Physician and Sportsmedicine最新文献

{"title":"Does wearing headgear influence risk compensation in adolescent female lacrosse?","authors":"Virginia Tinkey, Jason Edsall, Malaika Turner, Kim Barber Foss","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2661570","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2661570","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The implementation of a headgear mandate in girls' lacrosse has encountered concerns that the use of headgear may lead to risk-taking behaviors, thereby causing more aggressive gameplay. This study aims to investigate perceptions of headgear use and the potential effect of headgear on risk compensation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adolescent female aged 13-19 years participating on a high school or club girls' lacrosse team completed a Qualtrics survey consisting of questions about age, years of experience, player position, headgear use, the effect headgear would have on their gameplay and completed the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-8).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 315 survey responses were collected. The average age of participants was 17 ± 1.5 years, with 46% possessing 1-3 years of experience. A total of 61.9% of participants reported not wearing headgear. The average Brief Sensation Seeking Scale score across all participants was 2.96 ± 0.86, with 3.14 ± 0.89 in the headgear group and 2.84 ± 0.82 in the non-headgear group, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between headgear groups (<i>p</i> = 0.002) with a moderate effect size [t(311) = -3.08]. Significant positive correlations were found between headgear use and BSSS score (<i>r</i> = .17, <i>p</i> = .022, 95.00% CI = [.06, .27]), headgear use and age (<i>r</i> = .32, <i>p</i> < .001, 95.00% CI = [.22, .42]), and BSSS scores and age (<i>r</i> = .20, <i>p</i> = .002, 95.00% CI = [.10, .31]).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A relationship between headgear use and BSSS scores was confirmed through multiple statistical approaches, with headgear wearers consistently showing higher risk perception scores than non-headgear wearers. This finding persisted even when controlling for other variables, suggesting that headgear usage may positively influence safety awareness among female lacrosse players.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"345-351"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Medial elbow joint space gap after 100 pitches and early multi-sport participation in high school baseball players: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Kenta Suzuki, Yasuaki Mizoguchi, Seita Hasegawa, Koji Saito, Ko Yanase, Toby Hall, Kiyokazu Akasaka","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2667726","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2667726","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate whether 100 consecutive pitches induce clinically meaningful increases in medial elbow joint space gap (MJS) in high school baseball players and to examine associations with player characteristics, including early multi-sport participation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a randomized controlled trial, 34 healthy male high school baseball players were allocated to a pitching group (<i>n</i> = 17) or a control group (<i>n</i> = 17). The pitching group threw 100 fastballs at maximal effort, whereas controls rested for an equivalent duration. MJS was measured by ultrasonography before and after pitching or rest. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for MJS change (mm and %) was calculated using a distribution-based method (0.5 × SD of the pitching group's MJS increase). Group × time effects were tested using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, and univariate analyses explored relationships between MJS change and participant characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant group × time interaction was observed (<i>p</i> = 0.427). In the pitching group, MJS increased by 0.2 ± 1.1 mm (8.3 ± 24.6%), remaining below the MCID thresholds (0.55 mm; 12.3%). Early multi-sport experience during elementary school was associated with smaller MJS expansion (<i>p</i> = 0.009), and the number of non-baseball sports correlated negatively with MJS change (<i>r</i> =  -0.628, <i>p</i> = 0.007). No associations were found with pitch velocity or body composition.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A single bout of 100 pitches did not produce clinically meaningful MJS widening in high school baseball players. However, early multi-sport participation was related to reduced MJS expansion, suggesting that diversified sport experience may be an important background factor when refining pitch-count guidance.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"374-381"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In-competition injury epidemiology and associated injury risk factors among South African junior provincial rugby players: a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Kyle Meyer, Daniel Garnett, Dina C Janse van Rensburg, Lizelle Fletcher, Carel Viljoen","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2669463","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2669463","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Epidemiological studies in rugby are vast for senior elite professional players, though the same cannot be said for junior elite professional players, thus limiting stakeholders' ability to formulate effective injury risk management strategies for this population.