Search

Injections are valuable procedures for managing musculoskeletal conditions commonly encountered by family physicians. Corticosteroid injections into articular, periarticular, or soft tissue structures relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility. Injections can provide diagnostic information and are commonly used for postoperative pain control. Local anesthetics may be injected with corticosteroids to provide additional, rapid pain relief. Steroid injection is the preferred and definitive treatment for de Quervain tenosynovitis and trochanteric bursitis. Steroid injections can also be helpful in controlling pain during physical rehabilitation from rotator cuff syndrome and lateral epicondylitis. Intra-articular steroid injection provides pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. There is little systematic evidence to guide medication selection for therapeutic injections. The medication used and the frequency of injection should be guided by the goal of the injection (i.e., diagnostic or therapeutic), the underlying musculoskeletal diagnosis, and clinical experience. Complications from steroid injections are rare, but physicians should understand the potential risks and counsel patients appropriately. Patients with diabetes who receive periarticular or soft tissue steroid injections should closely monitor their blood glucose for two weeks following injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders encountered in clinical practice. While there is no clear evidence in support of routine screening, patients with signs or symptoms of thyroid disease should initially be screened with a thyroidstimulating hormone level. Hypothyroidism treatment with oral levothyroxine is straightforward and highly effective. The evidence for treating subclinical hypothyroidism and the risks and benefits of treating hypothyroidism in the very elderly are less clearly defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Female college basketball and soccer athletes have higher rates of anterior cruciate ligament injury than do their male counterparts. Rates of anterior cruciate ligament injuries for women and men in collegiate lacrosse have not been examined. Understanding anterior cruciate ligament injury patterns in lacrosse, a full-contact sport for men and noncontact sport for women, could further injury prevention efforts. HYPOTHESES: Female anterior cruciate ligament injury rates will decrease over time owing to longer participation in sports. Lacrosse anterior cruciate ligament injury rates will be lower than rates in basketball and soccer possibly owing to beneficial biomechanics of carrying a lacrosse stick. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study (Prevalence); Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: Data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System were analyzed to compare men's and women's anterior cruciate ligament injuries in basketball, lacrosse, and soccer over 15 years. RESULTS: Anterior cruciate ligament injury rates in women's basketball and soccer were 0.28 and 0.32 injuries per 1000 athlete exposures, respectively, and did not decline over the study period. In men's basketball, injury rate fluctuated between 0.03 and 0.13 athlete exposures. Rates of anterior cruciate ligament injury did not significantly change in men's soccer over the study period. The rate of anterior cruciate ligament injury in men's lacrosse (0.17 athlete exposures, P < .05) was significantly higher than in men's basketball (0.08 athlete exposures) and soccer (0.12 athlete exposures). Injury rate in women's lacrosse (0.18 athlete exposures, P < .05) was significantly lower than in women's basketball and soccer. CONCLUSION: There was no discernable change in rate of anterior cruciate ligament injury in men or women during the study period. Men's lacrosse is a high-risk sport for anterior cruciate ligament injury. Unlike basketball and soccer, the rates of anterior cruciate ligament injury are essentially the same in men's and women's lacrosse. The level of allowed contact in pivoting sports may be a factor in determining sport-specific anterior cruciate ligament risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many knee rehabilitation studies have examined open and closed kinetic chain exercises. However, most studies focus on 2-legged, closed chain exercise. The purpose of our study was to characterize 1-legged, closed chain exercise in young, healthy subjects.Subjects: Eighteen normal subjects (11 men, 7 women; age, 24.6 +/- 1.6 years) performed unsupported, 1-legged squats and step-ups to approximately tibial height.Measurements: Knee angle data and surface electromyographic activity from the thigh muscles were recorded.Results: The maximum angle of knee flexion was 111 +/- 23 degrees for squats and 101 +/- 16 degrees for step-ups. The peak quadriceps activation was 201 +/- 66% maximum voluntary isometric contraction, occurring at an angle of 96 +/- 16 degrees for squats. Peak quadriceps activation was 207 +/- 50% maximum voluntary isometric contraction and occurred at 83 +/- 12 degrees for step-ups.Conclusions: The high and sustained levels of quadriceps activation indicate that 1-legged squats and step-ups would be effective in muscle rehabilitation. As functional, closed chain activities, they may also be protective of anterior cruciate ligament grafts. Because these exercises involve no weights or training equipment, they may prove more cost effective than traditional modes of rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The association between knee injury and knee osteoarthritis (OA) is understudied relative to its importance, particularly in younger populations. This study was undertaken to examine the association of knee injury with radiographic features of knee OA in military officers, who have a physically demanding profession and high rates of knee injury., Methods: Participants were recruited in 2015-2017 from an existing program that enrolled 6,452 military officers during 2004-2009. Officers with a history of knee ligament or meniscal injuries (n = 117 via medical record review) were compared to officers with no history of knee injury (n = 143). Bilateral posteroanterior knee radiographs were obtained using a standardized fixed-flexion positioning frame. All images were read for Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade, osteophyte (OST), and joint space narrowing (JSN) scores. Data were analyzed using linear-risk regression models with generalized estimating equations., Results: Injured and noninjured participants were similar (mean age 28 years, mean body mass index 25 kg/m 2 , ~40% female). The mean time from first knee injury to imaging among injured participants was 9.2 years. Compared with noninjured knees, greater prevalence of radiographic OA (K/L grade ≥ 2), OST (grade ≥ 1), and JSN (grade ≥ 1) was observed among injured knees, with prevalence differences of +16% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 10%, 22%), +29% (95% CI 20%, 38%), and + 17% (95% CI 10%, 24%), respectively. Approximately 1 in 6 officers with prior knee injury progressed to radiographic OA by age 30 years., Conclusion: At the midpoint of a projected 20-year military career, officers with a history of traumatic knee injury have a markedly increased prevalence of knee radiographic OA compared to officers without injury., (© 2022 American College of Rheumatology.)

