The aims of this study were to describe the etiology of acute respiratory infections (ARinf) in athletic individuals, and to identify differences in the clinical presentation, evidence of possible multi-organ involvement, and illness classification between common pathogen groups. One-hundred-and-sixteen cases of confirmed ARinf in athletic individuals were evaluated ≤ 5 days of the onset of an ARinf. Nasopharyngeal swab multiplex PCR testing was performed to identify a causative pathogen. Symptomatology, clinical examination findings, results of selected blood tests, and the clinical syndrome and illness severity classifications were compared between four common pathogen groups. The etiologies of ARinf in this cohort were: rhinovirus = 34(29%), influenza = 17(15%), SARS-CoV-2 = 15(13%), common coronavirus = 13(11%), 'unidentified' = 16(14%), 'dual pathogen' = 9(8%), and 'other' = 12(10%). Clinical presentation differed among the four common pathogen groups as follows: Influenza had more total symptoms, lower respiratory & regional symptoms, and systemic & non-respiratory symptoms than rhinovirus (p ≤ 0.002) and common coronavirus (p < 0.05). Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 had higher total symptoms and systemic & non-respiratory symptom severity scores than rhinovirus (p ≤ 0.0006 and p < 0.03 respectively) and common coronavirus (p ≤ 0.03 and p = 0.02 respectively). Evidence of other non-respiratory organ involvement on clinical examination was highest for influenza (53%). Illness classification for pathogen groups differed: common coronavirus had the highest percentage (%) of rhinitis-like ('common cold') illnesses (69%), and influenza had the highest % of 'flu-like' illnesses (82%). Influenza had the highest % of severe illnesses (88%) and common coronavirus the lowest (31%). 41% of rhinovirus presented with severe illness. Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 had greater number and severity of symptoms than rhinovirus and common coronavirus. Among the four common pathogen groups, influenza had the highest percentage of abnormal clinical examination and serological findings and severe illnesses. Knowledge of the causative pathogen and the clinical presentation may add value to the risk assessment and guide clinical decision-making in return-to-sport following ARinf in athletic individuals.
To describe the profile of sports-related musculoskeletal complaints treated by physiotherapy during a multi-sport university competition, identify associated factors (training load, strengthening frequency, and previous complaint history), and evaluate the immediate effect of physiotherapy interventions on pain. gThis cross-sectional descriptive epidemiological study analyzed physiotherapy records from a University Games (2022-2025), involving 5100 student-athletes. All athletes who sought physiotherapy for a musculoskeletal complaint during the events were included. A standardized assessment form recorded demographics, sport modality, training characteristics, strengthening frequency, previous complaints in the same region, anatomical location, mechanism, physiotherapy interventions, and pain intensity (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, NPRS) before and after treatment. Incidence rates were calculated as physiotherapy-treated complaints per 1000 athlete exposure hours. A total of 1803 physiotherapy treatment encounters were registered. Most complaints involved the lower limbs (64.7%) and were classified as traumatic (50.3%) or atraumatic/overuse (25.0%). Five team sports - futsal, 7-a-side soccer, volleyball, handball, and basketball - accounted for 93.6% of sport-specific cases. The overall incidence of physiotherapy-treated complaints was 29.62 per 1000 athlete exposure hours. Baseline pain showed no significant difference between encounters with and without a previous complaint in the same region (p = 0.060), was weakly correlated with weekly sport-training hours (ρ = 0.101, p = 0.014), and was not associated with strengthening frequency (ρ = 0.038, p = 0.192). In 1020 encounters with pre- and post-treatment data, a mean reduction of -2.69 NPRS points was observed (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.58). Musculoskeletal complaints during multi-sport university competitions predominantly affect the lower limbs and are mainly traumatic in nature, particularly in high-intensity team sports. Immediate, on-site physiotherapy provides substantial pain relief, underscoring its role in acute athlete care and as a foundation for targeted injury prevention strategies.
