Universal prevention through a digital health platform reduces injury incidence in youth athletics (track and field): a cluster randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether universal prevention via a digital health platform can reduce the injury incidence in athletics athletes aged 12-15 years and if club size had an influence on the effect of the intervention. METHODS: This was a cluster randomised trial where young athletics athletes were randomised through their club following stratification by club size into intervention (11 clubs; 56 athletes) and control (10 clubs; 79 athletes) groups. The primary endpoint was time from baseline to the first self-reported injury. Intervention group parents and coaches were given access to a website with health information adapted to adolescent athletes and were encouraged to log in and explore its content during 16 weeks. The control group continued training as normal. Training exposure and injury data were self-reported by youths/parents every second week, that is, eight times. The primary endpoint data were analysed using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyse the second study aim with intervention status and club size included in the explanatory models. RESULTS: The proportion of completed training reports was 85% (n=382) in the intervention group and 86% (n=545) in the control group. The injury incidence was significantly lower (HR=0.62; χ2=3.865; p=0.049) in the intervention group. The median time to first injury was 16 weeks in the intervention group and 8 weeks in the control group. An interaction effect between the intervention and stratification factor was observed with a difference in injury risk between athletes in the large clubs in the intervention group versus their peers in the control group (HR 0.491 (95% CI 0.242 to 0.998); p=0.049). CONCLUSIONS: A protective effect against injury through universal access to health information adapted for adolescent athletes was observed in youth athletics athletes. The efficacy of the intervention was stronger in large clubs. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03459313.

The early warning model of track and field sports based on rbf neural network algorithm / O modelo de alerta precoce de esportes de pista e campo baseado no algoritmo de rede neural rbf / El modelo de alerta temprana de los deportes de pista y campo basado en el algoritmo de red neuronal rbf

ABSTRACT Background: Athletics plays a very important role in competitive sports. The strength of track and field directly represents the level of a country's sports competition. Objective: This work aimed to study the track and field sports forewarning model based on radial basis function (RBF) neural networks. One hundred outstanding athletes were taken as the research objects. The questionnaire survey method was adopted to count athletes' injury risk factors, and coaches were consulted to evaluate the questionnaire's overall quality, structure, and content. Methods: A track and field early warning model based on RBF neural network is established, and the results are analyzed. Results: The results showed that the number of people who thought the questionnaire was relatively complete (92%) was considerably higher than that of very complete (2%) and relatively complete (6%) (P<0.05). The number of people who thought that the questionnaire structure was relatively perfect (45%) was notably higher than that of the very perfect (18%) (P<0.05). The semi-reliability test result suggested that the questionnaire reliability was 0.85. Tests on ten samples showed that the RBF neural network model error and the actual results were basically controlled between −0.04~0.04. Conclusions: After the sample library test, the track and field sports forewarning model under RBF neural network can obtain relatively favorable results. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

