Injury incidence and prevalence in elite short-course triathletes: a 4-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To characterise the prevalence, incidence rate (IR) and burden of injuries in elite short-course triathletes over a 4-year training and competition period. METHODS: Fifty elite Australian triathletes were prospectively monitored for injury during four consecutive seasons (2018-2021). Injuries requiring medical attention were prospectively recorded and further subcategorised according to time loss. The IR and burden (injury IR×mean injury severity) were calculated per 365 athlete days, with sex differences in IR compared using IR ratios (IRR) from negative binomial regression models. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-six injuries were reported in 46 (92.0%) athletes, of which 67.3% resulted in time loss. The injury IR was 1.87 injuries per 365 athlete days (95% CI 1.70 to 2.80), and comparable between sexes (IRR 0.82, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.04, p=0.109). Most injuries (70.7%) were training related. The most frequently injured body sites were the ankle (15.8%), foot (12.4%) and lower leg (12.0%). Bone stress injuries (BSIs) were the most burdensome injury type with 31.38 days of time loss per 365 days (95% CI 24.42 to 38.34). Twenty athletes (40.0%) reported at least one bone stress injury (BSI) (range 0-3). The rate of BSIs in female athletes was three times greater compared with male athletes (IRR 2.99, 95% CI 1.26 to 7.07, p=0.013). CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of injuries reported in elite short-course triathletes resulted in time loss, with the majority occurring during training activities. Foot, ankle and other lower leg injuries had the highest incidence, with BSIs carrying the highest injury burden. The considerably higher rate of BSI observed in female athletes warrants consideration for future prevention strategies in female triathletes.

The validity and reliability of the sphygmomanometer for hip strength assessment in Australian football players.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the sphygmomanometer for the assessment of the adductor squeeze test and isometric hip abduction strength and to investigate the concurrent validity of the sphygmomanometer for the assessment of hip muscular strength. METHOD: Thirty-two healthy adult male community Australian football players (age 23.9 ± 4.5 years) were assessed by two blinded raters that measured the strength of the adductor squeeze test and isometric hip abduction, using a commercially available sphygmomanometer. Concurrent validity was calculated using handheld dynamometry as the reference standard. RESULTS: Moderate to high intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.61 to 0.92) and high inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.77 to 0.91) were found. High concurrent validity (Pearson's r = 0.77 to 0.91) was established. Sixteen of the participants reached the maximal reading of the sphygmomanometer, demonstrating a ceiling effect. CONCLUSIONS: A sphygmomanometer is a cost-efficient device that appears to be both reliable and valid for the assessment of hip strength, offering clinicians an alternate and easily accessible option to obtain objective strength data. A ceiling effect may limit the application of the sphygmomanometer as a strength measurement device in stronger individuals.

The use of a sphygmomanometer to measure shoulder isometric strength: a validity and reliability study / O uso do esfigmomanômetro para mensurar força isométrica do ombro: um estudo de validade e confiabilidade

Abstract Introduction: A sphygmomanometer is an instrument commonly used to measure blood pressure that can potentially be used to objectively assess shoulder isometric muscle strength. Objective: To establish the criterion validity and the intra-rater reliability of the sphygmomanometer for the assessment of shoulder isometric muscular strength compared to the handheld dynamometer. To determine if there is a statistically significant difference for shoulder strength between dominant and non-dominant sides. Methods: A test-retest study design was developed, where a rater assessed shoulder flexion and abduction isometric strength of 13 healthy university students, using a commercially available sphygmomanometer and a handheld dynamometer. Results: The criterion validity of the sphygmomanometer was found to be good for both right and left shoulder flexion and abduction strength assessment (Pearson's r = 0.90-0.97). The intra-rater reliability of the sphygmomanometer was calculated to be good for both right and left flexion and abduction (ICC = 0.96-0.99). The handheld dynamometer also showed good intra-rater reliability for each of the strength measures assessed (ICC = 0.94-0.98). Significant differences (p < 0.01) were identified between dominant and non-dominant sides for shoulder strength. Conclusion: A sphygmomanometer is a simple and easily accessible tool that provides clinicians with accurate objective values for isometric shoulder strength assessment.

Resumo Introdução: O esfigmomanômetro é um instrumento usado para mensurar pressão arterial que pode potencialmente ser utilizado para avaliação objetiva da força muscular isométrica do ombro. Objetivo: Estabelecer critérios de validade e confiabilidade intra-avaliador do esfigmomanômetro em relação ao dinamômetro manual para avaliação da força muscular isométrica do ombro. Determinar se há diferença estatisticamente significante entre a força do ombro entre o lado dominante e não dominante. Métodos: Um estudo de confiabilidade teste reteste foi desenvolvido onde um avaliador mensurou a força isométrica de flexão e abdução do ombro de 13 universitários saudáveis utilizando um esfigmomanômetro comercialmente disponível e um dinamômetro manual. Resultados: Como critério de validade, o esfigmomanômetro mostrou-se adequado para avaliação da força isométrica de flexão e abdução de ombro tanto do lado direito como do lado esquerdo (r de Pearson = 0,90-0,97). Quanto à confiabilidade intra-avaliador, o esfigmomanômetro apresentou boa confiabilidade para flexão e abdução em ambos os lados (CCI = 0,96-0,99) e o dinamômetro manual também apresentou boa confiabilidade para todas as medidas (CCI = 0,94-0,98). Foram identificadas diferenças significativas entre o lado dominante e não dominante para força de ombro (p < 0,01). Conclusão: O esfigmomanômetro é uma ferramenta simples e acessível que fornece a clínicos medidas objetivas com acurácia da avaliação da força isométrica do ombro.

Is a sphygmomanometer a valid and reliable tool to measure the isometric strength of hip muscles? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Muscle strength measurement is a key component of physiotherapists' assessment and is frequently used as an outcome measure. A sphygmomanometer is an instrument commonly used to measure blood pressure that can be potentially used as a tool to assess isometric muscle strength. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the evidence on the reliability and validity of a sphygmomanometer for measuring isometric strength of hip muscles. METHOD: A literature search was conducted across four databases. Studies were eligible if they presented data on reliability and/or validity, used a sphygmomanometer to measure isometric muscle strength of the hip region, and were peer reviewed. The individual studies were evaluated for quality using a standardized critical appraisal tool. RESULTS: A total of 644 articles were screened for eligibility, with five articles chosen for inclusion. The use of a sphygmomanometer to objectively assess isometric muscle strength of the hip muscles appears to be reliable with intraclass correlation coefficient values ranging from 0.66 to 0.94 in elderly and young populations. No studies were identified that have assessed the validity of a sphygmomanometer. CONCLUSION: The sphygmomanometer appears to be reliable for assessment of isometric muscle strength around the hip joint, but further research is warranted to establish its validity.