Context: Youth athletes may be at elevated risk for adverse health due to sport specialization. Sport organizations have developed guidelines for participation during growth and development., Objective: To assess youth sport development guidelines using a 15-item framework across sport organizations and governing bodies in soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and swimming., Data Sources: English-language results from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018, from published sport organization guidelines and athlete development plans., Study Selection: Two investigators independently reviewed publications identified from sport organizations. A total of 23 guidelines were incorporated, including 5 general sport organizations and 18 sport-specific guidelines., Study Design: Systematic review., Level of Evidence: Level 4., Data Extraction: Two investigators independently identified all recommendations that fit within a predetermined rubric of recommendations encompassing 4 domains: Psychological Development/Approach, Physical Development/Load, Facilities and Resources, and Timing and Monitoring of Specialization. Sport-specific guidelines on volume were summarized., Results: Sport organizations and sport-specific guidelines had consensus on 2 items out of the 15-item: emphasis on early skill development and access to well-trained coaches. While recommended by all sports organization, multisport participation was emphasized by 3 of 4 sports, excluding soccer. Volume recommendations were inconsistent between and within sports. No group proposed methods to monitor athlete well-being., Conclusion: This review highlights areas of agreement within sport organizations and governing bodies. Creating a framework to guide youth sport specialization may lead to specific and consistent guidelines.

Context: Youth sport specialization may place young athletes at increased risk for negative impacts to their physical and/or psychological health. In response to these health concerns, several health organizations have created guidelines and position statements to guide parents and practitioners toward best practices for management of the young athlete., Objective: To systematically review and synthesize current organizations' recommendations and guidelines regarding youth sport specialization., Data Sources: English-language articles from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018, in the NCBI Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases., Study Selection: Articles that reported on recommendations or interventions by health organizations or health representatives of sports organizations. A total of 56 articles were assessed, with 11 meeting inclusion eligibility criteria., Study Design: Systematic review., Level of Evidence: Level 4., Data Extraction: Two investigators independently identified all recommendations within the results that fit within a 15-item framework encompassing 4 domains: Psychological Development/Approach, Physical Development/Load, Facilities and Resources, and Timing and Monitoring of Specialization., Results: Recommendations across organizations were primarily clustered in the Physical Development/Load (43%), Facilities and Resources (48%), and Sport Specialization (55%) domains. In contrast, the Psychological Development/Approach domain had fewer recommendations (20%). The most common recommendations endorsed concepts: "Monitor athlete well-being," "Youth athletes need access to well-trained, quality coaches," "Multi-sport participation," "Limit early organized participation and/or training," and "Parents require awareness of training, coaching, and best practices." The level of evidence provided to support a given recommendation varied significantly. The level of detail and the consistency of terms used throughout the results were typically low. Recommendations were frequently made without reference to potential outcome measures or specific strategies that could be used for practical implementation in the community., Conclusion: There was broad representation of different aspects of specialization but limited consistency between health organization guidelines. Adopting a framework for recommendations as used in this review could assist organizations in structuring future recommendations that are specific, measurable, and framed in a manner that will promote action in the youth sport community.

Abstract: Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) is an uncommon condition with a paucity of evidence-based guidance for diagnosis, management, and return to duty or play. Recently, a clinical practice guideline for diagnosis and management of ER in warfighters was updated by a team of military and civilian physicians and researchers using current scientific literature and decades of experience within the military population. The revision concentrated on challenging and controversial clinical questions with applicability to providers in the military and those in the greater sports medicine community. Specific topics addressed: 1) diagnostic criteria for ER; 2) clinical decision making for outpatient versus inpatient treatment; 3) optimal strategies for inpatient management; 4) discharge criteria; 5) identification and assessment of warfighters/athletes at risk for recurrent ER; 6) an appropriate rehabilitative plan; and finally, 7) key clinical questions warranting future research., (Copyright © 2021 Written work prepared by employees of the Federal Government as part of their official duties is, under the U.S. Copyright Act, a "work of the United States Government" for which copyright protection under Title 17 of the United States Code is not available. As such, copyright does not extend to the contributions of employees of the Federal Government.)

Abstract: Sport specialization is becoming increasingly common among youth and adolescent athletes in the United States and many have raised concern about this trend. Although research on sport specialization has grown significantly, numerous pressing questions remain pertaining to short- and long-term effects of specialization on the health and well-being of youth, including the increased risk of overuse injury and burnout. Many current elite athletes did not specialize at an early age. Methodological and study design limitations impact the quality of current literature, and researchers need to prioritize pressing research questions to promote safe and healthy youth sport participation. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine hosted a Youth Early Sport Specialization Summit in April 2019 with the goal of synthesizing and reviewing current scientific knowledge and developing a research agenda to guide future research in the field based on the identified gaps in knowledge. This statement provides a broad summary of the existing literature, gaps and limitations in current evidence, and identifies key research priorities to help guide researchers conducting research on youth sport specialization. Our goals are to help improve the quality and relevance of research on youth sport specialization and to ultimately assure that opportunities for healthy and safe sport participation continue for all youth., Competing Interests: J. S. Brenner reports personal fees from UpToDate, outside the submitted work. M. A. Brooks reports grants from NIH, during the conduct of the study; other from American Academy of Pediatrics, other from American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, outside the submitted work. The remaining authors report no conflicts of interest.