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and associated injury risk factors among elite male junior provincial rugby players in South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Training and match play injury data was prospectively collected during a 10 week Under-21 (u21) and a 3 week Under-19 (u19) in-competition period. Injury prevalence (% of injured participants), incidence (injuries/1000 h), clinical characteristics (anatomical region, pathology type, injury severity and injury event) and risk factors associated with injury (baseline injury, age and playing position) formed part of the primary outcomes of the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>U21 male participants (45.38/1000 h) had a higher injury incidence than u19 male participants (42.20/1000 h). Injuries to the lower limb were most common for both u19 (50.6%) and u21 (51.1%) participants. Muscle/tendon injuries (50.8%) occurred most often.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall u21 male participants had a higher injury prevalence and incidence than u19 male participants during the in-competition period. Injuries to the lower limb and muscle/tendon type injuries were mostly effected.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"382-391"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147845993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Boxing injuries treated in United States emergency departments, 2000-2023.","authors":"Jenna Tsuzaki, Sandhya Kistamgari, Jingzhen Yang, Lindsay Sullivan, Dominique M Rose, Gary A Smith","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2661569","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2661569","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics and trends of boxing injuries treated in United States (US) emergency departments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using a retrospective cohort study design, data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for 2000-2023 were analyzed, including estimated national boxing injury frequencies and annual population-based rates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>An estimated 362,869 boxing injuries were seen in US emergency departments from 2000 to 2023 with a 46.6% nonlinear increase in the boxing injury rate per one million US population from 4.38 in 2000 to 6.42 in 2023. Injuries were most common among males (87.5%) and individuals 18-24 years old (34.7%). Fractures were the most frequent diagnosis (24.6%), followed by soft tissue injuries (21.2%), and sprains/strains (20.9%). Concussions/closed head injuries accounted for 6.9% of injuries and were more likely to be admitted to the hospital (risk ratio [RR]: 4.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.54-7.51) than other diagnoses. Concussions/closed head injuries were also comparatively more common among younger age groups, accounting for 11.7% of injuries among children 6-11 years old. Most (86.6%) injuries occurred during practice or training. Competition-related injuries were more likely to involve the head/neck region (RR: 2.66, 95% CI: 2.25-3.15), be diagnosed as concussion/closed head injury (RR: 3.30, 95% CI: 2.58-4.22), or be admitted to the hospital (RR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.43-4.03) than injuries occurring during practice or training. The most frequent injury mechanisms were 'struck opponent or object' (55.8%) and 'struck by opponent' (14.6%), while 'fall' was the mechanism associated with the highest proportion of hospital admissions (4.6%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Treatment of boxing injuries in US emergency departments is increasing, and concussions/closed head injuries disproportionately affect the vulnerable pediatric age group. The findings of this study improve our understanding of the epidemiology of boxing injuries, which will help inform targeted injury prevention efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"335-344"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147700609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Subacromial bursitis is associated with short-term response to ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection in rotator cuff disorders.","authors":"Kemal Faruk Koruklu, Murat Karkucak, Gamze Kilic, Erhan Capkin","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2666842","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2666842","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Rotator cuff disorders (RCD) are among the most common causes of shoulder pain and functional limitation in clinical practice. Ultrasound (US)-guided subacromial corticosteroid injections are frequently used as a conservative treatment option for symptom relief in these patients. This study aimed to investigate the impact of subacromial bursitis on treatment outcomes following these injections.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center observational study included 55 adult patients diagnosed with RCD who underwent US-guided subacromial corticosteroid injections. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence of subacromial bursitis, as determined by ultrasound imaging. The primary outcome was the change in pain intensity, measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included changes in shoulder function (Constant-Murley Score, CMS), disability (Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, SPADI), and shoulder range of motion (ROM). Comparative statistical analyses were conducted to assess pre- and post-injection changes between groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients with subacromial bursitis showed significantly greater improvements in pain (VAS, <i>p</i> = 0.009), shoulder function (CMS, <i>p</i> < 0.001), disability (SPADI, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and ROM (<i>p</i> < 0.001) at the three-week follow-up compared to those without bursitis. Apart from age, no significant differences were observed in sex, symptom duration, or baseline clinical scores (VAS, CMS, SPADI, ROM) (all <i>p</i> > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Subacromial bursitis may be associated with a better short-term response to US-guided corticosteroid injections in RCD patients and could serve as a potential predictive marker for favorable outcomes. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess long-term effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"358-363"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147788499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pre-existing injuries and illnesses in trail running: sex-based epidemiological findings from a 2022 forest marathon.","authors":"Anoop Nair, Audrey Jansen Van Rensburg, Carel T Viljoen, Gopika Ramkilawon, Dimakatso Ramagole, Thabo Elias Maleka, Dina C Christa Janse van Rensburg","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2680966","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2680966","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Trail running is a growing sport with increased injury and illness risk. We investigate the epidemiology of running-related injuries (RRI) and illnesses in male and female trail runners in the lead-up to the 2022 Magoebaskloof Forest Marathon, South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive cross-sectional study across 10 km, 20 km, 30 km, and 50 km distances using pre-race medical screening data completed 2 weeks before the event. We report frequency (n, %), prevalence ratio (PR, %), incidence (per 1000 trail running-hours), severity [% time-loss; Burden (days lost/1000 running-hours)], and associated risk factors (odds ratio, OR) of chronic and acute injuries and illness.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The annual injury incidence was 2.79/1000 trail running-hours, with most injuries affecting the lower limb in both males (47.15%) and females (45.53%; PR = 0.99). Muscle/tendon injuries (49.59%) and muscle strains (21.95%) were most common, with no statistical significant difference between sexes. The overall injury burden was 32.7 days lost/1000 running-hours. Chronic conditions were reported by 14.22% of runners, while only seven reported acute illnesses. Although 46.62% of runners had > 5 years total overall running experience, only 22.14% had equivalent years of trail running experience. Injury risk increased with longer race distances entered and >3 weekly training sessions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>One in four trail runners reported a RRI within the 6 months prior to the event, mainly affecting the lower limb. Chronic conditions were present in 14% of trail runners. While this study offers key insights into trail running injury and illness, further research on risk factors is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"392-402"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148018734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Descriptive epidemiology of pediatric tennis injuries: insights from a decade of national data.","authors":"Francesca Docters, Auston R Locke, Matthew D Ramey, Uma Balachandran, Sheena Ranade","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2662837","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2662837","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Tennis is a sport which can result in a range of injuries due to the extensive use of both the upper and lower extremities during play. Although tennis injuries are described in the literature, data specifically characterizing injury patterns in pediatric populations remain limited. This study aims to identify the epidemiology of pediatric tennis injuries presenting to US emergency departments (ED) over the past 10 years through both a sex and age specific analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) wQuery ID:AQ1 Page No:1 Query ID:AQ2 Page No:1 Query ID:AQ3 Page No:2 Query ID:AQ4 Page No:3 Query ID:AQ5 Page No:3 Query ID:AQ6 Page No:4 as queried for pediatric (2-18) tennis injuries presenting to U.S. EDs from 1 January 2014-31 December 2023. Patient demographics, injury site, diagnosis, and disposition were recorded. National estimates (NE) were calculated using the NEISS statistical sample weight. Differences in injury distributions by age and sex were evaluated using Rao-Scott adjusted chi-square tests. Individual injury frequency differences across subgroups are presented descriptively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,672 NEISS cases were identified, corresponding to an estimated 48,378 pediatric tennis-related injuries. Sprains/strains were the most commonly observed diagnosis among both sexes, followed by contusions/abrasions and fractures. Ankles were the predominant body part afflicted in sprains/strains and overall. Within contusions/abrasions, the face and eyeball were most commonly affected across sex and age subgroups. Children most commonly had lacerations and facial injuries, while adolescents most commonly had strains/sprains and ankle injuries. The distribution of injury types and locations significantly differed between males and females, and children and adolescents (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Fewer than 1% of injuries required hospitalization following ED presentation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Sprains/strains were the most common injuries, with distinct age-related patterns observed, including a higher proportion of facial injuries in children and ankle injuries in adolescents. Most injuries were minor, reflecting a relatively safe injury profile. These findings highlight potential targets for injury prevention strategies, such as protective eyewear and neuromuscular training.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"352-357"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147718989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploration of injuries among male athletes in the Mongolian National Basketball League: 2022/2023-2024/2025.","authors":"Baasankhuu Erdenee, Naoya Wada, Namuun Ganbaatar, Hinata Nakamata, Koki Hashimoto, Rie Nakazawa, Tsuyoshi Tajika","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2659556","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2659556","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Basketball is a high-intensity contact sport with a substantial risk of injury. However, epidemiological data on injuries in Mongolian basketball players remain limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, mechanisms, and burden of injuries in the Mongolian National Basketball League (MNBL) over three consecutive seasons.