Methods for epidemiological studies in competitive cycling: an extension of the IOC consensus statement on methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport 2020.

In 2020, the IOC released a consensus statement that provides overall guidelines for the recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport. Some aspects of this statement need to be further specified on a sport-by-sport basis. To extend the IOC consensus statement on methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sports and to meet the sport-specific requirements of all cycling disciplines regulated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). A panel of 20 experts, all with experience in cycling or cycling medicine, participated in the drafting of this cycling-specific extension of the IOC consensus statement. In preparation, panel members were sent the IOC consensus statement, the first draft of this manuscript and a list of topics to be discussed. The expert panel met in July 2020 for a 1-day video conference to discuss the manuscript and specific topics. The final manuscript was developed in an iterative process involving all panel members. This paper extends the IOC consensus statement to provide cycling-specific recommendations on health problem definitions, mode of onset, injury mechanisms and circumstances, diagnosis classifications, exposure, study population characteristics and data collection methods. Recommendations apply to all UCI cycling disciplines, for both able-bodied cyclists and para-cyclists. The recommendations presented in this consensus statement will improve the consistency and accuracy of future epidemiological studies of injury and illness in cycling.

Myositis ossificans traumatica (circumscripta) and return to sport: A retrospective series of 19 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Myositis ossificans is a worrisome complication of muscle lesions in sports medicine. Our goal is to specify clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic elements to guide a myositis ossificans traumatica patient back into sport. METHOD: All patients having consulted between January 2006 and December 2012 presenting myositis ossificans with a recent muscle injury from playing sports were included. We excluded patients with myositis ossificans without an identified trauma, or from an old injury (>6 months). Ultrasound images were captured on a Philips(®) Sparq ultrasound machine with a linear probe (4-12MHz). The diagnosis of myositis ossificans was performed on 2 ultrasound criteria in context of recent muscle trauma: presence of ossification or calcification within a muscle on axial and longitudinal sections using B-mode and hyperactivity in power Doppler mode around the ossification/calcification. Clinical signs and treatment were collected systematically at inclusion, 6 months and 1 year. RESULTS: Among the 22 myositis ossificans cases diagnosed between January 2006 and December 2012, 19 were of traumatic origin, on a recent muscle lesion and were included in the study. Our patients resumed light physical activities 3 months after diagnosis for 89.5% of them (100% at 10 months) and returned to their earlier level 6 months after myositis ossificans diagnosis for also 89.5% of them (all patients having resumed sport at their earlier levels 12 months after diagnosis). CONCLUSION: Therapeutic abstention and persistence of ossification do not seem to be detrimental factors for resuming a sport at the earlier level with ultrasound monitoring.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment of sports-related severe acute hamstring injuries.

PURPOSE: hamstring injury is the most common musculoskeletal disorder and one of the main causes of missed sporting events. Shortening the time to return to play (TTRTP) is a priority for athletes and sports medicine practitioners. HYPOTHESIS: platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection at the site of severe acute hamstring injury increases the healing rate and shortens the TTRTP. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: all patients with ultrasonography and MRI evidence of severe acute hamstring injury between January 2012 and March 2014 were offered PRP treatment. Those who accepted received a single intramuscular PRP injection within 8 days post-injury; the other patients served as controls. The same standardized rehabilitation program was used in both groups. A physical examination and ultrasonography were performed 10 and 30 days post-injury, then a phone interview 120 days post-injury, to determine the TTRTP at the pre-injury level. RESULTS: of 34 patients, 15 received PRP and 19 did not. Mean TTRTP at the pre-injury level was 50.9±10.7 days in the PRP group and 52.8±15.7 days in the control group. The difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: a single intramuscular PRP injection did not shorten the TTRTP in sports people with severe acute hamstring injuries.

Clinical predictors of time to return to competition following hamstring injuries.

OBJECTIVES: hamstring strain injuries are the most common sports-related muscle injuries and one of the main causes of missed sporting events. HYPOTHESIS: clinical findings reflecting hamstring injury severity at presentation predict time to sports resumption. DESIGN: cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: five sports medicine specialists at four sports medicine centers prospectively evaluated 120 athletes within 5 days of acute hamstring injury. Patients were interviewed and asked to evaluate their worst pain on a visual analog scale (VAS). Four physical criteria were assessed at baseline: bruising, tenderness to palpation, pain upon isometric contraction, and pain upon passive straightening. The same standardized rehabilitation protocol was used in all patients. A standardized telephone interview was conducted 45 days after the injury to determine the time to-full recovery (≤40 days or >40 days). RESULTS: by univariate analysis, clinical criteria associated with a full recovery time >40 days were VAS pain score greater than 6, popping sound injury, pain during everyday activities for more than 3 days, bruising, and greater than 15° motion-range limitation. By multivariate analysis, only VAS pain score and pain during everyday activities were significantly associated with time to recovery >40 days (53% sensitivity, 95% specificity). CONCLUSION: the initial examination provides valuable information that can be used to predict the time to full recovery after acute hamstring injuries in athletes.