RESUMO Antecedentes: O atletismo desempenha um papel muito importante nos esportes competitivos. A força do atletismo representa diretamente o nível de competição esportiva de um país. Objetivo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o modelo de advertência em esportes de atletismo baseado em redes neurais de função de base radial (RBF). 100 atletas de destaque foram tomados como objetos de pesquisa. O método de pesquisa por questionário foi adotado para contar os fatores de risco de lesões dos atletas e os treinadores foram consultados para avaliar a qualidade geral, estrutura e conteúdo do questionário. Métodos: Um modelo de alerta precoce de pista e campo baseado na rede neural RBF é estabelecido e os resultados são analisados. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que o número de pessoas que consideraram o questionário relativamente completo (92%) foi consideravelmente maior do que o de muito completo (2%) e relativamente completo (6%) (P <0,05). O número de pessoas que pensaram que a estrutura do questionário era relativamente perfeita (45%) foi notavelmente maior do que a das muito perfeitas (18%) (P <0,05). O resultado do teste de semifiabilidade sugeriu que a confiabilidade do questionário foi de 0,85. Testes em 10 amostras mostraram que o erro entre o modelo de rede neural RBF e os resultados reais foi basicamente controlado entre −0,04 ~ 0,04. Conclusões: Após o teste da biblioteca de amostras, o modelo de advertência em esportes de atletismo sob a rede neural RBF pode obter resultados relativamente favoráveis. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos- investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: el atletismo juega un papel muy importante en los deportes competitivos. La fuerza de la pista y el campo representa directamente el nivel de competición deportiva de un país. Objetivo: Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo estudiar el modelo de alerta de los deportes de pista y campo basado en redes neuronales de función de base radial (RBF). Se tomaron como objeto de investigación 100 atletas destacados. Se adoptó el método de encuesta de cuestionario para contar los factores de riesgo de lesiones de los atletas y se consultó a los entrenadores para evaluar la calidad general, la estructura y el contenido del cuestionario. Métodos: Se establece un modelo de alerta temprana de pista y campo basado en la red neuronal RBF y se analizan los resultados. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el número de personas que pensaban que el cuestionario era relativamente completo (92%) era considerablemente mayor que el de muy completo (2%) y relativamente completo (6%) (P <0,05). El número de personas que pensaba que la estructura del cuestionario era relativamente perfecta (45%) fue notablemente superior al de los muy perfectos (18%) (P <0,05). El resultado de la prueba de semifiabilidad sugirió que la confiabilidad del cuestionario era 0,85. Las pruebas en 10 muestras mostraron que el error entre el modelo de red neuronal RBF y los resultados reales se controló básicamente entre −0,04 ~ 0,04. Conclusiones: Después de la prueba de la biblioteca de muestras, el modelo de advertencia de deportes de pista y campo bajo la red neuronal RBF puede obtener resultados relativamente favorables. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos- investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Track and Field: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: Women's track and field events at the National Collegiate Athletic Association level have grown in popularity in recent years, and track and field athletes are vulnerable to a broad range of potential injuries. BACKGROUND: Routine examination of track and field injuries is important for identifying emerging patterns in injury incidence. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 academic years were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics, and injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: The overall injury rate was 2.20 per 1000 athlete exposures; the competition injury rate was higher than the practice injury rate (injury rate ratio = 1.73; 95% confidence interval = 1.51, 1.97). Hamstring tears (8.9%), medial tibial stress syndrome (5.4%), and lateral ligament complex tears (4.2%) were the most reported injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Given the results of this study, further attention may be directed toward factors associated with noncontact injury risk in the competitions. The changing injury rates of most reported injuries also warrant monitoring post 2018-2019.

Epidemiology of Injuries in National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Track and Field: 2014-2015 Through 2018-2019.

CONTEXT: College athletes have been competing in championship track and field events since 1921; the numbers of competing teams and participating athletes have expanded considerably. BACKGROUND: Monitoring injuries of men's track and field athletes using surveillance systems is critical in identifying emerging injury-related patterns. METHODS: Exposure and injury data collected in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program during the 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 academic years were analyzed. Injury counts, rates, and proportions were used to describe injury characteristics; injury rate ratios were used to examine differential injury rates. RESULTS: Overall, men's track and field athletes were injured at a rate of 2.37 per 1000 athlete-exposures; injuries occurred at a higher rate during competition compared with practice. Most injuries were to the thigh (26.2%), lower leg (17.3%), or knee (10.7%) and were caused by noncontact (37.2%) or overuse (31.5%) mechanisms. The most reported injury was hamstring tear (14.9%). SUMMARY: The etiologies of thigh and lower-leg injuries warrant further attention in this population. Future researchers should also separately examine injury incidence during indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

