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The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) convened a group of experts to develop a position statement addressing the problem of sexual violence in sport. The AMSSM Sexual Violence in Sport Task Force held a series of meetings over 7 months, beginning in July 2019. Following a literature review, the task force used an iterative process and expert consensus to finalize the position statement. The objective of this position statement is to raise awareness of this critical issue among sports medicine physicians and to declare a commitment to engage in collaborative, multidisciplinary solutions to reduce sexual violence in sport.

Background Data about injuries among synchronized skating athletes are lacking while physical demands in this sport discipline continue to grow. No injury data among junior synchronized skaters exist. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and pattern of injuries in junior and senior synchronized skaters. Methods In this descriptive epidemiology study anonymous questionnaires were distributed to synchronized junior and senior skaters. 708 synchronized skaters (393 juniors and 315 seniors) completed the questionnaire. Male skaters were excluded from analysis. Results Spinal conditions were reported by 148 (37.7%) juniors compared to 149 (47.3%) of senior skaters with statistically significant cumulative incidence (P=0.01); 23% of juniors and 30.2% of senior skaters reported problems with more than one spinal region; 64.4% juniors and 72.1% senior skaters reported at least one non-spinal injury during their synchronized skating career. There were 380 unique injuries reported by junior skaters and 363 by senior skaters. Lower extremity injuries were the most common injuries in both groups of skaters, followed by upper extremity, head and trunk injuries. From all the anatomical regions mentioned, there was only statistically significant difference between the groups in the occurrence of head injuries with senior skaters having 1.9 greater odds ratio to have head injury. Conclusions This study presents new data on the current injury pattern seen in synchronized skating since the inclusion of new skills. The number of head injuries and spinal conditions show statistically significant cumulative incidence in senior compared to junior skaters.

There is conflicting evidence regarding whether females are more adversely affected after concussion than males. Further, recent research suggests that hormonal contraceptive (HC) use may affect symptom severity and duration post-concussion. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of sex and HC use on outcomes following concussion among collegiate varsity athletes. We hypothesized that females would have longer length of recovery (LOR), and that peak symptom severity would be associated with longer LOR in both males and females. Among females, we hypothesized that non-HC users would have longer LOR and higher peak symptom severity than HC users. Ninety collegiate student-athletes were included in this study (40 males, 50 females; 24 HC users, 25 non-HC users). Demographic, injury, and recovery information was abstracted via retrospective record review. LOR was defined as days between injury and clearance for full return to play by team physician. Peak symptom severity score (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool [SCAT] 2 or 3) was used in analyses. Study results revealed that males had shorter LOR than females (F[1, 86] = 5.021, p 0.05, d = 0.49), but had comparable symptom severity scores. Symptom severity was strongly related to LOR for males (r = 0.513, p 0.01) but not females (r = -0.003, p 0.05). Among females, non-HC users demonstrated higher symptom severity than HC users (F[1,47] = 5.142, p 0.05, d = 0.70). No significant differences between female HC users and non-HC users on LOR were observed. This study provides evidence for differential concussion outcomes between male and female collegiate athletes and between HC users and nonusers among females.

Transgender individuals identify as a gender different than their sex designated at birth. Transgender athletes, as the name implies, are transgender individuals who participate in sports/athletics. By reviewing the literature relevant to transgender athletes and adding commentary on important considerations, this article acts as a primer for the sports medicine clinician on the care of transgender athletes. We cover terminology, epidemiology, policy, and relevant medical considerations. Literature relevant for medical care specific to transgender athletes is still relatively sparse. We highlight many recommended areas of future research with the potential to make valuable contributions to evidence-based sports medicine practice for this population.

Ice hockey is a popular collision sport with a growing number of female athletes participating each year. As participation among girls and women continues to increase, it will be important to recognize common injuries occurring during women's games. Despite difference in the rules that prohibit body checking in women's and girls' games, injury profiles are similar to those of their male counterparts. Concussions, contusions, acromioclavicular joint injuries, ligamentous knee injuries, and muscle strains occur during women's ice hockey games, with groin strains accounting for the most common practice injury. This article will review both injury rates and common injuries occurring in women's ice hockey, with a focus on the observed concussion rate and groin injuries.

Synchronized skating is a unique sport of team skating and currently represents the largest competitive discipline in U.S. Figure Skating. Synchronized skating allows skaters to compete as part of a team with opportunities to represent their country in international competitions. As the popularity of the sport continues to grow, more of these athletes will present to sports medicine clinics with injuries and illnesses related to participation in synchronized skating. The purpose of this article is to review the common injuries and medical conditions affecting synchronized skaters.