricketers in sport academies of Faisalabad.&#x0D; Methodology: It was cross-sectional study. Study was conducted from November 2018 to January 2019. Sample size of the study was 116. Convenient sampling technique was used to enrolled participants in study. Inclusion criteria of the study were the cricket players of age between 13 to 22 years, practice regularly in sport academies of Faisalabad. Players of Faisalabad cricket academies including, Saeed Ajmal International Cricket Academy, Eden cricket &amp; Fitness center, Combined cricket club, National Cricket Club, Lyallpur Gymkhana cricket club and Prince Gymkhana Cricket Club, Faisalabad were interviewed and evaluated for the presence of shoulder impingement. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 22. Data was presented in forms of tables and graphs.&#x0D; Findings: Out of 116 cricket players, 28.44% were spinners, 41.37% were fast bowlers and 30.17% were batsmen. Shoulder impingement was found to be present in 49(42%) of the cricketers in sport academies of Faisalabad. Chi- square test showed a statistically significant association between shoulder impingement and training volume (p&lt;0.05).&#x0D; Recommendations: Shoulder impingement had a prevalence of 42% in cricketers of Faisalabad. A statistically significant association was found between shoulder impingement and training volume among cricketers of sport academies in Faisalabad. This study was informed by the BiomechanicalTheory, emphasizing the importance of considering mechanical stressors on the shoulder region in cricketers. To reduce the occurrence of shoulder pain among cricket players, practitioners should emphasize proper biomechanical techniques in training programs, with a focus on shoulder joint stability and injury prevention strategies. Policymakers should advocate for sports injury prevention programs that incorporate fundamental biomechanical concepts into training curricula, ensuring cricket players' long-term shoulder health and ensuring the sport's long-term viability.

Effects of elastic therapeutic taping on along-muscle fascicle local length changes: Magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging based assessment

Elastic therapeutic taping is utilized for prevention and treatment of various neuromusculoskeletal disorders and sports injuries. Kinesio taping (KT) is a popular version of this practice. Despite being widely used to improve muscular function, an understanding of KT effects on muscular mechanics are lacking. Considering the continuity of the fascial system and its mechanical interaction with muscle fascicles intramuscularly, the aim was to test the following hypothesis: mechanical loading induced on the skin by KT leads to along-muscle fascicle local length changes and shear strains in the targeted muscle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based local tissue deformation analyses and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based fiber tracking analyzes were combined. Anatomical MRI and DTI were acquired for 5 healthy female volunteers in 3 conditions: (1) without tape, (2) following sham application, and (3) after KT application. Local length changes and shear strains were calculated using image registration between conditions (1–2) and (2–3). Non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to compare the two conditions. Data pooled from all subjects show that KT-imposed along-muscle fascicle lengthening (mean ± SD 0.026 ± 0.020), shortening (0.032 ± 0.027) and shearing (0.087 ± 0.049) occur and are significantly higher than those caused by sham application (0.012 ± 0.010; 0.013 ± 0.015; 0.029 ± 0.021, respectively) (p < 0.001). KT induced along-muscle fascicle length changes locally show heterogeneity. Our findings indicate that KT affects both along-muscle fascicle length changes and shear strains. This can be explained by KT imposed myofascial loads over the skin being transmitted via the fascial system, non-uniformly manipulating the mechanical equilibrium locally at different parts along the muscle fascicles.

A Model for Healthy and Safe Taekwondo Training

Taekwondo is a popular sport with tradition and history. It is characterized by dynamic movements that require strength, speed, endurance, balance, and coordination. Safety is essential for practitioners of taekwondo. It includes injury prevention, adequate crisis response, and prevention of violence, harassment, and aggressive behavior. Coaches play an important role in providing a safe and healthy environment for taekwondo practice. They must have the necessary competencies and implement appropriate prevention measures. This article proposes a model for healthy and safe sports pedagogical practice for taekwondo training. The model includes three main aspects: Prevention of sports injuries: it consists of several measures such as: appropriate equipment, proper warm-up and stretching, gradual increase in workload, individualized approach to athletes, training of coaches for injury prevention; Adequate response to crises: includes an action plan for natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other emergencies; Prevention and adequate intervention of violence, bullying, and aggressive behavior: includes training coaches to recognize and deal with violence, bullying, and aggressive behavior, creating a safe and positive environment for athletes. The model is helpful for taekwondo coaches as it provides practical guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy environment for sports practitioners.