The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the injury incidences, types, locations, mechanisms, and results after injuries during the Türkiye Open 2025 Taekwondo Tournament and to identify differences between competition categories. The tournament occurred in Antalya from February 8-16, 2025. A total of 2068 athletes from 60 countries participated in para taekwondo (PT), seniors (SC), juniors (JC), and cadets (CC) categories, with 1919 matches held. Injuries encountered by athletes were recorded by two sports medicine physicians using the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 'Daily Medical Report on Injuries and Illnesses' form. We defined an injury as an injury that occurs when the referee stops play and calls the medical team to the field. Injury incidence rates (IRs) were calculated per 1000 matches, per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), per 100 athletes (clinical incidence). Injury incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared regarding categories. A total of 147 injuries occurred during the matches: 18 in PT Kyorugi (K44), 39 in SC, 47 in JC, and 43 in CC. The IRs were as follows: PT K44: 211.7/1,000 matches, 19.14/100 athletes, 105,88/1000 AEs; SC: 84.4/1,000 matches, 8.2/100 athletes, 42,57/1000 AEs; JC: 63.8/1,000 matches, 6.21/100 athletes, 31,92/1000 AEs; CC: 67.6/1,000 matches, 6.28/100 athletes, 30,28/1000 AEs. PT had a significantly higher IRs compared to other categories. There were statistically significant differences between the genders of the injured athletes when the four categories were compared. Contusion was the most common type of injury across all categories, and the most frequent injury mechanism was contact with another athlete. In all categories, athletes continued to compete in the majority of injuries. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the injury epidemiology observed in international PT and taekwondo matches. Notably, the IRs was highest in the PT compared to other categories. These results may contribute to the enhancement of protective equipment design and the development of targeted injury prevention strategies aimed at reducing injury rates across all competitive levels especially in para taekwondo athletes.
The use of electric scooters (e-scooters) has surged over the past decade, leading to a notable rise in e-scooter related injuries presenting to emergency departments. This study aims to analyze trends and mechanisms of e-scooter injuries in the United States pediatric population. We hypothesized that there would be a significant increase in pediatric e-scooter injuries from 2014 to 2023, and particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2023, with many patients sustaining fractures. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for pediatric (age ≤18) electric scooter injuries presenting to US emergency departments between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2023. Patient demographics, injury location, discharge disposition, and diagnosis were extracted. The mechanisms of injury were categorized based on the injury narrative. Injury trends were analyzed using linear regression analysis. A total of 2,231 pediatric e-scooter injuries (NE = 63,527) were included. The mean age was 11.9 ± 4.0 years old and 63.3% of patients were male. There was a statistically significant increase in pediatric e-scooter injuries from 2014 to 2023 (p = 0.002). Additionally, we identified a 2.4 fold increase in annual post-COVID (2021-2023) average injuries compared to pre-COVID (2014-2019). The most common diagnosis was fractures (NE = 18103, 28.5%). The most common body part injured was the head (NE = 11258, 17.7%). Collisions with other moving vehicles comprised 10.8% of all injuries (NE = 6840). The most common mechanisms of injury were falling off of the e-scooter (NE = 43889, 69.1%). Out of the 432 (19.4%) narratives that reported helmet usage, 72.6% indicated that the patient was not wearing a helmet. Pediatric e-scooter injuries have increased significantly in the past decade, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. As e-scooter usage continues to rise, these findings underscore the need for targeted safety measures to protect young riders from fractures and head injuries.
The aim of this study is to evaluate differences in treatment of musculoskeletal injuries based on primary care sports medicine physician characteristics. Retrospective review of treatment provided at a walk-in orthopedic clinic was extracted by chart review. Treatment patterns were compared by chi-square test including primary specialty (Emergency Medicine (EM), Family Medicine (FM), Orthopedics (OR) and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), and Internal Medicine (IM) and Pediatrics (Peds)), gender, and years of experience. Additionally, associations between physician characteristics and treatment recommendations were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. Treatment options evaluated were advanced imaging, medications (including pain medication, oral steroids, muscle relaxers, etc.), steroid injections, physical therapies, durable medical equipment (DME), activity restrictions, and surgery or follow-up. A total of 461 patient encounters were included. The frequency of medication recommendations among providers varied significantly with physician gender, primary specialty, and experience. Medication utilization was highest among male physicians and OR/PMR physicians. Physicians with more than 10 years of experience prescribed less medication compared to physicians with 0-5 years of experience. Physicians with greater than 10 years of experience recommended physical therapy more often than physicians with less experience. Data suggests there are differences in documented treatment recommendations based on the residency completed prior to sports medicine fellowship, physician gender, and experience. Increased diversity within Sports Medicine fellowship classes, such as including both males and females as well as FM trained physicians and EM trained physicians, can bring additional perspectives and experience to patient care.