TOPIC

Sports research

Everything we have read on sports. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

1,148 PAPERS · PAGE 10 OF 23 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2022Rehabilitation Through Physical Activity and Sport in Light of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health-Current Research Perspectives.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA pilot study of sports coaching for workers with injuries showed participants felt more active and reported better quality of life after five months. However, the study is ongoing, small, and lacks a control group, so these improvements cannot yet be attributed to the coaching itself.
• PTCase Report2022Rehabilitation After Surgical Treatment of Pectoralis Major Rupture in a CrossFit® Practitioner: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyOne CrossFit athlete returned to all sport activities without deficits 16 weeks after pectoralis major repair. The protocol used early passive motion and weekly progressive loading. This describes what happened to one person, not a proven treatment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Short-Term Clinical Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction In Adolescents During The COVID-19 Pandemic.International journal of sports physical therapyAdolescents who had ACL reconstruction during the pandemic had stronger uninvolved quadriceps at three months than those treated pre-pandemic. However, strength in the injured leg and self-reported function were identical between groups. The pandemic did not worsen short-term recovery.
• PTOther2022Females have Lower Knee Strength and Vertical Ground Reaction Forces During Landing than Males Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction at the Time of Return to Sport.International journal of sports physical therapyAt return to sport after ACL reconstruction, females had lower knee strength than males in both legs. Males landing on the reconstructed leg had greater vertical force relative to body weight. Balance scores did not differ.
• PTOther2022The Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Single Leg Squat Among Physically Active Females with and without Dynamic Knee Valgus.International journal of sports physical therapyVideo analysis of the single leg squat is reliable for tracking knee alignment over time in active women. However, it does not consistently match 3D motion capture for accuracy. Validity depends on which leg is used and the squat depth, so clinicians must choose the test setup carefully.
• PTOther2022Injury and Illness Incidence in 2017 Super Rugby Tournament: A Surveillance Study on a Single South African Team.International journal of sports physical therapyIn one South African rugby team, 76.9% of players sustained at least one time-loss injury over 28 weeks. Match injuries occurred at 241 per 1000 player hours, far higher than training. Illness rates were low, with respiratory issues most common.
• PTPilot2022The Effect of Self-Myofascial Release on the Pennation Angle of the Vastus Medialis Oblique and the Vastus Lateralis in Athletic Male Individuals: An Ultrasound Investigation.International journal of sports physical therapySeven weeks of foam rolling significantly reduced the pennation angles of both the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis in healthy male athletes. The change was larger in the vastus lateralis. It is unknown if this structural shift improves pain or function in patients with knee issues.
• PTNarrative Review2022Stride Length and Torso Biomechanics As They Relate To Medial Elbow Injuries In Adolescent Aged Baseball pitchers: A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyNo original patient outcomes are reported in this clinical commentary about stride length and torso mechanics in adolescent pitchers. It offers background considerations, not tested injury-prevention findings to act on.
• PTOther2022Characterizing the Mechanical Stiffness of Passive-Dynamic Ankle-Foot Orthosis Struts.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIDEO ankle-foot orthosis strut categories were not evenly spaced in stiffness. Categories 1 through 5 differed in forward bending, but categories 2 and 3 did not differ in backward bending. The category number alone does not show the exact stiffness.
• PTOther2022Construction and Application of Virtual Reality-Based Sports Rehabilitation Training Program.Occupational therapy internationalA depth camera and VR headset measured neck movement consistently in 35 subjects. The paper also describes a VR running-table program for stroke walking recovery, but the trial details are too incomplete to support a treatment claim.
• PTOther2022Athletic Shoulder Test Differences Exist Bilaterally in Healthy Pitchers.International journal of sports physical therapyHealthy pitchers push harder with their throwing arm than their non-throwing arm at 90 and 135 degrees of shoulder lift. However, how hard they push on this test has no link to how fast they throw a fastball. Use the test for side-to-side comparison, not speed prediction.
• PTSurvey2022Physical Therapy Interventions for the Management of Biceps Tendinopathy: An International Delphi Study.International journal of sports physical therapyA Delphi panel of physical therapy experts recommended multimodal care for biceps tendinopathy, favoring exercise, stretching, some manual therapy and education, while disagreeing on ultrasound, laser and shock wave. This is expert consensus, not proof that these treatments work.
