Search

Background: High prevalence of burnout amongst healthcare profession students results in detrimental effects on academic performance, mental health, and quality of life. Emotional intelligence is a trainable skillset demonstrated to protect against burnout, improve psychological well-being, and decrease anxiety and stress, yet it lacks standardized inclusion in many healthcare profession program curricula., Objectives: To explore the utility of emotional intelligence as a tool for burnout mitigation, this study aimed to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and burnout in an interprofessional sample of healthcare profession students and identify related variables., Design: Cross-sectional survey study., Settings: Data was collected over 14 weeks in the fall of 2022 via a nationally distributed online survey., Participants: 147 healthcare profession students from the following professional or doctoral programs: Master of Science in Athletic Training (ATC), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Master of Science in or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OT/OTD), Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Physician Assistant Studies (PA-S), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN), or Nurse Practitioner Studies (NP)., Methods: Participants completed a demographics form (personal/school related variables including prior education and mindfulness habits), the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF), Oldenberg Burnout Inventory-Student (OLBI-S), and RU-SATED sleep health scale., Results: A large negative correlation was noted between emotional intelligence and burnout (r = -0.591, p < .001). Emotional intelligence and age were significant predictors of burnout. Previous emotional intelligence learning and mindfulness practice also demonstrated significant differences in emotional intelligence., Conclusions: These findings suggest that greater emotional intelligence may have a positive impact on burnout and wellbeing in healthcare profession students. Educational interventions aimed to improve emotional intelligence should be explored for inclusion in healthcare profession educational program curricula., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Individuals who sustain an ACL injury and undergo reconstruction (ACLR) are at risk for the development of osteoarthritis. Recent investigations have applied the Englund criteria to categorize people with a history of ACLR as someone with a symptomatic or asymptomatic knee., Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQL) and psychological outcomes in people with a history of ACLR who were categorized as symptomatic or non-symptomatic by application of the Englund criteria. The authors' hypothesized participants classified as symptomatic would have lower HRQL, increased fear-avoidance beliefs, and decreased resilience compared to participants classified as non-symptomatic., Study Design: Cross-sectional, survey., Methods: Participants at least one-year after ACLR were recruited for the study and completed the Tegner Activity Scale, the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), the modified Disablement in the Physically Active Scale (mDPA), and the Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire (FABQ) at one time-point. Descriptive statistics were summarized using median [interquartile range] and differences between groups were examined using separate Mann-Whitney U tests., Results: Participants with symptomatic knees had a significantly higher BMI (24.8 [6.4]) than the non-symptomatic group (21.2 [4.3], p=0.013). Participants in the symptomatic group had worse HRQL on the physical subscale (12.5 [16.3] vs. 0.0 [2.5], p<0.001) and mental subscale (2.0 [1] vs. 0.0 [1], p=0.031), higher scores on the FABQ-Sport (14.5 [11] vs. 0.0 [6], p<0.001) and FABQ-Physical Activity (20 [24] vs. 1 [4], p<0.001) and less resilience (3.7[0.42] vs. 4.0 [0.83], p=0.028) compared to those participants in the non-symptomatic group. There were no differences in current physical activity (p=0.285) or change in physical activity (p=0.124) levels between the two groups., Conclusions: This series of differences may represent a cascade of events that can continue to negatively impact health outcomes across the lifespan for individuals with a history of ACLR. Future research should consider longitudinal investigations of these outcomes after injury and throughout the post-surgical and post-rehabilitation timeframe., Level of Evidence: Level 3b., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s).)

Background: Many adults in the United States do not reach the recommended levels of activity needed for health benefits. Single-female caregivers present a unique and vulnerable population that is often less active than their partnered peers or single-male caregivers., Objective: The primary objective of this cross-sectional investigation was to identify the prevalence of physical inactivity in single-family, female-led households and determine differences in personal factors and social characteristics between physically active and not physically active single-female caregivers. A secondary objective was to examine associations among the social characteristic variables and physical inactivity in single-female caregiver households. Finally, we examined the odds single-female caregivers who are physically inactive reported chronic health conditions., Design: Cross-sectional survey design., Methods: We used the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Participants were selected based on pre-determined criteria for inclusion., Results: There was a 39.3% prevalence of physical inactivity among single-female caregivers in the sample. Single-female caregivers who were physically inactive had greater odds of having a history of multiple chronic health conditions., Conclusion: Healthcare providers and other community stakeholders should explore existing physical activity promotion strategies to increase physical activity in single-female caregivers. Future research should employ more rigorous, prospective research designs to determine if these chronic conditions and various social characteristics are caused by physical inactivity.

Objective: To examine the interaction between high school (HS) sports participation and injury history with current moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among young adults. Participants: Participants ( N  = 236) were 18-25 years old, not currently injured, and reported no physical activity limitations. Methods: Participants completed online demographic, injury history, and physical activity surveys. A two-way analysis of covariance was used to test the interaction between HS athlete status and previous injury severity on current self-reported MVPA. Results: Participants were 22.2 ± 2.1 years, primarily White (81.8%) or Asian (6.4%), and female (77.5%). After including body mass index and race as covariates, there was a statistically significant interaction between HS athlete status and previous injury history such that current MVPA was higher among former HS athletes compared to HS recreational/nonathletes when individuals reported no injuries or mild injury severity. MVPA was similar across athlete status groups when participants reported high levels of injury severity. Conclusions: Future studies should examine whether young adults who have experienced multiple and/or severe injuries as competitive HS athletes have unique physical activity barriers.

The purpose of this study was to compare visuomotor reaction time (VMRT) in collegiate athletes based on ankle sprain history. Participants included athletes with ankle sprain history (n = 18) and athletes with no ankle sprain history (n = 33). Participants completed an upper-extremity VMRT task which was comprised of eight wireless light-emitting diode sensors. The difference between reaction time (sec) and the number of "Hits" and "Misses" were compared between groups. The ankle sprain history group had significantly slower VMRT compared to the no ankle sprain history group with moderate effect sizes. However, there was no difference in the number of "Hits" or "Misses" between groups, despite observing moderate effect sizes. This result suggests that VMRT may be a potential target for prevention and rehabilitation strategies in individuals with ankle sprains. However, further research is needed to better understand the role of VMRT on the risk of ankle sprains.

Background: Lateral ankle sprains account for a large proportion of musculoskeletal injuries among civilians and military service members, with up to 40% of patients developing chronic ankle instability (CAI). Although foot function is compromised in patients with CAI, these impairments are not routinely addressed by current standard of care (SOC) rehabilitation protocols, potentially limiting their effectiveness. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determine if a Foot Intensive REhabilitation (FIRE) protocol is more effective compared to SOC rehabilitation for patients with CAI., Methods: This study will use a three-site, single-blind, randomized controlled trial design with data collected over four data collection points (baseline and post-intervention with 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups) to assess variables related to recurrent injury, sensorimotor function, and self-reported function. A total of 150 CAI patients (50 per site) will be randomly assigned to one of two rehabilitation groups (FIRE or SOC). Rehabilitation will consist of a 6-week intervention composed of supervised and home exercises. Patients assigned to SOC will complete exercises focused on ankle strengthening, balance training, and range of motion, while patients assigned to FIRE will complete a modified SOC program along with additional exercises focused on intrinsic foot muscle activation, dynamic foot stability, and plantar cutaneous stimulation., Discussion: The overall goal of this trial is to compare the effectiveness of a FIRE program versus a SOC program on near- and long-term functional outcomes in patients with CAI. We hypothesize the FIRE program will reduce the occurrence of future ankle sprains and ankle giving way episodes while creating clinically relevant improvements in sensorimotor function and self-reported disability beyond the SOC program alone. This study will also provide longitudinal outcome findings for both FIRE and SOC for up to two years. Enhancing the current SOC for CAI will improve the ability of rehabilitation to reduce subsequent ankle injuries, diminish CAI-related impairments, and improve patient-oriented measures of health, which are critical for the immediate and long-term health of civilians and service members with this condition. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov Registry: NCT #NCT04493645 (7/29/20)., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Context: Many individuals who sustain a lateral ankle sprain (LAS) fail to return to prior activity due to residual symptoms; and report elevated levels of injury-related fear, decreased function, and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Additionally, individuals with history of LAS exhibit deficits in neurocognitive functional measures like visuomotor reaction time (VMRT), which contributes to worse patient-reported outcome scores. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between HRQOL and lower-extremity (LE) VMRT in individuals with LAS history., Design: Cross-sectional., Methods: Young adult female volunteers with history of LAS (n = 22; age = 24 [3.5] y; height = 163.1 [9.8] cm; mass = 65.1 [11.5] kg; and time since last LAS = 67.8 [50.5] mo) completed HRQOL outcomes including the following: (1) Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11, (2) Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, (3) Penn State Worry Questionnaire, (4) modified Disablement in the Physically Active Scale, and (5) Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI). Additionally, participants completed a LE-VMRT task by responding to a visual stimulus using their foot to deactivate light sensors. Participants completed trials bilaterally. Separate Spearman rho correlations were performed to assess the relationship between patient-reported outcomes assessing constructs of HRQOL and LE-VRMT bilaterally. Significance was set at P < .05., Results: There was a strong, significant negative correlation between FADI-Activities of Daily Living (ρ = -.68; P = .002) and FADI-Sport (ρ = -.76; P = .001) scores and injured limb LE-VMRT; moderate, significant negative correlations between the uninjured limb LE-VMRT and FADI-Activities of Daily Living (ρ = -.60; P = .01) and FADI-Sport (ρ = -.60; P = .01) scores; and moderate, significant positive correlations between the injured limb LE-VMRT and modified Disablement in the Physically Active Scale-Physical Summary Component (ρ = .52; P = .01) and modified Disablement in the Physically Active Scale-Total (ρ = .54; P = .02) scores. All other correlations were not statistically significant., Conclusions: Young adult women with history of LAS demonstrated an association between self-reported constructs of HRQOL and LE-VMRT. As LE-VMRT is a modifiable injury risk factor, future studies should examine the effectiveness of interventions designed to improve LE-VMRT and the impact on self-reported HRQOL.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can be used to assess and monitor psychological health following musculoskeletal injury. Studies have reported decreased psychological health after lateral ankle sprain (LAS) using numerous PROs. The purpose of this systematic review was to critically evaluate individual studies, summarize PROs utilized to quantify psychological health, and examine the effect of ankle injury on psychological health between groups (1 LAS, >1 LAS, and healthy controls). Databases searched included: CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, APA, Psychinfo and PubMed Central. All case-control studies were critically appraised using the modified Downs and Black. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated between the groups (1 LAS, >1 LAS, healthy control) for each of the identified studies, for each included PRO used to quantify psychological impairments. Nine high-quality manuscripts were included. Overall, individuals with history of > 1 LAS self-reported greater psychological impairments compared to healthy controls (ES range = -0.37-12.16), while those with 1 LAS had similar psychological health to healthy control groups (ES rang e = -0.65-0.65). Conclusion : The main findings from this systematic review were individuals with > 1 LAS have increased levels of injury-related fear and decreased psychological health compared to healthy controls. PROs can aid clinicians in identifying psychological health concerns during rehabilitation.

