Sports Injury Prevention Strategies Research Articles

Efficacy of multicomponent interventions on injury risk among ice and snow sports participants—a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIce and snow sports, which are inherently high risk due to their physically demanding nature, pose significant challenges in terms of participant safety. These activities increase the likelihood of injuries, largely due to reduced bodily agility and responsiveness in cold, often unpredictable winter environments. The critical need for effective injury prevention in these sports is emphasized by the considerable impact injuries have on the health of participants, alongside the economic and social costs associated with medical and rehabilitative care. In the context of ice and snow sports environments, applying the E principles of injury prevention to evaluate intervention measures can guide the implementation of future sports safety and other health promotion intervention measures in this field. When well executed, this approach can substantially reduce both the frequency and severity of injuries, thereby significantly enhancing the safety and long-term viability of these challenging sports.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to rigorously assess and statistically substantiate the efficacy of diverse injury prevention strategies in ice and snow sports, aiming to bolster future safety measures with solid empirical evidence.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsThe overarching aim of this research was to meticulously aggregate and scrutinize a broad spectrum of scholarly literature, focusing on the quantifiable efficacy of diverse, multicomponent intervention strategies in mitigating the incidence of injuries within the realm of ice and snow sports. This endeavour entailed an exhaustive extraction of data from esteemed academic databases, encompassing publications up to September 30, 2023. In pursuit of methodological excellence and analytical rigor, the study employed advanced bias assessment methodologies, notably the AMSTAR 2 and GRADE approaches, alongside sophisticated random-effects statistical modelling. This comprehensive approach was designed to ensure the utmost validity, reliability, and scholarly integrity of the study’s findings.ResultsFifteen papers, including 9 randomized controlled trials, 3 case‒control studies, and 3 cohort studies with 26,123 participants and 4,382 injuries, were analysed. The findings showed a significant reduction in injury rates through various interventions: overall injury prevention (RR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.42–0.63), educational training (RR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.34–0.73), educational videos (RR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.34–0.81), protective equipment (RR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.46–0.87), and policy changes (RR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.16–0.49). Subgroup analysis revealed potential heterogeneity in compliance (p = 0.347). Compared to controls, multicomponent interventions effectively reduced injury rates.ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that multicomponent interventions significantly prevent injuries in ice and snow sports. By applying the E principles of injury prevention and constructing a framework for practical injury prevention research in ice and snow sports, we can gradually shift towards a systemic paradigm for a better understanding of the development and prevention of sports injuries. Moreover, sports injury prevention is a complex and dynamic process. Therefore, high-quality experiments in different scenarios are needed in future research to provide more reliable evidence, offer valuable and relevant prevention information for practitioners and participants, and help formulate more effective preventive measures in practice.

An Urgent Call for Concussion Incidence Measures in Para Sport for Athletes with Vision Impairment: A Narrative Review.

Concussion in para athletes with vision impairment (VI) is poorly understood. Recently published studies have suggested that athletes with VI may be more likely to sustain sport-related concussions compared to non-disabled athletes and athletes with other impairment types. There is a critical need for objective concussion incidence measures to determine concussion injury rates and risks more accurately. The aim of this review was to examine the limited available evidence of concussion incidence rates across six different para sports for athletes with VI and encourage the future collection of concussion incidence data and the adoption of injury prevention strategies in VI para sport. A literature search was conducted using four unique databases, which formed the basis of this narrative review. Injury prevention strategies such as modifying sport rules, introducing protective equipment, and incorporating additional safety measures into the field of play have been introduced sporadically, but the effectiveness of most strategies remains unknown. More prospective, sport-specific research examining mechanisms of injury and risk factors for concussion injuries in athletes with VI in both training and competition is needed. This research will help inform the development of targeted injury prevention strategies to reduce the likelihood of concussion for athletes with VI.

