{"title":"Injury prevention and athlete health-risk management in freestyle wrestling: a scoping review of direct and transferable evidence.","authors":"Haolin Wang, Lulu Guo","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2720154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2720154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This scoping review mapped direct evidence on injury prevention and health-risk management in freestyle and other Olympic-style wrestling and distinguished it from cautiously transferable evidence. Following PRISMA-ScR, PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus were searched for records published from 1 January 2021 to 14 May 2026. A post hoc source-role audit separated wrestling-specific from contextual sources, and findings were narratively synthesised. Eighteen direct and 41 contextual sources were included: five surveillance studies, seven studies of screening, monitoring or performance proxies, one preventive-intervention trial and five health-risk studies. Surveillance definitions and denominators varied, and most screening studies did not prospectively assess injury prediction. In male cadet freestyle wrestlers, Wrestling+ recorded 20 injuries versus 30 in controls, although inconsistent effect estimates limit interpretation. Standardised surveillance is needed, and Wrestling+ may merit consideration in comparable populations; evidence for screening, health-risk management and implementation remains insufficient.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-31"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148766094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pablo Fernández-Berros, Jorge Muñiz-Martínez, Omar de la Calle, Marcos Quintana-Cepedal
{"title":"Clinically driven recovery from a biceps femoris T-junction injury: a case report.","authors":"Pablo Fernández-Berros, Jorge Muñiz-Martínez, Omar de la Calle, Marcos Quintana-Cepedal","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2716756","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2716756","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case report describes the management of a distal biceps femoris (type 2 T-junction) injury in a footballer, guided solely by clinical examination findings. An ultrasound examination was performed 76 hours post-injury; however, the imaging outcomes were not disclosed to either the physiotherapist managing the injury or the player prior to return to play (RTP). A 25-year-old midfielder sustained the injury during a competitive match and was substituted. Pain length and intensity during contraction and mobility tests progressively improved over the first month and return to full training was permitted at 39 days post-injury. Rehabilitation consisted of a gym-based programme followed by on-field progression, with return to play achieved at 70 days. Post-RTP maximal strength testing showed 252 N in the Nordic Exercise and 352 N in the 90º-90º isometric posterior chain test. The athlete remained free from injury and maintained full participation with the team for the remainder of the season.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148707503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lee Pote, James Keenan, Joshua Davidson, Scott Nicholls, Benita Olivier, Jasmine Clarke, Candice Christie
{"title":"Coaches' perceptions of injuries in women's football.","authors":"Lee Pote, James Keenan, Joshua Davidson, Scott Nicholls, Benita Olivier, Jasmine Clarke, Candice Christie","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2714827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2714827","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite the growth of women's football, limited research has examined injury profiles and at a non-elite level. This study aimed to evaluate coaches' perceptions of injuries and risk factors in senior non-elite women's football within the United Kingdom. A quantitative, cross-sectional, online survey was completed by 21 qualified coaches which examined perceived injury types, locations, mechanisms, risk factors, and the influence of the menstrual cycle. Data were analysed using frequency and descriptive statistics. Coaches perceived muscle strains/tears (81%) and ligament sprains/tears (67%) as the most common injuries, with the knee (86%), ankle (62%), and hamstrings (48%) identified as the most frequently injured sites. Injuries were believed to occur predominantly during match play (95%) and in-season (86%), with change of direction (67%) the most commonly reported mechanism. Previous injury (81%) was perceived as the primary internal risk factor, while playing surface (95%) was the leading external factor. Notably, 43% of coaches either considered the menstrual cycle insignificant to injury risk or were unsure of the different phases. Findings align with literature but reveal a substantial knowledge gap regarding female-specific factors, particularly the menstrual cycle. Coach education and targeted professional development are warranted to improve injury prevention strategies and support athlete health.