Physical Testing in Sports Rehabilitation: Implications on a Potential Return to Sport.

Strength and power constitute vital predictors for an individual's quality of life and athletic performance. Measurement of these two parameters is very important in the world of sports science and medicine and necessitates a high level of accuracy and reliability. Several tests are used to measure strength and power, including the isometric maximal voluntary contraction test, the 1-repetition maximum test, and the Wingate test, as well as other tests that target upper and lower limbs. The unique characteristics present in each of these tests entail a subsequently unique mode of application during the process of rehabilitation. This helps athletic trainers and medical personnel evaluate recovery and decide on a potential return to sport. A comprehensive holistic approach that includes multiple testing, psychosocial assessment, and a gradual return to activity is best to achieve promising outcomes and preinjury athletic levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V, expert opinion.

Doping in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC): A 4-year epidemiological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Doping is a practice that is present in many sports and organizations, including mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The aim of this study is to explore the epidemiological patterns of doping among UFC athletes. METHODS: We screened the official United-States-Anti-Doping-Agency® (USADA) website, the annual USADA reports and the official UFC website for information on fighters and anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs). Our dataset included gender, age, weight class, testing numbers, date of ADRV, type of ADRV, and duration of suspension. Appropriate statistical tests were conducted to assess for statistical significance. RESULTS: USADA tested 1070 UFC athletes 2624 times as of late 2015 up till the end of 2019 (N = 1070). A total of 209 adverse findings were recorded; out of which, 102 ADRVs were committed by 93 athletes (8.7%) from all weight divisions. This constituted an adverse finding rate of 16.55 per 1000 test and an ADRV rate of 8.08 per1000 test. Mean age of sanctioned athletes was 32 years. Use of anabolic steroids was significantly the most common ADRV recorded (p = 0.018). The men's heavyweight division had an ADRV rate of 19.3 per 1000 tests, significantly higher than that of women's bantamweight division at 2 per 1000 tests (p = 0.03), women's featherweight division at 0 per 1000 tests (p = 0.009), and men's flyweight division at 3 per 1000 tests (p = 0.035). ADRV rate showed a significantly increasing trend among men's weight divisions (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Doping is present in mixed martial arts. Increasing testing numbers, raising awareness and education on the risks of doping, and conducting further research on the issue is key to help resolve this problem.

Craniofacial and traumatic brain injuries in mixed martial arts.

Objective: Mixed-Martial-Arts (MMA) has witnessed a rapid growth over the recent years. This study aims to explore the patterns and trends of head injuries in MMA.Design: Descriptive epidemiological study.Setting: Ringside physician reports of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fights between 2016 and 2019 (inclusive) were screened. Data were extracted from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) database. Play-by-play video analysis was also conducted.Participants: UFC fighters involved in fights sanctioned by the NSAC, between 2016 and the end of 2019 (N = 816).Independent variables: Sex, location of head injury, type of head injury, injury mechanism, number of significant head strikes, type of finish, and weight division.Main outcome measures: Head injury rates were calculated. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to explore any statistically significant differences between injury rates of different locations, types, and types of finishes. An independent t-test was used to determine whether any significant differences existed between the two sexes, and a Joinpoint regression analysis was used to determine the statistical significance of the trends of head injury rates across different weight divisions. P-values <0.05 were considered significant (95% CI).Results: A total of 288 head injuries in 408 fights were recorded during our study period. Head injury rate constituted 35 injuries per 100 athletic-exposures (AE) in sanctioned fights. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) were the most common type of injury, with a rate of 16 per 100AE, significantly greater than that of fractures (p = 0.003). Males had a head injury rate of 37 per 100AE, higher than that of females which was 23 per 100AE. Technical Knockout (TKO)/ Knockout(KO) was the type of finish with the highest rate of head injuries, significantly greater than that of decision or submission (p < 0.001). In general, head injury rates were higher as weight divisions increased.Conclusion: Head injuries are prevalent in MMA. Preventive measures need to be implemented to ensure fighter safety and limit injury risk.