From data to action: a scoping review of wearable technologies and biomechanical assessments informing injury prevention strategies in sport

BackgroundThe purpose of this scoping review was to evaluate the current use of technologies in sports settings for training adaptation and injury prevention. The review aimed to map the existing literature, identify key concepts and themes, and highlight gaps in research, thus offering guidance for future studies.MethodsThis study followed the guidelines of the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews and a search in four major databases was conducted.ResultsA total of 21 studies were included. The findings highlighted the widespread use of various technologies, including wearable devices and force plates, to monitor athletes’ performance and inform evidence-based decision-making in training and injury prevention. Variables such as Player Load, changes of direction, and acute chronic workload ratio were identified as key metrics in injury prediction.ConclusionsThis review uncovers a dynamic field of research in athlete injury prevention, emphasizing the extensive use of varied technologies. A key finding is the pivotal role of Player Load data, which offers nuanced insights for customizing training loads according to sport-specific demands, player positions, and the physical requirements of various activities. Additionally, the review sheds light on the utility of tools like force plates in assessing fatigue, aiding recovery, and steering injury rehabilitation, particularly in sports prone to knee and ankle injuries. These insights not only enhance our understanding of injury prevention but also provide a strategic direction for future research, aiming to boost athlete safety, performance, and career longevity.

Retrospective Analysis of Head and Maxillofacial Injuries: FIFA World Cup 2022 Report

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the incidence, causes and consequences of head and maxillofacial injuries in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Methods: This retrospective study, following the STROBE guideline, conducted an online investigation during the 2022 World Cup, with a specific focus on injuries resulting in player substitutions or absences of at least one match. To mitigate potential injury exaggeration, journalistic reports were prioritized over video analysis. The analysis of injuries involved the utilization of descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the Pearson correlation test, with a significance threshold set at p<0.05. The analytical tools Microsoft Excel and RStudio were employed. Comparative insights were derived from previous FIFA World Cup data; however, injuries lacking sufficient recovery time were classified as preseason injuries, potentially introducing an element of bias to the analysis. Results: During the FIFA World Cup 2022, a comprehensive analysis revealed a total of 123 injuries leading to player substitutions or subsequent game absences, of which seven were localized in the head or maxillofacial region. Statistical analysis indicated a departure from normal data distribution, and a robust correlation was observed between the number of players in national leagues and injury incidence. Noteworthy is the participation of 42 distinct national soccer leagues in contributing players to the tournament's national squads, with no specific league demonstrating a predisposition to higher injury rates. Within the dataset, three maxillofacial injuries were identified. It is of interest that five athletes opted for facemasks as protective measures for the maxillofacial region, and remarkably, only one of them experienced an injury during the World Cup but subsequently resumed play in subsequent matches, while the remaining four athletes had sustained injuries prior to the tournament. Conclusion: The 2022 FIFA World Cup was associated with a low number of head and maxillofacial injuries, with collisions with other players being the most common cause. Despite their limited occurrence, these injuries can have severe implications. In response to the increase in concussions, FIFA implemented an improved safety protocol, which involves immediate game halts for medical assessment and allows player substitutions without affecting the team's allotted substitutions. This change has been well-received by stakeholders. Furthermore, the use of protective equipment, such as custom-made shields, is growing in popularity and has the potential to reduce injury severity and shorten recovery time. Modern technology enables the creation of comfortable and effective protective gear, enhancing player safety. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of injury prevention strategies in sports, calling for continued advancements in protective equipment design and increased transparency in injury reporting.

A Comprehensive Summary of Systematic Reviews on Sports Injury Prevention Strategies.

Background:A large volume of systematic reviews and meta-analyses has been published on the effectiveness of sports injury prevention programs.Purpose:To provide a qualitative summary of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have examined the effectiveness of sports injury prevention programs on reducing musculoskeletal injuries.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:We searched the PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases for systematic reviews and meta-analyses that evaluated the effectiveness of sports injury prevention programs. We excluded published abstracts, narrative reviews, articles not published in English, commentaries, studies that described sports injury prevention strategies but did not assess their effectiveness, studies that did not assess musculoskeletal injuries, and studies that did not assess sports-related injuries. The most relevant results were extracted and summarized. Levels of evidence were determined per the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, and methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews, revised version).Results:A total of 507 articles were retrieved, and 129 were included. Articles pertaining to all injuries were divided into 9 topics: sports and exercise in general (n = 20), soccer (n = 13), ice hockey (n = 1), dance (n = 1), volleyball (n = 1), basketball (n = 1), tackle collision sports (n = 1), climbing (n = 1), and youth athletes (n = 4). Articles on injuries by anatomic site were divided into 11 topics: general knee (n = 8), anterior cruciate ligament (n = 34), ankle (n = 14), hamstring (n = 11), lower extremity (n = 10), foot (n = 6), groin (n = 2), shoulder (n = 1), wrist (n = 2), and elbow (n = 1). Of the 129 studies, 45.7% were ranked as evidence level 1, and 55.0% were evidence level 2. Based on the AMSTAR-2, 58.9% of the reviews reported a priori review methods, 96.1% performed a comprehensive literature search, 47.3% thoroughly described excluded articles, 79.1% assessed risk of bias for individual studies, 48.8% reported a valid method for statistical combination of data (ie, meta-analysis), 45.0% examined the effect of risk of bias on pooled study results, and 19.4% examined the risk for publication bias.Conclusion:This comprehensive review provides sports medicine providers with a single source of the most up-to-date publications in the literature on sports injury prevention.

