Groin injuries in women's premier league football in Norway: A two-season prospective cohort study describing clinical and imaging characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, incidence, and burden of groin injuries in the Norwegian women's premier football league and to describe their clinical and imaging characteristics. METHODS: During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, players in the Norwegian women's premier league reported groin injuries weekly, using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems (OSTRC-H2). We calculated weekly prevalence, incidence, and burden of groin injuries. The team physical therapists classified the player-reported injuries based on the Doha classification system. Injuries with more than 3 days' time loss or reported in 2 consecutive weeks were eligible for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: On average, 3.9% (95% CI: 3.4-4.4) of players reported a groin injury at any time; of which 78% caused time loss. The incidence rate was 1.6 injuries/1000 h (95% CI: 1.3-2.0) and their burden was 11 days lost/1000 h. The physical therapists examined 67 of 124 player-reported groin injuries (53%). Adductor-related injury was most common (55%) followed by iliopsoas (15%) and rectus femoris-related (12%). Pubic-related injuries caused most time loss (median: 24 days, IQR: 5-133). In this study, 42 injuries were investigated with MRI; 8 (19%) showed no changes, 6 (14%) an acute musculotendinous lesion, and 32 (76%) a nonacute finding (e.g., central symphyseal disc protrusion, tendinopathies). CONCLUSION: The incidence rate and burden of groin injuries were high. Adductor-related injuries were most common, but pubic-related injuries caused most time loss. Most MRI examinations demonstrated nonacute findings.

The gender and sex data gap in anterior cruciate ligament injuries in paediatric patients.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a concerning problem in the paediatric population, impacting joint health and longevity. Moreover, ACL injury hampers physical activity, which is important for children's social network and general well-being. Recent data demonstrates a rise in paediatric ACL reconstructions, affecting both girls and boys. However, it is unclear whether this rise reflects a higher injury rate or a more proactive approach towards surgery, as information on nonoperated patients is lacking. Regarding gender differences, increasing evidence implies that girls engaged in pivoting sports experience a higher incidence of ACL injuries and reinjuries compared to boys. Furthermore, data suggest that girls have inferior outcomes and lower return-to-sport rates than boys. The social context in which girls compete in sports is likely a significant contributing factor to the risk of serious knee injuries. Lack of attention and insufficient data on gender-based differences in ACL injuries, outcomes and evidence-based treatment guidelines highlight the need for further research on this topic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Exploring the interplay of interpersonal and contextual dynamics in youth sports injuries: a comprehensive narrative review.

Injuries are recognised in sports and exercise medicine as not isolated incidents but complex outcomes. This is because an athlete's health trajectory is understood to be shaped by dynamic, complex linkages between individual performance, biology, and the wider social and cultural contexts and systems in which individuals perform. Despite this recognition, little attention has been paid to how interpersonal and contextual dynamics can potentially affect the risk of injury by influencing the choices and decisions made by coaches, parents and athletes. To address this gap, this narrative review bridges insights from sociocultural studies in sports with the findings of sports injury research. The narrative review aims to identify and summarise how interpersonal and contextual dynamics influence the risk of youth sports injuries. The results reveal the pressures faced by athletes, often leading to compromised health. Moreover, the review underscores the importance of designing complex interventions and strategies to promote healthier practices in youth sports. Specifically, intervention programmes should prioritise raising awareness of injury risks, cultivating effective communication skills and fostering supportive training environments.