Context: Youth sport specialization may be associated with physical literacy and physical activity in young adulthood. The purposes of this study were to compare young adult (18-25 y) physical literacy and physical activity by high school sport specialization status and to examine the relationship between current physical activity and physical literacy., Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study design., Methods: Participants were recruited from ResearchMatch, university classes, and social media posts. Participants (N = 172; aged 22.1 [2.1] y; 80.1% female) completed the following anonymous surveys on REDCap to assess: demographics and injury history, sport specialization, physical literacy (PLAYself), and physical activity (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire)., Results: When controlling for age, there were no statistically significant differences in physical literacy (F2,166 = 2.02, P = .14) or moderate to vigorous physical activity (F2,161 = 0.24, P = .79) between sport specialization groups. There was a moderate, positive relationship between physical literacy and physical activity (r = .33, P < .001)., Conclusions: Young adult physical literacy and physical activity were similar regardless of youth sport specialization level. Young adult physical literacy was positively associated with physical activity. Future studies should consider physical literacy as a possible correlate of physical activity among young adults.

Context: Knee self-efficacy and injury-related fear are associated with poor self-reported knee function and decreased physical activity (PA) after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Limited research has explored contextual factors that may influence psychological responses in this population, such as history of sport-related concussion (SRC). After SRC, individuals may experience increased negative emotions, such as sadness and nervousness. However, it is unknown how SRC history may influence knee-self efficacy and injury-related fear in individuals with ACLR. The purpose of this study was to compare knee self-efficacy and injury-related fear in individuals after ACLR who present with and without history of SRC., Design: Cross-sectional study., Methods: Forty participants ≥1 year postunilateral ACLR were separated by history of SRC (no SRC = 29, SRC = 11). The Knee Self-Efficacy Scale (KSES) and subscales measured certainty regarding performance of daily activities (KSES-ADL), sports/leisure activities (KSES-Sport), physical activities (KSES-PA), and future knee function (KSES-Future). The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11 measured injury-related fear. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to examine between-group differences. Hedges g effect sizes and 95% confidence interval were used to examine clinically meaningful group differences., Results: Individuals with a history of ACLR and SRC demonstrated worse KSES-PA (7.5 [5.3]) compared with those without a history of SRC (8.1 [6.1], P = .03). No other statistically significant differences were observed. A medium effect size was present for the KSES-PA (0.62), KSES-ADL (0.42), KSES-Present (ADL + PA + Sport) (0.48), KSES-Total (0.53), and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11 (0.61) but must be interpreted with caution as 95% confidence interval crossed 0., Conclusions: This exploratory study indicated that individuals with a history of ACLR and SRC had worse knee self-efficacy for PA compared with those without history of SRC. Rehabilitation specialists should monitor knee self-efficacy deficits in the post-ACLR population and recognize the potential influence of cumulative injury history on rehabilitative outcomes.

The PLAYself is a commonly utilized tool to assess physical literacy in child and adolescent populations. Currently, there are no measurement tools designed to examine physical literacy among adults. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the psychometric properties of PLAYself subsections in a sample of young adults. Two hundred forty-five young adults (ages 18-25) from the United States completed the PLAYself questionnaire. Multiple principal component analyses using promax rotation were utilized to assess the current factor structure of the PLAYself subsections. Each subsection was analyzed independently to explore individual summary components. PLAYself subsections were assessed for reliability using Cronbach's  α , inter-item correlations, and item-total correlations. A multi-factor structure was identified for each PLAYself subsection. A 2-factor structure was identified for the Environment subsection accounting for 55.2% of the variance. A 2-factor structure was identified for the Physical Literacy Self-Description subsection accounting for 57.1% of the variance. A 3-factor structure was identified for the Relative Ranking of Literacies subsection accounting for 70.3% of the variance. The Environment, Physical Literacy Self-Description, and Relative Ranking of Literacies subsections demonstrated poor ( α  = 0.577), good ( α  = 0.89), and acceptable ( α  = 0.79) internal consistencies, respectively. The Physical Literacy Self-Description subsection demonstrated the best psychometric properties in our sample, and thus may be an appropriate tool to assess physical literacy in a young adult population until additional measurement tools are developed.

Purpose: To perform an exploratory factor analysis of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire in patients with chronic ankle instability., Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was utilized. The Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire was administered to patients with chronic ankle instability who met the inclusion criteria. Both an unrestricted and restricted factor analysis with varimax rotation were utilized to explore the factor structure of the instrument. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin values were used to determine sampling adequacy. Bartlett's test of sphericity was used to justify that the correlations were suitable for the principal component analysis., Results: The restricted two-factor analysis resulted in two factors with acceptable internal consistency values. The Keiser-Meyer-Olkin value was acceptable (0.81), and Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (χ 2 (55) = 515.59, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The ankle-specific Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire consists of two stable factors and should be used to further examine fear-avoidance beliefs in people with chronic ankle instability., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Context: Strength deficits and decreased scores on generic, dimension-specific, and region-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) PRO measures are commonly documented among individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). However, it is unknown if there is a relationship between hip strength and self-reported patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores., Objective: To compare isometric peak torque for hip-extension (H-EXT) and hip-abduction (H-ABD), as well as PRO scores between CAI, lateral ankle sprain copers (LAS copers), and uninjured controls (UC). The secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between isometric hip peak torque and PROs in participants with CAI., Design: Cross-sectional., Setting: Laboratory., Participants: Sixty-three individuals, 45 women (23.02 [3.83] y, 165.91 [7.55] cm, 67.28 [11.95] kg) and 18 men (26.28 [5.43] y, 179.28 [9.01] cm, 83.87 [13.26] kg), grouped as uninjured control (n = 26), LAS coper (n = 15), or CAI (n = 22)., Main Outcome Measures: The Foot and Ankle Ability Measure was used to assess region-specific HRQL. The Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire was used to assess injury-related fear. The Disablement in Physically Active was used to assess global HRQL. Isometric peak torque was measured with a handheld dynamometer for H-EXT and H-ABD., Results: No group differences were observed for H-ABD (P = .34) or H-EXT (P = .35). The CAI group had significantly worse scores on all PROs compared with LAS coper (P < .001) and HC (P < .001). Moderate-weak correlations were found between H-ABD and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-activities of daily living (P = .047; ρ = .392) and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sport (P = .013; ρ = .482) and H- EXT and Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Work (P = .007; ρ = -.517)., Conclusions: Individuals with CAI displayed lower HRQL based on worse scores on generic, dimension-specific, and region-specific PROs compared with LAS copers and uninjured controls. There were no significant between-group differences for H-EXT and H-ABD isometric peak torque production, but there was a moderate positive relationship between isometric H-ABD and self-reported ankle disability in individuals with CAI.

Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to examine the preliminary feasibility and efficacy of in vivo exposure therapy (IVET) to decrease injury-related fear in females with history of ACLR., Design: Pilot Study., Setting: Sports Medicine Research Laboratory., Participants: 12 female participants with history of ACLR (≥ 1 year post-operative) were randomized into a 5-week IVET group (n = 6) or 5-week sham physical activity (PA) monitoring group (n = 6)., Main Outcome Measures: The independent variables were Group and Time. The dependent variables were the Photographic Series of Sports Activities for ACLR (PHOSA-ACLR) and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11 (TSK-11) scores. A Group x Time repeated measures two-way analysis of variance was completed for the PHOSA-ACLR and the TSK-11. Partial η 2 effect sizes were used to examine clinically meaningful differences., Results: High retention and adherence rates were observed in the intervention group. The PHOSA-ACLR exhibited a significant main effect for Time (F 1,10  = 9.92, p = 0.01, partial η 2  = 0.50), but not for Group. No statistically significant or clinically meaningful differences were observed for the TSK-11., Conclusion: Both groups exhibited decreased injury-related fear for specific functional tasks. Future research should further examine the efficacy of IVET and PA monitoring to decrease injury-related fear in patients after ACLR., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None declared., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

"Food deserts" are usually defined as geographic areas without local access to fresh, healthy food. We used community ecology statistics in supermarkets to quantify the availability of healthy food and to potentially identify food deserts as areas without a diverse selection of food, rather than a binary as to whether fresh food is present or not. We test whether produce diversity is correlated with neighborhood income or demographics. Abundance and diversity of fresh produce was quantified in supermarkets in Broward County, Florida, USA. Neighborhood income level and racial/ethnic makeup were retrieved from the U.S. Census and American Community Survey. Although diversity varied, there were no communities that had consistently less available fresh food, although the percent of a neighborhood identifying as "white" was positively correlated with produce diversity. There may be fewer choices in neighborhoods with a higher proportion of minorities, but there were no consistent patterns of produce diversity in Broward County. This method demonstrates an easy, inexpensive way to characterize food deserts beyond simple distance, and results in precise enough information to identify gaps in the availability of healthy foods.

Context: Fear has been cited as the primary barrier to return to sport (RTS) by athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Understanding the neural factors that contribute to fear after ACLR may help us to identify interventions for this population., Objective: To characterize the underlying neural substrate of injury-related fear in patients after ACLR versus healthy matched control individuals during a picture imagination task (PIT) consisting of sport-specific images and images of activities of daily living (ADL)., Design: Case-control study., Setting: Research laboratory., Patients or Other Participants: A total of 24 right-hand-dominant participants (12 with left-sided ACLR and 12 control individuals) were enrolled. Participants underwent full-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging., Main Outcome Measure(s): Functional data were acquired using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) echoplanar imaging. Independent t tests were conducted to identify between-groups differences in BOLD signal changes during all images of the PIT. Paired t tests were computed to examine differences in BOLD signal change between sport-specific and ADL images in the ACLR group., Results: Increased activation in the inferior parietal lobule and the mediodorsal thalamus was observed during PIT in the ACLR group. An inability to suppress the default mode network in the ACLR group was noted. The ACLR group exhibited increased activation in the cerebellum and inferior occipital regions during the sport-specific images versus the ADL images, but no other regions of interest demonstrated differences., Conclusion: After ACLR, patients may be more predisposed to fear, anxiety, and pain during sport-specific activities and ADLs. Psychosocial interventions may be warranted after ACLR to reduce injury-related fear and mitigate potentially maladaptive neuroplasticity., (© by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.)

Background: Despite the known risks of physical inactivity, only 50% of adults meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity (PA). Therefore, numerous interventions have been designed to increase PA across a lifespan. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of interventions based on the transtheoretical model to improve PA in healthy adults., Methods: Electronic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, PsycINFO, Sociological Collection, and SPORTDiscus) were systematically searched from January 2001 to May 2020., Results: A total of 11 randomized pretest-posttest studies were included in this review. Ten studies utilized a subjective measurement of PA, and 3 studies included an objective measure. Five studies demonstrated significant improvements in PA for the transtheoretical model-based intervention groups compared with control/comparison groups; however, 6 studies demonstrated no differences between groups., Conclusion: The findings suggest that there is inconsistent evidence to support the use of interventions based on the transtheoretical model to improve PA in adult populations. Interventions were more successful when materials were delivered via in-person counseling and when study participants were in the precontemplation or contemplation phases at baseline.

Context: Fast visuomotor reaction time (VMRT), the time required to recognize and respond to sequentially appearing visual stimuli, allows an athlete to successfully respond to stimuli during sports participation, while slower VMRT has been associated with increased injury risk. Light-based systems are capable of measuring both upper- and lower-extremity VMRT; however, the reliability of these assessments are not known., Objective: To determine the reliability of an upper- and lower-extremity VMRT task using a light-based trainer system., Design: Reliability study., Setting: Laboratory. Patients (or Other Participants): Twenty participants with no history of injury in the last 12 months., Methods: Participants reported to the laboratory on 2 separate testing sessions separated by 1 week. For both tasks, participants were instructed to extinguish a random sequence of illuminated light-emitting diode disks, which appeared one at a time as quickly as possible. Participants were provided a series of practice trials before completing the test trials. VMRT was calculated as the time in seconds between target hits, where higher VMRT represented slower reaction time., Main Outcome Measures: Separate intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to determine test-retest reliability for each task. The SEM and minimal detectable change values were determined to examine clinical applicability., Results: The right limb lower-extremity reliability was excellent (ICC2,1 = .92; 95% CI, .81-.97). Both the left limb (ICC2,1 = .80; 95% CI, .56-.92) and upper-extremity task (ICC2,1 = .86; 95% CI, .65-.95) had good reliability., Conclusions: Both VMRT tasks had clinically acceptable reliability in a healthy, active population. Future research should explore further applications of these tests as an outcome measure following rehabilitation for health conditions with known VMRT deficits.

Introduction: To determine whether individuals with a history of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) exhibit altered neuromotor function compared to healthy controls. It was hypothesized that the ACLR group would have slower postural responses compared to healthy individuals of similar age., Materials and Methods: Sixteen adults with a unilateral ACLR and 16 matched healthy controls participated. General assessments of neuromotor function were gathered and included measures of reaction time (both seated and postural conditions), walking ability, balance, ankle ROM, proprioception, knee joint laxity, patellar tendon reflex latency, and quadriceps strength. Data were analyzed using mixed generalized linear models with between-subject (ie, controls, ACLR) and within-subject factors (ie, affected, unaffected limb)., Results: Individuals with an ACLR exhibited a significant slowing of their postural reaction times compared to the control individuals. The ACLR group was slower under both the simple (ACLR: 484 ± 6.17 ms, control: 399 ± 1.95 ms) and choice reaction time conditions (ACLR: 550 ± 43 ms, control: 445 ± 43 ms). No other group differences were found in any of the other measures., Conclusion: Overall, ACLR individuals had a reduced ability to respond quickly under more challenging postural conditions (ie, stepping response). This finding would indicate that the impact of an ACLR is not purely mechanical and restricted to the joint. Rather, injury and reconstruction of the ACL impact neural mechanisms, altering individuals' ability to respond under challenging balance tasks., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Context: Deficits in reaction time, decreased self-reported knee function, and elevated levels of injury-related fear have been observed in individuals who sustain anterior cruciate ligament injury. Understanding the relationship between these variables may provide the impetus to further investigate effective intervention strategies to address these deficits in individuals after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)., Objective: To examine the relationship between injury-related fear and lower-extremity visuomotor reaction time (VMRT) in individuals with a history of ACLR. A secondary purpose was to determine the relationship between self-reported knee function and lower-extremity VMRT in individuals with a history of ACLR., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Laboratory., Participants: Twenty participants between the ages of 18-35 years, with history of unilateral ACLR within the last 10 years, who injured their knee playing or training for organized or recreational sports., Main Outcome Measures: Scores on the athlete fear avoidance questionnaire, the fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ), the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score, and reaction time (in seconds) on the lower-extremity VMRT task using the FitLight Trainer™, bilaterally. Spearman Rho correlations examined the relationship between the dependent variables., Results: There was a moderate positive correlation between VMRT and FABQ-total (r = .62, P < .01), FABQ-sport (r = .56, P = .01), and FABQ-physical activity (r = .64, P < .01) for the injured limb. Correlations between FABQ scores and VMRT for the uninjured limb were weak positive correlations (r = .36-.41, P > .05). Weak correlations between the osteoarthritis outcome score subscales, athlete fear avoidance questionnaire, and VMRT were observed for the injured limb (P > .05)., Conclusions: Individuals with a history of ACLR who exhibited elevated levels of injury-related fear demonstrated slower VMRT. There were no relationships between self-reported knee function and VMRT. Future research should explore interventions to address injury-related fear and VMRT in individuals after ACLR.

