PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE

Recommendations for postpartum athletes returning to sport: the past, present, and future
Irani CR, Turner EHG, Rumps MV and Mulcahey MK
There is a growing percentage of elite female athletes who choose to start a family during their athletic careers. Current guidelines to manage postpartum elite athletes returning to sport are weakly rooted in athlete-centered evidence and/or are restricted by small sample sizes. The purpose of this review was to collect and compare existing protocols and guidelines for elite athletes returning to sport following childbirth and to highlight the current culture surrounding postpartum athletes.
Parental influence and perceptions on youth single sport specialization: a systematic review
Haider AA, Troyer SC, Mologne MS, Hardi A and Kuhn AW
To evaluate the role of parental influence on youth SSS and to characterize parental perceptions of SSS.
Surfer's neurapraxia - an uncommon surfing injury of the saphenous nerve
Obana KK, Trofa DP, Ahmad CS, Levine WN and Popkin CA
Surfer's neurapraxia is a rare surfing injury of the saphenous nerve secondary to persistent compression of the saphenous nerve along the medial thigh by the surfboard when paddling prone and while sitting upright on the board waiting for a wave. Symptoms may be nonspecific and consist of pain in the medial thigh with or without radiation along the saphenous nerve distribution (medial leg, medial ankle, medial arch of the foot). The saphenous nerve tension test can be utilized to reproduce the symptoms of surfer's neurapraxia. Treatment consists of conservative management while refractory cases may benefit from injection with local anesthetic. The authors propose the Obana Plan (WATER) for prevention of surfer's neurapraxia, consisting of Wetsuits, Abduction, Timing, Exercise, and Rest. Overall, surfer's neurapraxia is a benign condition that can be prevented and managed conservatively.
Injury incidence, prevalence, and burden in an Argentinian male youth soccer academy: one-season descriptive study
Dominguez M, Rico JP, Tedesco F and Tondelli E
To prospectively describe the incidence, severity, and burden of injuries in the youth divisions of an Argentinian professional soccer club during a competitive season.
The major league baseball pitch clock: one year position player injury analysis
Puga T, Scigliano NM, Box MW and Riehl JT
In 2023, Major League Baseball (MLB) implemented the pitch clock. The effects of the pitch clock on player injury rates is largely unknown, and some, including the major league baseball players association, have suggested that pitchers may be at an increased risk of injury with its implementation. Position players have received little attention in these discussions, even though they may be at the same theorized risk of injuries. The aim of this study is to determine if implementation of the 2023 MLB pitch clock influenced the incidence of injuries in position players. It is hypothesized that implementation of the MLB pitch clock will lead to a rise in injuries due to a reduction of time for the primary biological energy system used by baseball to restore to normal levels.
Cannabis in combat sports: position statement of the Association of Ringside Physicians
Stellpflug SJ, Stolbach A, Ghorayeb J, Magraken E, Twohey E, Lapoint J and deWeber K
and ARP Position Statement: Based on the available body of scientific evidence and with the goals of promoting safety of combat sports athletes and striving for the advancement of clean sport, the Association of Ringside Physicians recommends the following regarding cannabis:• Use of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids by combat sports athletes is discouraged due to unproven benefits and many known adverse effects. Acute use can impair cognition and complex motor function, which likely leads to reduced performance in combat sports. Chronic use can increase risk for heart and lung disease, several cancers, schizophrenia, and can reduce testosterone in men and impair fertility. Benefits from cannabis in most contexts, including athletic performance, have not been proven.• Use of topical purified CBD is neither encouraged nor discouraged.• Since acute cannabis intoxication can impair complex cognitive and motor function, any athlete suspected of acute intoxication at the time of competition - based on clinical judgment - should be banned from that competition.• Wide-scale regulation of cannabis based on quantitative testing has limited usefulness in combat sports, for the following reasons:∘ Cannabis is not ergogenic and is likely ergolytic.∘ Concentrations in body fluids correlate poorly with clinical effects and timing of use.∘ Access to testing resources varies widely across sporting organizations.
Upper extremity orthopedic softball injuries presenting to the emergency department: epidemiology across the lifespan
Painter DF, Ahn BJ, Byrne RA, Dove JH, Wallace KJ, Jain R and Owens BD
Softball is a popular lifetime sport due to its inclusion of both fastpitch and slowpitch varieties, although associated injuries are common.
Return to play and performance after patellar fracture in American professional sports: a case-control cohort analysis
Moore BP, Hackl CM, Kneedler SC and Weiss WM
This study describes the effects of patellar fracture on return to play (RTP) and functional outcomes among athletes in American professional sports.
Para-athletes are exposed to bullying as much as non-disabled athletes
Büyüklüoğlu G, Ay Yildiz Y, Ercan S, Büyüklüoğlu N and Örsçelİk A
Exposure to bullying and high levels of anxiety are important determinants of the quality and duration of athletes' experiences of success. The aim of this study was to determine which behaviors are most commonly perceived as bullying by para athletes and whether the exposure to bullying or levels of trait anxiety differ between para athletes and non-disabled athletes.