Sport specialisation is becoming increasingly common among youth and adolescent athletes in the USA and many have raised concern about this trend. Although research on sport specialisation has grown significantly, numerous pressing questions remain pertaining to short-term and long-term effects of specialisation on the health and well-being of youth, including the increased risk of overuse injury and burnout. Many current elite athletes did not specialise at an early age. Methodological and study design limitations impact the quality of current literature, and researchers need to prioritise pressing research questions to promote safe and healthy youth sport participation. The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine hosted a Youth Early Sport Specialization Summit in April 2019 with the goal of synthesising and reviewing current scientific knowledge and developing a research agenda to guide future research in the field based on the identified gaps in knowledge. This statement provides a broad summary of the existing literature, gaps and limitations in current evidence and identifies key research priorities to help guide researchers conducting research on youth sport specialisation. Our goals are to help improve the quality and relevance of research on youth sport specialisation and to ultimately assure that opportunities for healthy and safe sport participation continue for all youth., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JB reports personal fees from UpToDate, outside the submitted work. MAB reports grants from National Institute of Health, during the conduct of the study; other from American Academy of Pediatrics, other from American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, outside the submitted work., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Regenerative medicine is a growing field of musculoskeletal treatments that focuses on amplifying the body's natural healing properties to improve function and pain after injury. Regenerative treatments are applied locally at the site of injury and work though different mechanisms, some of which are unexplained at this time. Current evidence demonstrates benefit for certain regenerative treatments, but further standardization of treatments and additional studies are required to provide additional data to support specific regenerative treatments. This review seeks to explore the evidence and discuss appropriate use of the most common regenerative treatments including platelet-rich plasma, prolotherapy, autologous mesenchymal stem cells, human-derived allograft products, and saline.

Background: A novel algorithm and clinical prediction rule (CPR), with 18 variables, was created in 2014. The CPR generated a bone stress injury (BSI) score, which was used to determine the necessity of imaging in suspected BSI. To date, there are no validated algorithms for imaging selection in patients with suspected BSI., Hypothesis: A simplified CPR will assist clinicians with diagnosis and decision making in patients with suspected BSI., Study Design: Prospective cohort study., Level of Evidence: Level 3., Methods: A total of 778 military trainees with lower extremity pain were enrolled. All trainees were evaluated for 18 clinical variables suggesting BSI. Participants were monitored via electronic medical record review. Then, a prediction model was developed using logistic regression to identify clinical variables with the greatest predictive value and assigned appropriate weight. Test characteristics for various BSI score thresholds were calculated., Results: Of the enrolled trainees, 204 had imaging-confirmed BSI in or distal to the femoral condyles. The optimized CPR selected 4 clinical variables (weighted score): bony tenderness (3), prior history of BSI (2), pes cavus (2), and increased walking/running volume (1). The optimized CPR with a score ≥3 yielded 97.5% sensitivity, 54.2% specificity, and 98.2% negative predictive value. An isolated measure, bony tenderness, demonstrated similar statistical performance., Conclusion: The optimized CPR, which uses bony tenderness, prior history of BSI, pes cavus, and increased walking/running volume, is valid for detecting BSI in or distal to the femoral condyles. However, bony tenderness alone provides a simpler criterion with an equally strong negative predictive value for BSI decision making., Clinical Relevance: For suspected BSI in or distal to the femoral condyles, imaging can be deferred when there is no bony tenderness. When bony tenderness is present in the setting of 1 or more proven risk factors and no clinical evidence of high-risk bone involvement, presumptive treatment for BSI and serial radiographs may be appropriate.

Objective: The impact, positive or negative, of youth sport specialisation (YSS) on short-term and long-term performance is not fully understood; however, the desire to maximise performance goals is generally considered the primary reason children and adolescents specialise at a young age. We performed a systematic review of original research to establish the association of YSS and task-focused or career-focused performance outcomes., Design: Systematic review., Data Sources: Databases searched include PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus., Eligibility Criteria: We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify peer-reviewed research articles published in English between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2018 that reported original findings on the association of YSS and performance outcomes. Studies without an explicit measure of sport specialisation, for example, volume measures without measuring sport specialisation, were excluded., Results: Twenty-two articles were included in the final review; 15 addressed career performance outcomes and 7 considered task performance outcomes. All identified studies were cross-sectional or retrospective in design. The proportion of elite athletes who specialised early ranged between 7% and 85%, depending on sport and definition of specialisation. Elite athletes often specialised between the ages of 14 and 15 compared with their non-elite or semi-elite peers who typically specialised prior to 13 years. In addition, neuromuscular control, anterior reach asymmetry and physical task outcomes did not differ by specialisation status., Conclusion: The volume and methodological rigour of published research in this field are limited. Our review suggests that YSS is not required to achieve success at elite levels. YSS also does not appear to improve task-related performance (eg, anterior reach, neuromuscular control) outcomes for specialised athletes when compared with non-specialised athletes during childhood and adolescence., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSK-I) in the U.S. military accounted for more than four million medical encounters in 2017. The Military Entrance Processing Screen to Assess Risk of Training (MEPSTART) was created to identify MSK-I risk during the first 180 days of military service., Methods: Active duty applicants to the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps between February 2013 and December 2014 who consented completed a behavioral and injury history questionnaire and the MEPSTART screen [Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Y-Balance Test (YBT), Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), and Overhead Squat assessment (OHS)] the day they shipped to basic training. Male (n = 1,433) and Female (n = 281) applicants were enrolled and MSK-I were tracked for 180 days. Binomial logistic regression and multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to assess relationships among MEPSTART screens and MSK-I independent of age, BMI, sex, Service, injury history, and smoking status. Analyses were finalized and performed in 2017., Results: The only functional screen related to injury was the LESS score. Compared to those with good LESS scores, applicants with poor LESS scores had lower odds of MSK-I (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.30-0.97, p = 0.04), and a lower instantaneous risk of MSK-I during the first 180 d (HR = 0.58, 95%CI = 0.34-0.96, p = 0.04). However, secondary receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses revealed poor discriminative value (AUC = 0.49, 95%CI = 0.43-0.54)., Conclusions: Functional performance did not predict future injury risk during the first 180 days of service. Poor LESS scores were associated with lower injury risk, but ROC analyses revealed little predictive value and limited clinical usefulness. Comprehensive risk reduction strategies may be preferable for mitigating MSK-I in military training populations., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2019. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.)

