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 11 OF 23 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSystematic Review2022Barriers and facilitators related to self-management of shoulder pain: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis.Clinical rehabilitationPatients often abandon shoulder self-management because they expect hands-on treatment to 'fix' the problem. Clinicians reinforce this by expressing doubt about self-care. Success requires early education that challenges these beliefs, schedules follow-up support, and aligns exercises with the patient's daily routine.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Injury Profiles of Police Recruits Undergoing Basic Physical Training: A Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationInjury risk during police training was significantly higher for female recruits and those aged 30 or older. Lower limb and shoulder injuries caused the most time away from training, suggesting prevention efforts should target these areas and high-risk groups.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2022Competing at the Cybathlon championship for people with disabilities: long-term motor imagery brain-computer interface training of a cybathlete who has tetraplegia.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA pilot with tetraplegia improved BCI race times during training but slowed down before competition. The authors link this drop to stress and unstable relaxation signals, suggesting future training must focus on maintaining calm states under pressure.
• PTMeta-Analysis2023Do people with musculoskeletal pain differ from healthy cohorts in terms of global measures of strength? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical rehabilitationLimited multi-joint strength data exist for musculoskeletal pain. Compared with active community women, women with fibromyalgia had small reductions in chest press and leg press strength. Other pain groups could not be compared.
• PTSystematic Review2022Criterion validity of ActiGraph monitoring devices for step counting and distance measurement in adults and older adults: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationActiGraph step counts were most accurate with GT3X+/wGT3X+ or wGT3X-BT on the hip at self-selected comfort walking speeds. Slow walking below 0.9 m/s was poor, though a low frequency extension filter helped GT3X+. Wrist wear and older devices gave poor counts. Distance evidence was limited.
• PTOTQualitative2022Going for gold: Sports and exercise groups for people with dementia and carers contribute to their well-being.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with dementia valued safe, non-stigmatising exercise groups for social connection and identity, while carers valued them for respite and peer support. The social and practical aspects mattered more than the physical activity itself for well-being.
• PTOTSLPOther2022R2Play development: Fostering user-driven technology that supports return-to-play decision-making following pediatric concussion.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesClinicians rated the new R2Play return-to-play interface as easy to use, scoring 81% on a usability test. Five testers navigated the system without getting stuck, though some initially missed buttons. The tool is a prototype and not yet proven to help patients.
• PTCohort2022Association Between Intracompartmental Pressures in the Deep Posterior Compartment of the Leg and Conservative Treatment Outcome for Exercise-Related Leg Pain in Military Service Members.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationDeep posterior compartment pressure at intake did not predict return to duty after conservative treatment in military service members with exercise-related leg pain. A lower self-rated leg function score was linked to poorer return-to-duty outcome.
• PTOther2022Defining usual physiotherapy care in ambulant children with cerebral palsy in the United Kingdom: A mixed methods consensus study.Child: care, health and developmentUK paediatric physiotherapists agreed usual care for ambulant children with cerebral palsy includes long-term monitoring, advice, goal setting, sport and activity, and task-specific training. Only two of six proposed exercise interventions reached consensus. It defines usual care. It does not prove effectiveness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Electrophysiological trajectories of concussion recovery: From acute to prolonged stages in late teenagers.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAthletes who recovered quickly showed lasting brain-wave changes even after symptoms resolved. Patients with persistent symptoms had distinct electrical patterns: reduced rear-brain activity, increased front-brain activity, and stronger long-distance brain connections. These markers did not correlate with specific cognitive test scores.
• PTCohort2022Longitudinal assessments of strength and dynamic balance from pre-injury baseline to 3 and 4 months after labrum repairs in collegiate athletes.Physiotherapy theory and practiceSixteen collegiate athletes showed significant strength deficits on the injured arm at 3 and 4 months post-labrum surgery, while dynamic balance returned to baseline by 3 months. Time alone is an insufficient criterion for return-to-play; objective strength testing is required.
• PTPilot2022Immersive Real-Time Biofeedback Optimized With Enhanced Expectancies Improves Motor Learning: A Feasibility Study.Journal of sport rehabilitationGreen-highlight feedback improved right-leg front-to-back balance during a thinking task. Avatar color choice and side-to-side sway did not improve.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Ultrasound measures of muscle thickness and subcutaneous tissue from the hip abductors: Inter- and intra-rater reliability.Musculoskeletal science & practiceUltrasound measurements of hip abductor muscle thickness and subcutaneous tissue are highly reliable when taken by the same person or different people in young adults. This supports using ultrasound for clinical assessment or research tracking in this specific population, though results may not apply to older adults.
