Veteran Players Research Articles

Examination of Mental Resilience Levels in Veteran Tennis Players

This research aimed to explore the disparities in mental resilience levels among veteran tennis players concerning age, gender, and weekly training frequency. The survey method was employed, utilizing a survey technique as part of the screening process. The study involved 358 volunteer veteran tennis players, with 85 females and 273 males, who completed the mental resilience scale. The "Sports Mental Resilience Scale" and a researcher-prepared personal information form were used. The scale showed good reliability with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients of 0.81 for Confidence, 0.74 for Persistence, and 0.71 for Control. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0. Normal distribution was confirmed through Skewness, Kurtosis values, and the Levene Test. Parametric tests, such as Independent Sample T Test and One Way ANOVA, were used when significant differences emerged between groups. The Scheffe test was applied to identify the sources of differences. Results revealed no statistically significant difference in average mental resilience scores based on gender (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found in Confidence and Persistence sub-dimensions based on age (p<0.05), as well as in the Confidence sub-dimension and total scores based on weekly training frequency (p<0.05). In summary, this study investigated the relationship between mental resilience levels and variables like gender, age, and weekly training frequency among veteran tennis players. It found that these factors indeed impact the mental resilience of veteran tennis players, contributing new insights to the field and future research.

From legends to legacy: the impact of fan influence on retiring athletes in premier league basketball.

This research examines the perceived age of Premier League basketball players as they near retirement, focusing on the complex interplay between players, fans, and the media in shaping perceptions of age and retirement. The study highlights the unique pressure on the basketball players to retire due to age-related expectations, rooted in the perception that athleticism is age dependent. The research methodology applied in this study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a sample of 11 professional Israeli basketball players and two veteran players' agents. Three themes emerged: (1) Feelings of betrayal and ingratitude; (2) A farewell tour toward disengagement from one's professional career; and (3) The media's role in shaping beliefs and attitudes. These themes illustrate how the sports environment portrays aging players, shaping fan opinions, both positively and negatively. Significantly, the findings emphasize the challenges that players must confront within an ageist environment. The study concludes by highlighting the cultural and social construction at work. The "coercion" to retire from professional sports is more pronounced here due to the common belief that sports success is time-bound and age-dependent, necessitating a "young body". In this reality, the audience does not merely function as a backdrop for athletes' performances, but has the power, at the collective and the individual level, to affect change on and off the court.

Opposite effects of Covid-19 infection on pitchers and batters: a retrospective study on Chinese Professional Baseball League players.

The influence of COVID-19 infection on elite athletes remains largely unknown, especially on baseball players. The goal of this study is to examine the actual performance of infected elite baseball players from the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) from a sabermetric point of view. This was a retrospective observational cohort study. CPBL players who were infected with COVID-19 from April 27th to May 31st, 2022, were eligible for this study. The performance of study participants before and after COVID-19 infection was compared, and statistics from the batters and pitchers were analyzed separately. During the study interval, 56 players were infected with COVID-19, including 35 batters and 21 pitchers. After excluding injured players and players with inadequate playing opportunities, 23 batters and 12 pitchers were enrolled. For batters, there were no significant differences before and after COVID-19 infection. However, batters older than 28 years of age showed a decline in slugging percentage (0.372 vs. 0.292, P=0.049). Analysis of pitchers revealed significantly boosted fastball velocity after COVID-19 infection (142.10 km/h vs. 142.82 km/h, P=0.028) and improved strikeouts per nine innings (6.89 vs. 8.56, P=0.021). COVID-19 might have a potential influence on professional baseball players. For batters, veteran players more than 28 years of age were more likely to be negatively affected by COVID-19, whereas the effect of COVID-19 on pitchers was generally positive, with significantly improved fastball velocity and K/9 numbers.

Subnautica: The undersea comfort game

This review of Unknown Worlds Entertainment’s survival and exploration game, Subnautica () aims to discuss the game and highlight just how it presents an enjoyable experience to new and veteran players alike and why the game is seeing a continual boom in its player base. To do this, I will be discussing some context around Subnautica and its place in PlayStation’s ‘Play at Home Initiative’ over the course of the global pandemic. Then I will discuss the game in-depth, focusing on its atmosphere and style, its narrative and finally its gameplay before offering some final thoughts on Subnautica as an excellent ‘comfort’ game whose different gameplay modes can attract players of all inclinations, providing the experience they are looking for.