Background: Infectious mononucleosis is typically a self-limited disease commonly affecting young adults. Splenic rupture is a rare but serious complication affecting 0.1% to 0.5% of patients with mononucleosis. Current guidelines (based on published case reports) recommend complete activity restriction for 3 weeks after onset of mononucleosis symptoms to reduce rupture risk. We examined actual timing of mononucleosis-associated splenic injury using a large repository of unpublished patient data., Hypothesis: The risk of splenic injury after infectious mononucleosis will remain elevated longer than previously estimated., Study Design: Retrospective case series., Level of Evidence: Level 4., Methods: The Military Health System Management Analysis and Reporting Tool (M2) was used to conduct a retrospective chart review. Coding records of TRICARE beneficiaries aged 5 to 65 years between 2006 and 2016 were screened. Patients diagnosed with both splenic injury and mononucleosis-like symptoms were identified, and their medical records were reviewed for laboratory confirmation of infection and radiographically evident splenic injury., Results: A total of 826 records of splenic injury were found in M2. Of these, 42 cases met the study criteria. Mean time to splenic injury was 15.4 (±13.5) days. Only 73.8% (n = 31) of injuries occurred within 21 days, and 90.5% (n = 38) of splenic injuries occurred within 31 days of symptom onset., Conclusion: A substantial number of splenic injuries occur between 21 and 31 days after symptom onset. While most splenic injuries were atraumatic, consideration should be given to extending return-to-play guidelines to 31 days after symptom onset to minimize risk. Risk of chronic pain after splenic injury may be higher than previously believed., Clinical Relevance: The risk for postmononucleosis splenic injuries remains elevated longer than current guidelines suggest. Restricting activity for 31 days after mononucleosis symptom onset may reduce the risk of splenic injury.

Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) is on the rise among service members and high school and college athletes. Reported risk factors for ER include fitness level, sudden increase in exercise intensity and duration, and eccentric predominant exercise. This study examined an ER cluster among Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets who participated in a mandatory, timed, extreme conditioning program (ECP) workout. Forty-four cadets participated in this ECP; 11 were subsequently hospitalized with ER. Thirty-five cadets, including all who developed ER, completed a questionnaire to assess ECP times, prior fitness scores, and other ER risk factors. Cadets completed the ECP workout as individuals or in teams. Nine of 25 (36%) individual and two of 10 (20%) team participants were hospitalized with ER. Among the cadets, no associations were noted between hospitalization for ER and finish time, previous fitness scores, or dietary supplement use. The relative risk of developing ER was significantly increased in those who consumed alcohol in the week preceding the ECP (RR = 4.20; 95% CI 1.95, 9.03). In this cohort of Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets, an ECP resulted in a high rate of hospitalization for ER. Contrary to reported ER risk factors, higher baseline fitness was not protective. Rather, cadet knowledge that ECP performance was strongly linked to final cadet ranking greatly influenced intensity of effort.

Peck, KY, DiStefano, LJ, Marshall, SW, Padua, DA, Beutler, AI, de la Motte, SJ, Frank, BS, Martinez, JC, and Cameron, KL. Effect of a lower extremity preventive training program on physical performance scores in military recruits. J Strength Cond Res 31(11): 3146-3157, 2017-Exercise-based preventive training programs are designed to improve movement patterns associated with lower extremity injury risk; however, the impact of these programs on general physical fitness has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare fitness scores between participants in a preventive training program and a control group. One thousand sixty-eight freshmen from a U.S. Service Academy were cluster-randomized into either the intervention or control group during 6 weeks of summer training. The intervention group performed a preventive training program, specifically the Dynamic Integrated Movement Enhancement (DIME), which is designed to improve lower extremity movement patterns. The control group performed the Army Preparation Drill (PD), a warm-up designed to prepare soldiers for training. Main outcome measures were the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) raw and scaled (for age and sex) scores. Independent t tests were used to assess between-group differences. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to control for the influence of confounding variables. Dynamic Integrated Movement Enhancement group participants completed the APFT 2-mile run 20 seconds faster compared with the PD group (p < 0.001), which corresponded with significantly higher scaled scores (p < 0.001). Army Physical Fitness Test push-up scores were significantly higher in the DIME group (p = 0.041), but there were no significant differences in APFT sit-up scores. The DIME group had significantly higher total APFT scores compared with the PD group (p < 0.001). Similar results were observed in multivariable models after controlling for sex and body mass index (BMI). Committing time to the implementation of a preventive training program does not appear to negatively affect fitness test scores.