Leveraging natural cognitive systems in conjunction with ResNet50-BiGRU model and attention mechanism for enhanced medical image analysis and sports injury prediction.

In this study, we explore the potential benefits of integrating natural cognitive systems (medical professionals' expertise) and artificial cognitive systems (deep learning models) in the realms of medical image analysis and sports injury prediction. We focus on analyzing medical images of athletes to gain valuable insights into their health status. To synergize the strengths of both natural and artificial cognitive systems, we employ the ResNet50-BiGRU model and introduce an attention mechanism. Our goal is to enhance the performance of medical image feature extraction and motion injury prediction. This integrated approach aims to achieve precise identification of anomalies in medical images, particularly related to muscle or bone damage. We evaluate the effectiveness of our method on four medical image datasets, specifically pertaining to skeletal and muscle injuries. We use performance indicators such as Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio and Structural Similarity Index, confirming the robustness of our approach in sports injury analysis. Our research contributes significantly by providing an effective deep learning-driven method that harnesses both natural and artificial cognitive systems. By combining human expertise with advanced machine learning techniques, we offer a comprehensive understanding of athletes' health status. This approach holds potential implications for enhancing sports injury prevention, improving diagnostic accuracy, and tailoring personalized treatment plans for athletes, ultimately promoting better overall health and performance outcomes. Despite advancements in medical image analysis and sports injury prediction, existing systems often struggle to identify subtle anomalies and provide precise injury risk assessments, underscoring the necessity of a more integrated and comprehensive approach.

The Effects of Fatigue on the Lower Limb Biomechanics of Amateur Athletes during a Y-Balance Test.

The Y-Balance Test (YBT) is a reliable tool for assessing the dynamic balance of athletes' lower limbs. This study aimed to compare the effects of the YBT on lower limb biomechanics before and after fatigue. Sixteen adult male recreational athletes were recruited for the study, and motion capture in combination with a force plate was used to collect kinematic, dynamics, and center of pressure (COP) data of the dominant leg during YBT testing before and after fatigue. Based on the research findings, there were significant statistical differences in the distances reached during the YBT in three directions before and after fatigue. After fatigue, there is a significant decrease in the ROM of the hip and knee joints in all three directions. Also, there is a significant increase in hip joint torque in the anterior- and posterior-lateral directions, while a significant decrease in hip and ankle joint torque is observed in the posterior-medial direction. Moreover, there is an increasing trend in positive and negative joint work for the hip, knee, and ankle joints in all three directions after fatigue. The range of COP displacement also increases following fatigue. The decline in YBT scores demonstrates the detrimental impact of fatigue on the dynamic balance of the lower limbs of adult male amateur athletes. We hope that these results can provide information for athletes and coaches to better understand the effects of fatigue on the dynamic balance of lower limbs, so as to carry out targeted lower limb balance training and prevent sports injuries.

Is an Exercise-Based Injury-Prevention Program Effective in Team Handball Players? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

To assess the effectiveness of exercise-based injury-prevention programs in preventing sports injuries in team handball players. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL from inception until April 2023. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials or prospective cohort studies, contained a population of competitive team handball players, included an intervention designed specifically to prevent or reduce the risk of team handball injuries, and reported injury incidence rates specific to team handball players. Two researchers independently evaluated studies for inclusion and assessed their methodological quality. Study design, intervention details, participant characteristics, and the number of injuries in each group were extracted from each study by 2 independent researchers. The outcome of interest was the incidence rate of injury. Injury data were classified into 5 groups: shoulder injuries, lower extremity injuries, knee injuries, anterior cruciate ligament injuries, and ankle injuries. Extracted data were analyzed using a random-effects model to compute the overall effect estimates of injury-prevention programs in reducing the risk of injuries. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated based on the number of injuries in each group. Meta-analyses were conducted independently for each injury classification. Results indicated that prevention programs reduced the risk of shoulder injuries (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.42, 0.85; P = .004), lower extremity injuries (OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.37, 0.95; P = .03), knee injuries (OR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.35, 0.78; P = .002), anterior cruciate ligament injuries (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.45, 0.96; P = .03), and ankle injuries (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.40, 0.81; P = .002) in team handball players. In team handball players, injury-prevention programs appear to effectively reduce the risk of shoulder, lower extremity, knee, ankle, and anterior cruciate ligament injuries.