Assessing parents, youth athletes and coaches subjective health literacy: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to describe levels of subjective Health Literacy (HL), and to examine possible differences in prevalence proportions between sexes, age groups and level of educations among youth athletes and their mentors (coaches, parents/caregivers) in Swedish Athletics. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: Data on subjective HL were collected using the Swedish Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (S-CCHL) instrument for mentors and for youth the School-Aged Children (HLSAC) instrument. Questions assessing mentors' literacy on sports injury and return to play were also included. RESULTS: The surveys were completed by 159 (91%) mentors and 143 youth athletes (87%). The level of S-CCHL was sufficient in 53% of the mentors. Of youth athletes, 28% reported a high level of HL and the item with least perceived high HL (21%) was critical thinking. Ninety-four percent of the mentors believed that it is quite possible to prevent injuries in athletics and 53% perceived having a very good knowledge about how to prevent injuries. Forty-six percent of the mentors perceived having a very good knowledge of return to sport criteria. CONCLUSIONS: The level of health literacy was low with about half of the mentors and one out of three youth athletes having adequate HL levels. Only half of the mentors stated having a good knowledge of various injury prevention strategies. To reduce health consequences in youth sport and enable talent development more work is needed to understand the facilitators and barriers for the uptake of various health promotion and injury prevention strategies.

Lower limb muscle injury location shift from posterior lower leg to hamstring muscles with increasing discipline-related running velocity in international athletics championships.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the rates of lower limb muscle injuries in athletics disciplines requiring different running velocities during international athletics championships. DESIGN: Prospective total population study. METHODS: During 13 international athletics championships (2009-2019) national medical teams and local organizing committee physicians daily reported all newly incurred injuries using the same study design, injury definition and data collection procedures. In-competition lower limb muscle injuries of athletes participating in disciplines involving running (i.e. sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events, middle distances, long distances, and marathon) were analysed. RESULTS: Among the 12,233 registered athletes, 344 in-competition lower limb muscle injuries were reported (36% of all in-competition injuries). The proportion, incidence rates and injury burden of lower limb muscles injuries differed between disciplines for female and male athletes. The most frequently injured muscle group was hamstring in sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events and male middle distances runners (43-75%), and posterior lower leg in female middle distances, male long distances, and female marathon runners (44-60%). Hamstring muscles injuries led to the highest burden in all disciplines, except for female middle distance and marathon and male long distance runners. Hamstring muscles injury burden was generally higher in disciplines requiring higher running velocities, and posterior lower leg muscle injuries higher in disciplines requiring lower running velocities. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows discipline-specific injury location in competition context. Our findings suggest that the running velocity could be one of the factors that play a role in the occurrence/location of muscle injuries.

Track and field injuries resulting in emergency department visits from 2004 to 2015: an analysis of the national electronic injury surveillance system.

OBJECTIVES: Determine national estimates of injuries, mechanisms of injury (MOI), and injury severity among men and women engaging in track and field activities in the United States (U.S.), aged 18 years and older, who present to emergency departments (ED). METHODS: Retrospective analyses of injury narratives were conducted using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), comprising individuals 18 and older presenting to U.S. EDs from 2004 to 2015, with injuries associated with track and field, applying the NEISS product code 5030 and patient narratives. National injury estimates were calculated using sample weights. National injury incidence rates were determined using U.S. census estimate data (denominator), and comparisons of categorical variables by gender were made using a chi-squared test, and associated p-values. RESULTS: Estimated 42,947 ED visits among individuals 18 and older presented for track and field-related injuries in the U.S. from 2004 to 2015, consisting of 23,509 incidents among men, and 19,438 among women. The highest rates of injury occurred in 2010 among men, and 2011 among women, with 3.47, and 2.70 injuries per 100,000 U.S. population, respectively. No statistically significant differences (α = 0.05) were found between genders for injury severity (p = 0.32), injury diagnosis (p = 0.30), and body region (p = 0.13), but there was a significant difference overall between genders for mechanism of injury (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: To develop appropriate injury preventive interventions for track and field athletes, additional studies exploring associations between injury characteristics, namely the mechanisms of injury, and gender, are necessary.

