Dataset on comprehensive assessment & classification of upper & lower limb pain in athletes.

Data were charted as part of a scoping review which followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) evidence synthesis guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analysis Scoping Review extension (PRISMA-SCr) guidelines. Data was extracted from 470 articles that met the inclusion criteria for the scoping review; primary research articles of athletes where upper and/or lower limb pain since database inception. A draft data charting tool was developed by the research team and piloted for feasibility, accuracy and agreement. The charting tool was updated accordingly before being applied to the entire data set. Data collected included citation details, research context, participant information and pain assessment and classification tools, categories, and additional relevant information. The raw data set was filtered, and descriptive analysis of frequencies and counts were conducted. Researchers and clinicians interested in the range and applications of different pain assessment practices in athletes may reuse this data set. Data charting was comprehensive including aspects beyond the scope of the original research that offer clinical and research potential. These include information around recommended practice, (International Olympic Committee guidance) pain classifications and definitions and the use of multi-domain pain assessment tools.

Performance determinants and evidence-based practice in track cycling: A survey of coaches, practitioners, and athletes.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined how track cycling coaches, practitioners, and athletes: develop knowledge and practices; value performance areas; and, implement research into practice. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: An online REDCap survey of track cycling coaches, practitioners, and athletes was conducted involving questions related to demographics, performance area importance, knowledge acquisition and application, research relevance, and research direction. RESULTS: A total of 159 responses were received from coaches (n = 55), practitioners (n = 29), and athletes (n = 75). Participants' highest track cycling competition level involvement ranged from local/regional (12.7%) to Olympic/Paralympic (39.9%). Respondents primarily develop practices by observing 'the sport' or 'others competing/working in it' (both 85.8%). Practitioners develop practices through self-guided learning (96.4%). The primary reason for practice use was prior experience (84.9%), whilst individuals were least likely to use practices resulting in marginal gains with potentially negative outcomes (27.3%). Areas of greatest perceived importance were Aerodynamics, Strength & Conditioning, and Tactics (all >96% agreed/strongly agreed). Scientific evidence for Tactics (30%) and Mental Skills (26%) was perceived to be lacking, resulting in greater reliance on personal experience (74% and 62%, respectively) to inform training decisions. The main barrier to implementing research into practice was athlete buy-in (84.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Within track cycling, informal learning was most popular amongst respondents. Greater reliance on personal experience within evidence-based practice for many performance areas aligns with limited existing research. Most respondents reported multiple barriers affecting research implementation in practice.

Perceptions and beliefs of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: There are many benefits of sport and exercise however people with disability experience barriers to participation including negative interactions with fitness professionals. To understand this barrier further, this study explored the perceptions of community-based fitness professionals working with people with disability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen fitness professionals took part in one semi-structured interview. Data were analysed inductively using an interpretive description approach. RESULTS: Theme 1, "Understanding your client's individual needs" highlighted the requirement for fitness professionals to be flexible to the needs of their clients. Theme 2 "You have to have a little bit of the knack" discussed the importance of maintaining a mutually respectful relationship, and the skills required to achieve this. Theme 3 "It needs to be a team approach" called for greater interprofessional collaboration with health professionals. Theme 4 "The barriers of gym culture" explored the negative stigma placed on people with disability in relation to sport and exercise. Theme 5 "Change is needed" highlighted changes required within the fitness industry to better support people with disability. CONCLUSION: To facilitate inclusive service delivery, changes are required within the supports and resources available to fitness professionals thereby allowing them to cater to their diversifying client population.

Physical activity is widely acknowledged as crucial to the health and wellbeing of people with disability, with focus being placed on creating inclusive community-based physical activity opportunities rather than disability specific programs alone.Community-based fitness professionals could provide important support towards enhancing inclusive physical activity participation for people with disability.Community-based fitness professionals experience many personal and professional benefits from working with people with disability, although, also experience challenges.To continue to work towards inclusion, community-based fitness professionals require further educational and funding support facilitating them to deliver safe and effective services to people with disability.