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a promising treatment option in orthopedics, albeit with mixed clinical data. Therefore, patient interest in PRP has grown, reflected as an increase in the number of PRP-related internet searches. The aims of this study are to 1) investigate the most frequently searched online patient questions related to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and 2) evaluate the quality of websites providing information. Three PRP-related search queries were entered into Google Web Search and the 100 most common questions for each query were included. Questions were categorized based on Rothwell's Classification of Questions (Fact, Policy, Value) and further subcategorized based on their content. Websites were further categorized by type (Academic, Commercial, Government, Medical Practice, Single Surgeon Personal, and Social Media) and evaluated based on the JAMA Benchmark Criteria for website quality. Statistical analysis was performed with descriptive statistics and reported as percentages where appropriate. Most questions fell into the Rothwell Value (43.0%) and Fact (40.6%) categories. The most common questions that patients had about PRP pertained to efficacy of treatment (14.0%), comparison of treatment with other options (13.0%), and cost (10.9%). The most common sources of information were medical practice (50.9%) and single surgeon personal websites (14.7%), which had low website quality with JAMA Benchmark criteria of 0.68 ± 0.87, and 0.58 ± 0.85, respectively. The most common questions patients had about PRP pertained to the evaluation of its effectiveness and how it compared with other treatment options. Notably, patients received most information from websites of low quality, highlighting the potential for bias and misinformation. Physicians should use these results instead provide up-to-date, evidence-driven information about PRP to help guide patient expectations.
Soccer is one of the sports with the highest number of injuries in both sexes with a prevalence of 13% around the ankle-foot area. Various strategies have been proposed to prevent injuries like FIFA 11+ warm-up. Its reliability has been questioned due to the diversity of results obtained depending on the movement pattern studied and the body region analyzed. Few studies have analyzed its acute effects on distal structures, such as plantar soft tissue properties, local perfusion or temperature. The objective of this study was to determine the acute effects of performing the FIFA 11+ on mechanical and physiological properties in ankle-foot regions. The sample included 120 amateur men and women soccer players. Various mechanical properties of the muscle and tendon such as oxygen saturation in the muscle, skin temperature, range of motion of the ankle and maximum isometric force of the toes were analyzed, before and after performing the FIFA 11 +. Results: indicate the absence of significant differences in any of the variables analyzed, except for the mechanical response of the plantar fascia (p < 0.0014). FIFA 11+ may not provide a sufficiently strong local stimulus to generate mechanical and metabolic responses in the different structures of the foot and ankle, even though it remains an established long-term injury-prevention program. Other warm-up strategies to enhance its effects may consider incorporating.
Horse riding is a common sport, but no study specifically addresses joint dislocations. The purpose of this study is to describe joint dislocations due to equines using a national emergency department (ED) database. Such data can be helpful in injury prevention strategies. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database for the years 2000-2023 was used. The NEISS database is a statistically representative sample of injuries seen in EDs across the US giving national estimates. Mechanism of injury was tabulated into groups: 1) did the patient fall from the horse 2) was the patient bucked, thrown, or kicked off of the horse, 3) was there equipment (tack) malfunction, 4) was the patient stepped on by the horse, 5) was the patient struck by/against an object, 6) was the patient kicked by the, 7) and others. There were 625 dislocations which involved the shoulder (289, 46.2%), elbow (95, 15.2%), finger (85, 13.6%), acromioclavicular joint (48, 7.7%), patellofemoral joint (39, 4.8%), hip (22, 3.5%), pubic symphysis (16, 2.6%), and ankle (7, 1.1%). The average age was 41 years; 49.7% were male and 50.3% female. Mechanisms of injury were falling from the horse (54.1%), bucked/thrown off (27.7%), equipment malfunction (7.3%), stepped on by the horse (2.1%), struck by/against an object (1.9%), kicked (0.6%), and others (4.0%). Those with elbow dislocations were the youngest (average 32 years) and pubic symphysis the oldest (average 52 years) (p < 10-4). Females had the highest percentage of patellofemoral dislocations (70.2%) and males the highest percentage of pubic symphysis dislocations (92.9%) (p = 0.0018). Although joint dislocations due to equestrian activity are uncommon, the majority occurred in the upper extremity. Male/female involvement is equal, different than the typical female predominance in equestrian activity and overall equestrian related injuries.
