搜索结果：Journal of athletic training

Physical activity is widely recognized for its benefits on physical and mental health. However, interactions between sleep, athletic performance, and recovery remain complex and incompletely understood. This narrative review synthesizes recent evidence on the relationships between physical activity, mental health, sleep, and performance, and outlines potential therapeutic perspectives. We reviewed recent meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and expert consensus statements addressing physical activity, sleep, mental health, athletic performance, recovery, napping, and circadian factors in both general and athletic populations. Physical activity shows a clear inverse dose-response relationship with depression risk, with even moderate levels conferring significant mental health benefits. Regular physical activity (≥150min/week of moderate-to-vigorous activity) significantly reduces insomnia symptoms, improves sleep efficiency, and is associated with reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms. Sleep is a key determinant of athletic performance, yet 50-78% of athletes report sleep complaints, often related to training schedules, competitions, intense light exposure, and travel-induced jet lag. Sleep deprivation impairs performance, particularly in sports requiring fine motor skills and sustained cognitive functioning and contributes to overtraining and prolonged performance decrements. Adequate sleep duration and sleep extension are associated with improved recovery and sport-specific performance. Napping may support recovery and vigilance, but its benefits depend on duration and timing, with a risk of sleep inertia following long naps (>30min). Sleep represents a pillar of mental health, athletic performance, and recovery. Integrating sleep-aware training schedules, circadian principles, and individualized physical activity programs may optimize both health, performance and recovery outcomes.

Bone stress injuries (BSIs) have been recognized as some of the most common and potentially serious overuse injuries in military training and result in negative effects on service member health and force readiness. Authors of several studies have purported to develop prediction models that could successfully identify individuals in military training at high risk for BSI, but none are currently acceptable for implementation for 1 or more reasons. To develop an accurate, parsimonious prediction model for BSI risk in a military training population using easily obtained and interpreted predictor variables. Prospective cohort study. US Military Academy at West Point. A total of 3227 (749 females, 23.2%) incoming cadets. A multivariable prediction model for BSI risk during the first year of cadet training was created using potential predictor variables related to demographics, anthropometrics, exercise and injury histories, and lower extremity movement quality. A scree plot of change in model log likelihood value was used to guide selection of variables in the final model. Performance of this model was assessed for calibration (ie, goodness of fit) and discrimination (ie, prognostic accuracy). Minimum acceptable criteria for each were determined a priori. A total of 63 BSIs occurred in the study period. The final model consisted of sex and running frequency before entry. Performance of this model was sufficient on some measures (specificity) to recommend implementation but not on others (area under the curve and sensitivity). Sensitivity analyses revealed that an expanded model consisting of all predictor variables also did not reach the minimum acceptable calibration or discrimination criteria. Despite use of a large dataset and several predictor variables with well-established associations with BSI risk, we were unable to develop a prediction model for BSI risk with adequate prognostic accuracy properties using a set of easily obtained predictor variables.

This study aimed to compare the effects of six weeks of Kinesio taping with treadmill training, Mulligan taping with treadmill training, and treadmill training alone on ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion, balance, ankle stability, and fall efficacy in individuals with chronic stroke. Thirty-three individuals with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to three groups (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;11 each). Interventions were applied for six weeks. Outcome measures included ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion, static balance, dynamic balance, ankle stability, and fall efficacy, assessed before and after the intervention. Between-group differences were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Significant group differences were observed in ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion, eyes-open static balance, dynamic balance, and ankle stability (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;.05). The Mulligan taping with treadmill training group showed greater improvement in ankle dorsiflexion passive range of motion than the treadmill-only group. The Mulligan taping with treadmill training and treadmill-only groups improved eyes-open static balance more than the Kinesio taping with treadmill training group. Both taping groups improved dynamic balance more than treadmill training alone. Ankle stability improved most in the Mulligan taping with treadmill training group. No significant differences were found in eyes-closed static balance or fall efficacy. Mulligan taping with treadmill training may improve ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and stability, while both taping interventions may enhance dynamic balance. Treadmill-based gait practice may contribute to eyes-open static balance improvement.