The Safe Sport Allies bystander training: developing a multi-layered program for youth sport participants and their coaches to prevent harassment and abuse in local sport clubs.

Harassment and abuse represent a pervasive and critical problem in sport with far-reaching consequences. Survivors' testimonials underscore the profound and enduring impact of these experiences at individual, interpersonal, organizational and community level. Many of their stories reveal painful inaction from responsible adults in the sport organization, aggravating the harm. Other contributing factors to the harm inflicted include a culture of silence, lack of knowledge and understanding of what constitutes abuse, unawareness of reporting and supporting mechanisms, and fear of potential consequences. While effective bystander interventions have been developed outside the sport context, particularly targeting students in higher education, such initiatives have yet to be extensively adapted and assessed within the sport context. To address this gap, the Safe Sport Allies Erasmus+ collaborative partnership relied on the intervention mapping approach as a guiding framework to systematically develop a bystander training program (i.e., Safe Sport Allies) to train youth sport participants and youth sport coaches to act as effective bystanders. The current paper describes the comprehensive development process and provides an overview of implementation and evaluation possibilities. Throughout the paper, it is explained how each step of the Intervention Mapping approach shaped the Safe Sport Allies bystander training program. The program development, and the developed plans for implementation and evaluation are presented, shedding light on challenges encountered. The bystander training program developed in this paper and the implementation and evaluation plans can serve as an outline to build future interventions within this critical domain of safeguarding in sport.

Enhancing Return to Alpine Skiing: Integrating Perceptual-Motor-Cognitive Considerations in Testing and Progressions: A Clinical Commentary.

Alpine skiing poses significant risks for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at both recreational and professional levels, which is compounded by high rates of re-injury. Despite the existence of return to sport (RTS) and return to snow protocols, the frequency of ACL re-injury has not been mitigated, raising doubts about protocol effectiveness. Current RTS protocols primarily focus on biomechanical and neuromuscular factors in isolation, neglecting the important perceptual-motor-cognitive changes associated with ACL injuries and the high cognitive demands of skiing. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to address the perceptual-motor-cognitive demands specific to alpine skiing, evaluate RTS testing for skiers, and propose updated standards for testing and return to snow progressions that incorporate these considerations. Level of Evidence: 5.

4 Domain Sports PROM in Spanish: Cross-cultural adaptation in the Chilean population and reliability analysis.

Background Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are tools of increasing interest in the sports population. The purpose of this study was to perform the cross-cultural adaptation and reliability analysis of the 4 Domain Sports Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (4 DSP) into Spanish. Methods A six-stage cross-cultural adaptation protocol was executed to obtain the Spanish version of the 4 DSP (S-4DSP). Subsequently, the questionnaire was administered to a population of 108 postoperative athletes with ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injuries. The questionnaire was administered again after 30 days. Acceptability, floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and reproducibility (Intraclass Correlation) were evaluated. Results The S-4DSP was fully completed by 108 participants (mean age 34 ± 10.75, 26% women), achieving 100% acceptability. No floor effect was detected. The statistical analysis yielded a global Cronbach's alpha for the questionnaire of 0.65, and domain-specific alphas of 0.88, 0.72, 0.27, and 0.68 for the first, second, third, and fourth domains, respectively. The Intraclass Correlation test reached a maximum of 0.94 and a minimum of 0.48 for the first and fifth questions, respectively. Conclusions The S-4DSP is a reliable and useful tool for evaluating Spanish-speaking athletes after ACL reconstruction.

Strength characteristics in faster change of direction basketball players: A comparison across cutting angles.