Medial elbow injuries occur in approximately one-third of all young baseball players and are characterized by injuries to the bone and cartilaginous growth plates. Bone mineral mass, a representative of bone strength, may show individual differences during growth, and the bone strength can temporarily decrease depending on the stage of bone development. However, the relationship between bone mineral mass and medial elbow injuries in young baseball players has not yet been investigated. The bone mineral mass would be lower in players with medial elbow injuries, causing lower bone strength and increased susceptibility to injury. Cross-sectional study. We recruited 215 baseball players aged 9-12 years; the players completed a questionnaire regarding their age, height, weight, practice duration and frequency, baseball experience, and number of pitches per day. The injury and control groups were determined by ultrasonographic evaluation of the medial aspect of the elbow joint, and bone mineral mass was measured by bioelectric impedance analysis. The hip and shoulder ranges of motion were measured. Each variable was compared between the injury and control groups using the Student's t-test. Simultaneous multivariate logistic regression analysis was subsequently performed to identify the factors associated with medial elbow injuries. Bone mineral mass was significantly higher in the injury group than in the control group (2.02 ± 0.30 kg vs. 1.91 ± 0.26 kg, p = 0.003). However, it was not significantly associated with medial elbow injuries in multivariate logistic analysis. Baseball experience (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06; p = 0.009) were significantly associated with medial elbow injury. Contrary to our hypothesis, bone mineral mass was higher in players with medial elbow injuries, but was not significantly associated with them. A one-time measurement of bone mineral mass is probably not specific enough to analyze the condition of the medial epicondyle. Baseball experience has been identified as a possible factor associated with medial elbow injuries in young players, and increases in experience should be used as an indicator to assess elbow joint health. What is known about the subject: Young baseball players who start their careers with low amounts of bone minerals may continue to have low amounts compared to their peers even after a growth spurt. Therefore, these players may be more susceptible to bone injuries, although all players are likely to experience similar amounts of mechanical stress in the body.What this study adds to existing knowledge: Although, the bone mineral mass is higher in those with medial elbow injuries, it is not significantly associated as an independent factor with the prevalence of medial elbow injuries in young baseball players. Baseball experience is a possible factor associated with medial elbow injuries in young baseball players, and increases in experience should be used as an indicator to assess elbow joint health.
This study aimed to examine the relationship between psychological well-being and aggression among handball players and to determine whether exercise addiction mediates this relationship. A descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational design was used. The population consisted of players competing in the Turkish Handball Leagues during the 2024-2025 season, and 442 athletes participated using a non-probability sampling method. Data were collected via an online survey including a personal information form, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the Exercise Addiction Inventory. Psychological well-being showed a significant negative correlation with aggression (r = -0.242, p < 0.001). Exercise addiction was positively associated with both psychological well-being (r = 0.212, p < 0.001) and aggression (r = 0.105, p = 0.027). Mediation analysis indicated that exercise addiction significantly and partially mediated the relationship between psychological well-being and aggression (indirect effect 95% CI: 0.0246-0.1654). The direct effect of psychological well-being on aggression remained significant (β = -0.7093, p < 0.001). Higher psychological well-being was associated with lower aggression among handball players, whereas exercise addiction was associated with both higher psychological well-being and higher aggression and emerged as a partial statistical mediator of this relationship. These findings may help inform future studies and preventive strategies focusing on athlete mental health and behavioral regulation. However, because of the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn.
Long-term trends in the use of oral contraceptives or progestin preparations in elite female athletes and the types of hormonal preparations are unclear. This study aimed to examine longitudinal changes in the prevalence and types of hormonal preparations used by Japanese female Olympians over 16 years. This retrospective cohort study analyzed pre-participation medical examination questionnaires, including age, sport, and whether participants were taking prescribed hormonal preparations, from all Japanese female athletes selected for nine consecutive Olympic Games (Beijing 2008-Paris 2024). Data on the use and specific type of oral contraceptives (OCs) and progestin-only preparations were extracted. Temporal trends were assessed using weighted logistic regression models. The total number of female athletes who competed in the past nine Olympic Games was 1,227. The prevalence of hormonal preparation use increased more than six-fold, from 4.7% at Beijing 2008 to a peak of 36.0% at Beijing 2022 (29.3% at Paris 2024). A weighted logistic regression confirmed a significant trend, with the odds of use increasing 1.67-fold per four-year Olympic cycle (95% CI 1.48-1.89, p < 0.001). A significant shift occurred from OCs containing ≥30 µg of ethinylestradiol (EE) to those containing 20 µg of EE, and from desogestrel-based OCs to those containing drospirenone and norethisterone. Progestin-only preparations were first reported at Rio 2016, with their use increasing thereafter. The number of elite-level female athletes in Japan using hormone preparations has increased significantly over the past 16 years, and the types of preparations used have also diversified. This trend highlights the growing importance of gynecological support in elite sports. Future research should focus on the potential performance and health effects of the newer-generation formulations that are now predominantly used.
