{"title":"Call to integrate long tail and dark data for the advancement of sports medicine research","authors":"Natalie Kupperman, Neal Magee, Christopher Kuenze","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-108890","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108890","url":null,"abstract":"The proliferation of observational and interventional research in the fields of sports medicine and orthopaedics has resulted in a rapid expansion of available knowledge. However, as the volume of evidence has increased, so has the number of independent investigators leading to the collection and storage of small, granular datasets by individual labs during routine research.1 There are growing concerns within sports medicine and related fields that the complex nature of the current scientific environment may limit the efficiency of data aggregation and that variation in the structure of individual datasets may limit the application of rigorous quantitative methods when answering challenging clinical or practical questions.2 3 Therefore, this editorial aims to introduce the concepts of long tail data and dark data in sports medicine research and describe the implications of both data types for advancing the field. The concepts of long tail data and dark data are becoming increasingly relevant in sports medicine and orthopaedics research. Long tail data refers to the vast amount of small, specialised datasets that exist outside of mainstream, large-scale studies.2 4 These datasets, often collected by individual researchers or small labs, contain valuable information but may be overlooked due to their small size, perceived lack of significance, or correlation with other datasets. For example, in patient-outcomes research, data becomes fragmented between studies or sites depending on when follow-up and final visits take place during the course of care, and also from the structure and frequency of physical assessment sessions typically implemented in preparation for clearance to return to activity. Furthermore, when data is collected as part of patient care, changing measures to align with collaborating institutions or recent research can be onerous and disrupt the workflows of clinicians. Dark data, a subset of long tail data, encompasses the information collected during research …","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":"74 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143841289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Role of sit-to-stand muscle power in healthy ageing: assessing validity, clinical relevance, decline and interventions in older adults with and without chronic conditions (PhD Academy Award)","authors":"Ivan Baltasar-Fernandez","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-109594","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-109594","url":null,"abstract":"This PhD thesis aimed: (i) to assess the validity of the sit-to-stand (STS) muscle power test and compare it with other equations available in the literature; (ii) to investigate the functional implications of having low relative STS power (ie, normalised by body mass) in older individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease (PD); (iii) to assess longitudinal changes in relative STS power and its contributing factors, providing clinically relevant cut-off points for low relative STS power; and (iv) to evaluate the short-term and residual effects of power-oriented resistance training (RT) combined with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in frail older adults and in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Muscle power, a critical component of the neuromuscular system, declines more rapidly than muscle mass and strength with ageing and is a stronger predictor of adverse health outcomes, including frailty, disability, and falls. However, the lack of feasible and valid tests, normative values and cut-off points has so far prevented its evaluation in the clinical setting. Given the WHO’s emphasis on healthy ageing and maintaining functional ability, it is essential to identify and implement effective strategies to assess and enhance muscle power, thereby supporting independence and well-being in older populations. Thus, the validity and clinical relevance of the STS muscle power test deserved to be investigated. My PhD thesis comprised eight studies, including cross-sectional (studies 1–4), an 8-year longitudinal (study 5) and interventional (studies 6–8) designs. Participants included 2183 community-dwelling older adults (>65 years), 46 age- and sex-matched individuals with and without PD (>60 years), 59 older adults with frailty (>70 years) and 21 older adults with COPD (>65 years). Relative STS power was evaluated using the STS muscle …","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":"108 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143805651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luke Hughes, Nicholas Rolnick, Alexander Franz, Johnny Owens, Patrick Michael Swain, Christoph Centner, Jeremy P Loenneke, Stuart Anthony Warmington