• PTCohort2022The effect of fatigue on running mechanics in older and younger runners.Gait & postureOlder and younger runners adapted to fatigue similarly, with no interaction between age and exertion. Both groups showed slightly reduced knee range of motion and increased hip extension moment when tired. The change in knee motion was small, likely not clinically meaningful.
• PTCase-Control2022Effects of cognitive- and motor-dual tasks on postural control regularity following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Gait & postureAfter ACL reconstruction, one-leg balance was more regular than matched controls only when people also did a visual number-reversal task. Eyes closed and catching a ball changed balance overall, but did not separate groups.
• PTOther2022Development and reliability of a visual-cognitive medial side hop for return to sport testing.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineAdding a rapid visual memory task to a medial side hop reduced hopping distance by 9.69% in healthy college athletes. The combined test showed excellent reliability, offering a potential tool to assess return-to-sport readiness under cognitive load.
• PTOTCohort2023More Physical Activity Is Correlated With Reduction in Kinesiophobia for Adolescents With Persistent Symptoms After Concussion.Journal of sport rehabilitationFor adolescents with persistent concussion symptoms, taking more steps and exercising more often during recovery correlated with a moderate reduction in fear of movement. This link was not seen in those who recovered quickly, and intensity or duration did not matter.
• PTOther2022Rehabilitation Guidelines for Use Following a Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO): A North American Based Delphi Consensus.International journal of sports physical therapySixteen North American physiotherapists agreed on a staged rehabilitation protocol for isolated periacetabular osteotomy. They recommended limiting weight-bearing to 25% for 6-8 weeks, restricting hip flexion to 90 degrees for 4-6 weeks, and avoiding long-lever hip flexion for 8-12 weeks.
• PTOther2022A Plague of Their Own: Injury Incidence Remains Elevated in the 2021 Major League Baseball Season Compared to Pre-COVID-19 Seasons.International journal of sports physical therapyInjury rates in Major League Baseball remained elevated in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic seasons, despite a return to normal preseason training. Pitchers and position players injured in 2021 had significantly higher acute-to-chronic workload ratios than their peers, suggesting accumulated load persists as a risk factor.
• PTOther2022Establishing Normative Dynamic Postural Control Values in Elite Female Handball Players.International journal of sports physical therapyYoung elite female handball players typically score 94% on the modified Star Excursion Balance Test composite. Limb asymmetry rarely exceeds 3%. Clinicians can use these values as baseline targets for injury risk screening and return-to-sport decisions in this specific population.
• PTOTCase Report2023Practical approaches of PULSE Racing in training their athlete for the Cybathlon Global Edition Functional Electrical Stimulation bike race: a case report.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor one spinal cord injury athlete, a year-long plan mixing FES cycling with strength work and rest weeks led to a gold medal. Skin irritation and illness forced constant adjustments, showing that flexible monitoring is more critical than sticking to a rigid schedule.
• PTOther2023Virtual reality-based interventions for the rehabilitation of vestibular and balance impairments post-concussion: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAcross ten studies, every balance, gait and function measure improved after virtual reality therapy for post-concussion dizziness and balance problems. The evidence was mostly low or very low quality, so this does not prove virtual reality is better than usual therapy.
• PTOTPilot2022Exploring the Effects of a Neck Strengthening Program on Purposeful Soccer Heading Biomechanics and Neurocognition.International journal of sports physical therapySix weeks of neck strengthening improved some neck strength in college soccer players but did not change head impact forces during heading. Visual memory scores dropped in the control group, while the training group maintained theirs. This suggests strength gains alone do not mitigate impact mechanics.
• PTCohort2022Relationships between Running Biomechanics, Hip Muscle Strength, and Running-Related Injury in Female Collegiate Cross-country Runners.International journal of sports physical therapyIn female collegiate cross-country runners, hip abductor strength and running movement patterns were not associated with running-related injury during the season. Small sample and self-reported injuries limit confidence.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Influence of Surveillance Methods in the Detection of Sports Injuries and Illnesses.International journal of sports physical therapyA weekly questionnaire asking about any complaint found 3.1 times more health problems than traditional time-loss tracking in university athletes. This gap was largest for overuse injuries, which often do not stop play but still cause symptoms.