This study aims to present the design and implementation of the first organized public access defibrillation (PAD) program in Greece - Program ZOE ('life' in Greek) - and the results collected over the first 8 months of its operation (March 2025 to October 2025). We prospectively assessed the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the Region of Crete. Data were collected from the online defibrillator monitoring system, emergency medical services (EMS) and interviews from people engaged in resuscitation. The Region of Crete purchased 256 AEDs. We used a population criterion to determine the locations of installation to cover urban and rural areas of Crete. A mobile app was created to guide retrieval of available AED and to provide CPR instructions. To allow mass training, we designed a 45-minute training program with the use of an educational video. More than 1500 high school students were trained through the short program during the academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25. A total of 67 AEDs were placed in athletic fields and stadiums, 97 in urban areas and 92 in villages. Ninety were placed in the regional unit of Heraklion, 42 in Chania, 31 in Rethymnon and 26 in Lasithi. During the first 8 months, AEDs in Program ZOE were used six times for the management of OHCA, all in rural areas. In one case, resuscitation was successful; the patient experienced cardiac arrest at home, and relatives performed CPR and called for the AED located in the village. The patient received three shocks and regained consciousness before EMS arrival. Our 8-month experience suggests that remote communities with relatively difficult EMS reach may benefit from AED installation. When designing a PAD network, we should take into consideration the specific geomorphological features of the area.

The lumbopelvic-hip musculature plays a critical role in controlling trunk movement during pitching. Training interventions targeting these muscles have been shown to enhance muscle function and increase ball speed. However, evidence linking improvements in lumbopelvic-hip strength and power to changes in trunk kinematics and joint moments during pitching is lacking. To investigate the effects of an 8-week strength-training intervention targeting the lumbopelvic-hip muscles on muscle function and pitching biomechanics in adolescent pitchers. Controlled laboratory study. Research laboratory/training facility. A total of 54 high school pitchers were enrolled into an intervention (age = 15.6 &#xb1; 1.5 years, height = 1.76 &#xb1; 0.07 m, mass = 72.0 &#xb1; 14.3 kg) or a control (age = 16.0 &#xb1; 1.0 years, height = 1.76 &#xb1; 0.12 m, mass = 76.4 &#xb1; 11.4 kg) group. All participants performed an 8-week training targeting the lumbopelvic-hip muscles. Changes in lumbopelvic-hip muscle function, trunk kinematics during pitching, joint loading, and ball speed were measured. The intervention resulted in greater improvements in trunk-rotation strength and power (F 1,44 range, 6.12-11.44; P range, .002-.02) and increases in elbow-varus moment (t 45 = 2.06, P = .046) and ball speed (t 45 = 2.37, P = .014). Although no between-groups differences were observed in pitching kinematic changes, improvements in trunk-rotation strength and power within the intervention group were correlated with a smaller pelvis rotation (a more "closed" pelvis) at lead-foot contact, smaller trunk-separation angle at lead-foot contact, and later timing of peak upper torso-rotation velocity (|r| = 0.436-0.566). The intervention effectively improved trunk-rotation strength and power and ball speed but increased elbow stress. This finding underscores the importance of reducing pitch counts or extending rest periods as ball speed increases. The intervention produced only limited changes in pitching kinematics. Enhanced trunk-rotation strength and power in the intervention group were associated with positive changes in trunk kinematics but no other kinematic adjustments. Combining strength training with technical feedback and extending the intervention duration may lead to greater biomechanical adaptations.

Hamstring injuries are common in the National Basketball Association (NBA); however, there is a paucity of epidemiological data regarding these injuries. The primary aims of this study were to characterize the epidemiology and performance outcomes of hamstring injuries in the NBA over 4 seasons. Secondary aims were to analyze the mechanism of hamstring injury through video analysis. Descriptive epidemiology study. Publicly available injury reports, player statistics, and game footage from the NBA over 4 seasons (2019-2022). We included a total of 181 injuries sustained by NBA players for analysis. We analyzed available video film for 45 players to determine the mechanism of injury. We recorded player demographics and performance data. We used Game Score, which uses box score statistics such as points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks to measure player performance. We compared performance outcomes by age, body mass index, game score, and position using paired t tests. By position, guards experienced the highest proportion of injuries (65.7%). Players injured their left hamstring most frequently (59.6%; P = .044). Players missed an average of 5.5 games after injury. Within 3 months of returning to play, 16.0% reinjured their ipsilateral hamstring and 5.0% injured their contralateral hamstring. Player performance declined after injury in the short and long term by -1.1 and -0.8 game score units, respectively. Video analysis revealed most injuries were noncontact (62.2%) and occurred as a player initiated a plant/jump movement with the injured extremity (41.9%). High-performing players have higher rates of reinjury and a more significant decline in performance compared with low-performing players. Most injuries occurred on offense when the injured player was jumping or landing. Due to the frequency of hamstring injuries, awareness of injury mechanisms and characteristics of injury can be useful for risk mitigation purposes.