Sports Injury Prevention Strategies In Rugby

Sports Injury Prevention Strategies In Rugby

Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records

BackgroundCompared to injury data in able-bodied athletes, relatively little literature exists for Paralympic athletes. Injury data underpins the design and evaluation of injury prevention strategies in elite sport. The aim...

Nationwide sports injury prevention strategies: A scoping review.

National strategies to prevent sports injuries can potentially improve health outcomes at a population level and reduce medical costs. To date, a compilation of the strategies that countries have attempted, and their effectiveness, does not exist. This scoping review sets out to: identify nationwide attempts at implementing sports injury prevention strategies; examine the impact of these strategies; and map them onto the Translating Research into Injury Prevention Practice (TRIPP) framework. Using Levac's scoping review method, we: (a) identified the research questions, (b) identified relevant studies, (c) identified the study selection criteria, (d) charted the data, and (e) reported the results. A search of MEDLINE, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for articles published pre-June 2019 was conducted. We identified 1794 studies and included 33 studies (of 24 strategies). The USA (n=7), New Zealand (n=4), Canada (n=3), the Netherlands (n=3), Switzerland (n=2), Belgium (n=1), France (n=1), Ireland (n=1), South Africa (n=1), and Sweden (n=1) have implemented nationwide sports injury prevention strategies with 29 (88%) of the included studies demonstrating positive results. Mapping the strategies onto the TRIPP framework highlighted that only four (17%) of the 24 included strategies reported on the implementation context (TRIPP Stage 5), suggesting an important reporting gap. Nationwide sports injury prevention efforts are complex, requiring a multidimensional approach. Future research should report intervention implementation data; examine the implementation context early in the research process to increase the likelihood of real-world implementation success; and could benefit from incorporating qualitative or mixed research methods.

Injuries, practices and perceptions of Australian wheelchair sports participants

BackgroundData regarding injuries in community-based wheelchair sport athletes is limited and long-term management of injuries and their impact upon participation unexplored. Little data examines benefits and barriers to wheelchair sports participation across the community. HypothesisThe prevalence and nature of injuries sustained by wheelchair sports participants and injury prevention and management strategies will be associated with level of sports participation. Study designCross-sectional survey. MethodsMembers of Wheelchair Sports New South Wales (WSNSW) completed a questionnaire developed from interviews with sports participants. Items examined demographics, sports played, injuries sustained, prevention and management practices, benefits and barriers to participation. Injury types and their management were collected for the previous 12 months. ResultsSeventy-one questionnaires were returned. Injuries were sustained by 59% of respondents, with 28% reporting injuries in the past twelve months. Injuries most frequently affected the shoulder (25%), were primarily muscle strains (32%), and commonly caused by contact (48%). Injury prevention strategies were reported by 75% of respondents most commonly involving warm-up and stretching activities. Participation benefits included improvements in fitness (85%), opportunities for friendship (83%), improvements in self-care abilities (83%) and setting/achieving goals (91%). Barriers included cost of sports wheelchairs (68%), availability of competitions/competitors (62%), and distance required for travel for training/competition (71%). ConclusionInjuries in wheelchair sports participants and benefits and barriers to participation are multi-faceted. Injury types, their management and prevention strategies were identified. Perceived benefits were found in the domains of health, socialisation and skills. Strategies aimed at raising participation rates should focus on promoting the physical, social and skill-related benefits.