Objective: To examine the factor structure and validity of the Quick-FAAM in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and those classified as ankle sprain copers (ASC)., Design: Cross-sectional., Setting: Laboratory., Participants: Adult participants were included in both groups based on previously established criteria., Main Outcome Measure(s): The 12-item Quick-FAAM is scored on a 5-point Likert scale were scores are converted to a percentage (0-100%), and greater scores indicate greater function. The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) is a 9-item scale used to assess impairments in individuals with a history of ankle sprain. Scores range from 0 to 30, and greater scores indicate greater impairment levels. Confirmatory factory analyses, internal consistency, and concurrent validity were determined. Known-groups validity and differences in scores between groups were examined. Alpha was set at p < 0.05., Results: The instruments were strongly correlated (r = 0.76, p < 0.001), the Quick-FAAM internal consistency remained high (α = 0.94) and the single factor was confirmed. The cutoff score differentiating between the groups was 94.79%., Conclusions: The Quick-FAAM is a valid, shortened version of the FAAM. It also has the ability to discriminate between individuals with CAI and those classified as ASC. The Quick-FAAM should be considered for future use with individuals who have ankle sprain history., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None declared., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The impetus of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is to allow patients to return to sport and to remain engaged in physical activity. Many patients exhibit deficits in psychological domains of health-related quality of life which may impede return to sport and physical activity participation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association of patient-based, specifically psychological, and functional outcomes with return to sport and physical activity., Methods: Forty participants, a minimum of 1-year post-ACLR, reported to the laboratory for one-testing session. Participants completed a series of patient-based and functional outcome assessments. Participants were also instructed to wear a pedometer for 1 week to monitor their daily steps., Results: Twenty-five participants (62%) did not return to sport and 29 participants (72%) did not average 10,000 steps per day. Individuals with elevated levels of self-reported kinesiophobia were 17% less likely to return to sport. Self-reported knee self-efficacy and knee-related quality of life accounted for 27.1% of the variance of average daily step counts., Conclusions: Psychological factors, specifically injury-related fear and self-efficacy, were associated more significantly than functional outcomes with return to sport and physical activity levels. Clinicians should examine psychological factors throughout rehabilitation in patients after ACLR. Future research should explore the effectiveness of psychoeducation techniques to decrease injury-related fear and enhance self-efficacy in this population., Level of Evidence: III.

Clinical Scenario: Physical activity is vital for human health. Musculoskeletal injury may inhibit adults from participating in physical activity, and this amount may be less than adults without a history of musculoskeletal injury. Clinical Question: Do individuals with a history of ankle or knee musculoskeletal injury participate in less objectively measured physical activity compared with healthy controls? Summary of Key Findings: Four studies were included. Two studies concluded patients who have undergone an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) spent less time in moderate to vigorous physical activity levels when compared with healthy controls, but still achieved the daily recommended amount of physical activity. One study determined that participants with CAI took fewer steps per day compared with the control group. The fourth study determined patients with patellofemoral pain were less physically active than healthy controls as they took fewer steps per day and spent less time participating in mild and high activity. Clinical Bottom Line: There is consistent, high quality evidence that demonstrates individuals with a history of ankle or knee musculoskeletal injury participate in less objectively measured physical activity compared with healthy individuals. Strength of Recommendation: Due to nature of study designs of the included articles in this critically appraised topic, we recommend a grade of 3B.

Bioswales and other forms of green infrastructure can be effective means to reduce environmental stresses in urban ecosystems; however, few studies have evaluated the ecology of these systems, or the role that plant selection and microbial assembly play in their function. For the current study, we examined the relationship between plant transpiration rates for five commonly planted herbaceous species in three bioswales in New York City, as well as bioswale soil microbial composition and soil chemistry. Soils were sampled near individual plants, with distinction made between upper (bioswale inlet) and lower slopes (bioswale outlet). We found high variation in transpiration rates across species, and that Nepeta × faassenii was the highest conductor (13.65 mmol H 2 O m -2 s -1 ), while Panicum virgatum was the lowest conductor (2.67 mmol H 2 O m -2 s -1 ) ( p < 0.001). There was significant variation in percent N of leaves and soil, which did not relate to the higher water conductance in bioswales. Significantly higher C, N, and water content on the high end of bioswale slopes suggest storm water run-off is mostly absorbed on the inlet side. Bacterial and fungal communities were significantly clustered by bioswale and by plant species within each bioswale implying there are micro-environmental controls on the soil microbial composition, and that plant composition matters for microbial assemblages within bioswales. Plants with higher transpiration rates were associated with greater fungal and bacterial diversity at the level of the bioswale and at scale of the individual plant, suggesting a possible link between plant physiological traits and soil microbial communities. These data suggest that the specific plant palette selected for planting bioswales can have deterministic effects on the surrounding microbial communities which may further influence functions such as transpiration and nutrient cycling. These results may have implications for bioswale management to improve urban water quality and reduce stress on sewage systems after storm events by revising plant species palette selection based on the functional consequences of plant-microbial associations in engineered green infrastructure., (Copyright © 2019 Brodsky, Shek, Dinwiddie, Bruner, Gill, Hoch, Palmer and McGuire.)

Context: Many athletes return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with lingering physical or mental health impairments. Examining health-related quality of life (HRQL) and fear-avoidance beliefs across the spectrum of noninjured athletes and athletes with a history of ACLR may provide further insight into targeted therapies warranted for this population., Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in fear-avoidance beliefs and HRQL in college athletes with a history of ACLR not participating in sport (ACLR-NPS), participating in sport (ACLR-PS), and healthy controls (Control) with no history of injury participating in sport., Design: Cross-sectional., Setting: Laboratory. Patients (or Other Participants): A total of 10 college athletes per group (ACLR-NPS, ACLR-PS, and Control) were included. Participants were included if on a roster of a Division I or III athletic team during data collection., Interventions: Participants completed a demographic survey, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active Scale (mDPA) to assess HRQL, and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) to assess fear-avoidance beliefs., Main Outcome Measures: Scores on the mDPA (Physical and Mental) and FABQ subscales (Sport and Physical Activity) were calculated, a 1-way Kruskal-Wallis test and separate Mann-Whitney U post hoc tests were performed (P < .05)., Results: ACLR-NPS (30.00 [26.00]) had higher FABQ-Sport scores than ACLR-PS (18.00 [26.00]; P < .001) and Controls (0.00 [2.50]; P < .001). ACLR-NPS (21.50 [6.25]) had higher FABQ-Physical Activity scores than ACLR-PS (12.50 [13.00]; P = .001) and Controls (0.00 [1.00]; P < .001). Interestingly, ACLR-PS scores for FABQ-Sport (P = .01) and FABQ-Physical Activity (P = .04) were elevated compared with Controls. ACLR-NPS had higher scores on the mDPA-Physical compared with the ACLR-PS (P < .001) and Controls (P < .001), and mDPA-Mental compared with ACLR-PS (P = .01), indicating decreased HRQL., Conclusions: The ACLR-NPS had greater fear-avoidance beliefs and lower HRQL compared with ACLR-PS and Controls. However, the ACLR-PS had higher scores for both FABQ subscales compared with Controls. These findings support the need for additional psychosocial therapies to address fear-avoidance beliefs in the returned to sport population.

Clinical Scenario: Patients after sports-related injury experience deficits in self-efficacy. Goal setting may be an appropriate psychoeducation technique to enhance self-efficacy after sports-related injury. Clinical Question: Does goal setting-enhanced rehabilitation improve self-efficacy compared with traditional rehabilitation alone in individuals with sports-related injury? Summary of Key Findings: Two randomized controlled trials were included. The two studies selected assessed changes in self-efficacy before and after a goal-setting intervention following sports-related injury in an athletic population. Both studies used the Sports Injury Rehabilitation Beliefs Survey to evaluate self-efficacy. Clinical Bottom Line: There is currently consistent, good-quality, patient-oriented evidence that supports the use of goal setting to improve self-efficacy in patients undergoing rehabilitation for sports-related injury compared with the standard of care group. Future research should examine optimal timing for the implementation of goal setting in order to enhance self-efficacy following sports-related injury. Strength of Recommendation: The grade of A is recommended by the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy for consistent, good-quality, patient-oriented evidence.

