Hao Zhang, Wencheng Yang, Shuang Zhao, Youshen Cao, Sangho Lee
{"title":"Comprehensive clinical effect evaluation of low-frequency electrical stimulation combined with proprioception training in sports injury rehabilitation.","authors":"Hao Zhang, Wencheng Yang, Shuang Zhao, Youshen Cao, Sangho Lee","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2577889","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2577889","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lateral ankle sprains in martial arts athletes frequently leave persistent proprioceptive and neuromuscular deficits. This prospective cohort study evaluated whether adding low-frequency electrical stimulation (LFES) to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) augments recovery. Five hundred sixty athletes with grade I-II sprains (mean age 22.6 ± 2.7 years) were stratified to LFES + PNF (n=280) or proprioception-only (n=280) for 12 weeks, with assessments at baseline and Weeks 2, 6, and 12. Outcomes included pain (VAS), pressure pain threshold (PPT), ankle range of motion (ROM), joint position sense (JPS), surface EMG, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), electromechanical delay (EMD), Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and dynamic balance. Mixed ANOVA/ANCOVA with effect sizes and nonparametric validation (Friedman/Wilcoxon) were applied. Compared with proprioception-only, LFES produced greater pain reduction (VAS -5.0 vs -4.1; p<0.001), higher PPT (+1.6 kg/cm²), and larger ROM gains (+9.2° dorsiflexion; +6.4° plantarflexion). JPS error decreased by -3.5°, with 78% achieving ≤3° accuracy. EMG latency decreased by 7.8 ms and amplitude increased by 17.2 µV; SEP latency normalized in 78% with amplitudes reaching 4.1 µV. EMD improved by -19.7 ms (p=0.001), FMS increased by +2.9 points, and composite recovery criteria were met more often with LFES (51% vs 28%; p<0.001). No serious adverse events occurred. These findings indicate that LFES adjunct to proprioceptive training accelerates sensorimotor recovery and enhances functional outcomes after lateral ankle sprain in martial arts athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"386-408"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145422623","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}
Jibing Wang, Yujia Zhai, Nannan Liu, Guoyan Zhang, Duona Wang
{"title":"Adductor strengthening programme improves groin injury risk factors in youth football players.","authors":"Jibing Wang, Yujia Zhai, Nannan Liu, Guoyan Zhang, Duona Wang","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2577893","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2577893","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This randomized controlled trial evaluated an 8-week adductor strengthening programme on improving groin injury risk factors in youth football players. Fifty-four youth players (23 female, 43%) were randomized into an intervention group (<i>n</i> = 27, performing two weekly adductor sessions before regular training) and a control group (<i>n</i> = 27, regular training only). The intervention group showed significantly greater improvements than controls in bilateral eccentric hip adduction strength (EHADS) (left: mean difference (MD) = 0.28; right: MD = 0.27, Nm/kg, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and EHADS: eccentric hip abduction strength ratios (left: MD = 0.07; right: MD = 0.06, <i>p</i> < 0.05), with female players showing higher increases than males in left-side EHADS (31.9% vs. 14.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.004). The intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in the Hip and Groin Outcome Score subscales (symptoms, participation in physical activities, quality of life, <i>p</i> < 0.05), but not the control group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The programme effectively improves groin injury risk factors, particularly benefiting female athletes, and should be integrated into youth football training.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"409-422"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145489453","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":"Musculoskeletal pain in eSports players: clinical implications for ergonomics, exercise, and preventive physiotherapy.","authors":"Matheus Mendes Carara, Tamiris Beppler Martins, Fábio Sprada de Menezes, Rodrigo Okubo","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2594401","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2594401","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated musculoskeletal pain among keyboard-and-mouse eSports players and its implications for physiotherapy and ergonomics. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 60 players (casual, amateur and professional) who completed a questionnaire on pain, injury history, gaming habits and physiotherapy use. Associations between pain and training volume, sleep and pre-game routines were analysed using chi-square tests and t-tests (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Pain was reported by 71.7% of players, most often in the lower back, wrists and neck. Professional players had higher pain prevalence (<i>p</i> = 0.002). Inadequate sleep (<i>p</i> = 0.012) and the absence of warm-up routines (<i>p</i> = 0.010) were associated with increased pain. Only 8.3% reported injuries requiring clinical care, and few had accessed physiotherapy. Musculoskeletal pain is highly prevalent yet under-managed in this population, highlighting the need for ergonomic strategies, warm-up routines, micro-breaks and targeted exercise programmes aligned with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to support functioning and performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"423-433"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145582281","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":"Effectiveness of physical rehabilitation in young volleyball players following meniscus suture