Lesiones deportivas en squash: estudio prospectivo en jugadores federados

ObjectiveTo prospectively analyse the pattern of sports injuries and their incidence as a function of practice time in a sample of squash players of different sporting levels and ages. Material and methodsA prospective cohort study was carried out with Spanish squash players who were federated and ranked during the 2018-2019 season. Participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire each time they registered. In addition, the training and competition time of all players was also recorded in order to establish the injury incidence per 1000h of practice. ResultsInformation was obtained from a total of 38 players (17 veterans, 13 seniors and 8 U19). A total of 22 injuries were recorded, with 27.7%, 45.45% and 27.27% of the veteran, senior and U19 players, respectively, acknowledging injuries during the season. No player was injured more than once. The most common injuries were musculoskeletal injuries, with the lower limbs being the most frequently affected area. The incidence of injury was 1.41/1000h. No influence of gender or category on injury risk was observed. ConclusionSquash can be considered as potentially injurious, given that more than half of the senior, senior and more than half of the veteran, senior and U19 players are injured at least once a season, regardless of at least once per season, irrespective of age, gender, or ranking.

The FIFA 11 + : Why is adherence so challenging? Insights from a cross-sectional study of stakeholders in Australian amateur football (soccer)

Objectives To explore the usage and awareness of the FIFA 11 + (11 + ) across multiple stakeholders involved with amateur football. Methods Coaches, players, non-coaching staff and medical personnel in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, were invited to complete a cross-sectional online survey, which was disseminated using a targeted email to two Football NSW member organisations and a social media campaign. Categorical data (including age-groups and sex) are presented as counts and percentages and analysed using a Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. A significance level of 0.05 was used for all analyses. Results In total 328 players, 55 coaches, 37 non-coaching staff and 16 medical personnel completed the survey (n = 436). Awareness of the 11 + was lowest among non-coaching staff (16.2%) and players (32.6%) but higher among coaches (52.7%) and medical personnel (93.8%). Once aware of the 11 + , 75.8% of all respondents used the program although 89.5% of them did so with modifications. In addition, only 40.0% of players reported completing all three parts of the 11 + program. Veteran players were less likely to complete any type of warm-up compared with junior players (63.7% vs. 96.3%, respectively). Conclusions Although awareness of the 11 + varied amongst survey respondents, 3 out of 4 respondents who were aware of the 11 + adopted the program. However, respondents reported modifying the 11 + and not completing the program as intended, which suggests modification guidance is required to maintain the efficacy of the 11 + .

Return to play after rotator cuff tear in National Football League athletes

Rotator cuff tears are rare injuries in National Football League (NFL) athletes and there are limited data to help guide players and team physicians. The purpose of this study was to assess return to play (RTP) rates, performance levels, and career length following a rotator cuff tear during their playing career. Using publicly available data, we identified players who sustained a rotator cuff tear between 2000 and 2019. Demographic information, treatment (operative vs. nonoperative), RTP rate, preinjury and postinjury performance score, position, and career length were entered into the analysis. Twenty-nine athletes with a mean age of 27.4 years (±3.1) at the time of injury were included in this study. Forty-eight percent were offensive and 52% defensive players. 79.3% (23/29) were able to RTP at the same professional level for an average of 2.8±3.4 years. The average time to RTP after injury was 198.4±125.3 days. The average age of players who RTP was 26.7±2.5 years compared to those who did not (30.3±3.7, P=.02). Similarly, the preinjury NFL career length was 4.0±2.2 in players who RTP compared to those who did not (7.5±2.7, P=.01). Most injuries (82.2%) were treated surgically; however, there was no significant difference (P>.05) in RTP rates, performance score, or career longevity between operative and nonoperative cohorts. Overall RTP rates for NFL athletes following a rotator cuff injury are promising with approximately 80% returning at the same performance level regardless of treatment type. Older, veteran players particularly those over the age of 30 were significantly less likely to RTP and should be counseled accordingly.