Context : The modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale (mDPA) has become a commonly utilized patient-reported outcome instrument for physically active patients. However, the factor structure of this instrument has not been verified in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Furthermore, additional evidence examining the mDPA in individuals with CAI is warranted. Objective : The purpose of this study was to verify the factor structure of the mDPA and compare the physical summary component (PSC) and mental summary component (MSC) in those with and without CAI. Design : Cross-sectional. Setting : Laboratory. Participants : A total of 118 CAI and 81 healthy controls from a convenience sample participated. Intervention : Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures : All subjects completed the 16-item mDPA that included the PSC and MSC; higher scores represent greater disablement. To examine the model fit of the mDPA, a single-factor and 2-factor (PSC and MSC) structures were tested. Group differences were examined with independent t tests ( P  ≤ .05) and Hedges' g effect sizes (ESs). Results : Model fit indices showed the 2-factor structure to possess adequate fit to the data, χ 2 (101) = 275.58, P  < .001, comparative-fit index = .91, root mean square error of approximation = .09 (95% confidence interval [CI], .08-.11), and standardized root mean square residual = .06. All items loaded significantly and in expected directions on respective subscales ( λ range = .59-.87, all P s < .001). The CAI group reported greater disablement as indicated from PSC (CAI: 11.45 [8.30] and healthy: 0.62 [1.80], P  < .001, ES = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.33-1.99) and MSC (CAI: 1.75 [2.58] and healthy: 0.58 [1.46], P  < .001, ES = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.24-0.82) scores. Conclusions : The 2-factor structure of the mDPA was verified. Individuals with CAI reported greater disablement on the PSC compared with healthy controls. The moderate ES on the MSC between groups warrants further investigation. Overall, these results indicate the mDPA is a generic patient-reported outcome instrument that can be utilized with individuals who have CAI.

Background: Tube feedings are often needed to achieve the growth and nutrition goals associated with decreased morbidity and mortality in patients with single ventricle anatomy. Variability in feeding method through the interstage period has been previously described, however, comparable information following stage 2 palliation is lacking., Objectives: To identify types of feeding methods following stage 2 palliation and their influence on length of stay., Design: Secondary analysis of the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative registry was performed on 932 patients. Demographic data, medical characteristics, postoperative complications, type of feeding method, and length of stay for stage 2 palliation were analyzed., Results: Type of feeding method remained relatively unchanged during hospitalization for stage 2 palliation. Gastrostomy tube fed only patients were the oldest at time of surgery (182.7 ± 57.7 days, P < .001) and had the lowest weight-for-age z scores at admission (-1.6 ± 1.4, P < .001). Oral + gastrostomy tube groups had the longest median bypass times (172.5 minutes, P = .001) and longest length of stay (median 12 days, P < .001). Multivariable modeling revealed that feeding by tube only (P < .001), oral + tube feeding (P ≤ .001), reintubation (P < .001), and prolonged intubation (P < .001) were associated with increased length of stay. Neither age (P = .156) nor weight-for-age z score at admission (P = .066) was predictive of length of stay., Conclusions: Feeding methods established at admission for stage 2 palliation are not likely to change by discharge. Length of stay is more likely to be impacted by tube feeding and intubation history than age or weight-for-age z score at admission. Better understanding for selection of feeding methods and their impact on patient outcomes is needed to develop evidence-based guidelines to decrease variability in clinical practice patterns and provide appropriate counseling to caregivers., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Hunters and target shooters can introduce metals into the environment in the form of firearm ammunition, elevating environmental levels of these metals, which may cause plant and animal toxicity. We explored metal accumulation in the Florida Everglades at sites used for firearm target shooting that are unlicensed, unregulated, and not patrolled by law enforcement. We compared concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Al in water and soil among study sites, control sites, and a public shooting range. We also tested plants and invertebrates to identify bioaccumulation or biomagnification. Lead and Cu concentrations in the soil at the target sites were elevated (Pb mean: 11,500.1 μg g; Cu mean: 1558.7 μg g) compared with control sites (Pb mean: 35.3 μg g; Cu mean: 49.3 μg g) and were more similar to the shooting range (Pb mean: 3194.7 μg g; Cu mean: 567.1 μg g). Organisms had elevated Pb and Cu at the target sites, indicating bioaccumulation. For example, Spanish needle [ (L.) DC] had a Pb concentration of 356.9 μg g at one site but averaged 80.3 μg g at the control sites. Grass shrimp () had Pb concentrations averaging 416.1 μg g at target sites but only 18.9 μg g at control sites. Water samples did not have elevated metal levels at the sites. Aluminum levels did not correspond to firearms use. We conclude that the illicit shooting sites are hotspots of metal pollution and pose a risk of contamination to several types of organisms. Because these sites are undocumented and unregulated, remediation may be difficult., (© 2019 The Authors. Re-use requires permission from the publisher.)

Context: Generic patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments are designed to capture health-related quality-of-life outcomes and to determine treatment effectiveness from the patient's perspective. Multiple generic PROs are used in clinical practice, and an investigation of the psychometric properties of these instruments in a high-functioning, physically active population is important for the future use of these instruments., Objective: To determine the relationship among 3 generic PROs: the modified Disablement in the Physically Active (mDPA) Scale, the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF), and the Short Form 12 (SF-12) in physically active patients seeking treatment for a lower extremity health condition., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Athletic training clinical facility, physical therapy clinic., Patients or Other Participants: One hundred patients seeking rehabilitation services for a lower extremity health condition., Main Outcome Measure(s): All patients completed a demographic questionnaire and the 3 generic PROs at 1 time point during their rehabilitation: the mDPA-Total, mDPA-physical summary component (mDPA-PSC), mDPA-mental summary component (mDPA-MSC), the PROMIS-PF, and SF-12 mental component summary (SF-MCS) and physical component summary (SF-PCS). Separate Spearman rank ( r ) correlations were performed to assess the strength of the relationship among PRO instruments. The floor and ceiling effects were also examined., Results: A strong relationship was present between the SF-12 PCS and the mDPA-Total ( r = -0.65), the mDPA-PSC ( r = -0.64), and the PROMIS-PF ( r = 0.65). Significant moderate relationships were identified between the mDPA-MSC and the SF-12 PCS ( r = -0.43) and MCS ( r = -0.53). Weak relationships were noted between the mDPA-Total and SF-12 MCS ( r = -0.21) and the SF-12 MCS and mDPA-PSC ( r = -0.10) and PROMIS-PF ( r = 0.20)., Conclusions: The PROMIS-PF and mDPA had good convergent and divergent validity. Clinicians treating physically active patients should consider these instruments for use in clinical practice. Future researchers should examine additional psychometric properties of these instruments in physically active patients.

Context: The accurate evaluation of self-reported changes in function throughout the rehabilitation process is important for determining patient progression. Currently, how a response shift (RS) may affect the accuracy of self-reported functional assessment in a population with chronic ankle instability (CAI) is unknown., Objective: To examine the RS in individuals with CAI after a 4-week multimodal rehabilitation program., Design: Controlled laboratory study., Setting: Laboratory., Patients or Other Participants: Twenty adults (5 men, 15 women; age = 24.35 ± 6.95 years, height = 169.29 ± 10.10 cm, mass = 70.58 ± 12.90 kg) with self-reported CAI participated. Inclusion criteria were at least 1 previous ankle sprain, at least 2 episodes of the ankle "giving way" in the 3 months before the study, and a score ≤24 on the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool., Intervention(s): Individuals participated in 12 intervention sessions over 4 weeks and daily home ankle strengthening and stretching., Main Outcome Measure(s): Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were assessed at 4 times (baseline, preintervention, postintervention, and 2-week follow-up). At the postintervention and 2-week follow-up, participants completed then-test assessments to measure RS. Then-test assessments are retrospective evaluations of perceived baseline function completed after an intervention. The PROs consisted of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living and Sport subscales, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale physical and mental summary components, and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire Physical Activity and Work subscales. We used repeated-measures analyses of variance to compare preintervention with then-test measurements. Individual-level RSs were examined by determining the number of participants who experienced preintervention to then-test differences that exceeded the calculated minimal detectable change., Results: We did not identify an RS for any PRO ( F > 2.338, P > .12), indicating no group-level differences between the preintervention and retrospective then-test assessments. Individual-level RS was most prominent in the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sport subscale (n = 6, 30%) and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire Physical Activity subscale (n = 9, 45%)., Conclusions: No group-level RS was identified for any PRO after a 4-week multimodal rehabilitation program in individuals with CAI. This finding indicates that traditional assessment of self-reported function was accurate for evaluating the short-term effects of rehabilitation in those with CAI. Low levels of individual-level RS were identified.