Understanding the relationship between training load and injury in runners may provide information on how to reduce the risk of running injuries. To investigate the association between training load and injury risk in recreational runners with the use of global positioning system data. Prospective cohort study. This study is part of a randomized controlled trial on running injury prevention among recreational runners. Runners who provided informed consent received 3 follow-up questionnaires and were requested to share global positioning system data. Adult runners who registered for running events (distances, 10-42.195 km) in the Netherlands. Global positioning system-based training load was calculated as the acute&#x2009;:&#x2009;chronic workload ratio (ACWR) based on distance, duration, or speed of each training session. Cox regression models were performed to evaluate the association (hazard ratio [HR]) between the ACWR and running-related injury (RRI) onset. Global positioning system data from 461 participants (72.9% men; mean &#xb1; SD age = 43.8 &#xb1; 12.4 years; 42.3% reported a new RRI during follow-up) were used for analyses with a total of 20&#x2009;425 training sessions. A positive association between the ACWR and RRI onset was found for distance (HR = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.00, 1.74) and duration (HR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.79). In the analyses adjusted for confounding variables, only the ACWR based on duration (HR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.74) remained positively associated with RRI onset. No significant association was found between the ACWR and RRI onset when excluding runners with an RRI at baseline (15.8%). We identified an association between the ACWR and RRI onset in runners based on distance and duration respectively. The clinical relevance of the identified associations is questionable given the small HRs and inconsistency in outcomes, which makes the role of general training load advice in the prevention of RRIs uncertain.

Mart&#xed;nez-Rodr&#xed;guez, JA, Crotin, RL, Neville, J, Barcelo, RA, and Cronin, JB. Improving base running diagnostics with foot pod technology: Intersession reliability of linear and curvilinear running performance. J Strength Cond Res 40(7): e714-e720, 2026-The purpose of this study was to determine the intersession reliability of foot pod technology for quantifying kinematic measures over the 54.7-m straight-line sprint (linear) and home-to-second base sprint (curvilinear). Twelve, trained male high school baseball position players, performed 3 identical sessions separated by at least 2 days. Eight kinematic measures (maximum speed, average speed and right and left ground contact time, stride length, push-off, and impact) were quantified over 2 linear and 2 curvilinear trials, which were divided into segments-home to first, first to second, and home to second, for a total of 60 comparisons across 3 testing occasions. There was no evidence (p > 0.05) of systematic change in any of the variables between sessions, with 91% of the mean percent changes <2%. In terms of absolute consistency, 94% of coefficients of variation (CVs) were under 10%, with 63% of the CVs under 5%. Regarding relative consistency, for the curvilinear segments 1 and 2, and total segment, 80, 56, and 80% of the between-session comparisons had intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) greater than 0.74, respectively. The nonsignificant small percentage changes in the mean, low CVs, and good to excellent reliability of the ICCs for the most part indicate that foot pod technology can be used to reliably quantify linear and curvilinear base running performance measures with confidence. Consequently, this information can be used to better quantify base running efficiency and inform exercise prescription to improve base running performance.