Popping Pills in Youth Elite Sports-Fact or Fiction? A 36-Week Prospective Cohort Study of Analgesic Use in 1195 Youth Elite Athletes and Student Controls.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate analgesic use in a cohort of Danish youth elite athletes and compare weekly analgesic use over 36 weeks to student controls. We also investigated and compared reasons for analgesic use and types of analgesics used. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Six hundred ninety youth elite athletes (44% females) and 505 student controls (59% females) (aged 15-20 years) provided weekly reports on analgesic use over 36 weeks. We asked about the number of days with analgesic use, reasons for use, and types of analgesics used. Prevalence and frequency of analgesic use was compared between youth elite athletes and student controls using mixed-effects logistic regression and mixed-effects Poisson regression models. Reasons for and types of analgesics used were compared between groups using chi-square tests. Subgroup analyses were performed, stratified by sex. RESULTS: Overall, athletes had lower odds of analgesic use (odds ratio = 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.95) compared with student controls. The overall usage rate was similar between the groups (incidence rate ratio = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.11). Subgroup analyses suggested no statistically significant differences in the odds of analgesic use. Significantly more athletes reported using analgesics to prevent or treat pain or injury in relation to sports participation and to use topical gels compared with student controls. CONCLUSION: Participating in youth elite sports was associated with lower odds of analgesic use compared to student controls, but usage rate was similar between the groups. Reasons for use and types of analgesics used differed between athletes and student controls. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024;54(8):551-559. Epub 9 May 2024. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12407.

Injuries in male youth football: a one season prospective cohort study of 223 Danish elite players.

Objectives: This study prospectively investigated injury prevalence, incidence, and burden in male elite under-17 football players (N = 223) during a full season. Methods: The players weekly completed a standardized web-based injury survey (OSTRC-H2) and a physical exposure report throughout the study. Results: Average weekly response rate was 89.5%. Football exposure accounted for 52.4% of total physical exposure. On average (±SD), the players participated in individual football, strength, and rehabilitation practices for 1.2 ± 1.5, 3.0 ± .2.1, and 1.9 ± 3.4 h/week, respectively. In total, 742 health problems were reported. Mean weekly prevalence of health problems, injuries and illnesses were 20.1%, 16.5% and 3.8%, respectively. The injury incidence per 1,000 h of football exposure, match play and team practice were 8.28 (95% CI: 7.54-9.08), 16.77 (95% CI: 13.65-20.4), and 7.24 (95% CI: 6.5-8.04), respectively. Sudden-onset and gradual-onset injuries accounted for 36.7% and 43.4% of the total proportion of health problems. Hip/groin injuries had the highest incidence (1.58/1,000 h), whereas knee injuries had the highest burden (20.86 days lost/1,000 h). On average, the players experienced 3.33 health problems (average duration: 7.8 days). On average pr. player, 2.7 (95% CI: 2.2-3.3) wks of football exposure were lost. Conclusion: Sudden and gradual-onset injuries influenced player availability during the season. Health problem prevalence fluctuated markedly, and injury incidence was higher during match play than training. The players had substantial volumes of training beyond football-specific training and matches. Our findings could assist medical and sports science practitioneers in enhancing training and recovery processes to maximize player availability.

Effects of High and Low Training Volume with the Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Hamstring Strength, Jump Height, and Sprint Performance in Female Football Players: A Randomised Trial.

The evidence-based hamstring strengthening programme for prevention of hamstring injuries is not adopted by football teams because of its high training volume. This study on female football players investigated if high-volume training with the Nordic hamstring exercise is more effective on hamstring strength, jump height, and sprint performance than low-volume training. We also examined the time course of changes in muscle strength during the intervention period. Forty-five female football players were randomised to a high- (21 sessions, 538 total reps) or low-volume group (10 sessions, 144 total reps) and performed an 8-week training intervention with the Nordic hamstring exercise during the preseason. We tested hamstring strength (maximal eccentric force with NordBord and maximal eccentric torque with isokinetic dynamometer), jump height, and 40 m sprint before and after the intervention. The NordBord test was also performed during training weeks 4 and 6. Both groups increased maximal eccentric force (high-volume: 29 N (10%), 95% CI: 19-38 N, p < 0.001, low-volume: 37 N (13%), 95% CI: 18-55 N, p = 0.001), but there were no between-group differences (p = 0.38). Maximal eccentric torque, jump height, and sprint performance did not change. Maximal eccentric force increased from the pretest to week 6 (20 N (7%), 95% CI: 8 to 31 N, p < 0.001), but not week 4 (8 N (3%), 95% CI: -2 to 18 N, p = 0.22). High training volume with the Nordic hamstrings exercise did not lead to greater adaptations in strength, jump height, or speed than a low-volume programme. Players in both groups had to train for at least 6 weeks to improve maximal eccentric force significantly.