Risk Factors in Elite, Adolescent Male Soccer Players: Prospective Study

Subsequent musculoskeletal injury after concussion in National Football League players

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether National Football League (NFL) players diagnosed with a concussion have an increased risk of injury after return to football.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study analysed the hazard of subsequent time-loss lower extremity (LEX) or any musculoskeletal injury among NFL players diagnosed with a concussion in 2015-2021 preseason or regular season games compared with: (1) all non-concussed players participating in the same game and (2) players with time-loss upper extremity injury. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for number of injuries and concussions in the prior year, player tenure and roster position. Additional models accounted for time lost from participation after concussion.

RESULTS

There was no statistical difference in the hazards of LEX injury or any musculoskeletal injury among concussed players compared with non-concussed players, though concussed players had a slightly elevated hazard of injury (LEX injury: HR=1.12, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.41; any musculoskeletal injury: HR=1.08, 95% CI: 0.89 to 1.31). When comparing to players with upper extremity injuries, the hazard of injury for concussed players was not statistically different, though HRs suggested a lower injury risk among concussed players (LEX injury: HR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.60 to 1.02; any musculoskeletal injury: HR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.65 to 1.04).

CONCLUSION

We found no statistical difference in the risk of subsequent injury among NFL players returning from concussion compared with non-concussed players in the same game or players returning from upper extremity injury. These results suggest deconditioning or other factors associated with lost participation time may explain subsequent injury risk in concussed players observed in some settings after return to play.

Risk factors associated with football injury among male players from a specific academy in Ghana: a pilot study

There seems to be no information on the incidence of injury and associated risk factors for academy football players in Ghana. We determine the risk factors associated with match and training injuries among male football players at an academy in Ghana. Preseason measurements of players' height, weight, and ankle dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) were measured with a stadiometer (Seca 213), a digital weighing scale (Omron HN-289), and tape measure, respectively. The functional ankle instability (FAI) of players was measured using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), and dynamic postural control was measured with the Star Excursion Balance Test. Injury surveillance data for all injuries were collected by resident physiotherapists throughout one season. Selected factors associated with injury incidence were tested using Spearman's rank correlation at a 5% significance level. Age was negatively associated with overall injury incidence (r = - 0.589, p = 0.000), match (r = - 0.294, p = 0.008), and training incidence (r = - 0.314, p = 0.005). Previous injury of U18s was associated with training injuries (r = 0.436, p = 0.023). Body mass index (BMI) was negatively associated with overall injury incidence (r = - 0.513, p = 0.000), and training incidence (r = - 0.395, p = 0.000). CAIT scores were associated with overall injury incidence (n = 0.263, p = 0.019) and match incidence (r = 0.263, p = 0.029). The goalkeeper position was associated with match incidence (r = 0.241, p = 0.031) while the U16 attacker position was associated with training incidence. Exposure hours was negatively associated with overall injury incidence (r = - 0.599, p = 0.000). Age, BMI, previous injury, goalkeeper and attacker positions, ankle DF ROM, and self-reported FAI were associated with injury incidence among academy football players in Ghana.

Growth, maturation and injuries in high-level youth football (soccer): A mini review

Understanding the challenges football (soccer) players face during adolescence is fundamental to avoid disruptions in their development due to injury. This mini review will describe basic concepts of somatic growth and biological maturity, examine data from 53 prospective epidemiological studies on high-level youth football players and discuss how age, growth and maturity may affect the injury patterns observed. Based on the existing evidence, at least every third player sustains an injury during a football season. The thigh (median for studies of boys: 25%, median for girls: 21%), ankle (b: 18%, g: 30%), knee (b: 17%, g: 18%) and hip/groin (b: 14%, g: 10%) are the body parts injured most often, while muscle strains (b: 31%, g: 25%), sprains (b: 20%, g: 27%) and contusions (b: 17%, g: 16%) are the most common injury types. Injury trends are, however, not consistent throughout adolescence, and players' age, maturity status and position relative to peak height velocity (PHV) have shown to influence the number, type and location of injuries sustained. Despite a high volume of observational injury studies published on high-level youth players, girls (7 studies) and settings outside of Europe (included in 23% of studies) are underrepresented and should receive extra attention in the future. Based on the available epidemiological data, tailored injury reduction programmes can be considered in youth football, alongside application of general training principles such as progression, variation and individualization which may be especially important during vulnerable phases such as the adolescent growth spurt.

Association of Social Media Use on Sleep Quality and Performance Among Collegiate Athletes

OBJECTIVE

(1) To examine the effect of social media (SM) use on sleep quality and (2) to determine the effect of SM on competition performance among college athletes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Two local Division III colleges, MA, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III swim and track and field athletes.

INTERVENTION

Data were collected onsite through an SM use form, the lifestyle survey, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance Questionnaire. Participants were divided into 3 groups based on their SM volume: (1) less active SM users (≤2 h/d), (2) moderately active SM users (>2-≤5 h/d), and (3) active SM users (>5 h/d) for analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sleep quality and sport performance data collected through publicly available competition results. The independent variable, SM volume (hours of SM use per day over 7 days), was collected using the iPhone screen time function.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 40 male track and field athletes and 47 female track and field (37, 79%) and swimming (10, 21%) athletes. Mean SM use was 4.6 ± 3.4 h/d. The sleep quality of active SM users was worse than less active SM users ( P = 0.033). There was an independent association between increased Facebook time and poor performance after adjusting confounders (adjusted odds ratio: 0.990, 95% confidence interval: 0.981-0.999, P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

High SM use has a negative impact on sleep quality and may hinder competition performance among college athletes. These findings may have implications for developing SM use guidelines for college athletes to improve their sleep quality and performance.

Assessment of Dysfunctional Movements and Asymmetries in Children and Adolescents Using the Functional Movement Screen-A Narrative Review

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening tool that identifies dysfunctional movements in seven test items requiring an interplay of cognitive, perceptual, proprioceptive, and motor functions that involve muscular strength/endurance, flexibility, mobility, coordination, and balance. The results of the FMS include an overall composite score, scores on the individual test items, and identification of compensatory movement patterns and left-right asymmetries on 5 bilateral test items. Although there is a plethora of literature on the use of the FMS in adults, there is a growing body of evidence indicating its use in children. The available research in children involves school children and young athletes in at least 20 different sports in over 20 countries and comparisons between pre- and post-pubescent children, and normal weight, overweight, and obese children. Studies that include measures of adiposity and physical activity levels, or report prevalence of asymmetries and dysfunctional movement patterns are not well represented in the children’s literature. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the currently available literature in children and suggest potential uses of the FMS by coaches, physical educators, and other health/fitness professionals, appropriate interpretation of results, and future research in children.