Push-ups are performed ubiquitously as a means of strengthening/training and evaluating the upper extremity. However, push-ups performed on the hands with the wrist extended can cause wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries, which may result in disability. Conversely, individuals with a prior wrist or elbow injury are unable to perform push-ups. Our purpose was to evaluate movement patterns in two push-up styles (neutral and extended wrist) at the elbow and shoulder joints. We hypothesized that force-transfer will differ between the two styles, allowing the adjustment of training protocols according to athletic and physiologic needs. Fourteen healthy right-handed male volunteers performed push-ups on a neutral wrist and a hyperextended wrist in the gait analysis laboratory. Skin markers were applied over fixed points in the upper extremity. A Vicon motion capture system was used to follow the kinematics. Force vectors were measured using force plates. The movement and transfer of forces through the shoulder and elbow differ between the push-up styles. The shoulder moves more, in general, in a circular direction, when a push-up is performed on a neutral wrist compared to a push-up performed on an extended wrist. The shoulder is exposed to more load when the push-up is performed on a neutral wrist. The elbow moves less in general, and less in the medial and lateral planes, when the push-up is performed on a neutral wrist. The elbow is exposed to less load when the push-up is performed on a neutral wrist. The direction of forces through the joints differs between the two styles and the amount of force traversing the joints is inverse between the two styles. The movement through the elbow and shoulder is distributed differently during different styles of push-ups. The wrist and elbow can be relatively protected from ligament injury when push-ups are performed on a neutral wrist. Understanding the kinematics during different patterns of loading of the upper extremity can enable a tailored approach to strengthening training, treatment, and rehabilitation of the upper extremity. Specifically, differential strengthening and loading certain areas may be used for training protocols for a specific athletic task (such as throwing). Liegest&#xfc;tze werden allgemein als Mittel zur Kr&#xe4;ftigung, zum Training und zur Beurteilung der oberen Extremit&#xe4;t durchgef&#xfc;hrt. Liegest&#xfc;tze, die auf den H&#xe4;nden mit &#xfc;berstrecktem Handgelenk ausgef&#xfc;hrt werden, k&#xf6;nnen Verletzungen des Handgelenks, des Ellenbogens und der Schulter verursachen, die zu einer Beeintr&#xe4;chtigung f&#xfc;hren k&#xf6;nnen. Umgekehrt sind Personen mit einer vorherigen Handgelenks- oder Ellenbogenverletzung h&#xe4;ufig nicht in der Lage, Liegest&#xfc;tze auszuf&#xfc;hren. Unser Ziel war es, die Bewegungsmuster in zwei Liegest&#xfc;tz-Stilen (neutrale, gestreckte Handgelenke) in den Ellenbogen- und Schultergelenken zu bewerten. Wir stellten die Hypothese auf, dass sich die Kraft&#xfc;bertragung zwischen den beiden Stilen unterscheidet, wodurch Trainingsprotokolle an sportliche und physiologische Bed&#xfc;rfnisse angepasst werden k&#xf6;nnen.Vierzehn gesunde, rechtsh&#xe4;ndige m&#xe4;nnliche Freiwillige f&#xfc;hrten Liegest&#xfc;tze sowohl mit neutralem Handgelenk als auch mit &#xfc;berstrecktem Handgelenk im Ganganalyse-Labor durch. Hautmarker wurden an festen Punkten der oberen Extremit&#xe4;t angebracht. Ein Vicon-Bewegungserfassungssystem wurde verwendet, um die Kinematik zu verfolgen. Kraftvektoren wurden mithilfe von Kraftmessplatten gemessen.Die Bewegung und Kraft&#xfc;bertragung durch Schulter und Ellenbogen unterscheiden sich zwischen den beiden Liegest&#xfc;tz-Stilen. Die Schulter bewegt sich im Allgemeinen mehr &#x2013; in einer kreisf&#xf6;rmigen Richtung &#x2013; wenn ein Liegest&#xfc;tz mit neutralem Handgelenk ausgef&#xfc;hrt wird, verglichen mit einem Liegest&#xfc;tz mit &#xfc;berstrecktem Handgelenk. Die Schulter ist bei Liegest&#xfc;tzen mit neutralem Handgelenk einer h&#xf6;heren Belastung ausgesetzt. Der Ellenbogen bewegt sich insgesamt weniger und weniger in der medialen und lateralen Ebene, wenn der Liegest&#xfc;tz mit neutralem Handgelenk ausgef&#xfc;hrt wird. Der Ellenbogen ist bei dieser Variante einer geringeren Belastung ausgesetzt. Die Richtung der Kr&#xe4;fte durch die Gelenke unterscheidet sich zwischen den beiden Stilen, und die Kraftverteilung durch die Gelenke ist zwischen ihnen invers.Die Bewegungen durch Ellenbogen und Schulter verteilen sich w&#xe4;hrend der unterschiedlichen Liegest&#xfc;tz-Stile verschieden. Das Handgelenk und der Ellenbogen k&#xf6;nnen relativ vor Bandverletzungen gesch&#xfc;tzt werden, wenn Liegest&#xfc;tze mit neutralem Handgelenk ausgef&#xfc;hrt werden. Das Verst&#xe4;ndnis der Kinematik bei unterschiedlichen Belastungsmustern der oberen Extremit&#xe4;t erm&#xf6;glicht einen gezielten Ansatz f&#xfc;r Krafttraining, Behandlung und Rehabilitation der oberen Extremit&#xe4;t. Insbesondere kann die gezielte Kr&#xe4;ftigung und Belastung bestimmter Bereiche f&#xfc;r Trainingsprotokolle bei spezifischen sportlichen Aufgaben (wie dem Werfen) genutzt werden.