Context: Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) experience disease- and patient-oriented impairments that contribute to both immediate and long-term health detriments. Investigators have demonstrated the ability of targeted interventions to improve these impairments. However, the combined effects of a multimodal intervention on a multidimensional profile of health have not been evaluated., Objective: To examine the effects of a 4-week rehabilitation program on disease- and patient-oriented impairments associated with CAI., Design: Controlled laboratory study., Setting: Laboratory., Patients or Other Participants: Twenty adults (5 males, 15 females; age = 24.35 ± 6.95 years, height = 169.29 ± 10.10 cm, mass = 70.58 ± 12.90 kg) with self-reported CAI participated. Inclusion criteria were at least 1 previous ankle sprain, at least 2 episodes of "giving way" in the 3 months before the study, and a Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool score ≤24., Intervention(s): Individuals participated in 12 sessions over 4 weeks that consisted of ankle stretching and strengthening, balance training, and joint mobilizations. They also completed home ankle-strengthening and -stretching exercises daily., Main Outcome Measure(s): Dorsiflexion range of motion (weight-bearing-lunge test), isometric ankle strength (inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion, plantar flexion), isometric hip strength (abduction, adduction, flexion, extension), dynamic postural control (Y-Balance test), static postural control (eyes-open and -closed time to boundary in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions), and patient-reported outcomes (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Sport, modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale physical and mental summary components, and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Physical Activity and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Work) were assessed at 4 times (baseline, preintervention, postintervention, 2-week follow-up)., Results: Dorsiflexion range of motion, each direction of the Y-Balance test, 4-way ankle strength, hip-adduction and -extension strength, the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure-Activities of Daily Living score, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active scale-physical summary component score, and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire-Physical Activity score were improved at postintervention ( P < .001; effect-size range = 0.72-1.73) and at the 2-week follow-up ( P < .001; effect-size range = 0.73-1.72) compared with preintervention. Hip-flexion strength was improved at postintervention compared with preintervention ( P = .03; effect size = 0.61). Hip-abduction strength was improved at the 2-week follow-up compared with preintervention ( P = .001; effect size = 0.96). Time to boundary in the anterior-posterior direction was increased at the 2-week follow-up compared with preintervention ( P < .04; effect-size range = 0.61-0.78) and postintervention ( P < .04) during the eyes-open condition., Conclusion: A 4-week rehabilitation program improved a multidimensional profile of health in participants with CAI.

Objective: To determine the relationship between self-reported ankle and knee function, and to examine differences in ankle function between healthy and injured limbs in individuals with a history of ACL reconstruction (ACLR)., Design: Cross-sectional., Setting: Laboratory., Participants: A total of 18 adults with a history of ACLR., Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed four patient-reported outcomes: the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome (KOOS), the Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active Scale, and the Quick-Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (Quick-FAAM). Additional ankle function measures collected bilaterally included plantar cutaneous sensation, dorsiflexion range of motion and dorsiflexion and plantarflexion strength., Results: Three KOOS-subscales were significantly, moderately correlated to the Quick-FAAM for the injured limb. There were differences in the uninjured and injured Quick-FAAM scores. No other differences were observed in ankle function measures., Conclusions: Self-reported ankle and knee function are correlated in participants with a history of ACLR. Clinicians should be made aware of the influence of this health condition on the distal joint, and treatment strategies to address these perceived impairments should be considered., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To systematically locate, critically appraise, and synthesize the available evidence regarding the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs) and psychoeducation that can be implemented by rehabilitation specialists to treat fear-avoidance beliefs in patients with acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain (LBP)., Data Sources: Electronic databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Psychology and Behavior Sciences Collection, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO) were searched from inception to September 2017., Study Selection: Assessment of methodological quality was completed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. The Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy was used to evaluate the quality of evidence., Data Extraction: Study sample, subject demographics, CBT and/or psychoeducation intervention details, data collection time points, outcome assessments, statistical analysis, results, and conclusions were extracted from each study. In addition, effect sizes were calculated., Data Synthesis: Five high-quality studies (PEDro ≥6) were included. All included studies evaluated fear-avoidance beliefs. CBTs and psychoeducation strategies designed to target patient-specific fears demonstrated clinically meaningful results, while psychoeducation methodologies were not as effective., Conclusions: There is inconsistent, patient-oriented evidence (grade B) to support the use of CBTs and/or psychoeducation strategies by rehabilitation specialists to treat fear-avoidance beliefs. Patient-centered and personalized CBTs were most effective to treat these psychosocial factors in patients with LBP when compared with a control treatment., (Copyright © 2017 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Context: There is an increased emphasis on the need to capture and incorporate self-reported function to make clinical decisions when providing patient-centered care. Response shift (RS), or a change in an individual's self-evaluation of a construct, may affect the accurate assessment of change in self-reported function throughout the course of rehabilitation. A systematic review of this phenomenon may provide valuable information regarding the accuracy of self-reported function., Objectives: To systematically locate and synthesize the existing evidence regarding RS during care for various orthopedic conditions., Evidence Acquisition: Electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection) were searched from inception to November 2016. Two investigators independently assessed methodological quality using the modified Downs and Black Quality Index. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Strength-of-Recommendation Taxonomy. The magnitude of RS was examined through effect sizes., Evidence Synthesis: Nine studies were included (7 high quality and 2 low quality) with a median Downs and Black Quality Index score of 81.25% (range = 56.25%-93.75%). Overall, the studies demonstrated weak to strong effect sizes (range = -1.58-0.33), indicating the potential for RS. Of the 36 point estimates calculated, 22 (61.11%), 2 (5.56%), and 12 (33.33%) were associated with weak, moderate negative, and strong negative effect sizes, respectively., Conclusions: There is grade B evidence that a weak RS, in which individuals initially underestimate their disability, may occur in people undergoing rehabilitation for an orthopedic condition. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the potential shift in their patients' internal standards, as it can affect the evaluation of health-related quality of life changes during the care of orthopedic conditions. A shift in the internal standards of the patient can lead to subsequent misclassification of health-related quality of life changes that can adversely affect clinical decision making.

Context: Postinjury, college athletes have reported elevated levels of fear. However, it is unclear how a history of ankle sprain impacts injury-related fear., Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) scores differ between college athletes with a history of a single ankle sprain, those with recurrent ankle sprains, and healthy controls., Design: Cross-sectional design., Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association institutions., Patients: From a large database of college athletes, 75 participants with a history of a single ankle sprain, 44 with a history of recurrent ankle sprains (≥2), and 28 controls with no injury history were included., Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed an injury history questionnaire and the FABQ. On the injury history form, the participants were asked to indicate if they had ever sustained an ankle sprain and, if yes, to describe how many. FABQ scores ranged from 0 to 66 with higher scores representing greater fear., Results: Athletes with a history of recurrent ankle sprains (median, 28.00; interquartile range, 18.25-38.00) reported higher levels of fear than those with a history of a single ankle sprain (21.00; 8.00-31.00; P = .03; effect size = 0.199) and healthy controls (5.50; 0.00-25.00; P < .001; effect size = 0.431). Athletes with a history of a single sprain reported greater fear than healthy controls (P = .01, effect size = 0.267). Athletes with a history of a single sprain reported greater fear than healthy controls (P = .02, effect size = 0.23)., Conclusions: College athletes with a history of ankle sprain exhibited greater levels of fear on the FABQ than healthy controls. These findings suggest that ankle sprains in general may increase injury-related fear and that those with a history of recurrent sprains are more vulnerable.