Efectividad del entrenamiento de la musculatura del Core en la prevención de lesiones de hombro en deportes con lanzamientos sobre la cabeza: una revisión sistemática

Antecedentes: Los programas de entrenamiento para la prevención de lesiones de hombro en deportistas que lanzan sobre la cabeza a través del fortalecimiento del tren superior presentan evidencia clara de sus beneficios. Por otra parte, los programas de entrenamientos de la musculatura Core que componen todo el cinturón lumbopélvico también pueden estar involucrados en la prevención de lesiones de hombro en deportistas que lanzan sobre la cabeza. Sin embargo, la evidencia es limitada.
 Objetivo: Determinar la efectividad del entrenamiento de la musculatura Core en la prevención de lesiones de hombro en deportistas que lanzan sobre la cabeza.
 Método: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura respecto de la evidencia disponible acerca de las estrategias de prevención de lesiones de hombro en deportes que utilizan lanzamientos sobre la cabeza a través del entrenamiento de la musculatura del Core, consultando las bases de datos PubMed, PEDro y ScienceDirect publicados entre enero del 2014 a mayo del 2020.
 Resultados: Se seleccionó un total de cinco estudios de los cuales dos son ensayos clínicos y tres revisiones sistemáticas. La totalidad de los estudios tratan acerca de la prevención de lesiones de hombro en balonmano, béisbol y voleibol. De los cuales se pudo revelar que los programas de entrenamiento de fortalecimiento de la musculatura del tren superior y de Core disminuyen el riesgo de lesión de hombro en deportistas que lanzan sobre la cabeza.
 Conclusión: Se pudo evidenciar que los programas de entrenamiento de la musculatura Core disminuye el riesgo de padecer una lesión en deportistas que lanzan sobre la cabeza.

Injury surveillance in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of upper quadrant injuries

BackgroundCompared to injury surveillance in Olympic athletes relatively little literature exists for Paralympic athletes. Injury surveillance data underpin design and evaluation of injury prevention strategies in elite sport. The aim of this study is investigate upper quadrant injuries in elite athletes with limb deficiency.MethodsA retrospective analysis of upper quadrant injuries in elite athletes with limb deficiency with available data (2008–2016) was conducted using medical notes extracted from English Institute of Sport (EIS) records. Eligibility criteria included funded athletes, eligible for EIS physiotherapy support with an upper and/or lower limb disability arising from full or partial limb deficiency.ResultsA total 162 injuries from 34 athletes were included. Participant characteristics: 20 males (59%), from 9 sports, with mean age 27 years (range 16–50 years) and 15 with congenital limb loss (44%). Athletes age 20–29 years experienced most injuries, four per athlete. The glenohumeral joint was the reported injury site (23%, n = 38). Index (first) injuries accounted for 77% (n = 128) injuries, 17% (n = 28) a recurrence and 6% (n = 10) an exacerbation. More than half of injuries occurred in training (58%, n = 94), this being slightly higher in those with traumatic limb loss. Athletes with quadruple levels of limb deficiency had double the number of recurrent injuries as those with single or double limb deficiency.ConclusionElite athletes with limb deficiency experience upper quadrant injuries, with glenohumeral joint the most frequently reported. The quality and consistency of data reported limits definitive conclusions, although findings highlight the importance of precision and accuracy in recording injury surveillance to enable implementation of effective injury prevention strategies.

Letting the cat out of the bag: athletes, coaches and physiotherapists share their perspectives on injury prevention in elite sports

ObjectivesTo explore how sports injury prevention takes place in elite sport practice and to describe the perspectives of athletes, coaches and physiotherapists regarding the most critical factors that help prevent...

Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of six musculoskeletal preparticipatory screening tests.