Growing evidence supports the potential of blood-based biomarkers for aiding in concussion diagnosis, though most work has focused on biomarker changes at the group level. Here, reliable change indices (RCI) identify individual athletes exhibiting meaningful elevations or decreases in biomarkers from baseline to multiple acute post-concussion timepoints. Baseline and post-injury blood (0-12, 12-36, and 36-60&#xa0;h) was prospectively collected from collegiate athletes in the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education Consortium. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), tau, neurofilament light (NfL), and phosphorylated-tau181 (p-tau181) were measured in plasma; c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-receptor antagonist (RA), tumor necrosis factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor were measured in serum. Reliable change was calculated by dividing the difference between baseline and post-injury visits by the standard error of the difference from uninjured controls. Athletes with concussion with RCI&#x2009;>&#x2009;1.65 (upper 5%) were classified as having 'elevated' biomarkers; those RCI&#x2009;<&#x2009;&#x2009;-&#x2009;1.65 (lower 5%) were classified as 'decreased'. Binomial tests determined if the proportion of athletes with elevated/decreased biomarkers was different than 5%. Fisher's exact tests determined if presence of either loss of consciousness (LOC) and/or post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) impacted proportions of elevated or decreased biomarkers. A total of 521 participants (198 controls, 323 athletes with concussion) were included in this study. A significant proportion of athletes with concussion had elevated GFAP (16.0%), IL-1RA (16.4%), and IL-6 (15.9%) at 0-12&#xa0;h; a significant proportion had elevated GFAP at 12-36 (19.0%) and 36-60&#xa0;h (14.6%). Subsets of athletes with concussion had no elevations in any marker at 0-12 (37%), 12-36 (45%), and 36-60-h visits (63%). For decreased biomarkers (RCI&#x2009;<&#x2009;&#x2009;-&#x2009;1.65), fewer participants with concussion had decreased NfL (0%) and GFAP (0%) at 12-36&#xa0;h, while a greater proportion had decreased p-tau181, NfL, UCH-L1, tau, IL-1RA, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and IL-10 at 36-60&#xa0;h (10.5-21.2%). Presence of LOC and/or PTA was associated with elevated GFAP at 12-36&#xa0;h (45% versus 15%; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.004). Elevations in biomarkers were primarily observed in the early-acute window (0-12&#xa0;h); with only GFAP showing elevations at later visits and sensitivity to altered consciousness. Only a subset of athletes with concussion had meaningful elevations of any single blood-based biomarker, with elevations seen in single markers rather than a global increase across multiple markers. Any single marker has limited ability to capture the heterogenous physiological response to concussion and ultimately aid in concussion diagnosis.

Shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) is a common upper limb complication following stroke. It is associated with poor functional recovery of the upper limb and reduced mobility. Both kinesiology tape (KT) and manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) are considered effective interventions for treating pain and swelling associated with SHS. However, there is currently no research examining the limitations and safety profile of combining K-tape with MLD for SHS management. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of KT combined with MLD in patients with post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome. This study will be a prospective, single-center, randomized, factorial, controlled clinical trial. This exploratory randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the efficacy of MLD combined with KT for post-stroke SHS. This study used a blinded design. Ninety-six patients with post-stroke SHS are randomly divided into four groups: (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;24 per group): Experimental Group 1: Conventional Rehabilitation (CR)&#x2009;+&#x2009;KT, Experimental Group 2: Conventional Rehabilitation (CR)&#x2009;+&#x2009;MLD, Experimental Group 3 (EG3): KT&#x2009;+&#x2009;MLD, Control Group: CR alone. All participants will receive CR as the baseline intervention. All subjects are first&#x2011;ever stroke patients diagnosed with unilateral limb paralysis by CT and/or MRI and meet the diagnostic criteria for SHS. The informed consent process is carried out by a trained researcher not involved in the patients' clinical care in a private room. Therapists participating in this study must hold a rehabilitation therapist qualification. Unified training will be provided to the treating therapists on MLD, KT, and conventional rehabilitation techniques. This study is conducted at the Army Specialized Medical Center. The Army Specialized Medical Center is a tertiary Grade A hospital located in Southwest China. In China's hierarchical medical system, tertiary Grade A hospitals represent the highest level in the hospital classification system. Outcome measures will be assessed at four time points: baseline (T0), 4&#xa0;weeks after initiating the intervention (T1), 3&#xa0;months post-treatment (T2), 6-month follow-up (T3). The primary endpoints will be as follows: pain intensity measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at T1, volume difference between the affected and unaffected upper limbs at T1. Secondary endpoints will include the following: upper limb motor function assessed by the Fugl-Meyer assessment for upper extremity (FMA-UE), activities of daily living evaluated using the modified Barthel index (MBI), joint range of motion (ROM) measurements, quality of life measured by the Stroke-specific quality of life scale (SS-QOL). Safety is assessed by monitoring vital signs (blood pressure and heart rate) before and after treatment, examining skin integrity at the tape application site for any adverse reactions (e.g., redness, rash), and recording any patient-reported increases in pain or other unexpected discomfort potentially related to the intervention. The efficacy of personalized rehabilitation therapy prescription interventions will be assessed through changes in primary and secondary outcome measures at the 4-week intervention point and during the 12-week follow-up period. To analyze whether MLD combined with KT for post-stroke shoulder-hand syndrome is superior to conventional rehabilitation in terms of pain, swelling, and motor function. Clinical Trial Registry-China ChiCTR2300074140.&#xa0; https://www.chictr.org.cn/ . First submitted on 31 July 2023.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition among physically active individuals, particularly sprinters, and is frequently associated with pain, impaired balance, and reduced functional performance. This study compared the effects of dynamic proprioceptive training and conventional strengthening on multidomain functional recovery in recreational sprinters with PFPS. A two-arm, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted among 60 recreational sprinters with unilateral PFPS. Participants were randomly allocated to either a Dynamic Proprioceptive Training (DPT) group or a Strengthening Program (SP) group (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;30 each). Both groups received supervised rehabilitation three times weekly for 12 weeks. Primary outcomes included pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale [NPRS]), dynamic balance (Y-Balance Test [YBT]), and single-hop distance. Secondary outcomes included limb symmetry index (LSI), recovery rates, and a composite Recovery Efficiency Index (REI). Assessments were performed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Repeated-measures ANOVA and regression-based analyses were performed. This trial was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2025/07/090253). Both groups improved significantly over time (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). However, the DPT group demonstrated greater clinically meaningful improvements than the SP group. At 12 weeks, between-group differences favored DPT for pain reduction (MD&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.01 NPRS points, 95% CI: 0.61-1.41), dynamic balance (MD&#x2009;=&#x2009;5.73 cm, 95% CI: 4.31-7.15), and hop performance (MD&#x2009;=&#x2009;35.84 mm, 95% CI: 16.84-54.85). Dynamic proprioceptive training produced greater multidomain functional recovery than conventional strengthening in recreational sprinters with PFPS. Incorporating sensorimotor and perturbation-based exercises into rehabilitation programmes may improve functional recovery, limb symmetry, and sport-specific performance in athletic populations.