Due to a range of pressures associated with high-performance environments, elite athletes are at increased risk of eating disorders and disordered eating. Most prevalence studies focus on female athletes in lean or esthetic sports, with males, particularly those competing in power sports, seldom considered. This study addresses this gap by exploring disordered eating in elite male adolescent rugby union players. We distributed an online survey to male rugby players aged 16-18 through RFU-affiliated academies. The survey contained three sections: general demographics; the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q); and knowledge of eating disorders. From 107 responses, 14% had a global EDE-Q score that met the clinical cut off of 1.68 for males displaying symptoms of an eating disorder. An increased Body Mass Index (BMI) was statistically significantly associated with a positive increase in global EDE-Q score. Props demonstrated the highest global EDE-Q scores. The desire to change body size was also statistically associated with increased global EDE-Q scores. Most participants admitted poor knowledge of eating disorders and where to access help to manage them by giving a score of 2 on a 1-5 Likert scale ranging from no knowledge to very knowledgeable. Overall, 14% of the elite adolescent male rugby participants in this study met the clinical cut off EDE-Q global score, suggesting that there may be a higher prevalence of disordered eating behaviors and attitudes compared to the general population. Increased BMI and certain positions are associated with more disordered eating behaviors and attitudes. There is also a lack of confidence in knowledge about EDs and where to access help, therefore greater education and awareness about this issue is warranted. More research is required to further explore the reasons for the increase in disordered eating behaviors and attitudes.
The purpose of this scoping review was to determine if there is an association between sleep patterns, as measured by sleep actigraphy, and athletic injuries and performance. Studies were included from Pubmed, Embase, and SPORTDiscus, if they measured sleep using actigraphy, evaluated sports injuries and athletic performance. Systematic reviews, narrative reviews, and those not using actigraphy or which focused on concussions instead of other sports injuries were excluded. A total of 17 studies met inclusion criteria, examining athletes from 10 different sports. Of the seven studies evaluating the relationship between sleep metrics (sleep latency, efficiency, duration, wake after sleep onset) and injury occurrence, four studies (57%) found that decreased sleep correlated with increased injury occurrence in elite soccer, paralympic, and adolescent track and field athletes. Eight studies (47%) evaluated the relationship between sleep metrics and performance (reaction time, sports specific tasks, aerobic, and anaerobic capacity), finding that decreased sleep metrics correlated with decreased aerobic and anaerobic performance in rugby athletes, cyclists, triathletes, mixed martial arts (MMA), and Dutch elite youth athletes. Findings of this study show that there is no consensus on the relationship between the amount or quality of sleep and rates of sports-related injuries in adult athletes. Poor sleep metrics (total sleep time/duration, latency, and efficiency) were correlated with a decrease in response time in cyclists and Dutch elite youth athletes. Worsened sleep metrics were also found to decrease aerobic performance in physically active males, MMA fighters, rugby players, triathletes, and cyclists. In summary, these findings suggest that there is an association between poor sleep and worsened athletic performance, but the evidence for injury risk is inconclusive.
The prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) among female athletes is higher than that among their male counterparts up to 40%. Low BMD increases the risk of stress fractures. To examine factors associated with low BMD in female athletes, and to develop, test, and evaluate a Pre-screening Tool for Early Detection of Low BMD in Female Athletes (PreST-LBMD). The development and validation groups (381 and 233 subjects, respectively) underwent a medical interview and a BMD test at the lumbar spine using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A Z-score < -1 was classified as low BMD. After extracting factors associated with low BMD from univariate logistic regression and multivariate least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses, each variable was scored based on the β coefficients from LASSO regression to create the PreST-LBMD. The development model was validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Furthermore, using external validation data, sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the performance of PreST-LBMD. Factors associated with low BMD included age at menarche, amenorrhea for more than 1 year during the teenage years, current duration of amenorrhea, body mass index, history of stress fractures, and exercise load. The calculated cutoff value for a high likelihood of low BMD was 3 points, with a sensitivity of 0.83 (0.79-0.88), a negative predictive value of 0.85 (0.81-0.90), and an area under the curve of 0.74 (0.67-0.81).  We successfully developed the PreST-LBMD, which showed promising results identifying female athletes with low BMD. Those scoring ≥3 should be assessed by DXA and evaluated for the likelihood of low BMD by the athlete's health and performance team.