Elite athletes' experiences of musculoskeletal pain management using neuroanatomical dry needling: A qualitative study in Swedish track and field.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate how elite track and field athletes with a history of musculoskeletal pain (MSKP) describe their perceptions of clinical treatments based on dry needling guided by a neurological map (neuroanatomical dry needling (naDN)). DESIGN: Qualitative study. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with eight elite Swedish track and field athletes (6 males, 2 females, median age 28.5) treated at a clinic specialised in MSKP management. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were structured and analysed using a thematic method. RESULTS: The athletes approached clinical MSKP treatment from a performance-orientated perspective. They explained that they inevitably suffered MSKP episodes due to the intense physical demands of their sport. The use of naDN was considered an integral part of their sports practice and the study clinic's services were readily utilised when MSKP caused minor reductions in physical capacity. The athletes appreciated an unambiguous anatomical diagnosis, preferably supported by imaging scans, as this increased their confidence in clinical services. They valued the naDN treatment as it was perceived to provide fast-acting analgesia that enabled rapid return-to-play. These factors combined to reduce performance-related stress. CONCLUSIONS: Elite track and field athletes with a history of MSKP sought and appreciated clinical treatment with naDN largely because it provided fast-acting analgesia that enabled rapid return-to-play at a high-performance level. These athletes' expectations of MSKP diagnosis and management appear incongruent with current research indicating that MSKP sensitivity within the nervous system does not accurately reflect musculoskeletal tissue state or recovery following tissue damage.

Is genu varum a risk factor for the prevalence and severity of achilles tendinopathy? A cross-sectional study of Nigerian elite track and field athletes.

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is one of the most frequently reported ankle and foot overuse injuries. Prior studies have reported altered biomechanical variables of the lower limb as risk factors for the prevalence and severity of AT in athletes, especially in Caucasians, but there are few reports on African elite athletes. Because it is established that anthropometric and biomechanical values vary with racial disposition, this study was designed to investigate the association between selected physical and biomechanical variables of the lower limb and the prevalence and severity of AT in Nigerian elite track and field athletes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighty-five elite Nigerian track and field athletes participated in this cross-sectional study. Biomechanical variables of Q-angle, tibial torsion, limb-length discrepancy (LLD) and foot posture index (FPI) were evaluated using standard procedures. The presence of AT was confirmed with ultrasonography and clinical assessments, whereas the severity was evaluated with VISA-A questionnaire. Inferential statistics of Chi-square was used to determine the association between prevalence of AT and the biomechanical variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of AT was 15.3%, made up of participants who tested positive to both clinical test and ultrasound scan. There was no significant association between AT and LLD, tibial torsion and FPI. Most of the participants with AT had genu varum, which was significantly associated with both the prevalence and severity of AT. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that genu varum had a significant association with both the prevalence and severity of AT in elite Nigerian track and field athletes.

Epidemiology of Foot Injuries Using National Collegiate Athletic Association Data From the 2009-2010 Through 2014-2015 Seasons.

CONTEXT: Researchers analyzing data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program have not considered the differences in foot injuries across specific sports and between males and females. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiologic differences in rates of overall foot injuries and common injuries among sports and between sexes. DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING: Online injury-surveillance data from 15 unique sports involving males and females that demonstrated 1967 injuries over 4 821 985 athlete-exposures. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Male and female athletes competing in National Collegiate Athletic Association sports from the 2009-2010 through 2014-2015 seasons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Foot injury rates (per 10 000 athlete-exposures) and the proportion of foot injuries were calculated for each sport. The effect of sex was calculated using Poisson-derived confidence intervals for 8 paired sports. A risk analysis was performed using a 3 × 3 quantitative injury risk-assessment matrix based on both injury rate and mean days of time loss. RESULTS: Foot injury rates differed between sports, with the highest rates in female gymnastics, male and female cross-country, and male and female soccer athletes. Cross-country and track and field had the highest proportions of foot injuries for both female and male sports. The 5 most common injuries were foot/toe contusions, midfoot injuries, plantar fascia injuries, turf toe, and metatarsal fractures. Only track and field athletes demonstrated a significant sex difference in injury rates, with female athletes having the higher rate. The quantitative injury risk-assessment matrix identified the 4 highest-risk injuries, considering both rate and severity, as metatarsal fractures, plantar fascia and midfoot injuries, and foot/toe contusions. CONCLUSIONS: Important differences were present among sports in terms of injury rates, the most common foot injuries, and the risk (combination of frequency and severity) of injury. These differences warrant further study to determine the mechanisms of injury and target intervention efforts.

