An Interdisciplinary Examination of Stress and Injury Occurrence in Athletes

Is the risk of muscle injuries higher in the finals than in previous rounds of the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m sprints of international athletics championships?

OBJECTIVES

To compare incidence rates of lower limb muscle injuries (LLMIs) and hamstring muscle injuries (HMIs) in 100 m, 200 m and 400 m sprints disciplines between finals, semi-finals and heats of international athletics championships.

DESIGN

Prospective total population study.

METHODS

We analysed in-competition LLMIs and HMIs of female and male athletes during eight championships between 2009 and 2022.

RESULTS

LLMI and HMI incidence rates in 100 m finals were significantly higher than in heats and semi-finals for female and male athletes. HMI incidence rates were significantly higher in 200 m finals than heats and semi-finals for male athletes.

CONCLUSIONS

LLMI and HMI risk was higher in finals compared to previous rounds during international athletics championships.

MAINTAINING COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY IN ELITE SPORTS WITH ACUTE PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Competition in the modern pentathlon in the new 2024 Olympic program are tense and high intensity. Before reaching the final the athlete must go through 8 types of events in 4 days performs before 5 events in final competitions. It's quit difficult to restore the function of damaged link of the musculoskeletal system during competition in a short time. The time of breaks for rest and recovery in the competitive activity of an all-around athlete in the modern pentathlon is limited. The presented rehabilitation program after an acute injury was implemented at modern pentathlon competitions. A distinctive feature of the effects is the practice of rehabilitation and recovery after physical exertion. The peculiarity was in short periods of rest during intense multi-day competitive activity. There was a clear organization in the procedures, a strict sequence of methods and techniques. The presented material rather as an exception confirms the possibilities of the applied systemic rehabilitation techniques. This made it possible to continue competitive activity in modern pentathlon after an acute injury without compromising the athlete's health.

Assessment and classification of peripheral pain in athletes: a scoping review protocol

Pain is often presumed to be part of the sport injury experience. The time-loss definition of injury leads to under-reported athletic pain impacting performance and quality of life. Whilst research regarding the assessment and classification of back pain in athletes is emerging, little has been reported regarding how peripheral pain is assessed and classified in research and practice. Six databases will be searched for relevant articles. Title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening will be completed by two independent reviewers. Data charting will be carried out using a modified standardised form. Descriptive results and frequencies will be reported. Pain measures identified in the studies will be mapped against the IOC Athlete Pain Framework alongside a narrative summary. Published peer-reviewed primary research studies alongside systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines reporting the assessment or classification of pain in athletes of any age with chronic or acute peripheral pain across all study contexts in the English language on human participants from inception of the databases will be included. The results of this study are part of a body of research which will be used to inform the development of a pain assessment framework. The scoping review will be submitted for peer-reviewed journal publication and presented at sports medicine conferences. This review will inform researchers and clinicians working with athletes in pain how pain assessment and classification is currently conducted and positioned against the IOC Athlete Pain Framework.

Training Load Capacity, Cumulative Risk, and Bone Stress Injuries: A Narrative Review of a Holistic Approach

Bone stress injuries (BSIs) are a common orthopedic injury with short-term, and potentially long-term, effects. Training load capacity, influenced by risk factors, plays a critical role in the occurrence of BSIs. Many factors determine how one's body responds to repetitive loads that have the potential to increase the risk of a BSI. As a scientific community, we have identified numerous isolated BSI risk factors. However, we have not adequately analyzed the integrative, holistic, and cumulative nature of the risk factors, which is essential to determine an individual's specific capacity. In this narrative review, we advocate for a personalized approach to monitor training load so that individuals can optimize their health and performance. We define “cumulative risk profile” as a subjective clinical determination of the number of risk factors with thoughtful consideration of their interaction and propose that athletes have their own cumulative risk profile that influences their capacity to withstand specific training loads. In our narrative review, we outline BSI risk factors, discuss the relationship between BSIs and training load, highlight the importance of individualizing training load, and emphasize the use of a holistic assessment as a training load guide.