A comparison of veteran athletes and sedentary individuals in terms of dynamic-static balance and cognitive functions

There is strong evidence that being physically active has positive effects on healthy aging, primary and secondary prevention of the development of chronic diseases. The physical and cognitive health benefits of having an active past are less well-known. Therefore, this study aimed to compare veteran athletes with an active sports history with their sedentary peers in terms of balance and cognitive function. Fourteen veteran soccer players and 15 sedentary male volunteers aged between 35-55 years participated in the study. The demographic characteristics of the participants were questioned with a case report form. Participants' balance was evaluated statically and dynamically. Static balance was assessed using the Flamingo test and dynamic balance was assessed with the Y Balance test. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to test cognitive functions. There was no difference between Veteran Athletes (VA) and Sedentary Participants (SP) in terms of static balance test scores with both right and left sides (p>0.05). The results of the VA group were significantly higher (p<0.05) in terms of the total scores of the Y balance test, which consisted of the average of the anterior (ANT), posterolateral (PL), and posteromedial (PM) reaches (p<0.05). In terms of MoCA score, the VA group obtained significantly higher results compared to the SP group (p<0.05). Veteran athletes were found to be superior to same-aged sedentary in terms of dynamic balance and cognitive function. Having an active sporting background can help to mitigate the loss of physical skills such as balance and cognitive functioning that inevitably occurs during the natural aging process. In addition, active old age is also crucial for the preservation of these skills.

Daily fluctuations in visual motion discriminability contribute to daily fluctuations in continuous visuomotor performance.

In ball sports such as table tennis, in which a ball moving at high speed is hit, an athlete's brain needs to process the motion information of the ball, predict the arrival point, and form a motor command to direct the racket there. Therefore, day-to-day fluctuations in visuomotor performance may be ascribed to fluctuations in visual motion discriminability, but it is not clear how the two are related. To examine this point, university table tennis players performed a motion direction discrimination (MDD) task and continuous visuomotor (CVM) task over 10 days as an estimation of visual motion discriminability and visuomotor performance, respectively. In the MDD task, using a joystick, participants distinguished the direction of a global coherent motion of target dots moving in the same direction on a PC monitor from innumerable dots moving in random directions. In the CVM task, participants hit sequential targets moving fast from right to left on the PC monitor by operating the cursor on the left side of the monitor up and down using the prehensile force of their thumb and index finger. The scores in the MDD and CVM tasks fluctuated day by day and showed a significant and moderate correlation between the MDD task score for the visual field in which the participants captured the target in the CVM task and the CVM task score. This correlation was confirmed even with the target moving from left to right. The fluctuations in the onset latency and the endpoint position of the cursor movement approaching the target were correlated with those of the visual motion discriminability, suggesting the contribution of motion vision to the speed and accuracy of the visuomotor performance. Moreover, these relationships were prominent in veteran players. For table tennis athletes, especially experienced players, fluctuations in the visual motion discrimination performance in a visual field specific for capturing a ball may be responsible for the fluctuations in continuous visuomotor (striking) performance.

Characterization of Rookie Season Injury and Illness and Career Longevity Among National Basketball Association Players

There is limited research investigating injury and illness among professional basketball players during their rookie season. By improving the understanding of injury incidence and risk specific to rookie players, sports medicine clinicians may be able to further individualize injury mitigation programs that address the unique needs of rookie players. To compare incidence and rate ratio (RR) of injury and illness among professional National Basketball Association (NBA) players in their rookie season with veteran players and to explore the association of sustaining an injury rookie season with career longevity. This retrospective cohort study used an online data repository and extracted publicly available data about NBA players between the 2007 and 2008 season to the 2018 and 2019 season. Available data for initial injury and all subsequent injuries were extracted during this time frame. Injury and illness based on injury status during the rookie season of professional NBA players. Injury and illness incidence and RR. Association of injury during the rookie season with career longevity was assessed via Poisson regressions. Of the 12 basketball seasons analyzed, 904 NBA players were included (mean [SD] age, 24.6 [3.9] years; body mass index, 24.8 [1.8]). The injury and illness incidence for rookie players was 14.28 per 1000 athlete game exposures (AGEs). Among all body regions, ankle injuries had the greatest injury incidence among players injured during their rookie season (3.17 [95% CI, 3.15-3.19] per 1000 AGEs). Rookie athletes demonstrated higher RR compared with veterans across multiple regions of the body (ankle: 1.32; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.52; foot/toe: 1.29; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.61; shoulder/arm/elbow: 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.77; head/neck: 1.21; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.81; concussions: 2.39; 95% CI, 1.89 to 2.90; illness: 1.14; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.40), and demonstrated a higher rate of initial injuries compared with veteran players (1.41; 95% CI, 1.29 to 1.53). Players who sustained an injury rookie season demonstrated an unadjusted decrease in total seasons played (-0.4 [95% CI, -0.5 to -0.3] log years; P < .001), but this decrease was not observed within adjusted analysis (0.1 [95% CI, -0.1 to 0.2] log years; P = .36). In this study, rookie athletes demonstrated the highest injury incidence at the ankle and increased RR across multiple regions. These findings may reflect differences in preseason conditioning or load variables impacting rookie athletes and warrant further investigation. Future research is needed to determine the association of cumulative injury burden vs a singular injury event on career longevity.