Wheelchair sport athletes have received growing consideration after the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport's call for inclusion and investigation due to nonvalidated evaluation tools in this population. Limited baseline concussion data exist outside of Paralympic and collegiate adapted athletes. To quantify baseline symptom evaluation and the effects of modifying factors of age, sex, and daily wheelchair use in a sample of adolescent adapted athletes. Cross-sectional study. University adapted athletics facility. Forty-seven nonconcussed adolescent adapted athletes (aged 14.87 &#xb1; 1.8 years, 78.7% male) from across the United States participated during a university-sanctioned adapted athletics youth and high school camp. Participants completed the Athlete Background and Symptom Evaluation of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6. Demographics (eg, age, sex, wheelchair use), background medical information (eg, concussion history, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and symptom evaluation, consisting of the 22 symptom items, total number of symptoms, symptom severity score, symptom factors (eg, physical, cognitive, insomnia, and emotional), and follow-up questions if symptoms worsened with physical and mental activity and percentage of normal feeling, were recorded. Thirty-four percent of athletes were asymptomatic at baseline, with the most commonly reported symptoms being headache (38.3%), balance problems (36.2%), and difficulty concentrating (34%). No age differences (&#x2264;15 or >15 years) occurred in total symptoms (P = .31), severity scores (P = .29), and symptom factors (P range = .16 to .73). No sex differences existed in total symptoms (P = .217), severity scores (P = .189), and symptom factors (P range = .11 to .16). No differences were observed between day chair users and nonusers for total symptoms (P = .80), severity scores (P = .77), and symptom factors (P range = .20 to 96). In a sample of adolescent adapted athletes, 66% reported baseline symptoms, with headache and balance problems being the 2 most prevalent. Age, sex, and daily wheelchair use were not modifiers for baseline symptom reporting.

Serial 7s is a common cognitive test that is implemented as part of the movement assessment in the 6th Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT6) and the 6th Sport Concussion Office Assessment Tool (SCOAT6). While the Serial 7s test has proven to be a useful dual-task concussion testing paradigm, increases in math anxiety may limit its ecological validity with current student-athletes. To assess student-athletes' perceptions of the Serial 7s dual-task concussion testing paradigm as outlined in the SCAT6. University laboratory setting. Qualitative study. Fourteen participants, 7 females and 7 males, who had an average age of 20.79 &#xb1; 1.05 years. Participants completed the Timed Tandem Gait test and Dual Task Gait test as outlined in the SCAT6. Participants then completed a semistructured interview consisting of 4 questions. To establish the credibility of the qualitative data, member checking and data triangulation were used. Each interview was recorded and transcribed. The Colaizzi phenomenological approach was implemented to triangulate the findings. Five dominant themes emerged: (1) student-athletes displayed cognitive load and multitasking difficulties with Serial 7s; (2) student-athletes displayed math anxiety and varying confidence in mental math; (3) student-athletes displayed emotional and psychological reactions to Serial 7s; (4) prior experience and training affected student-athletes' perceptions of Serial 7s; and (5) student-athletes displayed task-specific challenges and strategies to Serial 7s. The Serial 7s dual task proved to be a mentally demanding exercise that elicited a range of positive and negative cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses. Clinicians should be aware of various factors that may affect patients' ability to complete the task successfully. Future studies are needed to examine how math anxiety and task confidence change during recovery, which may provide methods to develop individualized recovery protocols.

