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Educators deal with the many dynamic functions and applications of the human brain on a dally basis. The theoretical research of the biology and functionality of the human brain is [...]

Keywords: RCT; ACL; soccer; injuries 1476 A Randomized Controlled Trial to Prevent Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Female Collegiate Soccer Players SAGE Publications, Inc.200810.1177/0363546508318188 JulieGilchrist MD Division of Unintentional [...]

The incidence of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries in young to middle-aged athletes remains high. Despite early diagnosis and appropriate operative and nonoperative treatments, posttraumatic degenerative arthritis may develop. In [...]

This article focuses on describing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in athletes and the efficacy of implementing a neuromuscular and proprioceptive sports-specific training program to reduce the incidence of ACL ligament injuries. This article will discuss the role of the ACL, epidemiology and etiology, and the four categorical risk factors for incurring an ACL injury: anatomical, environmental, hormonal, and biomechanical. In addition, this article will discuss the mechanisms ACL injuries, as well as a comprehensive review of all of the literature that has been published with regard to the prevention or reduction of ACL injury. The article concludes that a neuromuscular training program might have a direct benefit in decreasing the number of ACL injuries in athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Hamstring injuries (HSI) occur more commonly in baseball than are often appreciated and can impact the potential career of a player. Little is known about the historical incidence of these injuries in summer league players preparing for their upcoming collegiate season or being drafted by major league team(s). Summer league baseball players have a high historical incidence of HSI which are often unknown at the start of their summer league play. The purpose of this study was to administer a validated questionnaire to assess various factors regarding the prevalence of prior hamstring injuries, current symptoms of posterior thigh pain or hamstring injuries in amateur summer league baseball players, and to provide details on the injury history, time lost from injury, injury reocurrence, position, individual player physical characteristics and physical activities that might be associated with those injuries. Study Design: Cross-sectional Observational Study Method: A self-reported, validated questionnaire regarding the history, prevalence, reoccurrence and functional impact of HSI and posterior thigh pain was administered to and completed by 201 out of 251 summer league baseball players associated with the Cape Cod League and the Northwoods League at the start of the 2013-2015 seasons. The questionnaire was administered by certified athletic trainers associated with each team. Participation was voluntary and informed consent was obtained from all players. Results: Forty seven out of 201 players surveyed reported a HSI history. Sixty-six percent of these players (N=31) reported unilateral injuries and 34% (N=16) reported bilateral injuries. Reoccurrence rate was 27.7% across all players. Approximately 1/3rd of all position players (catchers 33.3%, infielders 32.6% and outfielders 31.6%) reported a HSI history compared to 12.9% of all pitchers. Significant differences (p<.05) existed between the HSI and Non-HSI groups for self-reported symptoms, soreness, and pain, as well as function and quality of life. Within the HSI history group, players who batted left and threw right reported the most injuries. Conclusion: A large number of position players and pitchers who report for summer league baseball have a history of posterior thigh pain and HSI. Those with prior injuries have a high reoccurrence rate. Position players have a higher incidence of injury than do pitchers. Level of Evidence: 3 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay draws parallels between contemporary popular visual culture and symbolic marginal sculpture from twelfth-century Saintonge in southwestern France. The Internet image of President Obama in makeup associated with Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker seems to float through popular culture without a definitive meaning, as does the extremely fluid Guy Fawkes's mask from the film V for Vendetta. These examples from contemporary visual culture remind modern viewers to consider the importance of specific audiences, textual communities or microcultures when assigning meaning. The images' reception by microcultural groups can inform our interpretation of twelfth-century corbel sculptures, which are equally perplexing due to their creation for a specific community no longer in existence. Far from being meaningless ornaments, corbels carried deep, multivalent and often polemical messages in much the same manner as the contemporary examples discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the soccer athletes are at risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. It mentions that soccer players are at greatest risk for ACL injury when defending, especially when tackling the opponent in an attempt to win possession of the ball. It also mentions that soccer ACL injury prevention programs should include proper defending and tackling techniques, particularly for female athletes.