Return to Play After Arthroscopic Management of Rotator Cuff Tears in Professional Contact Athletes (245)

Objectives:Rotator cuff tears are rare injuries in professional contact athletes and there is limited data to help guide players and team physicians regarding outcomes after surgical management. The purpose of this study was to report on the clinical outcomes and return to play rates of professional contact athletes that underwent arthroscopic management of rotator cuff tears at our institution.Methods:A retrospective review was performed on 10 rotator cuff tears in 9 professional contact athletes that underwent arthroscopic management of a rotator cuff tear from 2002-2019 at our institution. 8 tears occurred in elite American football players, 7 from the NFL and 1 from the CFL. The remaining 2 rotator cuff tears were identified in professional hockey players from the NHL. The average age of the players was 28.7 ± 4.8 years. Patient information included age, sport, position played, date of injury, date of surgery and length of time from surgery to return to play. Surgical data included tear size, acuity and pattern as well as procedure performed (debridement vs repair). Both intra and post-operative complications were documented.The primary outcome measure was the ability to return to play and the number of games played after surgery was documented. As in other similar studies, return to play was defined as the ability to participate in at least 1 full regular-season game after surgery. Return to play and career length data were collected through publicly available internet sources (NFL, CFL and NHL statistical websites) as well as from the team’s medical staff.Results:80% of the professional contact athletes that underwent arthroscopic management of a rotator cuff tear in this study were able to return to play at the same professional. The average age of the players that returned to play was 27.3 ± 4.2 years and the average time to return to play was 7.9 ± 1.9 months. 8 of the 10 tears occurred in professional football players and the majority of these injuries (6 of 8) occurred in defensive players. 2 of the 10 tears occurred in professional hockey players from the NHL and both were offensive players. All of these players regained sufficient range of motion, strength and function to pass a pre-participation physical performed by their team’s medical staff and all participated in at least one regular season game. For the football players, the average playing experience after surgery was 32 ± 25 games played. For the hockey players, the average playing experience after surgery was 22 ± 11games played.9 of the 10 tears were full thickness tears that underwent arthroscopic single row repair while 1 was a partial tear that was debrided. The average tear size was 1.95 ±0.9 cm. The average number of suture anchors used was 1.35 ± 0.7. All tears involved the supraspinatus rotator cuff tendon and 4 were classified as small tears (<1cm), 3 as medium tears (1-3cm) and 2 as large tears (3-5cm). 7 of the 10 tears underwent acute surgical repair (<2 weeks from date of injury), while 3 players underwent delayed surgical intervention at the end of the season. The delay in surgical intervention did not appear to negatively impact healing rates or the ability to return to play. Other factors that did not appear to influence return to play included type of sport, position, type of procedure (debridement vs repair) or the number of suture anchors used in the repair. Post-operative imaging was available in 8 of the 10 tears and 7 of 8 (88%) demonstrated a healed repair. No intra-operative complications were noted.2 veteran players with large (3-5cm) full thickness tears did not return to play. The average age of these players was 34.5 years and both had > 10 years of professional playing experience. One of these players was an NFL player that demonstrated a repair failure at 6 months on post-operative imaging and elected to retire rather than undergo revision surgery. The second was an NHL player that retired for reasons unrelated to his shoulder, despite a good clinical outcome and a healed repair on post-operative imaging. To our knowledge, none of the remaining players have undergone subsequent surgical intervention or revision surgery on their injured shoulder.Conclusions:This is one of only a few studies since 1996 to report on the clinical outcomes after operative management of rotator cuff tears in elite professional contact athletes. The majority (80%) of the professional contact athletes in this series were able to return to play at the same professional level after arthroscopic management of a symptomatic rotator cuff tear. Older players with > 10 years of professional experience and large rotator cuff tears were less likely to return to play after surgical intervention.