Prolonged computer use among office workers leads to postural disorders and musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the neck region. Pilates exercises and kinesiotaping are widely used interventions for the management of chronic neck pain. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Pilates exercises and kinesiotaping on neck pain, disability, cervical range of motion (CROM), neck muscle strength and core endurance in office workers with chronic neck pain. A randomised controlled trial was conducted with 30 office workers who completed the intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to either a Pilates group (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;16) or a kinesiotaping group (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;14). Both groups participated in an 8-week, supervised Pilates programme, while the kinesiotaping group additionally received kinesiotaping applications to the cervical region. Assessments of neck pain, disability, CROM, muscle strength and core endurance were conducted pre- and postintervention. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain, disability, CROM, neck muscle strength and core endurance (p < 0.05). Between-group comparisons revealed no significant differences in pain and disability outcomes (p > 0.05). However, an additional improvement in left cervical rotation CROM was observed in the kinesiotaping group (p = 0.001). Eight weeks of Pilates training significantly improved pain, disability and functional outcomes in office workers with chronic neck pain. Kinesiotaping provided limited additional benefits, primarily in rotational movements. From an occupational rehabilitation perspective, Pilates-based exercises may support work-related functional capacity and sustained work participation in sedentary occupations, while kinesiotaping may serve as a complementary modality. Further studies with larger samples are warranted to confirm these results. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06262997.

Concussion is a common but serious health concern among athlete and military populations. To improve understanding of concussion, the NCAA and U.S. Department of Defense established the Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium, which collected comprehensive baseline assessment data from collegiate athletes and military service academy members. In this study, we used baseline assessments collected in service academy cadets and midshipmen to estimate the likelihood of concussion in the following academic year. Using eXtreme Gradient Boosting, we determined how the predictive accuracy of baseline assessments changes over the first year after testing and compared concussion risk prediction across two sub-populations (varsity/club sport athletes and intramural cadets) and two injury mechanisms (concussions occurring during military training/physical education classes versus sports-related concussions). Exploratory analyses also identified and ranked the most influential variables contributing to risk prediction, offering insights that could guide future risk assessment and prevention efforts. The analytic dataset included 16,642 participants from four U.S. military academies between the 2015-2016 and 2019-2020 academic years after data preprocessing. We used eXtreme Gradient Boosting to predict concussion risk using baseline variables collected within the same academic year. Prediction accuracy decreased as time passed since the baseline assessment both in the overall model and within each sub-population and injury mechanism model, with the overall prediction dropping from 0.68 to less than 0.64. Concussion predictions were more accurate for intramural cadets and for injuries sustained during military training or physical education, compared to varsity/club sport athletes and sports-related concussions. Given the significant time and resource investment required to conduct baseline concussion testing, baseline assessments being used to predict concussion risk should be performed as close to time periods of greatest risk as possible. Future research is needed to develop streamlined population- and injury mechanism-specific predictive models using a smaller set of key baseline measures to facilitate more frequent baseline testing to optimize risk prediction.

Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of plantar heel pain leading to functional limitation and reduced quality of life. While extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a well-established treatment option, the additional benefit of kinesio taping (KT) as an adjunct modality remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of combining KT with ESWT on pain and foot function in patients with PF.&#xa0; Methods: This retrospective comparative study included 116 patients (54 in the KT+ESWT group and 62 in the ESWT-only group) with clinically diagnosed unilateral PF persisting for at least 3 months. Pain and functional status were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Roles and Maudsley Score (RMS), and Foot Function Index (FFI) subscales (pain, disability, and activity restriction) before and after a 3-week treatment period. Between-group differences were evaluated using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for baseline scores and demographic variables. Effect sizes were reported using partial eta-squared (&#x3b7;2) and post-hoc power analysis confirmed adequate study power.&#xa0; Results: Both treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements from baseline to post-treatment in VAS, RMS, and FFI subscales (all P < .001). After adjustment for baseline scores, the KT+ESWT group showed significantly greater improvement than the ESWT group across all outcome measures (adjusted P < .001 for VAS, RMS, FFI-Pain, FFI-Disability, and FFI-Activity restriction). The observed effect sizes were large (&#x3b7;2 = 0.165-0.280), and the reduction in VAS pain exceeded the minimally clinically important difference, indicating clinically meaningful improvement.&#xa0; Conclusion: The combined application of KT with ESWT resulted in superior short-term improvements in pain and foot function compared with ESWT alone in patients with PF. The complementary effects of KT in reducing plantar fascia load and enhancing proprioceptive control may augment ESWT's established regenerative and analgesic benefits. Given its simplicity, low cost, and accessibility, KT may be considered a practical adjunct to ESWT in clinical rehabilitation settings. However, as the follow-up period was limited to 3 weeks, the long-term durability of treatment effects remains uncertain. Future randomized controlled trials with extended follow-up are needed to validate these findings.&#xa0; &#xa0; Cite this article as: &#xc7;elik G, Sar&#x131; MH, Do&#x11f;an &#x15e;K, Bal A. Short-term effects of combined kinesio taping and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with plantar fasciitis. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2026; 60(2), 0640, doi: 10.5152/j.aott.2026.25640.

