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Previous work has demonstrated the protective effect of shoe cushioning on injury risk in leisure-time runners, but most models currently available on the market have greater cushioning than those investigated so far. Also, the optimal level of cushioning and the role of cushioning on the forepart of the shoe for injury prevention are still unknown. The main aim of this study is to determine whether (1) current ‘extra soft’ cushioning material at the rear part of the shoe reduces injury risk compared with stiffer material and (2) cushioning under the forepart of the shoe also contributes to injury risk reduction. This randomised trial with a 6-month intervention will involve 1000+ healthy leisure-time runners who will randomly receive one of the three running shoe versions. Study shoe versions will differ in their cushioning properties (ie, stiffness) at the rear or the forepart. Participants will self-report any lower limb or lower back problems on a dedicated electronic system every week, while the system will collect training data from the participant’s sports watch. Time-to-event analyses will be used to compare injury risk between the three study groups and to investigate the association between the runner’s characteristics, cushioning level and position, training and injury risk. The study was approved by the National Ethics Committee for Research (Ref: 202405/02 v2.0), and the protocol has been registered on https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (NCT06384872, 02/08/2024). Outcomes will be disseminated through presentations at international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals, popular magazines and specialised websites.

Objective To investigate asymmetry in spatiotemporal and kinetic variables in 800+ recreational runners, identify determinants of asymmetry, investigate if asymmetry is related to greater running injury risk and compare spatiotemporal and kinetic variables between the involved and uninvolved limb at baseline in runners having sustained an injury during follow-up.Methods 836 healthy recreational runners (38.6% women) were tested on an instrumented treadmill at their preferred running speed at baseline and followed up for 6 months. From ground reaction force recordings, spatiotemporal and kinetic variables were derived for each lower limb. The Symmetry Index was computed for each variable. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify potential determinants of asymmetry. Cox regression analyses investigated the association between asymmetry and injury risk. Analysis of variance for repeated measures was used to compare the involved and uninvolved limbs in runners who had sustained injuries during follow-up.Results 107 participants reported at least one running-related injury. Leg length discrepancy and fat mass were the most common determinants of asymmetry, but all correlation coefficients were negligible (0.01–0.13) and explained variance was very low (multivariable-adjusted R2

After many decades of effective control of stem rust caused by the Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici, (hereafter Pgt) the reported emergence of race TTKSK/ Ug99 of Pgt in Uganda reignited concerns about epidemics worldwide because ∼90% of world wheat cultivars had no resistance to the new race. Since it was initially detected in Uganda in 1998, Ug99 variants have now been identified in thirteen countries in Africa and the Middle East. Stem rust has been a major problem in the past, and concern is increasing about the risk of return to Central and East Asia. Whilst control programs in North America and Europe relied on the use of resistant cultivars in combination with eradication of barberry ( Berberis spp .), the alternate host required for the stem rust pathogen to complete its full lifecycle, the focus in East Asia was principally on the use of resistant wheat cultivars. Here, we investigate potential airborne transmission pathways for stem rust outbreaks in the Middle East to reach East Asia using an integrated modelling framework combining estimates of fungal spore deposition from an atmospheric dispersion model, environmental suitability for spore germination, and crop calendar information. We consider the role of mountain ranges in restricting transmission pathways, and we incorporate a representation of a generic barberry species into the lifecycle. We find viable transmission pathways to East Asia from the Middle East to the north via Central Asia and to the south via South Asia and that an initial infection in the Middle East could persist in East Asia for up to three years due to the presence of the alternate host. Our results indicate the need for further assessment of barberry species distributions in East Asia and appropriate methods for targeted surveillance and mitigation strategies should stem rust incidence increase in the Middle East region.

Purpose: Patient‐reported outcomes were compared between participants who followed the treatment algorithm of the Delaware‐Oslo ACL Cohort, consisting of progressive preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation, patient education, clinical testing and shared decision‐making about treatment choice, and those who followed usual care 9–12 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Methods: Participants with primary ACLR were included from the Norwegian arm of the Delaware‐Oslo ACL Cohort and the Norwegian Knee Ligament Registry (usual care). The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscale scores and the International Knee Documentation Committee‐Subjective Knee Form (IKDC‐SKF) scores were compared. KOOS scores for the usual care group were converted to IKDC‐SKF scores with recently published validated crosswalk. The percentages of participants with scores above predefined thresholds for patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) were also calculated. Results: Eighty of 100 (80%) participants from the Delaware‐Oslo ACL Cohort and 1588 of 3248 (49%) from the usual care group participated in the follow‐up. Participants from the Delaware‐Oslo ACL Cohort had higher KOOS subscale (p < 0.001) and IKDC‐SKF scores (p < 0.001), and a higher percentage reached PASS (84%–96% vs. 62%–76%, p ≤ 0.002) for KOOS Pain, symptoms, activities of daily living and sports compared to the usual care group. No significant differences were found for KOOS quality of life scores (not significant [n.s.]) or PASS percentages (80% vs. 74%, n.s.). Conclusion: Participants with ACLR who followed the Delaware‐Oslo ACL Cohort treatment algorithm had reduced knee symptoms, superior function and higher percentages of satisfactory outcomes than participants who followed usual care. Level of Evidence: Level II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous work has demonstrated the protective effect of shoe cushioning on injury risk in leisure-time runners, but most models currently available on the market have greater cushioning than those investigated so far. Also, the optimal level of cushioning and the role of cushioning on the forepart of the shoe for injury prevention are still unknown. The main aim of this study is to determine whether (1) current 'extra soft' cushioning material at the rear part of the shoe reduces injury risk compared with stiffer material and (2) cushioning under the forepart of the shoe also contributes to injury risk reduction. This randomised trial with a 6-month intervention will involve 1000+ healthy leisure-time runners who will randomly receive one of the three running shoe versions. Study shoe versions will differ in their cushioning properties (ie, stiffness) at the rear or the forepart. Participants will self-report any lower limb or lower back problems on a dedicated electronic system every week, while the system will collect training data from the participant's sports watch. Time-to-event analyses will be used to compare injury risk between the three study groups and to investigate the association between the runner's characteristics, cushioning level and position, training and injury risk. The study was approved by the National Ethics Committee for Research (Ref: 202405/02 v2.0), and the protocol has been registered on https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (NCT06384872, 02/08/2024). Outcomes will be disseminated through presentations at international conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals, popular magazines and specialised websites., Competing Interests: CM and NF are employed at Decathlon. Decathlon has developed prototypes of the three running shoe versions that will be used in the trial. A research collaboration agreement was signed between Decathlon and the LIH. CM and NF will not be involved in the recruitment, data collection and analysis of the data., (Copyright © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)