Regular football training down-regulates miR-1303 muscle expression in veterans

PurposeRegular exercise affects the expression of several genes, proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) in time- and intensity-dependent manner promoting longevity. We previously identified from GeneChip Array analysis several differentially expressed genes and miRNAs in muscle from veteran football players (VPG) compared to active untrained elderly subjects (CG); here we focussed on miRNA-1303 (miR-1303). The aims of the present research were: to analyse the effects of football training on the expression of miR-1303 and to identify its putative target involved in the longevity pathways in skeletal muscle from VPG compared to CG.MethodsRNA samples from 12 VPG and 12 CG muscle biopsies were used to validate miR-1303 expression. Crossing four different bioinformatic algorithms, we identified 16 putative targets of miR-1303; from these, BAG-2, KLHL7 and KBTBD6 were chosen for further validation by Western blot analysis in LHCN-M2 human myoblasts transiently transfected with miR-1303.ResultsFootball training down-regulates miR-1303 expression in muscle from VPG compared to CG and the expression of BAG-2, a chaperon protein involved in the autophagy pathway, inversely correlated to overexpression of miR-1303 in a time-dependent manner, indicating that it is a miR-1303 potential target.ConclusionsThis is the first report, to our knowledge, describing miR-1303 regulation in skeletal muscle by football training and the identification of a target protein, BAG-2, involved in the autophagy pathway. This result contributes to the enlargement of knowledge on the molecular mechanisms linking football training, autophagy and longevity.

Am I Playing Better Now?

G-SYNC technology matches formerly regular display refreshes to irregular frame updates, improving frame rates and interactive latency. In a previous study of gaming at the 30Hz frame rates common on consoles, players of Battlefield 4 were unable to discern when G-SYNC was in use, but scored higher with G-SYNC and were affected emotionally. We build on that study with the first examination of G-SYNC's effects at the 60Hz frame rate more common in PC gaming and on emerging consoles. Though G-SYNC's effects are less at 60Hz than they were at 30Hz, G-SYNC can still improve the performance of veteran players, particularly when games are challenging. G-SYNC's effects on emotion and experience were limited.

Rematch between Robert Fischer and Boris Spassky in 1992 as an Attempt to Break through the Sports Sanctions in Yugoslavia

The article examines the attempt of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to organise a breakthrough of the sports sanctions imposed on the country on 30 May, 1992. As a result of these sanctions, the country’s athletes were forced to participate in sports competitions without national emblems and flags. The next step was to be a complete ban on the participation of Yugoslav sport organisations in international competitions. In order to break through the international information blockade, the leadership of the FR of Yugoslavia tried to organise a commercial match between Robert Fischer and Boris Spassky, two veteran chess players, who played in the 1972 “Match of the Century.” The conference was organised by Jezdimir Vasiljević, a businessman who combined the cigarette and oil trade with the banking business. The results of this costly adventure were dubious. With the complete domination of huge international media corporations, positive results were almost impossible. However, the episode itself remains a bright page not only in the gloomy history of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, but also in the history of chess.

Stock market anomalies and baseball cards

AbstractBaseball cards exhibit anomalies that are analogous to those that are documented in financial markets, namely, momentum, price drift in the direction of past fundamental performance, and initial public offering (IPO) underperformance. Momentum is higher among active players than retired players, and among newer sets than older sets. Regarding IPO underperformance, we find that newly issued rookie cards underperform newly issued cards of veteran players, and that newly issued sets underperform older sets. The results are broadly consistent with models of slow information diffusion and short‐selling constraints.

The Status of Inflammatory Factors Involved in Coronary Artery Disease in Veteran Football Players