repair via knee arthroscopy for enhancing return-to-sport (RTS).","authors":"Ehsan Esmaeili Nematabadi, Natalia Svygina","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2577331","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2577331","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The study evaluated the effectiveness of different rehabilitation methods for young volleyball players aged 15-20 following knee arthroscopy for internal meniscus repair. The study, conducted in Moscow from March to September 2025, included 20 participants who were divided into two groups: one group received standard physiotherapy and exercise (Group A), and the other group received the same treatment plus massage therapy (Group B). Assessments were conducted three to four weeks post-surgery, focusing on knee flexion, extension, and pain levels measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Significant differences were observed in knee extension as well, with Group A improving from 20 to 39 degrees, while Group B increased from 30 to 42 degrees. The results indicated P-values of 0.03 for flexion and 0.02 for extension, indicating the positive impact of incorporating massage therapy in the rehabilitation programme. The results also demonstrated a significant difference in pain intensity between the two groups (<i>p</i> = 0.01), highlighting the effectiveness of incorporating massage therapy in reducing early post-operative pain in young volleyball players following meniscus suture repair. Overall, the study revealed the importance of comprehensive rehabilitation strategies for enhancing recovery in young athletes post-surgery.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"367-385"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145372739","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}
Mohammed Alsaey, Dania Almasri, Montassar Tabben, Marco Cardinale, Abdulaziz Alkuwari, Gurcharan Singh Amar Singh, Atef Hashem
{"title":"Dental health status of professional football players during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup: a preliminary study.","authors":"Mohammed Alsaey, Dania Almasri, Montassar Tabben, Marco Cardinale, Abdulaziz Alkuwari, Gurcharan Singh Amar Singh, Atef Hashem","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2599859","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2599859","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral health is increasingly recognized as an important factor influencing athletic performance and overall quality of life; however, limited data are available on elite football players in Asia. This cross-sectional clinical study evaluated the oral health status of professional players participating in the Asian Football Cup held in Qatar between January and February 2023. Three calibrated dentists conducted standardized clinical examinations on 70 randomly selected players (mean age: 26.8 years) using the DMFT, BPE, and BEWE indices to assess dental caries, periodontal health, erosive tooth wear, wisdom teeth status, trauma, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Dental caries was present in 85.7% of players (mean DED = 5.6), and 77.1% had restorations. Gingivitis affected 82.9%, while 12.9% showed signs of periodontitis. Tooth erosion was detected in 88.6%, with 10% classified as high risk. Partially erupted wisdom teeth were identified in 38.6%, pericoronitis in 7.1%, sports-related trauma in 30%, and TMJ disorders in 21.4%. These findings highlight a substantial oral disease burden and support integrating preventive dental care into routine athlete health programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"451-463"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145708977","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}
Muhammad Iqbal Shaharudin, Ahmad Munir Che Muhamed, Hazwani Ahmad Yusof
{"title":"Characteristics of injuries among elite badminton players: a systematic review.","authors":"Muhammad Iqbal Shaharudin, Ahmad Munir Che Muhamed, Hazwani Ahmad Yusof","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2596737","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2596737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Badminton is a fast-paced sport that requires a high level of skill. Despite its non-contact nature, badminton can still result in injuries. This review aimed to identify the characteristics of musculoskeletal injuries in elite badminton players. A systematic search was conducted through the electronic bibliographic databases between 2013 and 2025. The study followed the PRISMA guidelines, registered in PROSPERO, and article quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. A total of 11 eligible articles were included. Over 45% of elite badminton players have been injured in the past year. The most common location of injuries was at the lower extremity (54-71%), followed by the upper extremity (30-46%); tendinopathy (6-70%) and sprain (10-32%) are the most common types of injury. Identifying the characteristics of injuries in elite badminton players can provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals to develop effective injury prevention strategies for athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"434-450"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145661768","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}
Yu Shen, Mengyuan Sun, Yidan Zhang, Yi Gong, Peng Huang, Hongjing Pan