The Jumper's Knee - a New Look at Non-surgical Treatment. Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: There are many opinions and views regarding the methods of treatment of patellar ligament enthesopathy. No gold standard of treatment exists. This paper presents our approach involving conservative treatment and an appropriate rehabilitation regime. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of a combination of various conservative treatment techniques and the time needed to return to sport. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 14 patients treated in 2019 and 2020. Knee joint evaluation was based on clinical and radiological examination (sonography and MR). All patients were treated conservatively according to a specially prepared treatment protocol. Patients were evaluated at two-week intervals until the symptoms subsided completely. The KOOS, Kujala and SF36 questionnaires were used to evaluate the results. RESULTS: All of the patients returned to painless physical activity within 3-4 weeks from the start of treatment. In the group of professional athletes, 100% returned to sport. The return to sport took slightly longer for pa-tients with bilateral (5-6 weeks) in comparison to unilateral jumper's knee (3-4 weeks). The longest period of return to sport, in a patient who had severe pain at rest before starting treatment, was 7 weeks. Statistically significant improvement was noted in all of the questionnaires used and in all subdomains at 6 months after the beginning of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The conservative approach proposed by us generated promising results in the treatment of the jumper's knee. 2. A 100% rate of return to sport was recorded among our patients.

Injury frequency and characteristics (location, type, cause and severity) differed significantly among athletics ('track and field') disciplines during 14 international championships (2007-2018): implications for medical service planning.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse differences between athletic disciplines in the frequency and characteristics of injuries during international athletics championships. METHODS: Study design, injury definition and data collection procedures were similar during the 14 international championships (2007-2018). National medical teams and local organising committee physicians reported all newly incurred injuries daily on a standardised injury report form. Results were presented as number of injuries and number of injuries per 1000 registered athletes, separately for male and female athletes, and for each discipline. RESULTS: From a total of 8925 male and 7614 female registered athletes, 928 injuries were reported in male and 597 in female athletes. The discipline accounting for the highest proportion of injuries was sprints, for both men (24%) and women (26%). The number of injuries per 1000 registered athletes varied between disciplines for men and women: highest in combined events for male athletes (235 (95% CI 189 to 281)) and female athletes (212 (95% CI 166 to 257)), and lowest for male throwers (47 (95% CI 35 to 59)) and female throwers (32 (95% CI 21 to 43)) and for female race walkers (42 (95% CI 19 to 66)). Injury characteristics varied significantly between disciplines for location, type, cause and severity in male and female athletes. Thigh muscle injuries were the main diagnoses in the disciplines sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events and race walking, lower leg muscle injuries in marathon running, lower leg skin injury in middle and long distance running, and trunk muscle and lower leg muscle injuries in throws. CONCLUSIONS: Injury characteristics differed substantially between disciplines during international athletics championships. Strategies for medical service provision (eg, staff, facilities) during athletics championships should be discipline specific and be prepared for targeting the main injuries in each discipline.

Hamstring muscles' function deficit during overground sprinting in track and field athletes with a history of strain injury.