Context:  Specific movement patterns have been identified as possible risk factors for noncontact lower extremity injuries. The Dynamic Integrated Movement Enhancement (DIME) was developed to modify these movement patterns to decrease injury risk., Objective:  To determine if the DIME is effective for preventing lower extremity injuries in US Military Academy (USMA) cadets., Design:  Cluster-randomized controlled trial., Setting:  Cadet Basic Training at USMA., Patients or Other Participants:  Participants were 1313 cadets (1070 men, 243 women)., Intervention(s):  Participants were cluster randomized to 3 groups. The active warm-up (AWU) group performed standard Army warm-up exercises. The DIME groups were assigned to a DIME cadre-supervised (DCS) group or a DIME expert-supervised (DES) group; the former consisted of cadet supervision and the latter combined cadet and health professional supervision. Groups performed exercises 3 times weekly for 6 weeks., Main Outcome Measure(s):  Cumulative risk of lower extremity injury was the primary outcome. We gathered data during Cadet Basic Training and for 9 months during the subsequent academic year. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to compare groups., Results:  No differences were seen between the AWU and the combined DIME (DCS and DES) groups during Cadet Basic Training or the academic year. During the academic year, lower extremity injury risk in the DES group decreased 41% (relative risk [RR] = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.38, 0.93; P = .02) compared with the DCS group; a nonsignificant 25% (RR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.49, 1.14; P = .18) decrease occurred in the DES group compared with the AWU group. Finally, there was a nonsignificant 27% (RR = 1.27; 95% CI = 0.90, 1.78; P = .17) increase in injury risk during the academic year in the DCS group compared with the AWU group., Conclusions:  We observed no differences in lower extremity injury risk between the AWU and combined DIME groups. However, the magnitude and direction of the risk ratios in the DES group compared with the AWU group, although not statistically significant, indicate that professional supervision may be a factor in the success of injury-prevention programs.

Context:  Musculoskeletal injuries (MSK-Is) are a leading cause of missed duty time and morbidity in the military. Modifiable risk factors for MSK-Is, such as inadequate core stability, poor movement patterns, and dynamic balance deficits, have not been identified in military applicants on entering service., Objective:  To establish normative functional movement data using a series of screens in military applicants entering basic training and explore relationships among several movement tests., Design:  Cross-sectional study., Setting:  Military Entrance Processing Station., Patients or Other Participants:  A total of 1714 (1434 male, 280 female) military applicants entering the US Army (n = 546), Navy (n = 414), Air Force (n = 229), or Marine Corps (n = 525)., Intervention(s):  We conducted the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Y-Balance Test (YBT), overhead squat (OHS), and Landing Error Scoring System (LESS). Movements were assessed using the scoring convention for each screen., Main Outcome Measure(s):  The FMS, YBT, OHS, and LESS scores and associations among the movement screens as well as clinical meaningfulness., Results:  A total of 1037 of the 1714 enrolled applicants were screened on the day they left for basic training. Normative means for this population were established: FMS = 14.7 ± 1.8, YBT anterior-reach difference = 3.1 ± 3.0 cm, mean YBT composite differences = 8.0 ± 6.8 cm, mean YBT composite percentage = 90.9% ± 8.3%, OHS errors = 5.0 ± 2.8, and LESS score = 5.7 ± 2.1. Backward regression results revealed that the YBT composite percentage was related to the FMS and OHS scores in males and to the FMS and LESS results in females. However, clinically meaningful relationships between the tests varied for both males and females., Conclusions:  Sex-normative values for the FMS, YBT, OHS, and LESS screens were established for US military applicants, and some of the assessments overlapped. Overall, males performed better on the OHS and LESS and achieved a greater YBT composite percentage than females. The regression results revealed movement screen performance relationships that varied by sex and clinical meaningfulness. In future studies, we will determine if performance on any of the screens is associated with MSK-Is in basic trainees.

Screening for primary musculoskeletal injury (MSK-I) is costly and time-consuming. Both the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and the Y-Balance Test (YBT) have been shown to predict future MSK-I. With a goal of optimizing the efficiency of primary MSK-I screening, we studied associations between performance on the FMS and YBT and whether history of MSK-I influenced FMS and YBT scores. In total, 365 deploying Marines performed the FMS and YBT as prescribed. Composite and individual scores were each categorized as high risk or low risk using published injury thresholds: High-risk FMS included composite scores ≤14 and right-to-left (R/L) asymmetry for Shoulder Mobility, In-Line Lunge, Straight Leg Raise, Hurdle Step, or Rotary Stability. High-risk YBT consisted of anterior, posteromedial, and/or posterolateral R/L differences >4 cm and/or composite differences ≥12 cm. Pearson's χ tests evaluated associations between: (a) all FMS and YBT risk groups and (b) previous MSK-I and all FMS and YBT risk groups. Marines with high-risk FMS were twice as likely to have high-risk YBT posteromedial scores (χ = 10.2, p = 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-3.2). History of any MSK-I was not associated with high-risk FMS or high-risk YBT. However, previous lower extremity MSK-I was associated with In-Line Lunge asymmetries (χ = 9.8, p = 0.002, OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3-3.6). Overall, we found limited overlap in FMS and YBT risk. Because both methods seem to assess different risk factors for injury, we recommend FMS and YBT continue to be used together in combination with a thorough injury history until their predictive capacities are further established.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the association between injury history at enrollment and incident lower extremity (LE) injury during cadet basic training among first-year military cadets., Methods: Medically treated LE injuries during cadet basic training documented in the Defense Medical Surveillance System were ascertained in a prospective cohort study of three large US military academies from 2005 to 2008. Both acute injuries (International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, codes in the 800-900s, including fracture, dislocations, and sprains/strains) and injury-related musculoskeletal injuries (International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, codes in the 700s, including inflammation and pain, joint derangement, stress fracture, sprain/strain/rupture, and dislocation) were included. Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed using multivariate log-binomial models stratified by gender., Results: During basic training, there were 1438 medically treated acute and 1719 musculoskeletal-related LE injuries in the 9811 cadets. The most frequent LE injuries were sprains/strains (73.6% of acute injuries) and inflammation and pain (89.6% of musculoskeletal-related injuries). The overall risk of incident LE injury was 23.2% (95% CI = 22.3%-24.0%). Cadets with a history of LE injury were at increased risk for incident LE injury. This association was identical in males (RR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.55-1.94) and females (RR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.52-1.99). In site-specific analyses, strong associations between injury history and incident injury were observed for hip, knee ligament, stress fracture, and ankle sprain. Injury risk was greater (P < 0.01) for females (39.1%) compared with males (18.0%). The elevated injury risk in females (RR = 2.19, 95% CI = 2.04-2.36) was independent of injury history (adjusted RR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.95-2.24)., Conclusion: Injury history upon entry to the military is associated with the incidence of LE injuries sustained during cadet basic training. Prevention programs targeted at modifiable factors in cadets with a history of LE injury should be considered.