Change of directions (COD) involves multidirectional and complex actions, with performance influenced by multiple factors. As lower limb strength is one of the most determinant of COD performance, the present study aimed to (a) explore the differences in strength outcomes across different lower limb muscle actions between faster and slower basketball players in COD actions at different angles and (b) analyse the relationship between isometric, concentric and eccentric strength outcomes and COD performance at different cutting angles. Twenty-five basketball players (44% female) completed a battery of tests, encompassing isokinetic and isometric squat strength assessments, along with COD tests at 45°, 90° and 180°. Players were categorised as 'low-performance' and 'high-performance' groups based on execution time in COD, facilitating a comparison between performance groups. Results indicated that concentric strength showed the greatest differences between performance groups at 45° COD (effect size ≥ 0.813; p ≤ 0.034). Isometric and eccentric strength demonstrated a moderate-to-large relationship with 90° COD performance (Rho ≥ 0.394; p ≤ 0.045), and all muscle actions exhibited a large relationship with 180° COD (Rho ≥ 0.445; p ≤ 0.030). Moreover, the fastest players showed higher levels of concentric strength relative to eccentric strength, regardless of the cutting angle. These findings hold practical applications, suggesting that basketball coaches should train a specific kind of muscle action depending on the individual players' COD demands, focusing on improving the rapid eccentric force application while striving to reduce the eccentric/concentric ratio.

Sport-related concussions in baseball and softball: do mechanisms of injury affect recovery?

OBJECTIVE: Baseball and softball pose unique risks for sport-related concussion (SRC). Although these are not collision sports, concussions in baseball and softball can nonetheless involve high-speed impacts. In a regional, single-institution cohort of baseball and softball athletes who sustained an SRC, the current study sought to 1) describe the mechanisms of injury that led to SRC, and 2) compare initial symptom burden and recovery metrics across mechanisms, including time to return to learn (RTL), time to symptom resolution, and time to return to play (RTP) by mechanism of injury. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed of baseball and softball athletes 12 to 23 years old who sustained an SRC between November 2017 and April 2022. Mechanisms of injury were divided into two categories: 1) contact mechanism (i.e., what initiated contact with the injured player, such as head-to-ball), and 2) player mechanism (i.e., the action the injured player was performing at the time of injury, such as fielding). The recovery outcomes of time to RTL, symptom resolution, and RTP were compared between mechanisms using bivariate analysis and multivariable regression analysis, controlling for sex, age, time to present to concussion clinic, and initial total symptom score. RESULTS: The sample included 58 baseball and softball players (60.3% female, mean age 16.0 ± 1.9 years). Most SRCs (62.1%) occurred during competition. Head-to-ball (50.0%) was the most common contact mechanism, followed by head-to-head/body (31.0%) and head-to-wall/ground/equipment (17.2%). Fielding (63.8%) was the most common player mechanism, followed by drills (20.7%) and running (13.8%). SRCs sustained in practice had significantly longer RTL (median 10.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 3.3-16.3] vs 4.0 [IQR 2.0-8.0] days; U = 421.5, p = 0.031) and symptom resolution (37.0 [IQR 18.0-90.0] vs 14.0 [IQR 7.0-41.0] days; U = 406.5, p = 0.025) compared with SRCs sustained in competition. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that head-to-wall/ground/equipment contact mechanism was associated with longer RTL (ß = 0.30, 95% CI 0.07-0.54, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The current study found that SRCs in baseball and softball occurred more often in competition than in practice. Head-to-ball and fielding were the most common contact and player mechanisms, respectively. SRCs sustained in practice were associated with longer time to RTL and symptom resolution, and head-to-wall/ground/equipment was associated with longer RTL in multivariable regression analysis. These results provide empirical data to improve concussion safety in baseball/softball.

SCAT5 baseline values, test-retest reliability, and reliable change metrics in high school athletes.