In this study, we aimed to clarify the characteristics of neuromuscular function, kinetics, and kinematics of the lower extremity during sprinting in track and field athletes with a history of strain injury. Ten male college sprinters with a history of unilateral hamstring injury performed maximum effort sprint on an athletic track. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the long head of the biceps femoris (BFlh) and gluteus maximus (Gmax) muscles and three-dimensional kinematic data were recorded. Bilateral comparisons were performed for the EMG activities, pelvic anterior tilt angle, hip and knee joint angles and torques, and the musculotendon length of BFlh. The activity of BFlh in the previously injured limb was significantly lower than that in the uninjured limb during the late-swing phase of sprinting (p < 0.05). However, the EMG activity of Gmax was not significantly different between the previously injured and uninjured limbs. Furthermore, during the late-swing phase, a significantly more flexed knee angle (p < 0.05) and a decrease in BFlh muscle length (p < 0.05) were noted in the injured limb. It was concluded that previously injured hamstring muscles demonstrate functional deficits during the late swing phase of sprinting in comparison with the uninjured contralateral muscles.

Sport Specialization and Overuse Injuries in Adolescent Throwing Athletes: A Narrative Review.

A significant number of adolescent athletes throughout the world participate in various throwing-dominant sports, including but not limited to baseball, cricket, handball, softball, track and field throwing events, and water polo. Due to the unique stresses placed on the throwing arm and entire body in these sports, a robust volume of literature has highlighted concerns about sport specialization in these athletes and an associated increased risk of injury, particularly to the dominant shoulder and elbow, with sport specialization. This review will highlight the evidence-based literature for this athletic niche, focusing on risk factors for injury, national and international organizations' recommendations for limiting overuse injuries, principles of conditioning and rehabilitative programs, and potential future areas of research to curb the growing incidence of throwing-related injuries among adolescent throwing athletes.

Hamstring rehabilitation in elite track and field athletes: applying the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification in clinical practice.

RATIONALE: Hamstring injuries are common in elite sports. Muscle injury classification systems aim to provide a framework for diagnosis. The British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC) describes an MRI classification system with clearly defined, anatomically focused classes based on the site of injury: (a) myofascial, (b) muscle-tendon junction or (c) intratendinous; and the extent of the injury, graded from 0 to 4. However, there are no clinical guidelines that link the specific diagnosis (as above) with a focused rehabilitation plan. OBJECTIVE: We present an overview of the general principles of, and rationale for, exercise-based hamstring injury rehabilitation in British Athletics. We describe how British Athletics clinicians use the BAMIC to help manage elite track and field athletes with hamstring injury. Within each class of injury, we discuss four topics: clinical presentation, healing physiology, how we prescribe and progress rehabilitation and how we make the shared decision to return to full training. We recommend a structured and targeted diagnostic and rehabilitation approach to improve outcomes after hamstring injury.

Nutrition for the Prevention and Treatment of Injuries in Track and Field Athletes.

Injuries are an inevitable consequence of athletic performance with most athletes sustaining one or more during their athletic careers. As many as one in 12 athletes incur an injury during international competitions, many of which result in time lost from training and competition. Injuries to skeletal muscle account for over 40% of all injuries, with the lower leg being the predominant site of injury. Other common injuries include fractures, especially stress fractures in athletes with low energy availability, and injuries to tendons and ligaments, especially those involved in high-impact sports, such as jumping. Given the high prevalence of injury, it is not surprising that there has been a great deal of interest in factors that may reduce the risk of injury, or decrease the recovery time if an injury should occur: One of the main variables explored is nutrition. This review investigates the evidence around various nutrition strategies, including macro- and micronutrients, as well as total energy intake, to reduce the risk of injury and improve recovery time, focusing upon injuries to skeletal muscle, bone, tendons, and ligaments.

Avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity treated with the suture bridge technique: a case report.