Background and Purpose: The majority of all soccer injuries affect the lower extremities. Regardless of whether the injured limb is an athlete’s preferred kicking or stance leg, a lower extremity injury may affect their ability to impact the ball. Sport-specific biomechanical progressions to augment loading and gradually reintroduce a player to the demands of sport have been developed for upper extremity sports such as baseball, softball, tennis, and golf. Generalized return to soccer progressions have also been published in order to assist clinicians in safely returning athletes to sport; however, there are no specific progressions for the early stages of kicking designed to introduce stance leg loading and kicking leg impact. Thus, the purpose of this clinical commentary was to review the existing literature elucidating the biomechanics of kicking a soccer ball and propose a progressive kicking program to support clinicians in safely returning their soccer athletes to the demands of sport. Description of Topic: The interval kicking program (IKP) describes clinical guidelines for readiness to begin a kicking program as well as possible readiness to return to sport measures. The program is performed on alternate days integrating therapeutic exercise and cardiovascular fitness. The IKP gradually introduces a player to the loading and impact of kicking. The progression increases kicking distance (using the markings of a soccer field as a guide), volume, and intensity and uses proposed soreness rules, effusion guidelines, and player feedback in order to assist clinicians in determining readiness for advancement though the stages. The IKP also recommends utility of specific tests and measures to determine readiness for return to sport. Discussion: Gradual reintroduction to sport specific demands is essential for a safe return to soccer. This return to sport progression provides a framework integrating injury specific therapeutic exercise, cardiovascular fitness, and the return to kicking progression, to assist clinicians in initiating an athletes' return to soccer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a clinical review of viscosupplementation (VS) and physical therapy during rehabilitation and treatment associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Review shows that efficacy and safety of VS in painful knee OA is well documented and patients undergoing physical therapy for knee OA benefited from VS.

Despite significant advances in the diagnostics and treatment of knee injuries over the last decade, several challenges related to the subject “return to sport” remain largely unknown. For example, how should “return to sport” be defined precisely? What is the optimal timing and progression to enable a return to sport? Which criteria should be used during this process? What type of training is indicated? Which measurements can support the decision-making process? How do we optimally prepare athletes for competition without risking re-injury? This paper critically addresses these questions, and proposes a return to play model to prepare football players to compete after major knee surgery (anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, cartilage repair). The goal is to re-integrate the player gradually into the game, taking into account his individual characteristics. Several evidence-based and empirical criteria are needed to plan and monitor the efficient return to competitive football. Injury-prevention education should be part of this process to maximise the chance of a durable career and decrease the risk of re-injury. However, because of the paucity of research on “return to sport”, further research is more than warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Case Report (Differential diagnosis) Background and Purpose: Differential diagnosis of knee pathology after trauma may be difficult when diagnosing an isolated popliteus strain and concurrent medial deltoid ligament sprain. Upon a thorough search of the published literature, the authors found no reports delineating a popliteus strain in professional soccer in the United States. The joints most affected by injury in soccer players are the knee and ankle joints. The purpose of this case report is to describe the presentation of and difficulties encountered in diagnosing a popliteus strain in a Major League Soccer athlete. Case Description: During an in-season away game, an outside defender was slide-tackled from behind when his right shank was caught in an externally rotated position underneath himself and the opposing player. The initial point of contact was made to the proximal third of the posterior right shank with an anteromedially directed force. The medial longitudinal arch of the foot was forced into a more midfoot pronated position and the subtalar joint was forced into eversion. Diagnosis: The athlete was diagnosed with a moderate strain of the right popliteus muscle with a concurrent medial deltoid ligament sprain of the right ankle. This mechanism of injury, pain with passive knee flexion and internal rotation during McMurray's test, pain with Garrick's Test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study confirmed the diagnosis. The athlete returned to full ninety-minute game participation after an intensive 15-day rehabilitation program. Discussion: This case is unique because the injury manifested itself at multiple joints and specifically involved the popliteus muscle. The mechanism of injury can be associated with many other soft tissue injuries to the knee, and thus, may not lead the clinician initially to consider the diagnosis of a popliteus strain. Diagnosis of this entity may be difficult due to the possible shared attachment of the popliteus muscle to the lateral meniscus, and the lack of available testing methods to assess damage to the popliteus muscle. Level of Evidence: Level 5 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Case Report (Differential diagnosis) Background and Purpose: Differential diagnosis of knee pathology after trauma may be difficult when diagnosing an isolated popliteus strain and concurrent medial deltoid ligament sprain. Upon a thorough search of the published literature, the authors found no reports delineating a popliteus strain in professional soccer in the United States. The joints most affected by injury in soccer players are the knee and ankle joints. The purpose of this case report is to describe the presentation of and difficulties encountered in diagnosing a popliteus strain in a Major League Soccer athlete. Case Description: During an in-season away game, an outside defender was slide-tackled from behind when his right shank was caught in an externally rotated position underneath himself and the opposing player. The initial point of contact was made to the proximal third of the posterior right shank with an anteromedially directed force. The medial longitudinal arch of the foot was forced into a more midfoot pronated position and the subtalar joint was forced into eversion. Diagnosis: The athlete was diagnosed with a moderate strain of the right popliteus muscle with a concurrent medial deltoid ligament sprain of the right ankle. This mechanism of injury, pain with passive knee flexion and internal rotation during McMurray's test, pain with Garrick's Test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study confirmed the diagnosis. The athlete returned to full ninety-minute game participation after an intensive 15-day rehabilitation program. Discussion: This case is unique because the injury manifested itself at multiple joints and specifically involved the popliteus muscle. The mechanism of injury can be associated with many other soft tissue injuries to the knee, and thus, may not lead the clinician initially to consider the diagnosis of a popliteus strain. Diagnosis of this entity may be difficult due to the possible shared attachment of the popliteus muscle to the lateral meniscus, and the lack of available testing methods to assess damage to the popliteus muscle. Level of Evidence: Level 5 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers acute and chronic injuries of the articular cartilage surfaces of the knee as a common ailment among athletes. Thirty-six percent of athletes experience full thickness chondral defects which are located predominantly in the patellofemoral compartment and femoral condyles, and less frequently on the tibial plateau. Cartilage injury has been reported to exist in 20% of professional American football players.