{"title":"Blood flow restriction: methods and apparatus still matter.","authors":"Luke Hughes, Nicholas Rolnick, Alexander Franz, Johnny Owens, Patrick Michael Swain, Christoph Centner, Jeremy P Loenneke, Stuart Anthony Warmington","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-109365","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-109365","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143370522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aaron L Baggish, Mats Borjesson, Guido E Pieles, Christian Schmied, Clea Simone Sabino de Souza Colombo, Cecilia Gonzales Corcia, Jonathan A Drezner, Katharina Grimm, Gary Mak, André La Gerche, Ben Levine, Sabiha Gati, Andrew Massey, Prince Pambo, Antonio Pelliccia, Margot Putukian, Yasser Abdelrahman, Sanjay Sharma, Mathew G Wilson, Andreas Serner
{"title":"Recommendations for cardiac screening and emergency action planning in youth football: a FIFA consensus statement","authors":"Aaron L Baggish, Mats Borjesson, Guido E Pieles, Christian Schmied, Clea Simone Sabino de Souza Colombo, Cecilia Gonzales Corcia, Jonathan A Drezner, Katharina Grimm, Gary Mak, André La Gerche, Ben Levine, Sabiha Gati, Andrew Massey, Prince Pambo, Antonio Pelliccia, Margot Putukian, Yasser Abdelrahman, Sanjay Sharma, Mathew G Wilson, Andreas Serner","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2025-109751","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-109751","url":null,"abstract":"Sudden cardiac death is the leading medical cause of death among football players. Determining the optimal cardiac screening, the use of carefully selected medical assessments to detect underlying cardiovascular conditions associated with sudden cardiac arrest/death, is a desired objective of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for football players of all ages. To date, cardiac screening recommendations in football have primarily focused on adult competitive players. Acknowledging its responsibility for player health worldwide, FIFA convened an international working group of cardiology and sports medicine experts to develop cardiac screening recommendations for youth football players. This group performed structured literature reviews and ultimately congregated in January of 2024, when recommendations were presented, scrutinised and judged using a systematic process. The final FIFA recommendations for youth cardiac screening include personal medical history, family medical history, focused physical examination and resting 12-lead electrocardiography. This document provides detailed rationale and clinical recommendations for youth cardiac screening and emphasises the importance of emergency action planning.","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143775624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Moving for a healthier mind and stronger community: how Je Bouge Pour Mon Moral transforms lives in France","authors":"Fabien D Legrand","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2025-109899","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-109899","url":null,"abstract":"Je Bouge Pour Mon Moral is a French not-for-profit organisation founded in 2021. It is dedicated to supporting individuals suffering from mental health disorders through regular physical activity. The organisation aims to improve the mental well-being of its participants by combining exercise and social connection. Mental health is a major issue in France, affecting 13 million people each year. In 2021, 13.3% of adults aged 18–85 experienced depressive disorders, representing a 3.5% increase from 2017.1 These disorders disproportionately impact vulnerable populations (women, unemployed individuals, single parents), exacerbating social inequalities. According to the French Ministry of Health and Prevention, mental healthcare is the largest expenditure for France’s national health insurance system, costing €23 billion per year—more than cancer and cardiovascular diseases.2 A large body of studies has demonstrated the effectiveness of physical activity in relation to a number of mental health conditions.3 It helps prevent the onset of mental health issues, accelerates recovery and reduces the risk of relapse. However, existing sports and fitness structures are often ill suited to individuals facing psychological disorders. Indeed, many people with mental health disorders struggle with low self-confidence, making it difficult for them to feel comfortable in gyms where the focus is on physical performance, weight …","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143758083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sleep and mental health following retirement from sport (PhD Academy Award)","authors":"Ashley Montero","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2025-109859","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-109859","url":null,"abstract":"Retirement from sport can elicit significant psychological distress, particularly when unexpected; however, it is unknown whether former athletes experience poorer mental health and worse sleep than currently competing athletes.1 Therefore, the aim of this PhD project was to understand the risk prevalence of sleep and mental health disorders in diverse samples of current and former athletes. Doing so would facilitate (1) comparisons of self-reported and screened prevalence rates, (2) objective measurement of sleep behaviours, and (3) advanced understanding of the contributing factors former athletes face pertaining to sleep and mental health. Recent decades have seen a considerable growth in research on the sleep and well-being of athletes.2 3 Athletes face unique demands, which increase their susceptibility to poor mental health and sleep problems.4 Knowledge on sleep and mental health is limited to currently competing elite athletes.1 Consequently, the sleep health and psychological well-being of athletes after retirement is seldom understood. My project attempted to fill this void in knowledge by undertaking research across different genders, levels …","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143758082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Margie H Davenport, Gyanjot Bains, Melanie Hayman, Chenxi Cai, Nonhlanhla S Mkumbuzi, Tara-Leigh McHugh