Ice hockey is a high-impact sport that can put athletes in high-risk situations for injuries. While the game has shifted toward speed over physicality, fractures remain a major concern. Therefore, it would be valuable to observe whether this had an effect on fracture rates in men's ice hockey. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and trends of fractures sustained in men's ice hockey in the United States. All men's ice hockey-related fractures presented to United States EDs from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2023 were queried using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). For each fracture, patient disposition, demographics, and injury site were recorded. National estimates (NE) were calculated using the NEISS statistical sample weight. Injury trends were evaluated by linear regression modeling. A NE of 58,910 ice hockey-related fractures occurred among male players between 2004 and 2023. There was a qualitative decrease in annual fractures (p = 0.208) from 2004 to 2023. There was a significant decrease from 2004 to 2019 (p = 0.001) followed by a 172.6% increase to a record high number of fractures in 2022 (NE = 3,953). The hand was the most commonly fractured part of the body (NE = 17,400, 29.5%). All body regions, except the leg, saw increases in annual injury frequency, including record highs for head, trunk, and shoulder fractures. Adolescents (ages 13-19 years) had the highest fracture rates (56.6%) amongst age groups. Fracture hospitalization rate was 5.5% overall (NE = 3,264). While the overall number of fractures amongst male ice hockey players decreased yearly until the COVID-19 pandemic, a sharp increase in fractures was observed, reaching a record high in 2022. Additionally, the hand was the most commonly fractured part of the body, and adolescents have the highest risk of fractures from ice hockey.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been increasingly used for chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, yet its true clinical value remains controversial, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PRP as both a conservative intervention and an adjunct to surgical treatment for chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, with a focus on its impact on patient outcomes. In accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, two independent reviewers conducted a literature search and compared the therapeutic effects of PRP injection versus control groups in the treatment of chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy and as an adjunct to surgical treatment. The primary outcomes were assessed using Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain. Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 8 studies involving 507 patients were included. Results indicated that the PRP group exhibited superior short-term VISA-A scores compared to the control group [MD = 2.78, 95% CI (1.29, 4.28), p = 0.0003]. However, no significant differences were observed at other follow-up time points. Although the PRP group demonstrated overall lower VAS scores [SMD = 0.76, 95% CI (0.26, 1.26), p = 0.003], subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences between the groups at any time point (p > 0.05). Additionally, no significant improvement in tendon thickness in the PRP group compared to the control group (p > 0.05). Furthermore, two studies reported on postoperative pain, functional, and satisfaction scores between PRP adjunctive treatment and control groups, with no significant differences observed between the groups at any time point (p > 0.05). Current evidence demonstrates that PRP provides only short-term functional improvement in chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy, with no significant long-term or structural benefits and no additional advantage as a surgical adjunct. PRP should not be considered routine treatment; clinicians should prioritize evidence-based rehabilitation while counseling patients regarding its limited, transient effects. Future research must focus on establishing standardized PRP protocols, conducting large multicenter trials, and investigating optimized formulations and combination therapies to potentially enhance outcomes.