Despite aggressive prevention programs and strategies, nontraumatic exertional sudden death events in military training continue to prove a difficult challenge for the Department of Defense. In November 2014, the 559th Medical Group at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, hosted a working group on sudden exertional death in military training. Their objectives were three-fold: (1) determine best practices to prevent sudden exertional death of military trainees, (2) determine best practices to establish safe and ethical training environments for military trainees with sickle cell trait, and (3) develop field-ready algorithms for managing military trainees who collapse during exertion. This article summarizes the major findings and recommendations of the working group., (Reprint & Copyright © 2016 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.)

Background: Knowledge is limited regarding how long improvements in biomechanics remain after completion of a lower extremity injury prevention program., Purpose: To evaluate the effects of an injury prevention program on movement technique and peak vertical ground-reaction forces (VGRF) over time compared with a standard warm-up (SWU) program., Study Design: Controlled laboratory study., Methods: A total of 1104 incoming freshmen (age range, 17-22 years) at a military academy in the United States volunteered to participate. Participants were cluster-randomized by military company to either the Dynamic Integrated Movement Enhancement (DIME) injury prevention program or SWU. A random subsample of participants completed a standardized jump-landing task at each time point: immediately before the intervention (PRE), immediately after (POST), and 2 (POST2M), 4 (POST4M), 6 (POST6M), and 8 months (POST8M) after the intervention. VGRF data collected during the jump-landing task were normalized to body weight (%BW). The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) was used to evaluate movement technique during the jump landing. The change scores (Δ) for each variable (LESS, VGRF) between the group's average value at PRE and each time point were calculated. Separate univariate analyses of variance were performed to evaluate group differences., Results: The results showed a greater decrease in mean (±SD) VGRF in the DIME group compared with the SWU group at all retention time points: POST2M (SWU [Δ%BW], -0.13 ± 0.82; DIME, -0.62 ± 0.91; P = .001), POST4M (SWU, -0.15 ± 0.98; DIME,-0.46 ± 0.64; P = .04), POST6M (SWU, -0.04 ± 0.96; DIME, -0.53 ± 0.83; P = .004), and POST8M (SWU, 0.38 ± 0.95; DIME, -0.11 ± 0.98; P = .003), but there was not a significant improvement in the DIME group between PRE and POST8M (Δ%BW, -0.11 ± 0.98). No group differences in Δ LESS were observed., Conclusion: The study findings demonstrated that an injury prevention program performed as a warm-up can reduce vertical ground-reaction forces compared with a standard warm-up but a maintenance program is likely necessary in order for continued benefit., Clinical Relevance: Injury prevention programs may need to be performed constantly, or at least every sport season, in order for participants to maintain the protective effects against injury., (© 2016 The Author(s).)

Context: Identifying neuromuscular screening factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a critical step toward large-scale deployment of effective ACL injury-prevention programs. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a valid and reliable clinical assessment of jump-landing biomechanics., Objective: To investigate the ability of the LESS to identify individuals at risk for ACL injury in an elite-youth soccer population., Design: Cohort study., Setting: Field-based functional movement screening performed at soccer practice facilities., Patients or Other Participants: A total of 829 elite-youth soccer athletes (348 boys, 481 girls; age = 13.9 ± 1.8 years, age range = 11 to 18 years), of whom 25% (n = 207) were less than 13 years of age., Intervention(s): Baseline preseason testing for all participants consisted of a jump-landing task (3 trials). Participants were followed prospectively throughout their soccer seasons for diagnosis of ACL injuries (1217 athlete-seasons of follow-up)., Main Outcome Measure(s): Landings were scored for "errors" in technique using the LESS. We used receiver operator characteristic curves to determine a cutpoint on the LESS. Sensitivity and specificity of the LESS in predicting ACL injury were assessed., Results: Seven participants sustained ACL injuries during the follow-up period; the mechanism of injury was noncontact or indirect contact for all injuries. Uninjured participants had lower LESS scores (4.43 ± 1.71) than injured participants (6.24 ± 1.75; t1215 = -2.784, P = .005). The receiver operator characteristic curve analyses suggested that 5 was the optimal cutpoint for the LESS, generating a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 64%., Conclusions: Despite sample-size limitations, the LESS showed potential as a screening tool to determine ACL injury risk in elite-youth soccer athletes.