Return to play after UCL injury in gymnasts
Kemler BR, Willier DP, D'Amore T, Cohen SB, Dodson CC and Ciccotti MG
Injuries to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) are commonly reported in traditional overhead sports. Conversely, there is a lack of evidence outlining management and return to play (RTP) outcomes for gymnasts. This study aimed to evaluate RTP and patient reported outcomes (PROs) in gymnasts after operative and non-operative treatment of UCL injuries.
Epidemiology of ankle sprain and chronic ankle instability in elite adolescent dancesport athletes
Liu Z, Yamaguchi R, Fu S, Zhao H, Li Y, Kobayashi Y, Gong Y and Kumai T
Dancesport is performed in high-heeled shoes. Dancesport athletes may have a higher prevalence and incidence of ankle sprains, which can affect their performance. However, the occurrence of ankle sprains among dancesport athletes remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of ankle sprains among elite dancesport athletes and to investigate the related information.
The 10-year decreasing trend of youth soccer head injuries and concussions presenting to U.S. emergency departments
Chun AG, Snyder EM, Obana KK, Ashinsky BG, Parisien RL, Bottiglieri TS, Ahmad CS and Trofa DP
Nearly 3 million children participate in youth soccer annually in the United States. Popularity of youth soccer within recent years has prompted investigation describing youth-soccer concussion trends presenting to United States emergency departments (EDs).
Epidemiology of injuries in united states high school track and field jumping events from 2008 - 2019
Rhim HC, Reichenbach R, Afifi T, Ruiz J, Noble-Taylor K, Barrack MT, Rauh MJ and Tenforde AS
Reports of injury characteristics of high school track and field athletes participating in jumping events in the United States are limited. In this descriptive epidemiological study, we report injury rates and patterns in these athletes.
Contribution of medical resonance imaging in the return to physical activity after exertional rhabdomyolysis a case report
Hamdan R, Guyotat N, Mahéo P, Bailleux J, Asdrubal J and Gallina X
Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) is the breakdown of muscle cells that occurs after intensive physical activity. Although a cautious and gradual return to physical activity (RTPA) is recommended after an episode of ER, physical sequelae are reported long afterwards.
Return-to-sports criteria used by professional team physicians in elite athletes after hip arthroscopy - a qualitative study
Pasurka M, Szlufcik M, Theodoropoulos J and Betsch M
The purpose of this study was to explore currently utilized readiness to Return to Sport (RTS) criteria after Hip Arthroscopy (HA) used in elite athletes to gain novel insights into the RTS decision-making process of professional team physicians. The authors hypothesized that even among this group of highly specialized physicians, there exists variability of measures and criteria used to determine RTS after HA.
A high incidence of serious life-threatening cardiovascular medical encounters during a marathon (2014-2019) calls for prevention strategies: SAFER XL
Green D, Sewry N, Derman W, Killops J, Boer PH, Jordaan E and Schwellnus M
The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and nature (severity and type by organ system and specific diagnosis) of all medical encounters (MEs), including serious/life-threatening MEs (SLMEs) during a South African road marathon.
Prior football or rugby exposure and white matter signal abnormalities in professional male mixed martial arts fighters
Esagoff AI, Gifford MK, Narapareddy BR, Sair HI, Luna LP, Raj D, Shan G, Peters M and Bernick C
White matter signal abnormalities have been associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and repetitive head impacts (RHI) in contact sports (e.g. American football, rugby). However, previous studies of mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters from the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study have not found greater white matter signal abnormalities in fighters versus controls.
Medical advisability of softball youth pitching recommendations on the internet
Coden G, Akamefula RA, Watters A, Ierulli V and Mulcahey MK
Developing softball pitchers are prone to injury due to the repetitive throwing motion. Many children and parents use the internet as a source of medical advice, but this information may not always be aligned with medical guidelines. The purpose of this study was to assess the medical advisability of injury prevention guidelines for developing softball pitchers on websites using Google as the primary search engine.
Impact of repeated sportive chokes on carotid intima media thickness and brain injury biomarkers in grappling athletes
Stellpflug SJ, Dalrymple KA, Stone D, Southgate S, Bachman DS, LeFevere RC, Hasan J and Zwank MD
Vascular neck compression techniques, referred to as 'chokes' in combat sports, reduce cerebral perfusion, causing loss of consciousness or voluntary submission by the choked athlete. Despite these chokes happening millions of times yearly around the world, there is scant research on their long-term effects. This pilot study evaluated whether repeated choking in submission grappling impacts the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and brain injury biomarkers (NFL, hGFAP, t-Tau, and UCH-L1).
Illness is more prevalent than injury in trail runners participating in a mountainous ultra trail race
Boshielo PMM, Jansen van Rensburg A, Viljoen C, Botha T, de Villiers CEE, Ramagole D, Seyani L and Janse van Rensburg DCC
Trail running is a popular off-road sport involving running in natural environments over various terrains, often in remote locations. This study aims to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of injuries and illnesses, i.e. medical encounters, on race day among trail runners in a high-altitude ultra trail race.
Return to play and athletic performance in division I female volleyball players following anterior cruciate ligament injury
Smith NP and Gallo RA
The purpose of this study is to examine NCAA Division I volleyball players' return to play rates and performance statistics compared to pre-injury levels following ACL injury.