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148685731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A comprehensive isokinetic dynamometry profile highlights a weakness in eccentric knee extensor strength in recreationally active males and females.","authors":"Matt Greig, Taewoo Quigley","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2708758","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2708758","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Isokinetic dynamometry represents the gold standard measure of strength, but there is a lack of consensus regarding data collection. The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive protocol considering contractile speed and modality, and to use this model to generate normative data for recreational athletes. Twenty male and 20 female, non-sport-specific but recreationally active participants completed isokinetic trials at 60, 180 and 300°/sec in eccentric and concentric modes for the knee flexors and extensors. Males generated significantly greater peak torque in extension and flexion, across both modalities and all speeds. Concentric strength demonstrated the expected decrease in torque with increasing isokinetic speed. Eccentric hamstring strength demonstrated a constant value across speeds, as expected; however, eccentric quadriceps strength decreased at the faster speeds. Furthermore, eccentric quadriceps strength was lower than predicted from extrapolation of the concentric curve to zero velocity. Strength ratios derived from peak torque data, including ipsi-lateral, dynamic control and fast:slow ratios, demonstrated no difference for sex. The sex differences in peak torque across modality and speed suggest increased injury risk for female athletes where functional demands are equivalent. Eccentric quadriceps weakness might be indicative of a lack of specific adaptation in this recreational cohort, with implications for preventative and rehabilitative strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148606862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond skin contact: joint-crossing as the active component of asymmetric dynamic taping for badminton performance, a randomized sham-controlled crossover trial.","authors":"You-Ruen Chen, Nai-Jen Chang","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2700732","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2700732","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dynamic taping (DT) employs extensible elastic tape as an external spring to share biomechanical load through elastic recoil, yet its sport-specific effects in healthy competitive athletes remain unestablished. This randomized, sham-controlled trial examined whether asymmetric DT to the dominant-leg knee and non-dominant-leg ankle would acutely improve dynamic balance, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and badminton-specific agility in 30 competitive adolescents. A sham taping (ST) preserved cutaneous input while removing mechanical load-sharing. Significant condition × time interactions were observed for Y Balance Test (YBT)-dominant (F = 6.202, <i>p</i> = .019), YBT-non-dominant (<i>p</i> = .004), CMJ height (F = 9.829, <i>p</i> = .004), and six-point footwork time (F = 29.905, <i>p</i> < .001). DT increased YBT scores by 3.45-3.77%, CMJ height by 3.36%, and reduced footwork time by 5.34% (d = 0.19-0.59); ST produced only trivial changes (d < 0.12). Joint-crossing rather than cutaneous stimulation alone may be the active component contributing to the performance benefits of DT, supporting asymmetric joint-crossing DT as a practical pre-competition adjunct for racket sport athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148621272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eun Ji Hong, Hyung Gyu Jeon, Kyoung Uk Oh, Dong Hoon Lee, Sae Yong Lee
{"title":"Association between ankle injury and nonspecific low back pain: a retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Database.","authors":"Eun Ji Hong, Hyung Gyu Jeon, Kyoung Uk Oh, Dong Hoon Lee, Sae Yong Lee","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2708767","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2708767","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the association between ankle injury and the subsequent onset of non-specific low back pain (LBP), and identified the potential contributions of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity (PA) to LBP development. This retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Sharing Service (2002-2021). Kaplan-Meier analyses estimated cumulative incidence and mean survival time to LBP onset. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for LBP onset, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and PA. LBP occurred in 118,086 of 218,683 individuals (54.0%) with ankle injury and 246,425 of 2,582,974 healthy controls (9.54%). After adjusting for covariates, the ankle-injury group was associated with a higher incidence of LBP than the control group (HR=19.021; 95% CI=18.877-19.167). These findings warrant future biomechanical studies to clarify the mechanisms that associate ankle injury with LBP.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148606908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James Blacknall, Richie Bentley, Heather Venables, Marie J Grigg, Mark A Faghy
{"title":"Humeral torsion differences between throwing and non-throwing arms in professional cricketers: a cross-sectional ultrasound study.","authors":"James Blacknall, Richie Bentley, Heather Venables, Marie J Grigg, Mark A Faghy","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2704777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2704777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to investigate humeral torsion in professional cricketers to observe whether differences between the throwing and non-throwing arm exist. A prospective study of twenty-nine professional cricketers in the United Kingdom was performed to assess humeral torsion of the throwing and non-throwing arm using a validated indirect ultrasound method. Humeral torsion measurements were significantly different between the throwing arm, 11.21° (95% CI 8.29-14.45; <i>p</i> < 0.001; SE 1.58) and the non-throwing arm, 23.65° (95% CI 20.21-27.11; <i>p</i> < 0.001; SE 1.74). A mean difference of 12.44° (CI 9.02-15.45; <i>p</i> < 0.001) was observed between the throwing arm and non-throwing arm. The trend towards increased retrotorsion of the throwing arm has important implications for athlete management. It further, informs the interpretation of biomechanical range of motion parameters, employed by those managing throwing athletes to foster insight of these observations and judge if adaptations identified are normal or abnormal.