{"title":"Advancing gender equity in sport: a scoping review of international sport federation policies for pregnant, postpartum and parenting elite athletes","authors":"Margie H Davenport, Gyanjot Bains, Melanie Hayman, Chenxi Cai, Nonhlanhla S Mkumbuzi, Tara-Leigh McHugh","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-109135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-109135","url":null,"abstract":"Objective The aim was to synthesise international-level sport policies for pregnant, postpartum or parenting high-performance athletes in order to understand what policies currently exist and to identify policy gaps to be addressed. Design Scoping review. Data sources Online databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscuss, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews (Ovid), Scopus, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov) and Google up to 14 June 2024. Additionally, a targeted search of existing policies was conducted via the websites of International Federations (IFs) and continental sporting organisations (CSOs) in September 2023. Eligibility criteria We included policies from IFs recognised by the International Olympic Committee, and CSOs associated with the IFs that specifically address pregnant, postpartum or parenting athletes. Policies were a written principle of action adopted by the IFs/CSOs that provided any form of support during pregnancy, post partum or for parents. Results A total of 219 organisations (49 IFs; 170 CSOs) were identified and contacted, with 47/49 (96%) IFs and 15/170 (9%) CSOs responding. Sport policies related to pregnancy, postpartum or parenting athletes were identified from 20 IFs including (1) guidance on training/competition during and following pregnancy; (2) eligibility affected or training not advised; (3) protection from dismissal; (4) special rank, points or quota protection; (5) protections apply to adoption, surrogacy, miscarriage, stillbirth, egg freezing and/or fertility treatment; (6) duration of leave and if leave is paid and (7) breastfeeding support/space. No policies identified specific provisions for childcare support/space. Conclusions Less than half of all IFs have developed sport policies to support pregnant, postpartum and parenting athletes. Of the policies that do exist, most are limited in the extent to which they address the broad range of biopsychosocial supports that are necessary for facilitating optimal performance, enhancing long-term athlete health and addressing gender inequities that are deeply entrenched across all levels of sport. This review provides a critical piece of evidence needed to inform future policy development. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143758081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exercise as a renal-protective strategy: slowing chronic kidney disease progression and optimising dialysis care (PhD Academy Award)","authors":"Hugo de Luca Corrêa, Thiago dos Santos Rosa","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2025-109812","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-109812","url":null,"abstract":"My PhD investigated the effects of resistance training (RT) on physiological, molecular and clinical profile in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This work encompassed six studies, including randomised controlled trials,1 2 epidemiological analyses,3–5 and an umbrella review,6 exploring the role of muscle mass and exercise in preserving renal function and improving health outcomes in patients with CKD across different disease stages. In total, data from over 1000 patients were analysed, covering a wide spectrum of disease severity and intervention strategies. CKD affects >10% of the global population, leading to progressive renal function decline, increased morbidity and high healthcare costs. Muscle loss is prevalent in CKD, contributing to frailty, inflammation and cardiovascular disease, yet exercise remains underutilised in renal care. RT has shown promise in mitigating CKD-related muscle atrophy, but its feasibility and long-term impact remain unclear. My research aimed to fill this gap by evaluating how RT affects renal function, inflammation and metabolic health, with the goal of establishing exercise as a key therapeutic strategy in CKD management. This PhD included a series of experimental and observational studies:","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143758084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andy Deprato, Stephanie-May Ruchat, Muhammad Usman Ali, Chenxi Cai, Milena Forte, Madelaine Gierc, Sarah Meyer, Talia Noel Sjwed, Safi Shirazi, Brittany A Matenchuk, Paris A T Jones, Allison Sivak, Margie H Davenport