OBJECTIVE: In the United States, more than 1 million sport-related concussions afflict children annually, with many cases undetected or unreported. The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) is widely used to detect concussions in high school, collegiate, and professional sports. The objective of this study was to establish baseline values for the SCAT version 5 (SCAT5) in high school athletes. METHODS: Baseline SCAT5 evaluations were conducted in students (ages 14-19 years) from 19 high schools in central Illinois who were participating in various school-sponsored sports. The SCAT5 evaluations were retrospectively extracted from the electronic medical record system for analysis. Statistical analyses included the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables, considering significance at p < 0.05. Test-retest reliability at < 6 months, 10-14 months, and 16-20 months was computed using intraclass correlation and Spearman's rho (ρ). Reliable change indices are provided using the Iverson formula. RESULTS: A total of 2833 unique athletes were included, and the average age was 15.5 ± 1.14 (SD) years. There were 721 female (25.5%) and 2112 male (74.5%) athletes. Students ≥ 15 years old had more prior concussions (p < 0.001), and male athletes were more frequently hospitalized for head injury (p = 0.013). Female athletes exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of mood disorders (14.7% vs 4.6%, p < 0.001), whereas attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was more common in male athletes (5.2% vs 13.2%, p < 0.001). Symptom number and severity were significantly greater in female athletes (3.17 ± 4.39 vs 2.08 ± 3.49, p < 0.001; 5.47 ± 9.21 vs 3.52 ± 7.26, p < 0.001, respectively), with mood-related symptoms representing the largest differences. Female athletes and students ≥ 15 years old performed better on most cognitive assessments. Female athletes and students < 15 years old performed better on the modified Balance Error Scoring System (p < 0.001). Test-retest reliability was poor to moderate for most assessment components. Reliable change index cutoff values differed slightly by sex, with female athletes often having a greater cutoff value. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the variability of SCAT5 baseline values influenced by age, sex, and medical history among adolescent athletes. It provides a robust dataset, delineating baseline values stratified by sex and age within this demographic. Additionally, the results provide enhanced guidance to clinicians for interpretation of change and reliability of baselines.

Acute psychological symptom profiles in high school athletes following sport-related concussion.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological symptoms following a sport-related concussion may affect recovery in adolescent athletes. Therefore, the aims of this study were to 1) describe the proportion of athletes with acute psychological symptoms, 2) identify potential predictors of higher initial psychological symptoms, and 3) determine whether psychological symptoms affect recovery in a cohort of concussed high school athletes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of high school athletes (14-18 years of age) who sustained a sport-related concussion from November 2017 to April 2022 and presented to a multidisciplinary concussion center was performed. The main independent variable was psychological symptom cluster score, calculated by summing the four affective symptoms on the initial Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) (i.e., irritability, sadness, nervousness, feeling more emotional). The psychological symptom ratio was defined as the ratio of the psychological symptom cluster score divided by the total initial PCSS score. The outcomes included time to return to learn (RTL), symptom resolution, and time to return to play (RTP). Univariable and multivariable regressions were performed to adjust for demographic factors and health history. RESULTS: A total of 431 athletes (58.0% female, mean age 16.2 ± 1.3 years) were included. Nearly half of the sample (45%) reported at least one psychological symptom, with a mean psychological symptom cluster score of 4.2 ± 5.2 and psychological symptom cluster ratio of 0.10 ± 0.11. Irritability was the most commonly endorsed psychological symptom (38.1%), followed by feeling more emotional (30.2%), nervousness (25.3%), and sadness (22.0%). Multivariable regression showed that female sex (B = 2.15, 95% CI 0.91-3.39; p < 0.001), loss of consciousness (B = 1.91, 95% CI 0.11-3.72; p = 0.037), retrograde/anterograde amnesia (B = 1.66, 95% CI 0.20-3.11; p = 0.026), and psychological history (B = 2.96, 95% CI 1.25-4.70; p < 0.001) predicted an increased psychological symptom cluster score. Female sex (B = 0.03, 95% CI 0.00-0.06; p = 0.031) and psychological history (B = 0.06, 95% CI 0.02-0.10; p = 0.002) predicted an increased psychological symptom ratio. Multivariable linear regression showed that both higher psychological symptom cluster score and ratio were associated with longer times to RTL, symptom resolution, and RTP. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of high school athletes, 45% reported at least one psychological symptom, with irritability being most common. Female sex, loss of consciousness, amnesia, and a psychological history were significantly associated with an increased psychological symptom cluster score. Higher psychological symptom cluster score and psychological symptom ratio independently predicted longer recovery. These results reinforce the notion that psychological symptoms after concussion are common and may negatively impact recovery.