Background: Homocysteine, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and lipoprotein (a) (LPA) are four novel cardiovascular risk factors. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the serum levels of these substances in veteran football players and non-athletes. Methods: The subjects of this study were 16 male orthopedic veterans assigned to the two control and experimental groups. The age range was 40 to 50 years old. The athlete group was players of North Khorasan veterans’ team of futsal that trained regularly in the past six months. Trainings of the athlete group were three sessions per week that each session consisted of a warm-up, technical, tactical, and fitness trainings and cooling down. Non-athlete subjects had no regular trainings in the past six months. After 12 hours of fasting, serum levels of dependent variables were evaluated. Independent t-test was used for computing the mean differences of dependent variables between the two groups. Results: The findings showed that mean levels of homocysteine (P = 0.034), fibrinogen (P = 0.001) and LPA (P = 0.022) were lower in the experimental group compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of CRP mean levels (P = 0.072). Conclusions: Generally, orthopedic veterans can prevent cardiac events through regular futsal training because this type of training may reduce the levels of homocysteine, fibrinogen and LPA.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in collision sports: Possible mechanisms of transformation into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability, contributing to ~30% of all injury-related deaths in the US. TBI occurs when a force transmitted to the head causes neuropathologic damage and impairment of brain function. TBI doubles risk of suicide and is the major determinant of acquired seizure disorders. TBI arising from closed head trauma (CHT) significantly increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Evidence for a possible role of TBI as a risk factor for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS) has been provided by studies of professional players of European football. Depending on age, genetic make-up (in particular, being a carrier of one or two ApoE4 alleles), the number of TBIs sustained, their severity, the time periods involved, and many other factors that affect vulnerability, decades may pass after occurrence of one or more TBIs before sequelae such as AD, PD, sALS or CTE become clinically evident. Among college and professional football players who experience repeated concussions and sub-concussive blows to the head, the risk of developing CTE increases with the number of years actively devoted to the sport, and the degree of exposure to physical impacts inherent in the position played. Following a moderate or severe concussion, or a series of mild blows to the head, the brain may undergo subtle pathophysiological changes that are unlikely to be detected with confidence using available diagnostic methods. Biomarkers are being sought that can help the attending physician infer the likely presence of an ongoing occult neurodegenerative process. One example of the adverse effect of collision on the brain is “heading” the soccer ball—a feat that, repeated over years of competition, has been found to produce severe brain damage in veteran players. CTE has attracted increasing national attention because of its devastating effects in a high proportion of retired professional players of American football. In a study of brains from deceased former football players, contributed mostly by family members, CTE was neuropathologically diagnosed in 110 of 111 of National Football League (NFL) veterans. In the CTE-positive subjects, the authors observed extensive brain atrophy, astrogliosis, myelinated axonopathy, microvascular injury, perivascular neuroinflammation, and phosphorylated tau protein pathology. CTE's neuropathology has been formally defined as a tauopathy characterized by a distinct perivascular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons and astrocytes within cerebral sulci. Although the mechanism that underlies the unforeseen emergence of CTE long after the occurrence of one or more closed head traumas is unknown, an explanation proposed by Albayram and associates is persuasive. They discovered TBI-induced neuronal production of the toxic compound cis P-tau, an abnormal and destructive isomer of the normal and benign trans P-tau, in mouse models of CTE. Cis P-tau produced a CTE-like syndrome via a process they termed cistauosis. Cistauosis can be blocked in laboratory animals by cis P-tau monoclonal antibody, which prevents later development of tau tangles, brain atrophy and virtual CTE. In a subsequent study, the same group found in human samples obtained post-TBI from a variety of causes, that cis P-tau is induced in cortical axons and cerebrospinal fluid and positively correlates with axonal injury and clinical outcome. Thus, cis P-tau appears to contribute to short-term and long-term sequelae after TBI, but may be subject to neutralization by cis-antibody treatment.

Epidemiology and Video Analysis of Achilles Tendon Ruptures in the National Basketball Association

Background: There is a paucity of literature regarding risk factors and mechanisms of Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Purpose: To identify the risk factors and outcomes of AT ruptures in NBA athletes. Furthermore, using video analysis, to characterize the mechanisms of rupture by identifying the most common playing situations and lower extremity positions at the time of injury. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: AT ruptures in the NBA that occurred between the seasons of 1969-1970 and 2017-2018 were identified. Player data collected included age, position, body mass index, total games started before and after injury, and Player Efficiency Rating. Injury-related variables collected included date of injury, laterality, minutes played before injury, operative versus nonoperative treatment, and time to return to play. Available video footage was analyzed for the mechanism and body position at the time of injury. Univariable and multivariable linear regression was used to compare changes in performance before and after AT rupture. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Results: Forty-four ruptures were identified between 1970 and 2018. The mean age was 28.3 years, with players averaging 6.8 seasons before AT rupture. AT ruptures were most prevalent during early-season game play (27.3%), followed by preseason (18.2%) and late season (18.2%). More than a third (36.8%) of players either did not return to play or started in fewer than 10 games in the remainder of their career, with 21% of ruptures leading to retirement. The mean time to return to play was 10.5 months. The Player Efficiency Rating declined by an average of 2.9 points (range, –11.5 to +2.3) (P < .001). Analysis of available injury footage (n = 12) demonstrated all ruptures to be noncontact in nature, most commonly occurring just before takeoff as the player began to push off from a stopped position, with the foot in dorsiflexion, the knee in early flexion, and the hip in extension. Conclusion: In the NBA, a majority of AT ruptures occur early in the season, in veteran players, with almost half not returning to play or starting fewer than 10 games in the remainder of their career. The most common mechanism of injury is taking off from a stopped position just before toe-off in a dorsiflexed foot.

INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATELLOFEMORAL (Q) ANGLE DIFFERENCES WITH LOWER EXTREMITY PERFORMANCE IN YOUNG AND VETERAN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

This study was carried out to determine the relation between patellofemoral (Q) angle differences and static equilibrium, flexibility and take-off force in young and veteran volleyball players. To the study 20 young males with an average age of 18 ± 00, 19 young females with a mean age of 18 ± 73, 21 veteran males with a mean age of 49 ± 04, 20 veteran females with a mean age of 48 ±70 who are registered players in Mugla Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports, a total of 80 athletes voluntarily participated. The height, body weight, right and left leg Q angles in standing and laying, balance, flexibility and vertical take-off measurements were performed in the research group respectively. The statistical evaluation of the obtained data was done in SPSS 21.00 package program on a personal computer. In the data with normal distribution, the parametric statistical methods were used. While the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used for intergroup comparisons, the Tukey test was used for multiple comparisons, and the correlation level was used to determine the relationship between the variables and the significance level was taken as p <0.05. According to the findings, there were significant differences between the Q angles, balance, flexibility, and take-off values of the participants (p <0.01). Also, there was a positive relationship between Q angle values and elasticity values in standing and laying position, and a negative relationship between balance and take-off force values (p <0.05). As a result: Q angle values of volleyball players were examined and it was seen that the difference between groups has resulted from gender; the difference between young and veteran volleyball players was not statistically significant. As the Q angle increased, the increase in the elasticity values and the decrease in the balance and splash values were determined. In this respect, Q angle differences are thought to be related to lower extremity performances of young and veteran volleyball players.

Professional Soccer Players' Return to Play and Performance After Operative Repair of Achilles Tendon Rupture.

Background:The majority of Achilles tendon ruptures are sports related; however, no investigation has examined the impact of surgical repair for complete ruptures on professional soccer players.Purpose:To examine the return to play, playing time, and performance of professional soccer players following Achilles tendon repair.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and Major League Soccer (MLS) athletes who sustained a primary complete Achilles tendon rupture and were treated surgically between 1988 and 2014 were identified via public injury reports. Demographic information and performance-related statistics for the identified athletes were recorded for the season before surgery and 2 seasons after surgery and were compared with information for matched controls. Statistical analyses were used to assess differences in recorded metrics.Results:A total of 24 athletes with Achilles ruptures met inclusion criteria, 17 (70.8%) of whom were able to return to play. On average, players had 8.3 years of professional-level experience prior to sustaining an Achilles rupture. Among athletes who returned to play, no differences were found in the number of games played or started, minutes played, or goals scored 1 year postoperatively compared with the year prior to injury. However, 2 years postoperatively, these athletes played 28.3% (P = .028) fewer minutes compared with their preoperative season, despite starting and playing in an equivalent number of games. Matched controls had baseline playing time and performance statistics similar to those of players. However, controls played and started in significantly more games and played more minutes at 1 and 2 years compared with players (P < .05). No differences were found in goals scored at any time point.Conclusion:This is the first investigation examining the effect of an Achilles repair on the career of professional soccer players. This is a difficult injury that most commonly occurs in veteran players and prevents 29.2% of players from returning to play despite surgical management. Additionally, athletes able to return to play were found to play fewer minutes 2 years postoperatively compared with their baseline as well as playing less at 1 and 2 years postoperatively compared with uninjured matched controls. The reduction in playing time following an Achilles repair has significant implications for professional players and teams.