BACKGROUND: In cases of avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity in which the bone fragments are substantially displaced, nonunion may cause pain in the ischial area. Various surgical procedures have been reported, but achieving sufficient fixation strength is difficult. CASE PRESENTATION: We treated a 12-year-old male track-and-field athlete with avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity by suture anchor fixation using the suture bridge technique. The boy felt pain in the left gluteal area while running. Radiography showed a left avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity with approximately 20-mm displacement. Union was not achieved by conservative non-weight-bearing therapy, and muscle weakness persisted; therefore, surgery was performed. A subgluteal approach was taken via a longitudinal incision in the buttocks, and the avulsed fragment was fixed with five biodegradable suture anchors using the suture bridge technique. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of avulsion fractures of the ischial tuberosity can be treated conservatively, patients with excessive displacement require surgical treatment. The suture bridge technique provided secure fixation and enabled an early return to sports activities.

Lifetime history of sexual and physical abuse among competitive athletics (track and field) athletes: cross sectional study of associations with sports and non-sports injury.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between lifetime sexual and physical abuse, and the likelihood of injury within and outside sport in athletes involved in competitive athletics. METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed among the top 10 Swedish athletics athletes using 1 year prevalence of sports and non-sports injuries as the primary outcome measure. Associations with sociodemographic characteristics, lifetime abuse history and training load were investigated. Data were analysed using simple and multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: 11% of 197 participating athletes reported lifetime sexual abuse; there was a higher proportion of women (16.2%) than men (4.3%) (P=0.005). 18% reported lifetime physical abuse; there was a higher proportion of men (22.8%) than women (14.3%) (P=0.050). For women, lifetime sexual abuse was associated with an increased likelihood of a non-sports injury (OR 8.78, CI 2.76 to 27.93; P<0.001). Among men, increased likelihood of a non-sports injury was associated with more frequent use of alcoholic beverages (OR 6.47, CI 1.49 to 28.07; P=0.013), while commencing athletics training at >13 years of age was associated with a lower likelihood of non-sports injury (OR 0.09, CI 0.01 to 0.81; P=0.032). Lifetime physical abuse was associated with a higher likelihood of sports injury in women (OR 12.37, CI 1.52 to 100.37; P=0.019). Among men, athletes with each parents with ≤12 years formal education had a lower likelihood of sustaining an injury during their sports practice (OR 0.37, CI 0.14 to 0.96; P=0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime sexual and physical abuse were associated with an increased likelihood of injury among female athletes. Emotional factors should be included in the comprehension of injuries sustained by athletes.

Tensor Fasciae Suralis Muscle: Report of a Symptomatic Case With Emphasis on Imaging Findings.

We report a case of a symptomatic tensor fasciae suralis (TFS) muscle in an elite jumper, with a very rare tear in its origin. The TFS muscle must be recognized and differentiated from other pathologic entities in the popliteal region. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) can reliably identify this variant and its pathology.

Higher frequency of hamstring injuries in elite track and field athletes who had a previous injury to the ankle - a 17 years observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Inversion injury to the ankle and hamstring injuries are common problems in most sports. It is not known whether these injuries constitute a predisposing factor or a precursor of injury or re-injury of these anatomical locations. Therefore, we wished to test the hypothesis that a previous inversion ankle injury exerted a significant effect on the chance of an athlete suffering from a subsequent ipsilateral hamstring injury and vice versa. METHODS: In an observational cohort study over 17 years (1998-2015), 367 elite track and field athletes, were grouped according to their first traumatic isolated ankle or hamstring injury. Fifty athletes experienced both injuries. The Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests (p < 0.05) were performed to test possible associations of ankle and hamstring injury with age, gender, athletics discipline, grade, and type of antecedent injury. RESULTS: Athletes with a preceding ankle injury had a statistically significantly higher chance of experiencing a subsequent hamstring injury compared with athletes who had experienced a hamstring injury as their first traumatic event (x2 = 4.245, p = 0.039). The proportion of both ankle and hamstring injury events was not statistically different between female (18%) and male (11%) athletes. Age and grade of injury did not influence the proportion of ankle and/or hamstring injury events. CONCLUSION: There is a statistically significantly higher frequency of hamstring injuries in elite track and field athletes having experienced a previous ankle ligament injury.