• PTOther2022Maximizing Recovery in the Postpartum Period: A Timeline for Rehabilitation from Pregnancy through Return to Sport.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a timeline for exercise and return to sport after pregnancy, but it is a clinical commentary, not a study. It offers no new evidence on whether these guidelines work or are safe, so there are no findings here to change your practice.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Sports participation reduces the progression of idiopathic scoliosis and the need for bracing. An observational study of 511 adolescents with Risser 0-2 maturation stage.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdolescents with idiopathic scoliosis who played non-competitive sports regularly had a lower risk of curve progression and needing a brace. The risk decreased further as weekly sports frequency increased from one to four times. This observational data supports encouraging activity, not replacing specific exercises.
• PTCohort2023Movement Regularity Differentiates Specialized and Nonspecialized Athletes in a Virtual Reality Soccer Header Task.Journal of sport rehabilitationSpecialized athletes showed more regular body movement than nonspecialized peers during a virtual soccer header, but no difference appeared on a standard jump-landing test. The virtual task revealed movement rigidity that lab tests missed.
• PTSurvey2022Roles And Responsibilities Of The Physical Therapist In Collegiate Athletics: Results Of A National Survey.International journal of sports physical therapyMost PTs in college sports do far more than rehab. Nearly all provide performance enhancement and manual therapy, and 90% communicate directly with athletics staff. Roles vary widely by employer and experience, not by gender or dual credentials.
• PTCase Report2022The Management of Valgus Extension Overload Syndrome Experienced with Hitting in a High School Baseball Player: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA high school catcher with valgus extension overload had medial elbow pain with hitting. In this case, after 9 physical therapy sessions, he reported 100% alleviation of symptoms with hitting and returned to play at full-capacity without symptom recurrence at seven months.
• PTOther20222022 IJSPT Orthopedic Summit Research Abstracts.International journal of sports physical therapyNo single finding can be taken from this article, because it is a collection of conference abstracts rather than one full study.
• PTOther2022The Effectiveness of Trunk and Balance Warm-up Exercises in Prevention, Severity, and Length of Limitation From Overuse and Acute Lower Limb Injuries in Male Volleyball Players.International journal of sports physical therapyAdding trunk and balance exercises to an existing warm-up did not reduce lower-limb injury incidence in male volleyball players. Overuse injury time loss was 2.82 days lower, but acute injury time loss was not different.
• PTPilot2022Exploring Force Production Reliability across Different Levels of Clinical Experience during a Simulated One-handed Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Treatment: A Pilot Study.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 10 trained participants, IASTM force was similar across two lab sessions, but this tested force consistency, not patient pain or function. Do not assume one instrument or training produces clinically effective force.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022A Comparison of Factors Associated with Running-Related Injuries between Adult and Adolescent Runners.International journal of sports physical therapyBoth adult and adolescent runners with a history of injury reported intentional weight loss and scored lower on movement quality tests than uninjured runners. These factors appear relevant across age groups, though the cross-sectional design cannot prove they caused the injuries.
• PTOther2022Hamstring Injury Rehabilitation and Prevention in the Female Athlete.International journal of sports physical therapyNo original findings reported. This is a clinical commentary providing expert guidelines for hamstring rehabilitation in female athletes, focusing on sex-specific anatomical differences like anterior pelvic tilt and hip abductor weakness.
• PTQualitative2023Conditions and strategies influencing sustainability of a community-based exercise program incorporating a healthcare-community partnership for people with balance and mobility limitations in Canada: A collective case study of the Together in Movement and Exercise (TIME™) program.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSustained community exercise programs had aligned organizational goals, stable resources, clear community need, strong referral partners, and motivated staff. Discontinued sites tried to fix gaps but could not keep programs running. Ongoing access was linked to these conditions.
• PTOTCohort2023Validating stroke-induced bilateral ankle coordination deficits using bilateral ankle measure relationship with motor functions in lower limbs.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationPeople with chronic stroke showed unstable bilateral ankle coordination on a novel sensor task. Poorer coordination correlated with slower walking and worse balance, suggesting that assessing and training coordination in both paretic and non-paretic ankles may be relevant to lower-limb function.