Objective: To determine the test-retest reliability, minimal detectable change (MDC) and responsiveness of the Quick-FAAM in people with chronic ankle instability (CAI)., Design: 10-week controlled laboratory study., Setting: Laboratory., Participants: A total of 20 adults with self-reported CAI., Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed a supervised 4-week intervention. The Quick-FAAM was assessed 4-weeks before the intervention (T1), prior to the first intervention (T2), 24-h post-intervention (T3), and 2-weeks after the intervention (T4). The Quick-FAAM is a 12-item region specific PRO scored on 5-point Likert scale, often reported as a percentage, and a lower percentage indicates decreased ankle function. Test-retest reliability was determined using Intraclass-correlation coefficients (ICC 2,1 ) and standard error of measure (SEM). The MDC was calculated using the equation: SEM*√2. Hedges g effect sizes and associated 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated as a measure of group responsiveness., Results: The test-retest reliability was clinically acceptable (ICC 2,1  = 0.82, SEM = 4.56). The MDC was 6.5% and pre-post intervention effect sizes were large between T2-T3 (ES = 1.27, 95%CI:0.59-1.95) and T2-T4 (ES = 1.49, 95%CI:0.79-2.19)., Conclusion: The Quick-FAAM demonstrated clinically acceptable reliability and was responsive to treatment. Future research should examine these properties in patients with acute ankle and foot conditions, determine patient acceptability, and clinician feasibility., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Context:   Health care research evidence suggests that early patient encounters (PEs), as well as the purposeful implementation of professional core competencies (CCs), for athletic training students (ATSs) may be beneficial to their ability to provide care. However, no investigators have related facets of the clinical education experience with CC implementation as a form of summative assessment of the clinical experience., Objective:   To determine the relationship between the frequency and length of PEs, as well as the student's role and clinical site during PEs, and the students' perceived CC implementation during these encounters., Design:   Cross-sectional study., Setting:   Professional athletic training program, National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institution., Patients or Other Participants:   We purposefully recruited 1 athletic training program that used E*Value software; 40 participants (31 females, 9 males) enrolled in the professional phase (12 first year, 14 second year, 14 third year) participated., Intervention(s):   Participants viewed a 20-minute recorded CC educational module followed by educational handouts, which were also posted online for reference throughout the semester. The E*Value software was used to track PEs, including the type of encounter (ie, actual patient, practice encounter, didactic practice scenario), the type of site where the encounter occurred (university, high school), and the participant's role (observed, assisted, performed), as well as responses to an added block of questions indicating which, if any, of the CCs were implemented during the PE., Main Outcome Measure(s):   Variables per patient were PE length (minutes), participant role, site at which the encounter occurred, and whether any of the 6 CCs were implemented ( yes/ no). Variables per participant were average encounter length (minutes), encounter frequency, modal role, clinical site assignment, and the number of times each CC was implemented. Separate 1-way analyses of variance were used to examine the relationships between role or clinical site and implementation of total number of CCs. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine how the average length and frequency of PEs were related to the average and total number of implemented CCs. Binary logistic regression models indicated how the length of each encounter, role of the participant, and type of clinical site related to the implementation of each CC., Results:   The roles of participants during PEs were related to their ability to implement the total number of CCs ( F = 103.48, P < .001). Those who observed were likely to implement fewer total CCs than those who assisted (M diff = -0.29, P < .001); those who assisted were likely to implement more total CCs than those who performed (M diff = 0.32, P < .001). Frequency of encounters was the only significant variable in the model examining all independent variables with CC implementation ( b 4,32 = 3.34, t = 9.46, P < .001)., Conclusions:   The role of the student, namely assisting during PEs, and the volume of PEs should be considered priorities for students to promote greater CC implementation.

Context: There is a lack of literature to support the diagnostic accuracy and cut-off scores of commonly used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinician-oriented outcomes such as postural-control assessments (PCAs) when treating post-ACL reconstruction (ACLR) patients. These scores could help tailor treatments, enhance patient-centered care and may identify individuals in need of additional rehabilitation., Objective: To determine if differences in 4-PROMs and 3-PCAs exist between post-ACLR and healthy participants, and to determine the diagnostic accuracy and cut-off scores of these outcomes., Design: Case control., Setting: Laboratory., Participants: A total of 20 post-ACLR and 40 healthy control participants., Main Outcome Measures: The participants completed 4-PROMs (the Disablement in the Physically Active Scale [DPA], The Fear-Avoidance Belief Questionnaire [FABQ], the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score [KOOS] subscales, and the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia [TSK-11]) and 3-PCAs (the Balance Error Scoring System [BESS], the modified Star Excursion Balance Test [SEBT], and static balance on an instrumented force plate). Mann-Whitney U tests examined differences between groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to determine sensitivity and specificity. The Area Under the Curve (AUC) was calculated to determine the diagnostic accuracy of each instrument. The Youdin Index was used to determine cut-off scores. Alpha was set a priori at P < 0.05., Results: There were significant differences between groups for all PROMs (P < 0.05). There were no differences in PCAs between groups. The cut-off scores should be interpreted with caution for some instruments, as the scores may not be clinically applicable., Conclusions: Post-ACLR participants have decreased self-reported function and health-related quality of life. The PROMs are capable of discriminating between groups. Clinicians should consider using the cut-off scores in clinical practice. Further use of the instruments to examine detriments after completion of standard rehabilitation may be warranted.

Injuries are common among dancers and may negatively affect health-related quality of life (HRQL). The modified Disablement in the Physically Active Scale (mDPA) is a generic patient-reported outcome instrument that could be used when providing care to patients participating in performing arts. The objective of this pilot study was to examine the internal consistency of the mDPA and assess overall HRQL using the mDPA in university dance students. Thirty-one female university dance students completed the mDPA during one data collection session. Higher scores on the Physical Summary Component (mDPA-PSC), the Mental Summary Component (mDPAMSC), and mDPA-Total indicated increased disablement. The internal consistency was determined using Cronbachs alpha. The mDPA-Total, mDPA-PSC, and mDPAMSC scores were examined descriptively using mean and standard deviations. Individual item responses were also examined. The proportion of university dance students with clinically relevant levels of disablement on the mDPA-Total was examined using a previously established minimally clinically important difference value. The internal consistency for the mDPA-MSC (a=0.91) and mDPATotal (a=0.90) was excellent and good for the mDPA-PSC (a=0.88). A large proportion (71%) of university dance students demonstrated clinically relevant levels of disablement despite fully participating in dance-related activities. Pain, impaired motion, and stress were the greatest contributors to increased disablement in these individuals. The mDPA scores observed in this pilot study indicate that many dance students experience levels of disablement and decreased HRQL which may warrant physical and mental intervention. Clinicians providing healthcare services to performing artists should consider using the mDPA to provide patient-centered care.

Objectives: Examine the association between concussion and lower extremity injury in collegiate athletes and the influence of sex and the number of concussions on this relationship., Methods: A total of 468 collegiate student-athletes (200 Males, 268 Females) were recruited from collegiate athletic facilities of three universities to participate in this retrospective review. Participants provided injury history (concussions, ankle sprains, and knee injuries) information through a survey. Chi-square tests and odds ratios examined the relationship between concussion and ankle sprain or knee injury history within each sex and based on concussion history (0, 1, >1)., Results: Females athletes with a concussion history had greater odds of reporting an ankle sprain or knee injury compared to females with no concussion history (OR = 1.88-2.54; p ≤ 0.020). Male athletes with a concussion history did not have greater odds of reporting an ankle sprain or knee injury. Athletes reporting multiple concussions had the greatest odds of ankle sprain or knee injury history compared to athletes with no previous concussions (OR = 2.43-2.56; p ≤ 0.004). No differences were identified between athletes with a single or multiple concussion history., Conclusion: Female athletes with a concussion history or participants with a multiple concussion history had the greatest odds of reporting an ankle or knee injury history compared to athletes with no concussion history.

Context: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a broad term for the impact of injury or illness on physical, psychological, and social health dimensions. Injury has been associated with decreased HRQOL in athletes. However, the influence of injury history, participation status, time since last injury, and injury severity on HRQOL remains unclear., Objective: To compare HRQOL in collegiate athletes based on injury history, participation status, time since last injury, and injury severity and to examine relationships between HRQOL outcomes., Design: Cross-sectional., Setting: 3 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions., Participants: 467 collegiate athletes (199 males, 268 females; 19.5 ± 1.3 y, 173.9 ± 10.5 cm, 71.9 ± 13.6 kg) were recruited from NCAA Division I (n = 299) and Division III (n = 168) institutions. Athletes were included regardless of participation status, which created a diverse sample of current and past injury histories., Main Outcome Measures: During a single session, participants completed an injury history form, the Disablement in the Physically Active Scale (DPA), and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). Dependent variables included DPA-Physical Summary Component (DPA-PSC), DPA-Mental Summary Component (DPA-MSC), and FABQ Scores., Results: HRQOL differences were detected between groups based on injury history, participation status, and time since last injury. No differences were detected for injury severity. A moderate correlation was identified between the DPA-PSC and FABQ (r s = 0.503, P < .001) and a weak relationship was identified between the DPA-MSC and FABQ (r s = 0.266, P < .001)., Conclusions: Injury negatively influenced HRQOL in athletes with a current injury. While those individuals participating injured reported better HRQOL than the athletes sidelined due to injury, deficits were still present and should be monitored to ensure a complete recovery. Identifying the patient's perception of impairment will help facilitate evidencebased treatment and rehabilitation strategies that target the physical and psychosocial aspects of health.