Elucidating differences in concussion subtype symptomatology in sports-related versus non-sports-related concussions: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Postconcussive symptom questionnaires (PCSQs) are often used in concussion patient assessment, yet there is a lack of knowledge as to whether symptom subtype prevalence is dependent on the mechanism of injury (MOI). These subtypes can be defined as cognitive, atlanto-occipital/cervical spine, autonomic, balance, low energy/fatigue/sleep, emotional changes, eyes, and somatic. Using an institutional PCSQ that quantitatively addressed these subtypes, this retrospective study aimed to provide insight into differences in subtype symptomatology between sports-related (SR) and non-sports-related (NSR) injuries. METHODS: Consecutive concussion patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≥ 13 and ≥ 16 years of age who were treated at a concussion clinic affiliated with an academic level I trauma center in the United States between December 2009 and January 2020 were eligible for inclusion. The authors extracted data on MOI, comorbidities, habits, prior injuries, and PCSQ results. Multivariate analysis of covariance was then conducted to determine the correlations between subtype scores and MOI while considering covariates. RESULTS: Of the 194 patients remaining after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, analysis included 91 patients in the SR group consisting of 54 (59%) males with mean ± SD (range) age of 20.9 ± 7.3 (16-58) years and 103 patients in the NSR group consisting of 38 (37%) males with mean age of 39.2 ± 14.8 (17-71) years. Demographic characteristics differed significantly between groups. Estimated marginal mean scores were significantly lower in the SR injury group compared to the NSR injury group (with comparing main effects) for the cognitive (p < 0.001), autonomic (p < 0.000), balance (p < 0.025), energy (p < 0.006), emotional (p < 0.000), and total score (p < 0.001) subtypes. Multivariate tests identified three comorbidities that contributed to differences in subtype scores between groups: migraines (p < 0.012), vertigo (p < 0.004), and anxiety (p < 0.038). No significant results were found for the remaining comorbidities of (but not limited to) depression, neuropsychiatric disorders, seizures, syncope, sleep disorder, or none. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that patients who sustain a concussion via an NSR injury present with more severe symptoms but similar concussion subtype frequency as those presenting with SR concussion. This suggests that the MOI may correlate more closely to symptom severity than concussion subtype composition, although larger patient populations with more definitive control of MOI are needed to further elucidate these claims.

Examining for gender differences in return to learn following sport-related concussion in high school student athletes.

OBJECTIVE: Prior studies have investigated associations between gender, symptom resolution, and time to return to play following sport-related concussion (SRC). However, there is a notable gap in research regarding the association between gender and return to learn (RTL) in adolescents. Therefore, this study 1) compared the patterns of RTL between boys and girls who are high school student athletes, and 2) evaluated the possible association between gender and time to RTL after adjusting for covariates. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of a prospective surveillance program that monitored concussion recovery of athletes in high schools throughout the state of Maine between February 2015 and January 2023 was performed. The primary independent variable was gender, dichotomized as boys and girls. The primary outcome was time to RTL, defined by the number of days for an athlete to return to school without accommodations. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare RTL between the boys and girls. Each athlete's RTL status was dichotomized (i.e., returned vs had not returned) at several time points following injury (i.e., 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks), and chi-square tests were performed to compare the proportions who achieved RTL between groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of gender on RTL. Covariates included age, number of previous concussions, history of learning disability or attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, history of a psychological condition, history of headaches or migraines, initial Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT3/SCAT5) score, and days to evaluation. RESULTS: Of 895 high school athletes, 488 (54.5%) were boys and 407 (45.5%) were girls. There was no statistically significant difference in median [IQR] days to RTL between genders (6.0 [3.0-11.0] vs 6.0 [3.0-12.0] days; U = 84,365.00, p < 0.375). A greater proportion of boys successfully returned to learn without accommodations by 3 weeks following concussion (93.5% vs 89.4%; χ2 = 4.68, p = 0.030), but no differences were found at 1, 2, or 4 weeks. A multivariable model predicting days to RTL showed that gender was not a significant predictor of RTL (p > 0.05). Longer days to evaluation (ß = 0.10, p = 0.021) and higher initial SCAT3/SCAT5 scores (ß = 0.15, p < 0.001) predicted longer RTL. CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of high school athletes, RTL did not differ between boys and girls following SRC. Gender was not a significant predictor of RTL. Longer days to evaluation and higher initial symptom scores were associated with longer RTL.