• PTOTOther2022Movement Competency Screens Can Be Reliable In Clinical Practice By A Single Rater Using The Composite Score.International journal of sports physical therapyThe total score from this movement screen is reliable whether rated by novices or experts, but individual movement scores are not. Do not use single-movement ratings to make clinical decisions; rely only on the composite total.
• PTOther2022Single Leg Bridge Test is Not a Valid Clinical Tool to Assess Maximum Hamstring Strength.International journal of sports physical therapyThe Single Leg Bridge Test does not measure maximum hamstring strength. Scores showed only poor association with isokinetic peak torque. Use it for strength endurance, not to clear players for return to sport based on maximum strength criteria.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022The Problem of Recurrent Injuries in Collegiate Track and Field.International journal of sports physical therapyCollegiate track and field athletes missed 50% more time from sport after a recurrent injury than after a first-time injury. This held true regardless of sex or diagnosis. Jumpers had a lower proportion of recurrent injuries than runners or throwers.
• PTOther2022Hip Adduction and Abduction Strength Profiles Among Bantam, High School, Juniors, and Collegiate American Ice Hockey Players.International journal of sports physical therapyHip strength is symmetrical across levels. Players showed no significant differences in hip adduction or abduction strength between dominant and non-dominant legs. You can assume symmetry when tracking return-to-play progressions for groin injuries.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022A Scoping Review on Shoulder Injuries of Wheelchair Tennis Players: Potential Risk-Factors and Musculoskeletal Adaptations.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesWheelchair tennis players face shoulder risks from overhead motion and muscle imbalances, but evidence is scarce. Most studies included few participants and used different outcome measures, so specific risk factors remain proposed rather than proven.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Interventions for social and community participation for adults with intellectual disability, psychosocial disability or on the autism spectrum: An umbrella systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPerson-centred planning and individualised support consistently improved social participation, while group social skills training showed limited or inconsistent effects for adults on the autism spectrum. Interventions that provided real-world community access and active mentoring were more effective than those focusing solely on building individual skills.
• PTRCT2022Immediate effect of stabilization exercises versus conventional exercises of the trunk on dynamic balance among trained soccer players.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoTrunk stabilization exercises (back bridge, front plank, quadruped) improved dynamic balance more than conventional trunk exercises immediately after exercise in trained male soccer players. The effect was short term and did not show injury prevention.
• PTOther2022Reliability of three-dimensional motion analysis during single-leg side drop landing test after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: An in vivo motion analysis study.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoFor patients who have had ACL reconstruction, a lateral single-leg drop landing test reliably measures knee and hip movement and landing forces. This allows therapists to use it to track recovery over time or compare groups, though ankle movement is less reliable between test days.
• PTOTOther2022Reliability of point-of-care shoulder ultrasound measurements for subacromial impingement in asymptomatic participants.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesWhen one therapist scans and measures a shoulder, results are consistent. When a second therapist scans, results vary widely. If two people measure the same saved images, they agree. The variability comes from how the probe is placed, not how the image is read.
• PTOTOther2022Impact of Sprinting and Dribbling on Shoulder Joint and Pushrim Kinetics in Wheelchair Basketball Athletes.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSprinting in a sports wheelchair places much higher loads on the shoulder than everyday propulsion. Dribbling reduces some of these forces compared to sprinting, but the overall intensity of sports wheelchair use remains high. Training plans should account for this significant mechanical stress.
• PTNarrative Review2022Injury surveillance in community cricket: A new inning for South Africa.The South African journal of physiotherapyThis paper proposes a partnership model to help schools and clubs track cricket injuries. It reviews existing injury rates and barriers to data collection but does not report new clinical outcomes or test an intervention.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022How Was Studied the Effect of Manual Wheelchair Configuration on Propulsion Biomechanics: A Systematic Review on Methodologies.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMost wheelchair propulsion studies fail to report enough detail about the chair's setup to allow comparison or clinical use. Researchers often change one setting without controlling others, and many use able-bodied novices rather than actual wheelchair users.
• PTCohort2022Scapular force: Couple ratios in healthy shoulders - An observational study reflecting typical values.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn healthy young adults, men are stronger than women in all shoulder muscles, but only some muscle balance ratios differ by sex. No differences were found between dominant and non-dominant arms. These values apply only to pain-free shoulders aged 18-35 and do not indicate dysfunction.