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148456581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrating functional performance, load tolerance, psychological readiness, and contextual factors in return-to-sport decision-making: a conceptual and practical framework.","authors":"Onur Atakan Sekibağ","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2700735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2700735","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Return-to-sport decision-making is a central responsibility in sports physiotherapy, yet athletes may appear clinically recovered while remaining underprepared for the physical, psychological, and contextual demands of sport. This critical narrative review synthesizes key considerations relevant to return-to-sport decision-making and proposes a practical four-domain framework integrating functional performance, load tolerance, psychological readiness, and contextual sport demands. The framework describes an iterative process beginning with minimum clinical readiness, followed by development of a domain-based readiness profile, action-oriented interpretation, shared progression decision-making, and reassessment over time. It is intended to help clinicians identify readiness gaps, communicate progression decisions, and select graded progression strategies. Rather than serving as a validated prediction model, the framework is presented as a clinical reasoning aid to support individualized and context-sensitive return-to-sport decisions. Future research should evaluate its feasibility, reliability, and clinical utility across different sports, injury types, competitive levels, and resource settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148405657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mark Gamadia, Nata Parnes, Rosheen Kamal, Sami Habboub, Ambrose Chan, John R Tyler
{"title":"Age-dependent mechanism shift in emergency department-treated hamstring injuries in the United States.","authors":"Mark Gamadia, Nata Parnes, Rosheen Kamal, Sami Habboub, Ambrose Chan, John R Tyler","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2700738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2700738","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Claims-based data describe a bimodal age distribution of hamstring injuries in the United States, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We queried the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for upper-leg strain or sprain injuries from 2015 to 2024; cases containing hamstring-specific narrative terminology were classified through hierarchical review of product codes and narrative text. Among 1,651 hamstring-specific cases (71,285 estimated nationally; 95% CI, 55,475 to 87,096), sport-related mechanisms accounted for 94.1% of injuries among patients aged 10 to 19 years versus 23.8% among those aged 60 years and older (<i>p</i> < 0.01). After adjustment for sex, adolescents had a sport-related mechanism prevalence ratio of 3.88 relative to older adults (95% CI, 3.02 to 4.98), with a graded gradient across intermediate strata. Sport-related and non-sport injuries differed in mean age, sex distribution, and admission rate, supporting their characterization as distinct injury patterns warranting age-tailored prevention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148405674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rose Löbell, Marcelo H Glänzel, Izabela M Prates, Gustavo do N Petter, Rita de C Marqueti, Rodrigo R de Oliveira, Jeam M Geremia
{"title":"Short-term effectiveness of massage techniques on myotendinous structures' stiffness: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Rose Löbell, Marcelo H Glänzel, Izabela M Prates, Gustavo do N Petter, Rita de C Marqueti, Rodrigo R de Oliveira, Jeam M Geremia","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2697196","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2697196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review (CRD42022307586) investigated the acute effects of massage techniques on myotendinous structures' stiffness. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PEDro, and Cochrane Library databases (to January 2026). Randomized clinical trials examining the acute effects of massage on myotendinous stiffness were included. Studies involving co-interventions or post-exercise were excluded. Risk of bias was evaluated using Cochrane RoB2. Data were synthesized qualitatively and quantitatively through random-effects meta-analysis. From 3,584 records, 25 studies (617 participants) were included. Studies investigated self-massage (<i>n</i> = 17), manual (<i>n</i> = 4) or instrumental massage (<i>n</i> = 4). Meta-analyses revealed no significant effects on overall muscle (SMD: -0.17; 95%CI: -0.35 ~ 0.02) or gastrocnemius medialis stiffness (SMD: -0.15; CI95%: -0.58 ~ 0.29). Qualitative synthesis confirmed no consistent alterations in muscle (<i>n</i> = 16), tendon (<i>n</i> = 2), or muscle-tendon unit (MTU) (<i>n</i> = 9) stiffness. Therefore, evidence suggests that massage techniques do not acutely change muscle, tendon, or MTU stiffness, challenging mechanical tissue-release theories. However, conclusions are limited by methodological heterogeneity.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-26"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148376800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}