Background: Information as to how anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstructive surgery (ACLR) alter lower extremity biomechanics may improve rehabilitation and return to play guidelines, reducing the risk for repeat ACL injury., Aim: To compare lower extremity biomechanics before ACL injury and after subsequent ACLR for the injured and uninjured leg., Methods: Baseline unilateral lower extremity biomechanics were collected on the dominant leg of participants without ACL injury when they entered the Joint Undertaking to Monitor and Prevent ACL (JUMP-ACL) study. Thirty-one participants with subsequent ACL injury, reconstructive surgery and full return to physical activity completed repeat, follow-up biomechanical testing, as did 39 uninjured, matched controls. Not all injured participants suffered injury to the dominant leg, requiring separation of those with ACL injury into two groups: ACLR-injured leg group (n=12) and ACLR-uninjured leg group (n=19). We compared the landing biomechanics of these three groups (ACLR-injured leg, ACLR-uninjured leg, control) before ACL injury (baseline) with biomechanics after ACL injury, surgery and return to physical activity (follow-up)., Results: ACL injury and ACLR altered lower extremity biomechanics, as both ACLR groups demonstrated increases in frontal plane movement (increased hip adduction and knee valgus). The ACLR-injured leg group also exhibited decreased sagittal plane loading (decreased anterior tibial shear force, knee extension moment and hip flexion moment). No high-risk biomechanical changes were observed in control group participants., Conclusions: ACL injury and ACLR caused movement pattern alterations of the injured and uninjured leg that have previously shown to increase the risk for future non-contact ACL injury., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.)

Abnormal movement patterns have been identified as important prospective risk factors for lower extremity injury, including anterior cruciate ligament injury. Specifically, poor neuromuscular control during the early landing phase has been associated with increased injury risk. Although it is commonly assumed that higher division collegiate athletes generally exhibit better movement patterns than lower division athletes, few studies compare the biomechanical differences on basic tasks such as jump landing between various levels of athletic groups. The objective of this study was to evaluate jump-landing and fitness differences among college-aged Intramural, Competitive Club, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level athletes. Two hundred seventy-seven student-athletes (222 men, 55 women; age 19.3 ± 0.8 years) categorized as NCAA Division I, Competitive Club, or Intramural level athletes were evaluated during a jump-landing task using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), a validated qualitative movement assessment. Fitness was measured using the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Results showed no significant differences in landing errors between the levels of athletic group (F(2,267) = 0.36, p = 0.70). There was a significant difference in landing errors between genders (F(1,268) = 3.99, p = 0.05). Significant differences in APFT scores were observed between level of athletic group (F(2,267) = 11.14, p < 0.001) and gender (F(1,268) = 9.27, p = 0.003). There was no significant correlation between the APFT and LESS scores (p = 0.26). In conclusion, higher level athletes had better physical fitness as measured by the APFT but did not as a group exhibit better landing technique. The implications of this research suggest that "high-risk" movement patterns are prevalent in all levels of athletes.

Context: Of the individuals able to return to sport participation after an anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) injury, up to 25% will experience a second ACL injury. This population may be more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, which may explain this high rate of second injury., Objective: To examine changes in 3-dimensional hip and knee kinematics and kinetics during a jump landing and to examine knee laxity across the menstrual cycle in women with histories of unilateral noncontact ACL injury., Design: Controlled laboratory study., Setting: Laboratory., Patients or Other Participants: A total of 20 women (age = 19.6 ± 1.3 years, height = 168.6 ± 5.3 cm, mass = 66.2 ± 9.1 kg) with unilateral, noncontact ACL injuries., Intervention(s): Participants completed a jump-landing task and knee-laxity assessment 3 to 5 days after the onset of menses and within 3 days of a positive ovulation test., Main Outcome Measure(s): Kinematics in the uninjured limb at initial contact with the ground during a jump landing, peak kinematics and kinetics during the loading phase of landing, anterior knee laxity via the KT-1000, peak vertical ground reaction force, and blood hormone concentrations (estradiol-β-17, progesterone, free testosterone)., Results: At ovulation, estradiol-β-17 (t = -2.9, P = .009), progesterone (t = -3.4, P = .003), and anterior knee laxity (t = -2.3, P = .03) increased, and participants presented with greater knee-valgus moment (Z = -2.6, P = .01) and femoral internal rotation (t = -2.1, P = .047). However, during the menses test session, participants landed harder (greater peak vertical ground reaction force; t = 2.2, P = .04), with the tibia internally rotated at initial contact (t = 2.8, P = .01) and greater hip internal-rotation moment (Z = -2.4, P = .02). No other changes were observed across the menstrual cycle., Conclusions: Knee and hip mechanics in both phases of the menstrual cycle represented a greater potential risk of ACL loading. Observed changes in landing mechanics may explain why the risk of second ACL injury is elevated in this population.

Prevention of musculoskeletal injuries (MSKI) is critical in both civilian and military populations to enhance physical performance, optimize health, and minimize health care expenses. Developing a more unified approach through addressing identified movement impairments could result in improved dynamic balance, trunk stability, and functional movement quality while potentially minimizing the risk of incurring such injuries. Although the evidence supporting the utility of injury prediction and return-to-activity readiness screening tools is encouraging, considerable additional research is needed regarding improving sensitivity, specificity, and outcomes, and especially the implementation challenges and barriers in a military setting. If selected current functional movement assessments can be administered in an efficient and cost-effective manner, utilization of the existing tools may be a beneficial first step in decreasing the burden of MSKI, with a subsequent focus on secondary and tertiary prevention via further assessments on those with prior injury history.