Patient recovery expectations may influence actual recovery, although how this applies to adolescents with concussion is not well understood. To evaluate associations between anticipated symptom resolution time with persisting symptoms after concussion (PSaC). We hypothesized that longer anticipated symptom resolution time would be associated with higher odds of developing PSaC. We conducted a prospective cohort study of adolescents with concussion. Participants were enrolled within 21 days of concussion and identified their anticipated recovery time (in weeks since injury). We monitored them through self-reported symptom resolution: PSaC was defined as symptoms lasting >28 days postinjury. Adolescents with concussion seen for care at 2 tertiary care centers. Eighty-seven adolescents (average age = 15.8 years, 49% female) with a recent concussion were followed for >1 month after initial evaluation, which took place <21 days postinjury. Thirty-nine participants (45%) developed PSaC. Participants reported an average anticipated symptom resolution time of 3.1 weeks from the date of their injury, reported at the time of first evaluation (SD = 1.5; range, 1-10 weeks). Those who developed PSaC anticipated longer recovery times than those who did not (3.6 &#xb1; 1.8 versus 2.7 &#xb1; 1.1 weeks; P = .009). After adjusting for covariates (symptom severity, concussion history, anxiety/depressive symptoms, sex, age, and time since injury), longer expected recovery time was associated with higher odds of developing PSaC (odds ratio = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.18, 4.16; P = .01). Among the entire sample, the average total time required for symptom resolution was 4.8 &#xb1; 3.5 weeks, with an average difference between anticipated symptom resolution time and actual symptom resolution time of 1.8 &#xb1; 3.5 weeks, favoring sooner estimated recovery time than what occurred. Concussion recovery expectations were associated with PSaC development. Initial postconcussion expectations may be considered with anticipatory guidance for concussion recovery. Clinicians should include patient education to guide expectations surrounding recovery, especially in the setting of increased patient access to potentially inaccurate information.

In the existing patellofemoral pain (PFP) literature, researchers often have assessed a single joint or each joint independently with limited evidence considering the relative contributions of the entire lower limb joint complex (ie, hip-knee-ankle). To compare joint work and work contributions of the hip, knee, and ankle in the sagittal and frontal planes during a single-legged squat and lunge between women with PFP and pain-free women. Cross-sectional study. Laboratory. A total of 34 women aged 18 to 40 years, including 17 participants with PFP (age = 26.1 &#xb1; 5.4 years, height = 165.3 &#xb1; 4.9 cm, mass = 66.2 &#xb1; 14.7 kg) and 17 pain-free participants (age = 27.2 &#xb1; 2.9 years, height = 162.7 &#xb1; 4.4 cm, mass = 59.0 &#xb1; 6.8 kg). Joint work was computed by integrating the negative (energy absorption) or positive (energy generation) regions of the joint power curve. Joint work contribution was determined as a percentage of the sum of all 3 lower limb joints (hip, knee, and ankle) during energy absorption and energy generation. Group comparisons were performed using independent t tests or Mann-Whitney U tests with Cohen d or Wilcoxon r effect sizes, respectively. During the single-legged squat, women with PFP exhibited greater ankle-joint work (P &#x2264; .04; Cohen d range, 0.74-0.87) and higher ankle-joint work contribution (P &#x2264; .01; Cohen d = 0.91 or r = 0.48) in the sagittal plane for both energy absorption and generation compared with pain-free women. During the lunge, women with PFP displayed greater hip-, ankle-, and total joint work (P &#x2264; .04; r range, 0.37-0.61) and higher hip-joint work contribution (P &#x2264; .049; Cohen d range, 0.70-0.71) in the frontal plane for both energy absorption and generation compared with pain-free women. Women with PFP may have different joint work redistribution strategies during functional tasks, characterized by increased work and work contributions from the proximal (hip) and distal (ankle) joints compared with pain-free women. Despite greater work by the proximal and distal joints, knee-joint work remained similar to that of pain-free women, resulting in a higher total work demand for the lower limb in women with PFP.