BackgroundHigh injury prevalence rates call for effective sports injury prevention strategies, which include the development and application of practical and reliable pre-participatory screening tools.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the one-legged hyperextension test (1LHET), the empty can (EC) and full can (FC) tests, the standing stork test (SST), the bridge-hold test (BHT) and the 747 balance test (747BT).MethodThirty-five healthy, injury-free male athletes (cricket and soccer players), aged 16–24 years, were evaluated by two physiotherapists. For each of the tests, the participants were evaluated twice (on two consecutive days) by each physiotherapist. Both the intra- and inter-rater reliability were determined. Cohen’s kappa (k) was calculated for the 1LHET, the EC and FC tests and the SST. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for the BHT and the 747BT. A confidence level of 95% (p ≤ 0.05) was applied as the criterion for determining the statistical significance of the results.ResultsThe SST presented with the lowest level of intra-rater agreement (ICC = –0.20 to 0.10). On the other hand, the EC test was the only test where one rater achieved an excellent intersessional agreement (k = 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40–1.20). Substantial to excellent results for the inter-rater agreement for both sessions were recorded for the 1LHET (k = 0.70–0.90) and the BHT (ICC = 0.70–0.90).ConclusionReliability values need to be considered when making clinical decisions based on screening tests. A more refined description of the testing procedures and criteria for interpretation might be necessary before including the six screening tests investigated in this study in formal screening protocols.Clinical implicationConfirmed reliability of screening tests would enable sports professionals to make informed decisions when designing preparticipatory musculoskeletal screening tools and when dealing with the management of injury risks in athletes.Keywordsmusculoskeletal screening; injury risk management; intra-rater reliability; inter-rater reliability; soccer; cricket.

Vertebral Artery Dissection in Sport: A Systematic Review.

Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a potentially catastrophic injury that may occur during sports participation. A comprehensive review is needed to collate documented cases to improve understanding and inform future preventative approaches. This review aimed to understand the extent of VAD in sport and characterise trends suggestive of mechanisms of injury. Electronic databases were searched using terms related to VAD and sport. Records were included if they described one or more cases of VAD attributed to sport. A total of 79 records described 128 individual cases of VAD in sport, of which 118 were confirmed by imaging or autopsy and included in analyses. Cases were attributed to 43 contact and non-contact sports. The median age of cases was 33years (IQR 22-44), and 75% were male. There were 22 cases of fatal injury, of which ten involved an impact to the mastoid region and seven involved an impact to the head or neck. Non-fatal cases of VAD were attributed to impact to the head or neck (not mastoid region), movement or held position without impact, and in some cases no reported incident. VAD attributed to sports participation is uncommonly reported and the mechanisms are varied. Impact to the mastoid region is consistently implicated in fatal cases and should be the focus of injury prevention strategies in sport. Efforts may also be directed at improving the prognosis of cases with delayed presentation through clinical recognition and imaging. The review was registered on the international prospective register for systematic reviews ( http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO ) (CRD42018090543).

Concussions in Sledding Sports and the Unrecognized "Sled Head": A Systematic Review.

Background: Sport-related concussion is a significant public health concern. Little research has been conducted on sport-related concussion and injury prevention strategies in competitive sledding sports like bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton. Athletes have identified “sled head” as a key concern due to its symptom burden.Purpose: To summarize our knowledge of the prevalence of concussion and related symptoms in sledding sports; to utilize Haddon's Matrix to inform and define strategies for injury prevention.Methods: An independent information specialist conducted a search for the known literature on injuries in non-recreational sledding sports, and specifically for concussion via OVID Medline, CINAHL, the Cochrane Database, EMBASE, PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Sciences from 1946 to December 2017. After iterative searches of reference sections, a total of 844 articles were assessed for inclusion.Results: Nine articles were included for review. Concussions are a common occurrence in elite sledding sport athletes, affecting 13-18% of all sledding athletes. Significant variance exists between events, indicating a potential effect of the ice track in injury risk. The condition known as “sled head” is discussed and identified as a key point of further investigation. A number of potential injury prevention strategies are discussed.Interpretation: Head injuries and concussions are an important injury for elite sledding sports and a number of avenues exist for prevention. More work is required to delineate the mechanisms, characteristics, natural history and management of “sled head.”

11.361 sports injuries in a 15-year survey of a Level I emergency trauma department reveal different severe injury types in the 6 most common team sports.

Severe sports-related injuries are a common affliction treated in Level I trauma departments. Detailed knowledge on injury characteristics from different medical settings is essential to improve the development of injury prevention strategies in different team sports. Team sport injuries were retrospectively analysed in a Level I trauma department registry over 15 years. Injury and treatment data were compared with regard to competition and training exposure. Injury data such as "time of visitation", "type of injury", "multiple injured body regions" and "immediate hospitalisation" helped to define the severity level of each team sports injury. At the Level I trauma department, 11.361 sports-related injuries were seen over 15 years, of which 34.0 % were sustained during team sports. Soccer injuries were the most common injuries of all team sports (71.4 %). The lower extremity was the most affected body region overall, followed by the upper extremity. Head injuries were mainly seen in Ice hockey and American football and concussion additionally frequently in team handball. Slight injuries like sprains or contusions occurred most frequently in all team sports. In soccer and team handball, injuries sustained in competition were significantly more severe (p < 0.001) than those sustained in practice.Volleyball and basketball had a trend to higher rate of severe injuries sustained during practice sessions. Depending on the specific injury profile of each team sports, injury prevention strategies should address competitive as well as training situations, whichmay need different strategies.