• PTCohort2022Longitudinal study on locations of injury among junior high school, high school, and university badminton athletes at Japanese national-level competitions.Journal of physical therapy scienceElite badminton athletes most commonly injure the lower back, followed by the racket-side knee, thigh, ankle, and shoulder. Overuse drives back and shoulder injuries, while trauma causes most thigh and ankle problems, with racket-side ankle sprains requiring the most time off.
• PTCohort2022Don't Peak Too Early: Evidence for an ACL Injury Prevention Mechanism of the 11+ Program.International journal of sports physical therapyThe 11+ warm-up reduced early knee valgus peaks in one female soccer team but not the other, and had no effect on very early peaks. Adherence differences may explain the inconsistency, so the mechanism is not clearly proven.
• PTOTOther2022Effect of Fatiguing Wheelchair Propulsion and Weight Relief Lifts on Subacromial Space in Wheelchair Users.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesWheelchair users with spinal cord injury had a narrowed subacromial space during weight relief lifts, especially those with low anaerobic capacity. However, fatiguing wheelchair propulsion did not change the space or tendon compression ratios, suggesting daily propulsion alone does not cause immediate narrowing.
• PTOther2022Inertial Flywheel Resistance Training in Tendinopathy Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.International journal of sports physical therapyInertial flywheel training improved pain and function in patellar tendinopathy. It was as effective as heavy slow resistance training in the only randomized trial. Evidence is limited to four small studies on athletes, so it cannot yet be recommended for other tendon conditions.
• PTCohort2022Bilateral Comparison of Anterior Shoulder Position in Elite Tennis Players.International journal of sports physical therapyElite tennis players showed significantly greater forward shoulder position on their dominant side. The average difference between sides was 7-8 mm. This asymmetry is a normal sport-specific adaptation, not necessarily a sign of injury or dysfunction.
• PTOTOther2022Normative Reference Values and Validity for the 30-Second Chair-Stand Test in Healthy Young Adults.International journal of sports physical therapyHealthy adults aged 18 to 35 averaged 33 chair stands in 30 seconds. The test reliably distinguished those meeting physical activity guidelines from those who did not, and correlated strongly with other lower-limb strength tests, supporting its use for this age group.
• PTCohort2022The Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic Shoulder & Elbow Score used as a Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for the Youth and High School Aged Baseball Athlete.International journal of sports physical therapyThe Kerlan-Jobe score separates youth baseball players throwing with pain from those without. A score below 68.6 indicates pain with throwing, while a score above 68.6 indicates no pain. This provides a specific threshold for clinicians assessing young overhead athletes.
• PTCase-Control2022Effect of Concussion on Reaction Time and Neurocognitive Factors: Implications for Subsequent Lower Extremity Injury.International journal of sports physical therapyAfter athletes were cleared to return to sport, concussion history did not mean slower reaction time or slower King-Devick scores. The concussed group actually had a better reaction time score than matched healthy athletes, while King-Devick times were unchanged.
• PTSystematic Review2022A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Core Stability Exercises in Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain.International journal of sports physical therapyCore stabilization exercises were associated with short-term reductions in pain and disability across five trials, but four trials paired them with modalities, so the exercise alone may not be the reason.
• PTOther2022The Effects on Knee Swelling, Range of Motion and Pain using a Commercially Available Hot/Cold Contrast Device in a Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Setting.International journal of sports physical therapyA single 18-minute hot/cold contrast treatment using a commercial device reduced knee pain, swelling, and stiffness in active patients. Pain dropped from 2.59 to 1.68 on a 10-point scale. However, without a control group, it is unclear if the device or time caused the improvement.
• PTRCT2022Effects of a Groin Pain Prevention Program in Male High School Soccer Players: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of sports physical therapyAdding Nordic hamstring exercises to the Copenhagen adduction exercise lowered groin pain rates more than the adduction exercise alone in high school soccer players. Both groups had fewer time-lost injuries than controls. The combined program appears superior for prevention.
• PTOTOther2022Lower Kinetic Chain, Meet the Thinking Brain: A Scoping Review of Cognitive Function and Lower Extremity Injury Risk.International journal of sports physical therapyAdding cognitive demands to physical tasks consistently worsened lower-limb mechanics, such as reducing knee flexion and increasing valgus. Athletes with a history of concussion showed higher rates of subsequent lower-limb injury, even after symptoms resolved.