• PTRCT2022Neuromuscular control of the lower extremities can be better enhanced by applying ankle taping and kinesiological taping rather than elastic bandaging: a randomized control study in amateur soccer players.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter simulated soccer exercise, ankle taping and kinesiology taping produced higher star excursion balance test scores than elastic bandaging or no taping in amateur soccer players.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023The consideration of post-exercise impact on SCAT3 scores in athletes immediately following a head injury.Brain injuryRugby players without head injuries reported significantly more symptoms immediately after a match than at rest, overlapping with those who had head injuries. Clinicians should interpret sideline symptom scores cautiously, recognizing that intense exercise and contact alone can elevate symptom reporting.
• PTOther2023Exploring Physical Activity During the Discharge Transition Phase in People With Acquired Brain Injury-An Observational Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationEight people with acquired brain injury wore accelerometers around discharge. Daily active time was 5:49 hours. Five who had both hospital and home data showed a walking dip within 1 or 2 days after discharge, then some recovered.
• PTRCT2023Variation in Outcomes and Number of Visits Following Care Guideline Implementation: Part 2 of an Analysis of 12 355 Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyAfter a knee replacement care guideline, function score gains were 5.6 points higher than in the non-guideline group, on a 0 to 100 scale, and clinic-to-clinic variation fell. The gain was below the 10 point threshold for meaningful change, and visits did not increase.
• PTCohort2023Improved Outcomes Following a Care Guideline Implementation: Part 1 of an Analysis of 12 355 Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyAfter a knee replacement care guideline and quality improvement bundle, fewer patients failed to make meaningful progress: 14.3% after versus 25.8% before. This change cannot be pinned to any single component.
• PTPilot2022An Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury Risk Screening and Reduction Program for High School Female Athletes: A Pilot Study.International journal of sports physical therapyEvery athlete met a high-risk ankle dorsiflexion cutoff. Jump landing and balance step-down scores were high-risk in 10/15 and 11/15. Hip strength and hamstring-to-quadriceps measures were below cutoffs in many. This pilot screened athletes; it did not test prevention.
• PTOther2022Influence of High School Socioeconomic Status on Athlete Injuries during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Ecological Study.International journal of sports physical therapyDuring the pandemic return to sports, athletes from lower-income high schools had higher injury rates than those from wealthier schools, especially in collision sports. However, in the pre-pandemic year, higher income was associated with more injuries. The study cannot prove why this changed.
• PTCohort2022Psychological Patient-reported Outcomes Cannot Predict a Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Patients who Return to Sports after an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyPsychological questionnaires did not predict second ACL injuries after reconstruction and return to sport. Proposed score cut-offs did not separate patients who were injured again from those who were not, whether or not quadriceps strength was symmetrical.
• PTCase Report2022Progressive Loading in a Strongman Following Distal Biceps Repair: Re-Thinking Load Progression - A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyAt six months, a 39-year-old strongman had symmetrical biceps strength after distal biceps repair, though he had an 11% elbow flexion deficit at 16 weeks. This is one person's course, not proof that this loading plan works.
• PTOTSurvey2022Understanding Youth Athlete Motivation, Training, and Activity Progression During and After the COVID-19 Sports Interruption.International journal of sports physical therapyYouth athletes drastically cut training during pandemic shutdowns but preferred live online coaching over written plans. Upon returning, many resumed high-frequency play quickly, leading to a notable rise in self-reported injuries and pain, suggesting a gap between assumed and actual readiness.
• PTCohort2022Isometric Knee Strength is Greater in Individuals Who Score Higher on Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyAthletes with higher psychological readiness scores had significantly greater isometric knee flexion strength. There were no significant differences between groups for knee extension strength, balance, or hop tests. The link between readiness and function is inconsistent.
• PTCohort2022Application of Shear-Wave Elastography in the Evaluation of Hamstring Stiffness in Young Basketball Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyA multi-component hamstring warm-up lowered measured hamstring stiffness in female basketball athletes. Males did not show a clear change. Injury counts were too small to prove prevention.
• PTCohort2022Injuries and Illnesses Across 10 Years of Canada Games Competitions: 2009 - 2019.International journal of sports physical therapyShoulder injuries and muscle strains were the most common injury findings at Canada Games, and female athletes had more recorded injuries and illnesses than male athletes.