Screening instruments suitable for the early detection of mental health issues in athletes are limited. The aim of this study is to adapt the Mental Health Disorders Screening Instrument for Athletes (MHDSIA) into Turkish and evaluate its psychometric properties. The adaptation process followed COSMIN guidelines. Language adaptation was performed using a forward-backward translation method, and content validity was evaluated with expert opinions. This cross-sectional methodological study included 251 volunteer athletes. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analyses were employed for construct validity, and reliability was examined with the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Criterion validity was tested against the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and sensitivity and specificity were evaluated via Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The Turkish version of the MHDSIA demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.864) and satisfactory content validity (I-CVI = 0.857-1.000; S-CVI = 0.969). EFA supported a single-factor structure, which was confirmed by CFA, with adequate goodness-of-fit indices (e.g. RMSEA = 0.074). The ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.774 (p < 0.001), with an optimal cutoff point identified as 32, yielding sensitivity of 78.4% and specificity of 67.5%. The Turkish version of the MHDSIA was determined to be a valid and reliable screening instrument, and it has been demonstrated that it can be used as an effective method for assessing the mental health of athletes.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the content, reliability and quality of YouTube® videos related to dynamic balance exercise training. 'Dynamic balance exercises' was searched on YouTube in English in August 2025, and a total of 91 videos were watched. The videos were categorized based on their content features and source of upload. The reliability of the information was assessed using the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool, while video quality was evaluated through the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and the JAMA benchmark criteria. Two physiotherapists with expertise in sports rehabilitation independently reviewed each video. In cases of discrepancy, a third independent evaluator provided the final judgment to ensure objectivity. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT07117734). The findings indicate that among the 91 exercise videos focusing on dynamic balance exercises, 69 (76%) were classified as useful, while 22 (24%) contained inaccurate information. mDISCERN, GQS and JAMA scores exhibited statistically significant differences based on the source of the video (p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001 respectively). It was observed that videos uploaded by healthcare providers demonstrated greater quality and reliability. Additionally, the linear regression analysis revealed no significant associations between the GQS, mDISCERN, and JAMA scores and the Video Power Index (VPI). Inter-rater reliability, assessed using Cohen's kappa, showed moderate agreement for mDISCERN (0.503), GQS (0.549), and JAMA (0.528). While the majority of videos were useful, a portion still contained misleading information. Commonly used metrics such as VPI and view ratio do not necessarily reflect content accuracy. Therefore, paying attention to the credentials or professional background of video creators may help users access higher-quality and more reliable content.
To describe thepattern of injuries in the second division of men's professional football in Argentina. This descriptive prospective multicentric study included 195players from six teams. The methods adhered to the football extension of theinternational olympic committee (IOC) consensus statement on injurysurveillance. A time-loss injury definition was used. Primary outcomes includedinjury incidence rates, types of common injuries and time loss. Theoverall injury incidence rate was 3.67 injuries per 1000 hours(h) of footballexposure (95% CI: 2.6 - 4.6). In matches, the incidence rate was 26.42/1,000 h(95% CI: 21.55 to 32.08) and in training it was 1.91/1,000 h (95% CI:  1.54 to 2.33). The overall injury burden was84.10 days lost per 1000 h (95% CI 45.81; 122.4). The injury types with the highest time-lossburden were muscle injury (31.56 per 1000 h 95% CI 27.660; 35.630) and ligamentsprains (32.799 per 1000 h 95% CI 17.370; 51.080). Thisstudy is one of the first surveillance studies of professional men's footballin South America, demonstrating the feasibility of surveillance in the ArgentinianFootball Association (AFA), and providing valuable insights into theepidemiology of injuries in this region. The results highlight several notablefindings, including the relatively high rates of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) injuries and training-related injuries, suggesting the presence of a distinctive injury pattern in AFA league compared to other regions worldwide,emphasizing the need for region-specific prevention and management strategies.These findings can inform future policies and practices aimed at reducinginjury rates and improving player health and team performance.
The preseason period in rugby plays a key role in athlete preparation for the demands of the sport during the in-competition period. Epidemiological data pertaining to rugby have focused mainly on senior elite professional with little evidence available for junior elite professionals, and even less during the preseason period. This may limit the ability of stakeholders in the sport to understand the effects of injury on participants during the preseason period. To determine the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and associated risk factors for injury among elite male junior provincial rugby players in South Africa during a 14-week preseason period. A prospective cohort study. Data collection procedures were in-line with consensus statements in sports and rugby. Prospective injury data related to 53 male participants were collected. Descriptive statistics was used to describe clinical characteristics of injury, cross-tabulations were created to investigate risk factor associations, and logistic regression was used to model the risk factors. The overall injury prevalence was 75.5%. The incidence of match play injuries (149.26/1000 h) were higher than training injuries (23.32/1000 h). Injuries to the lower limb (48.8%) and muscle/tendon injuries (48.2%) were most commonly reported injuries by anatomical region and tissue type during the preseason period. When controlling for age and playing position, baseline injury was associated with a higher risk of sustaining a subsequent injury during preseason. Age, baseline injury, and playing position showed no statistically significant association with injury risk. A high number of training and match play injury incidence were recorded for elite male junior provincial rugby players. Baseline injury was associated with a higher risk of sustaining a subsequent injury during preseason when controlling for playing position and age.