Sex differences in postconcussive symptom reporting in those with history of concussion: Findings from the federal interagency traumatic brain injury research (FITBIR) database.

Objective: This study investigated influence of biological sex on postconcussive symptoms (PCS) following concussion using the Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research (FITBIR) database. Method: All studies with publicly released data as of 4/7/21 that included both males and females, enough information to determine severity of injury consistent with concussion, a measure of PCS, and objective measures of neurocognitive functioning were used. This resulted in 6 studies with a total of 9890 participants (3206 females, 6684 males); 815 participants completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), 471 completed the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPSQ), and 8604 completed the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3rd Edition (SCAT 3). Questionnaires were harmonized and the following symptom composite scores were computed: total score, somatic, cognitive, and affective. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Females endorsed higher total symptoms relative to males and that military personnel endorsed higher symptoms relative to civilians. Additionally, there was a small but significant interaction effect, such that female military personnel endorsed even higher symptoms than would be predicted by the main effects. Similar patterns were observed for somatic, cognitive, and affective symptom domains. Conclusions: Further understanding sex differences in PCS reporting is key to informing the most appropriate treatment options. Future work will need to examine whether sex differences in symptom reporting is due to sex differences in endorsement styles or genuine differences in symptom presentation, as well as the relationship between study population (e.g., military, civilian, sport) and sex on objective cognitive functioning and other functional outcomes.

Insights into breast health issues in women's rugby.

World RugbyTM supports dedicated women's welfare, injury surveillance and medical/technical interventions, yet breast health has received limited attention. This article aims to provide insights into breast health issues in rugby, including breast impacts and injuries. We discuss how breast anatomy and position may be problematic in rugby. Breast volume relates to body size, which may be increasing in women's rugby, suggesting increased breast surface area and mass, potentially increasing injury risk. Breast health issues in rugby have been reported previously, with 58% of contact footballers (including rugby) experiencing breast injuries. There are damaging effects related to these breast health issues, with breast impacts often causing pain and swelling. Breast impacts may lead to haematomas, cysts and fat necrosis which can calcify over time making them difficult to distinguish from breast carcinoma, causing further investigation and anxiety. In sport, poor bra fit and insufficient support are associated with pain, skin strain and performance decrements. This article reports the potential implications of these breast health issues on performance in rugby. Recent breast-related projects supported by rugby communities may address recommendations identified in the literature for robust breast injury classifications, updated injury surveillance systems and prospective data collection on breast injury prevalence, severity and impact in rugby. These data should inform breast injury care pathways and intervention research, including evidence-based bra design. Understanding the implications of breast impacts on tissue properties, health and wellbeing is vital. Finally, data should inform rugby-specific breast education, raising awareness of this aspect of athlete health.