• PTOther2022A Comparison of Pitching Biomechanics and Sport Specialization in High School Pitchers.International journal of sports physical therapyHigh school pitchers classified as highly specialized showed no differences in pitching biomechanics or reported workload compared to less specialized peers. They did throw faster, but this was linked to being older and heavier, not to specialization itself.
• PTCohort2022Correlations Between Preseason Functional Test Scores and Game Performance in Female Collegiate Volleyball Players.International journal of sports physical therapyPreseason jump and agility tests showed low to moderate links to game stats, with starters outperforming nonstarters. The Y-Balance Test results were inconsistent and poorly predictive. Coaches should rely on jump and hop tests for talent ID, not balance tests.
• PTCase Report2022Delayed Recovery after Nonoperative Treatment of an Avulsion Fracture of the Ischial Tuberosity in an Adolescent Gymnast with a History of Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA 15-year-old gymnast with prior growth hormone deficiency took 12 months to return to competition after nonoperative treatment of an ischial tuberosity avulsion fracture, longer than the expected three months.
• PTOther2022'Avoidance Preening', Displacement Behavior and Co-Dependency in Professional Team Sport: When Wants Become More Important Than Needs.International journal of sports physical therapyThis commentary offers no clinical data. It proposes a behavioural analogy for excessive physical therapy in professional sports, but reports no patients and no outcomes, so there is nothing here to change your practice on.
• PTOther2022Acute Effects of Percussive Therapy on the Posterior Shoulder Muscles Differ Based on the Athlete's Soreness Response.International journal of sports physical therapyHealthy adults who felt more sore after five minutes of percussive therapy on the shoulder had slightly reduced internal rotation range and strength. Those who did not report increased soreness saw small improvements. The authors note these changes were too small to exceed measurement error.
• PTOther2022Fourth World Congress of Sports Physical Therapy Scientific Abstracts.International journal of sports physical therapyThis document is a collection of conference abstracts, not a single study. It contains brief summaries of many different research projects without full methods or results. There is no specific finding to act on.
• PTSystematic Review2022The Effect of Concussion History on Lower Extremity Injury Risk in College Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of sports physical therapyCollege athletes with a concussion history face a 58% greater risk of lower extremity injury than those without. This risk is highest in the first 90 days after returning to play and does not appear significantly elevated at one year.
• PTOTSLPOther2023A high prevalence of manual wheelchair rear-wheel misalignment could be leading to increased risk of repetitive strain injuries.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyMost manual wheelchairs in this community sample had rear-wheel misalignment, with 61% showing toe angles over 0.5 degrees. Combined with underinflated tires, this creates resistance equivalent to carrying extra weight, which may increase propulsion effort and injury risk.
• PTSystematic Review2023Toward a Standardized and Individualized Laboratory-Based Protocol for Wheelchair-Specific Exercise Capacity Testing in Wheelchair Athletes: A Scoping Review.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationNo standard way to test wheelchair athletes' exercise capacity exists. Reviews found huge differences in equipment, protocols, and outcomes, making comparisons impossible. The authors propose a new standardized, individualized protocol to fix this inconsistency.
• PTOTOther2023Evaluation of Weight Shift and X-Factor During Golf Swing of Veterans With Lower Limb Loss.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationVeterans with above-knee amputations showed poorer weight shift during golf swings than those with below-knee amputations. Those with lead-limb loss had better trunk rotation but worse weight transfer. These biomechanical deficits suggest specific targets for adaptive sports rehabilitation.
• PTOTCohort2022The demographic and disability characteristics of individuals who regularly attend an urban adaptive fitness center: An observational study.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPeople with significant disabilities who attend an adaptive fitness center are more disabled than 86% of the general population. Despite this, 96.8% exercise there at least twice a week, showing that high disability levels do not stop regular participation.
• PTSystematic Review2022Reactive Balance Responses After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOnly three studies tested reactive balance after mild traumatic brain injury, and they did not agree. Perturbation tests may find balance problems in people with lingering symptoms, but evidence is too limited to guide treatment.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Concussion Evaluation Patterns Among US Adults.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationHalf of adults with a self-reported concussion never saw a doctor or nurse. The main reason was not cost or access, but believing the injury was not serious. Men and those with falls or sports injuries were least likely to seek care.