Football, or soccer, is the most widely played sport among both males and females, with approximately 265 million registered players around the world. This number is increasing, particularly among females, with a variety of positive effects on personal health. These obvious physical benefits have driven efforts to link the game with health education, to promote wellness and health, and so prevent ill-health and disease. However, there is a direct correlation between this growth in athletic exposure and injuries, and both the risks and epidemiology of football-related injury have been well documented. In the last decade, attempts have been made to gain a fuller understanding about these injuries and how to prevent them. This article describes recent developments in injury prevention programmes and sheds light on the ongoing international research to refine them and improve their effectiveness among the football community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: An in-season groin injury may be debilitating for the athlete. Proper diagnosis and identification of the pathology are paramount in providing appropriate intervention. Furthermore, an adductor strain that is treated improperly can become chronic and career threatening. Any one of the 6 muscles of the adductor muscle group can be involved. The degree of injury can range from a minor strain (grade 1), where minimal playing time is lost, to a severe strain (grade 3), in which there is complete loss of muscle function. Persistent groin pain and muscle imbalance may lead to athletic pubalgia.Evidence Acquisition: Relevant studies were identified through a literature search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane database from 1990 to 2009, as well as a manual review of reference lists of identified sources.Results: Ice hockey and soccer players seem particularly susceptible to adductor muscle strains. In professional ice hockey and soccer players throughout the world, approximately 10% to 11% of all injuries are groin strains. These injuries have been linked to hip muscle weakness, a previous injury to that area, preseason practice sessions, and level of experience. This injury may be prevented if these risk factors are addressed before each season.Conclusion: Despite the identification of risk factors and strengthening intervention for athletes, adductor strains continue to occur throughout sport. If groin pain persists, the possibility of athletic pubalgia needs to be explored, because of weakening or tears in the abdominal wall muscles. A diagnosis is confirmed by exclusion of other pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a randomized controlled trial to prevent noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in female collegiate soccer players in the U.S. According to the authors, the study focuses on an alternative warm-up program using neuromuscular control and proprioceptive training techniques (PEP Program), which appear to reduce the risk of ACL injuries in female soccer players, especially those with a history of (ACL). Participants from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I women's soccer teams were assigned randomly to intervention or control groups