Context: The Y-Balance Test (YBT) is a dynamic balance assessment used as a preseason musculoskeletal screen to determine injury risk. While the YBT has demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability, it is unknown if YBT performance changes following participation in a competitive athletic season., Objective: Determine if a competitive athletic season affects YBT performance in field hockey players., Design: Pretest-posttest., Setting: Laboratory., Participants: 20 NCAA Division I women's field hockey players (age = 19.55 ± 1.30 y; height = 165.10 ± 5.277 cm; mass = 62.62 ± 4.64 kg) from a single team volunteered. Participants had to be free from injury throughout the entire study and participate in all athletic activities., Interventions: Participants completed data collection sessions prior to (preseason) and following the athletic season (postseason). Between data collections, participants competed in the fall competitive field hockey season, which was ~3 months in duration. During data collection, participants completed the YBT bilaterally., Main Outcome Measures: The independent variable was time (preseason, postseason) and the dependent variables were normalized reach distances (anterior, posteromedial, posterolateral, composite) and between-limb symmetry for each reach direction. Differences between preseason and postseason were examined using paired t tests (P ≤ .05) as well as Bland-Altman limits of agreement., Results: 4 players sustained a lower extremity injury during the season and were excluded from analysis. There were no significant differences between preseason and postseason reach distances for any reach directions on either limb (P ≥ .31) or in the between-limb symmetries (P ≥ .52). The limits of agreement analyses determined there was a low mean bias across measurements (≤1.67%); however, the 95% confidence intervals indicated there was high variability within the posterior reach directions over time (±4.75 to ± 14.83%)., Conclusion: No changes in YBT performance were identified following a competitive field hockey season in Division I female athletes. However, the variability within the posterior reach directions over time may contribute to the limited use of these directions for injury risk stratification.

Objective:   To conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis assessing the effectiveness of conservative rehabilitation programs for improving health-related quality of life (HRQL) in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI)., Data Sources:   PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to January 2016., Study Selection:   Studies were included if the researchers examined the effects of a conservative rehabilitation protocol in individuals with CAI, used validated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to quantify participant-perceived HRQL, and provided adequate data to calculate the effect sizes (ESs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Studies were excluded if the authors evaluated surgical interventions, prophylactic taping, or bracing applications or examined only the immediate effects of 1 treatment session., Data Extraction:   Two investigators independently assessed methodologic quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale. Studies were considered low quality if fewer than 60% of the criteria were met. Level of evidence was assessed using the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy. Preintervention and postintervention sample sizes, means, and standard deviations of PROs were extracted., Data Synthesis:   A total of 15 studies provided 24 participant groups that were included in the analysis. Seven high-quality studies with a median PEDro score of 50% (range = 10%-80%) and a median level of evidence of 2 (range = 1-2) were identified. The magnitudes of preintervention to postintervention PRO differences were examined using bias-corrected Hedges g ESs. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to synthesize PRO changes across all participant groups. Positive ES values indicated better PRO scores at postintervention than at preintervention. The α level was set at .05. Meta-analysis revealed a strong ES with a nonoverlapping 95% CI (ES = 1.20, CI = 0.80, 1.60; P < .001), indicating HRQL improved after conservative rehabilitation., Conclusions:   Based on the quality of the evidence and the results of the meta-analysis, grade A evidence showed that conservative rehabilitation produces large improvements in HRQL for people with CAI.

Context: Documented barriers to implementation of patient-reported outcome instruments (PROs) in practice include administration and scoring time. The Quick Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (Quick-FAAM) was developed to decrease these barriers; however, the clinometric properties in an acute population are unknown., Purpose: To determine the internal consistency, validity, and the floor and ceiling effects of the Quick-FAAM in patients seeking treatment for an acute or subacute ankle or foot health condition., Study Design: Cross-Sectional., Setting: Healthcare facilities., Patients: 50 patients (20.3 ± 2.2 y, 177.9 ± 10.7 cm, 80 ± 19.4 kg) seeking treatment for an acute or subacute ankle or foot condition., Main Outcome Measures: Each patient completed a demographic and health-history questionnaire followed by 5 PROs: the Quick-FAAM, the FAAM-Activities of Daily Living (ADL), FAAM-Sport, the modified Disablement in the Physically Active Scale (mDPA), the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) and the PROMISv1.2 Physical Function (PROMIS-PF). Cronbach alpha was used to determine internal consistency and Spearman’s rank correlations were performed to examine the relationship between the Quick-FAAM and all other outcomes., Results: The Quick-FAAM was very strongly correlated with the FAAM-Total (r = .91, r2 = .83, P < .001), FAAM-ADL (r = .83, r2 = .69, P < .001), FAAM-Sport (r = .89, r2 = .79, P < .001), SF12-Physical Component Score (PCS, r = .74, r2 = .55, P < .001), mDPA-PCS (r = -.83, r2 = .69, P < .001) and PROMIS PF (r = .85, r2 = .72, P < .001). There was a weak or no relationship with the SF12-Mental Component Score (MCS, r = .04, r2 = .00, P < .001) and the mDPA-MCS (r = -.35, r2 = .12, P < .001). A total of 8% (n = 4) of the patients scored a 0, and 2% (n = 1) patients scored a 48., Conclusion: he Quick-FAAM demonstrated good convergent and divergent validity along with good internal consistency. There was no evidence of a floor or ceiling effect. Therefore, the Quick-FAAM should be considered for use in practice when determining treatment effectiveness for patients with acute or subacute ankle or foot health conditions. Future research should determine the test-retest reliability and the minimal detectable change of this instrument.

Introduction: Diminished cutaneous detection thresholds have been identified in patients with multiple orthopedic conditions, and these phenomena may occur in postanterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACLR) patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in lower extremity cutaneous detection thresholds exist in post-ACLR patients when compared with healthy controls., Methods: Fifteen individuals who were post-ACLR and 15 individuals who had no history of knee injury participated. Light touch cutaneous detection thresholds were assessed at 4 locations on the foot and ankle (first metatarsal, fifth metatarsal, medial malleolus, and lateral malleolus). Nonparametric statistics examined group differences between the sites., Results: ACLR subjects had decreased cutaneous sensation at the first metatarsal and medial malleolus compared with healthy controls., Conclusions: Somatosensory deficits are present in post-ACLR patients. Future research should investigate these phenomena longitudinally in post-ACLR individuals along with somatosensory targeted interventions. Muscle Nerve 55: 5-8, 2017., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Most barnacles are sessile, simultaneous hermaphrodites that reproduce by copulation. This is achieved through the extension of a muscular penis, famous for being the proportionally largest in the animal kingdom. The penis is a long cylindrical or conical organ, composed of a series of folded rings, allowing it to stretch to great lengths. The penises are covered with chemosensory setae allowing them to seek out receptive neighbors. For many species, the condition of the penis changes seasonally. In the most extreme circumstances, it degenerates and is shed during the first post-mating molt and is re-grown for the next mating season. Barnacle penises have been shown to exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to many different challenges. When exposed to heavy waves, diameter is increased by thickening both the cuticle and muscles. When mates are far, length increases by adding ringed annulations. Experiments have shown that these plastic traits are modular, capable of changing independently from each other and that they improve mating ability. Alternate strategies to increase reproductive ability by barnacles include the production of dwarf and complemental males, sperm casting and sperm leakage, and aerial copulation. All of these mating strategies may have important implications for the study of reproductive biology, life history, and sex allocation theory., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Context: Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after injury is important. Differences in HRQOL between nonathletes and athletes and between injured and uninjured athletes have been demonstrated; however, the evidence has not been synthesized., Objective: To answer the following questions: (1) Does HRQOL differ among adolescent and collegiate athletes and nonathletes? (2) Does HRQOL differ between injured adolescent and collegiate athletes or between athletes with a history of injury and uninjured athletes or those without a history of injury?, Data Sources: We systematically searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed. A hand search of references was also conducted., Study Selection: Studies were included if they used generic instruments to compare HRQOL outcomes between athletes and nonathletes and between uninjured and injured athletes. Studies were excluded if they did not use a generic instrument, pertained to instrument development, or included retired athletes or athletes with a chronic disease., Data Extraction: We assessed study quality using the modified Downs and Black Index Tool. Bias-corrected Hedges g effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) was used to determine the overall strength of the recommendation. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed for all studies using the composite or total score., Data Synthesis: Eight studies with modified Downs and Black scores ranging from 70.6% to 88.4% were included. For question 1, the overall random-effects meta-analysis was weak (effect size = 0.27, 95% confidence interval = 0.14, 0.40; P < .001). For question 2, the overall random-effects meta-analysis was moderate (effect size = 0.68, 95% confidence interval = 0.42, 0.95; P < .001)., Conclusions: Grade A evidence indicates that athletes reported better HRQOL than nonathletes and that uninjured athletes reported better HRQOL than injured athletes. However, the overall effect for question 1 was weak, suggesting that the differences between athletes and nonathletes may not be clinically meaningful. Clinicians should monitor HRQOL after injury to ensure that all dimensions of health are appropriately treated.