Background: Changes in movement patterns have been repeatedly observed immediately after completing a lower extremity injury prevention program. However, it is not known if movement pattern changes are maintained after discontinuing the training program., Hypothesis: The ability to maintain movement pattern changes after training has ceased may be influenced by the program's duration. The authors hypothesized that among individuals who completed either a 3-month or 9-month training program and who demonstrated immediate movement pattern changes, only those who completed the 9-month training program would maintain movement pattern changes after a 3-month period of no longer performing the exercises., Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2., Methods: A total of 140 youth soccer athletes from 15 separate teams volunteered to participate. Athletes' movement patterns were assessed using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) at pretest, posttest, and 3 months after ceasing the program (retention test). Eighty-four of the original 140 participants demonstrated improvements in their LESS scores between pretest and posttest (change in LESS score >0) and were included in the final analyses for this study (n = 84; 20 boys and 64 girls; mean age, 14 ± 2 years; age range, 11-17 years). Teams performed 3-month (short-duration group) and 9-month (extended-duration group) injury prevention programs. The exercises performed were identical for both groups. Teams performed the programs as part of their normal warm-up routine., Results: Although both groups improved their total LESS scores from pretest to posttest, only the extended-duration training group retained their improvements 3 months after ceasing the injury prevention program (F(2,137) = 3.38; P = .04)., Conclusion: Results suggest that training duration may be an important factor to consider when designing injury prevention programs that facilitate long-term changes in movement control.

Context: There is a need for reliable clinical assessment tools that can be used to identify individuals who may be at risk for injury. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a reliable and valid clinical assessment tool that was developed to identify individuals at risk for lower extremity injuries. One limitation of this tool is that it cannot be assessed in real time and requires the use of video cameras., Objective: To determine the interrater reliability of a real-time version of the LESS, the LESS-RT., Design: Reliability study., Setting: Controlled research laboratory., Participants: 43 healthy volunteers (24 women, 19 men) between the ages of 18 and 23., Intervention: The LESS-RT evaluates 10 jump-landing characteristics that may predispose an individual to lower extremity injuries. Two sets of raters used the LESS-RT to evaluate participants as they performed 4 trials of a jump-landing task., Main Outcome Measures: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1) values for the final composite score of the LESS-RT were calculated to assess interrater reliability of the LESS-RT., Results: Interrater reliability (ICC2,1) for the LESS-RT ranged from .72 to .81 with standard error of measurements ranging from .69 to .79., Conclusions: The LESS-RT is a quick, easy, and reliable clinical assessment tool that may be used by clinicians to identify individuals who may be at risk for lower extremity injuries.

Aspirin should not be used to treat acute febrile viral illness in children. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: C, based on case-control studies). Although no causal link has been proven, data from case-control and historic cohort studies demonstrate an association between aspirin use and Reye syndrome. The risk of Reye syndrome decreases with age, becoming extremely rare by the late teenage years. Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective antipyretics and are not associated with the constellation of symptoms seen in Reye syndrome, which includes nausea, vomiting, headache, excitability, delirium, combativeness, and coma. Aspirin use in children younger than 19 years should be limited to diseases in which aspirin has a proven benefit, such as Kawasaki disease and the juvenile arthritides. (SOR: C, based on expert opinion).

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are common in athletes and have serious sequelae. A valid clinical tool that reliably identifies individuals at an increased risk for ACL injury would be highly useful for screening sports teams, because individuals identified as "high-risk" could then be provided with intensive prevention programs., Hypothesis: A clinical screening tool (the Landing Error Scoring System, or LESS) will reliably identify subjects with potentially high-risk biomechanics., Study Design: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2., Methods: A jump-landing-rebound task was used. Off-the-shelf camcorders recorded frontal and sagittal plane views of the subject performing the task. The LESS was scored from replay of this video. Three-dimensional lower extremity kinematics and kinetics were also collected and used as the gold standard against which the validity of the LESS was assessed. Three trials of the jump-landing task were collected for 2691 subjects. Kinematic and kinetic measures were compared across LESS score quartiles using 1-way analysis of variance; LESS quartiles were compared across genders using the chi-square test. The LESS scores from a subset of 50 subjects were rescored to determine intrarater and interrater reliability., Results: Subjects with high LESS scores (poor jump-landing technique) displayed significantly different lower extremity kinematics and kinetics compared with subjects with low LESS scores (excellent jump-landing technique). Women had higher (worse) LESS scores than men. Intrarater and interrater reliability of the LESS ranged from good to excellent., Conclusion: The LESS is a valid and reliable tool for identifying potentially high-risk movement patterns during a jump-landing task.

Recent studies have focused on gender differences in movement patterns as risk factors for ACL injury. Understanding intrinsic and extrinsic factors which contribute to movement patterns is critical to ACL injury prevention efforts. Isometric lower-extremity muscular strength, anthropometrics, and jump-landing technique were analyzed for 2,753 cadets (1,046 female, 1,707 male) from the U.S. Air Force, Military and Naval Academies. Jump-landings were evaluated using the Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), a valid qualitative movement screening tool. We hypothesized that distinct anthropometric factors (Q-angle, navicular drop, bodyweight) and muscle strength would predict poor jump-landing technique in males versus females, and that female cadets would have higher scores (more errors) on a qualitative movement screen (LESS) than males. Mean LESS scores were significantly higher in female (5.34 ± 1.51) versus male (4.65 ± 1.69) cadets (P<.001). Qualitative movement scores were analyzed using factor analyses, yielding five factors, or "patterns", contributing to poor landing technique. Females were significantly more likely to have poor technique due to landing with less hip and knee flexion at initial contact (P<.001), more knee valgus with wider landing stance (P<.001), and less flexion displacement over the entire landing (P<.001). Males were more likely to have poor technique due to landing toe-out (P<.001), with heels first, and with an asymmetric foot landing (P<.001). Many of the identified factor patterns have been previously proposed to contribute to ACL injury risk. However, univariate and multivariate analyses of muscular strength and anthropometric factors did not strongly predict LESS scores for either gender, suggesting that changing an athlete's alignment, BMI, or muscle strength may not directly improve his or her movement patterns.