Do adolescents with long-term illnesses and disabilities have increased risks of sports related injuries?

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to examine the rates of sports related injuries in adolescents based on the severity of their long-term illnesses or disabilities (LTID). Few injury prevention strategies in sports and health promotion have explored disaggregation by disability.MethodsData obtained from the 2014 Finnish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey (n = 3716, mean age = 14.8, SD = 1.03) were grouped into adolescents with and without LTID. A further indicator or severity was determined when adolescents reported their LTID affected their participation (affected LTID). Odds ratio (95% CI) were used to determine the associations between sports related injuries and LTID, daily moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA), being a sports club member, physical competence, and family encouragement, after controlling for age, gender and family affluence.ResultsOne in four adolescents (25%) reported to have LTID and one in eight adolescents (12.5%) reported sports injuries. The odds for adolescents with chronic conditions, functional and learning difficulties was the highest (OR 3.55, CI = 2.3–5.4) for overall injuries, when compared with adolescents without LTID. Adolescents with affected LTID (OR = 2.08, CI = 1.5–2.9) were more likely to report medically attended injuries than adolescents without LTID. Sports-related injuries (OR = 0.33, CI = 0.1–0.8) were lower in adolescents with affected LTID than those without LTID after adjusting for personal and environmental factors.ConclusionsTaking part in sport clubs increases the risk of sports related injuries in adolescents with and without LTID, but not with affected LTID. Few adolescents with affected LTID participate in sports clubs and were less likely to report the most serious type of injury to be from sports. These results could be used for devising sports based injury prevention and health promotion strategies for children with LTID.

Neuromuscular training injury prevention strategies in youth sport: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Youth have very high participation and injury rates in sport. Sport is the leading cause of injury in youth. Sport injury reduces future participation in physical activity which adversely affects...

Scapular taping alters kinematics in asymptomatic subjects

BackgroundScapular taping is frequently used in the management of shoulder pain and as a part of injury prevention strategies in sports. It is believed to alter scapular kinematics and restore normal motion. However, there is little evidence to support its use. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of shoulder taping on the scapular kinematics of asymptomatic subjects. MethodThirteen asymptomatic subjects performed elevations in the sagittal and scapular planes with no tape and after the application of tape. A motion tracking system and a scapula locator method were used to measure the shoulder movement. Co-ordinate frames were defined for the thorax, humerus and scapula and Euler angles were used to calculate joints rotations. ResultsScapular taping increased the scapular external and upward rotations and posterior tilt in elevations in the sagittal plane (p<0.001). In the scapular plane, taping increased scapular external rotation (p<0.05). ConclusionsTaping affects scapulothoracic kinematics in asymptomatic subjects. The effect may be different for different planes of movement. The findings have implications on the use of taping as a preventive measure in high-risk groups. Further work is needed to assess the effect of taping on symptomatic populations.

Injury Prevention in Sports

Sports injuries can occur and may cause significant discomfort and disability. They may also be associated with considerable medical expenses. The objective of this article was to evaluate the current evidence-based effectiveness of sports injury prevention strategies. The authors assessed both intrinsic and extrinsic injury prevention strategies. However, determination of the relative contribution of each component was not determined in the multifaceted intervention studies. Among the interventions that used multiple components, including various combinations of warm-up, strengthening, stretching, and plyometric and balance exercises, the authors could not identify which of the components was effective. Among the extrinsic strategies, including mouthguards, face shields, helmets, bracing, insoles and orthotics, breakaway bases, and sport-specific rules, the authors found that ankle bracing, helmets, face shields, and mouthguards were effective. Studies of breakaway bases and sport-specific rules had methodological flaws that made interpretation difficult. Much future research is needed to identify modifiable risk factors that will lead to the development of new interventions. In addition, studies of new interventions should adhere to rigorous methodology to assess their effectiveness.