Epidemiology of lateral ankle sprain focusing on indirect contact mechanism in male and female soccer players: An 18.5-month cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological research highlights the need to understand sports injuries for effective prevention. Yet, detailed knowledge about lateral ankle sprain (LAS) in soccer, especially related to indirect contact mechanisms and specific sports movements, remains scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LAS by examining injury mechanisms, focusing on indirect contact, and analyzing sports-related movements. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: In this prospective study, 304 high-school and college soccer players (age: 19.0 ± 2.2 years, height: 168.3 ± 10.6 cm, weight: 64.2 ± 11.1 kg) were monitored for 18.5 months. Attendance and LAS incidents were recorded daily. Injury details, including movement at the time of injury, contact presence, and direction, were collected through interviews conducted on the injury day. LAS were categorized into direct contact, indirect contact, and non-contact mechanisms. Direct contact injuries were due to external forces on the lower leg or foot. Indirect contact injuries resulted from impacts on areas other than the lower leg or foot, and non-contact injuries involved no interaction with the ball or opponent. Incidence rates per 1,000 athlete exposures and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, along with rate ratios (RR) to assess sex differences. RESULTS: The study recorded 59 LAS injuries. Indirect injuries were predominant, accounting for 47.5 % (n = 28) of the cases. Men experienced a higher incidence of indirect injuries, with an RR of 2.29 (95 % CI: 1.06-4.96). Outward contact was the most common (77.8 %; n = 21), while inward contact occurred in 22.2 % of the cases (n = 6). CONCLUSION: High school and college soccer players primarily sustained injuries through indirect contact mechanisms, with a significant number of injuries occurring during lateral contact. Men were more prone to indirect contact injuries. Furthermore, 47.5 % of LAS incidents involved reactive movements, and injuries frequently occurred during specific sports actions, such as ball interception.

Descriptive epidemiology study of hand injuries sustained in Gaelic football referred to a hand therapy service over 1 year.

Objectives: Gaelic football requires ball handling, such as bouncing, fist passing and catching. To date, no research has examined the types of injuries sustained to the hand in this sport. This study aims to establish the types of orthopaedic hand injuries sustained in Gaelic football. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive epidemiology study of Gaelic football-related hand injuries treated at a hand therapy unit. The nature of injuries was categorised along with collated variables on player demographics and injury profiles. Potential correlations between injury and continuous demographic data were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Pearson's χ2 test was used for categorical data (p<0.05). Results: 287 referrals were identified. Most players were men (n=189; 65.9%), and the average age was 17 (IQR 14-25). Most fractures were to the volar base of the middle phalanx (n=110; 42.8%). Significant differences were found between the age of male and female players with fractures under 18 (p<0.05), the distribution of left and right-hand fractures by age (p<0.05), the distribution of fractures by bone type (p<0.05) and also between sex and affected ray (p<0.05), bone type (p<0.05) and mechanism of injury (p=0.05). Conclusion: This study established the types of musculoskeletal hand injuries sustained by players in Gaelic football. Considering developmental, anthropometric and rule differences between male and female players across the age range may explain variations in injuries. This data can help devise injury prevention and management strategies for Gaelic football.

Dual career in sport and non-sport work: Exploring experiences of North American professional female ice hockey players.

Grounded in role strain theory, this study explored the dual career experiences of North American female ice hockey players who were also involved in full-time non-sporting work, focusing on factors that produced and reduced their role strain. We interviewed ten professional ice hockey players who held full-time non-sport jobs at the time of their interview. Our reflexive thematic analysis revealed that the multitude of factors leading to role strain among professional female working-athletes were notably significant, spanning societal expectations and environmental complexities. The imposition of the superwoman persona, demanding excellence in both hockey and work roles, combined with inconsistent expectations from professional and athletic supervisors intensified stress and undermined well-being. The study's findings emphasize the need for robust support systems and adaptive strategies, such as effective communication, careful planning, and proactive self-care, which can mitigate these pressures. Furthermore, the athletes' narratives revealed a pressing call for empathy and flexibility from coaches, employers, and the broader sports community, suggesting that improvements in these areas could enhance the professional and personal experiences of these working-athletes. The findings provide valuable insights into the challenges faced by dual career female athletes, as well as current strategies aimed at supporting and enhancing their experiences. Furthermore, these results deepen our understanding of how professional female athletes in North America can achieve greater well-being by addressing the factors that produce and reduce role strain factors.