{"title":"Impact of postpartum physical activity on maternal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Andy Deprato, Stephanie-May Ruchat, Muhammad Usman Ali, Chenxi Cai, Milena Forte, Madelaine Gierc, Sarah Meyer, Talia Noel Sjwed, Safi Shirazi, Brittany A Matenchuk, Paris A T Jones, Allison Sivak, Margie H Davenport","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-108478","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-108478","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine the influence of postpartum exercise on maternal depression and anxiety.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.</p><p><strong>Data sources: </strong>Online databases up to 12 January 2024, reference lists, recommended studies and hand searches.</p><p><strong>Eligibility criteria: </strong>Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised interventions of any publication date or language were included if they contained information on the Population (postpartum people), Intervention (subjective or objective measures of frequency, intensity, duration, volume, type, or mode of delivery of exercise), Comparator (no exercise or different exercise measures), and Outcome (postpartum depression, anxiety prevalence, and/or symptom severity).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 35 studies (n=4072) were included. Moderate certainty evidence from RCTs showed that exercise-only interventions reduced the severity of postpartum depressive symptoms (19 RCTs, n=1778, SMD: -0.52, 95% CI -0.80 to -0.24, I<sup>2</sup>=86%, moderate effect size) and anxiety symptoms (2 RCTs, n=513, SMD: -0.25, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.08, I<sup>2</sup>=0%, small effect size), and the odds of postpartum depression by 45% (4 RCTs, n=303 OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.95, I<sup>2</sup>=0%) compared with no exercise. No included studies assessed the impact of postpartum exercise on the odds of postpartum anxiety. To achieve at least a moderate reduction in the severity of postpartum depressive symptoms, postpartum individuals needed to accumulate at least 350 MET-min/week of exercise (eg, 80 min of moderate intensity exercise such as brisk walking, water aerobics, stationary cycling or resistance training).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Postpartum exercise reduced the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and the odds of postpartum depression.</p>","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"550-561"},"PeriodicalIF":11.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephanie-May Ruchat, Nicole Beamish, Sophie Pellerin, Muhammad Usman, Sinead Dufour, Sarah Meyer, Allison Sivak, Margie H Davenport
{"title":"Impact of exercise on musculoskeletal pain and disability in the postpartum period: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Stephanie-May Ruchat, Nicole Beamish, Sophie Pellerin, Muhammad Usman, Sinead Dufour, Sarah Meyer, Allison Sivak, Margie H Davenport","doi":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-108488","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bjsports-2024-108488","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine the impact of exercise on musculoskeletal pain (low back pain (LBP), pelvic girdle pain (PGP), lumbopelvic pain (LBPP) and bodily pain) and kinesiophobia during the postpartum period.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Study eligibility criteria: </strong>Online databases were searched from database inception to 12 January 2024. Studies of all designs (except case studies) of any publication date or language were included if they contained information on the population (women and people in the first year postpartum), intervention (subjective or objective measures of frequency, intensity, duration, volume or type of exercise, alone ('exercise-only') or in combination with other interventions (eg, electrotherapy, infrared irradiation, ultrasound; 'exercise+cointervention')), comparator (no exercise or different exercise measures) and outcome (symptom severity of LBP/PGP/LBPP, related disability, bodily pain and kinesiophobia).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>37 studies (N=3769 participants) from 15 countries were included. Moderate certainty evidence showed that exercise-only interventions, including various strengthening exercises targeting the trunk muscles, were associated with a greater reduction in LBPP symptom severity (4 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), n=210; mean difference -2.21 points (on a 0-10 Visual Analogue Scale) 95% CI -3.33 to -1.08) and related disability (6 RCTs, n=296; standardised mean difference -1.17, 95% CI -1.92 to -0.43; large effect size) as compared with no exercise. Similar results were found for bodily pain (2 RCTs, n=318). Evidence was limited and inconclusive regarding the impact of exercise interventions on kinesiophobia.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Postnatal exercises, including a variety of muscular strengthening exercises targeting the trunk muscles, decrease the symptom severity of LBPP and related disability.</p>","PeriodicalId":9276,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"594-604"},"PeriodicalIF":11.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143373728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}