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective epidemiological study was conducted on 374 male professional basketball players during the 2022-2023 to 2024-2025 seasons. Injury data and athlete exposures (AEs) were collected using standardized medical reporting forms. Incidence rates (IR) per 1,000 AEs, injury rate ratios (IRRs), and injury burden (days lost per 1,000 AEs) were calculated with 95% Poisson-based exact confidence intervals (CIs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 105 injuries were recorded during 28,804 AEs. The overall IR was 3.65 (95% CI: 3.00-4.41). The injury risk was significantly higher during games (IR: 7.45) than in training (IR: 2.49), with an IRR of 2.99 (95% CI: 2.04-4.39, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The ankle was the most frequently injured anatomical site (32.38%; IR: 1.18), and sprains were the most common injury type (32.38%; IR: 1.18). Player-to-player contact was the primary injury mechanism (53.33%), showing a five-fold higher risk in games than in training (IRR = 5.48, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Moderate and severe injuries predominated (87.62% of total injuries), contributing to a substantial injury burden of 91.55 days lost per 1,000 AEs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Professional basketball in Mongolia is characterized by a high risk of injury during competitive play, particularly contact-related injuries. The prolonged recovery times and high severity of injuries highlight the critical need for evidence-based prevention, including neuromuscular control training, and the enhancement of on-court medical infrastructure to optimize athlete safety and professionalization in the MNBL.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"327-334"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147693699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychological well-being and aggression in handball players: examining the mediating role of exercise addiction.","authors":"Muhammed Güler, Akgün Yeşiltepe, Ceyhun Topcuoğlu","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2667725","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2667725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Psychological well-being showed a significant negative correlation with aggression (<i>r</i> = -0.242, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Exercise addiction was positively associated with both psychological well-being (<i>r</i> = 0.212, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and aggression (<i>r</i> = 0.105, <i>p</i> = 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, <i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"364-373"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative return to play and performance outcomes following lower extremity injuries in European professional soccer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Abdoul Mbengue, William Galardi, Camryn McIntyre, William Woodhams, Taylor Wesley, Darby Dean, Victoria Vespa, Doyle Ford, Shivam Patel, Allison Tenfelde","doi":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2726181","DOIUrl":"10.1080/00913847.2026.2726181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lower extremity injuries are common in professional soccer and can significantly impact return to play (RTP) and player performance. While individual injuries have been studied, comparative data across injury types remain limited.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To systematically evaluate return to play rate (RTPR), return to play time (RTPT), and post-injury performance outcomes following lower extremity injuries in professional European soccer players.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of PubMed and Embase was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, covering database inception through May 2026 (initial search conducted January 2024; updated May 2026). Studies evaluating professional European soccer players with lower extremity injuries and reporting RTP outcomes were included. Primary outcomes were RTPR and RTPT. Secondary outcomes included post-injury performance metrics. A random-effects meta-analysis of proportions was performed for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and Achilles tendon ruptures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-nine studies met inclusion criteria. ACL injuries demonstrated RTPR ranging from 80% to 95%, with RTPT of 215-267 days, and were associated with persistent declines in performance metrics, including minutes played and offensive production. Achilles tendon ruptures had RTPR of 70% to 78% and RTPT of 119-161 days, with significant short-term reductions in performance. Meniscus and medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries demonstrated lower RTPR (approximately 70%) but shorter recovery timelines. Adductor and hamstring injuries were associated with the shortest RTPT (approximately 15-24 days) and minimal long-term performance decline. Meta-analysis demonstrated a pooled RTPR of 90.3% (95% CI, 81.2%-95.2%; I² = 70.6%) for ACL injuries and 76.6% (95% CI, 69.2%-82.7%; I² = 0%) for Achilles tendon ruptures.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Among lower extremity injuries in professional European soccer, ACL injuries and Achilles tendon ruptures are associated with the greatest impact on RTP and player performance, whereas muscle injuries are associated with faster recovery and less sustained performance decline. As all included studies were observational, these findings represent associations rather than causal relationships and should be interpreted accordingly. These findings may assist clinicians and teams in prognostication and return-to-play decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":51268,"journal":{"name":"Physician and Sportsmedicine","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}