The reliability and discriminant validity of physical, technical, and perceptual-physiological measures during a game-specific basketball activity simulation protocol.

Activity simulation protocols offer useful applications in research and practice; however, the specificity of such protocols to basketball game-play is currently lacking. Consequently, this study aimed to develop a game-specific basketball activity simulation protocol representative of typical playing durations and assess its reliability and discriminant validity. The simulation protocol was modified from an original version (i.e., Basketball Exercise Simulation Test) to incorporate regular breaks indicative of time-outs, free-throws, and substitutions. Twelve competitive male and female adult basketball players competing in the fourth or fifth Spanish basketball division underwent repeated trials of the simulation protocol (min. 4 to max. 14 days apart) for reliability analyses. In turn, 13 competitive male (fifth division), 9 competitive female (fourth division), and 13 recreational male adult basketball players completed the simulation protocol to assess discriminant validity via comparisons between sexes (competitive players) and playing levels (males). A range of physical, technical, and perceptual-physiological variables were collected during and following the simulation protocol. Several physical and heart rate variables displayed the strongest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.72-0.96; coefficient of variation [CV] = 1.78-6.75%), with physical decrement, technical, blood lactate concentration, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) variables having the weakest (ICC = 0.52-0.75; CV = 10.34-30.85%). Regarding discriminant analyses between sexes, males demonstrated significantly greater physical outputs in several variables and lower RPE compared to females (p < 0.05, moderate-to-large effects). Comparisons between playing levels revealed competitive males had significantly greater physical outputs across many variables, alongside higher mean heart rate and lower RPE than recreational males (p < 0.05, moderate-to-large effects). This study presents a novel game-specific basketball activity simulation protocol replicating actual playing durations and game configurations that might be successfully applied for both training and research purposes. Reliability statistics are provided for several variables to inform end-users on potential measurement error when implementing the simulation protocol. Discriminant validity of the simulation protocol was supported for several variables, suggesting it may hold practical utility in benchmarking or selecting players. Future research on this topic is encouraged examining wider samples of male and female basketball players at different levels as well as additional forms of validity for the protocol.

Comparing the Tactical Behavior of Young Soccer Players in Full- and Small-Sided Games.

The objective was to assess and compare the tactical conduct of players aged U-8, U-10, and U-12 during full- and small-sided games, focusing on tactical modeling and interaction dynamics. Each age group comprised three teams (n = 180; 60 per category; 20 per team), engaging in a tournament where teams faced each other once in both formats - 18 matches; 3 per category in each format. Full-sided games (GK + 10 vs.10 + GK; 100 × 68 m) and small-sided games (U-8: GK + 4 vs. 4 + GK (36 × 20 m); U-10: GK + 7 vs. 7 + GK (52.5 × 34 m); U-12: GK + 10 vs. 10 + GK (68 × 45 m). Standard playing times (3 periods of 12 minutes (U-8s); 3 periods of 15 minutes (U-10s); and 3 periods of 20 minutes (U-12s), with a 5-minute break. Variables were examined using descriptive analysis (mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval), with paired t-tests and Wilcoxon tests employed for inter-format comparisons. Despite players benefiting from more time and space in full-sided games (increased ball receptions and overall ball involvement), results from small-sided games indicate three key advantages: 1) More goals (U-8s: z = -3.44, p = .050) and shots on target (U-8: z = -3.25, p = .001; U-10: z = -2.72, p = .007); 2) Game space management-ball circulation in larger amplitude (U-10: t = -4.20, p = .001; U-12: t = -4.35, p < .001); and with more transitions (U-10: t = -3.60, p = .002; U-12: t = -4.16, p = .001) and 3) Fast decision-making-larger ball velocity circulation (U-08: t = -3.54, p = .003; U-10: t = -5.13, p < .001; U-12: t = -5.80, p < .001).