{"title":"A narrative review of injury characteristics and risk factors in snowboarding.","authors":"Yu Shen, Mengyuan Sun, Yidan Zhang, Yi Gong, Peng Huang, Hongjing Pan","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2604658","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2604658","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This manuscript reviews and examines the characteristics and risk factors of snowboarding injuries, drawing on research findings from both domestic and international studies. Snowboarding, a prevalent winter activity, is associated with a relatively high injury incidence, with males generally experiencing higher rates than females, and these rates differ by age group. The most frequent injury locations are the knee (16.1%), followed by shoulder/clavicle (14.3%), and head/face (13.5%). A significant number of these injuries are classified as moderate to severe. Factors influencing snowboarding injuries can be divided into personal and environmental categories. Personal factors such as gender, advanced age, delayed physical maturation, elevated competition level, increased fatigue, and non-standard technical movements increase the risk of injury. Environmental factors, including the state of ski resorts, equipment performance, and fluctuating snow conditions, also contribute to the risk of injury. This synthesis highlights the multifaceted nature of snowboarding injury risk and the need for comprehensive preventive strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"464-476"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145794611","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}
Gabriel F Aleixo, Larissa S Oliveira, Luciane F R M Fernandes, Gustavo J Luvizutto, Daniel F M Lobato
{"title":"Effects of a neuromodulation protocol associated with sports training on upper limb function in a high-performance para-athlete: a case report.","authors":"Gabriel F Aleixo, Larissa S Oliveira, Luciane F R M Fernandes, Gustavo J Luvizutto, Daniel F M Lobato","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2612479","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15438627.2025.2612479","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) optimizes the upper limb functional performance in a para-athlete with spinal cord injury (SCI). A right-handed para-athlete specializing in shotput, discus, and javelin throw with an incomplete SCI participated. The tDCS was applied in the left primary motor cortex twice-weekly for 5 weeks (20 min/session), associated with sport-specific training. Shoulder medial (MR) and lateral rotators (LR) isometric torque, handgrip and key pinch strength, and the specific functional performance were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. There were increases in the Shoulder MR and LR torque increased for both the dominant (22% and 39%) and non-dominant (36% and 6%) limbs. There was a increase in the Peak and mean forces sustained during maximal handgrip (11% and 7%) and key pinch (280% and 210%) increased in the dominant hand, as well as the shotput (11%) and javelin throw (3%) performance. The tDCS protocol may enhance the upper limb functional performance in a para-athlete with SCI.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"477-484"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145900848","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}
Avinash Chandran, Adrian J Boltz, Neel Rao, William Felix, Hannah Powers, Aishwarya Bandaru, Kody R Campbell, Christy L Collins
{"title":"Injury incidence in NCAA women's sports during 2019/20-2021/22: findings from injury surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Avinash Chandran, Adrian J Boltz, Neel Rao, William Felix, Hannah Powers, Aishwarya Bandaru, Kody R Campbell, Christy L Collins","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2693552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2693552","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women's sport programs feature elite-level athletes operating under high-performance demands. We describe the epidemiology of injuries in NCAA women's sports during 2019/20-2021/22. We characterized injury frequencies and distributions by sport, event type, body part, diagnosis, and mechanism of injury. Using a Bayesian negative binomial modeling framework, we estimated injury incidence rates and evaluated differential incidence across sport, event type, NCAA division, and academic year. A total of 10,417 injuries were reported across the study period; injuries to the lower leg and foot accounted for 29.6% of all injuries. The posterior mean overall injury rate was 5.2 per 1,000 AEs (95% CrI: [4.7, 5.3]), and overall injury incidence was estimated to be highest in gymnastics (posterior mean rate = 7.9; 95% CrI: [3.8, 14.1]). Our results indicate that the nature of injuries sustained by NCAA women athletes remains tethered to sport-specific gameplay dynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148346154","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":"Knowledge, education, and opinion regarding the use of over-the-counter medications amongst college athletes.","authors":"Lauren Hapgood, Shantanu Rao","doi":"10.1080/15438627.2026.2690516","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15438627.2026.2690516","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are commonly used in the United States. However, limited healthcare supervision can cause medical complications due to misuse and/or lack of knowledge about dosing and adverse effects. To understand the knowledge gap, a cross-sectional, anonymous survey was distributed to NCAA Division II athletes in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Survey participants (N = 173) were moderately to not confident about the adverse effects (74.0%) and dosing (62%) of OTC medications. The majority of participants (81%) had moderate to no education about OTC medications. OTC medication users for allergy/sinus (51%) and digestive health (48%) were unaware of the adverse effects of these medications. Lastly, a lack of confidence about the adverse effects had a strong correlation with a lack of confidence in dosing OTC medications (<i>p</i> < 0.001). This study revealed a significant use of OTC medications amongst college athletes, along with the lack of adequate knowledge about dosing and adverse effects of OTC medications.</p>","PeriodicalId":20958,"journal":{"name":"Research in Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148302778","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}