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 12 OF 23 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTCohort2022Development of an Injury Burden Prediction Model in Professional Baseball Pitchers.International journal of sports physical therapyA statistical model predicted days lost to arm injury in professional baseball pitchers with an error of 12 days. It accurately identified high-risk pitchers but cannot reliably distinguish between minor injuries and no injury.
• PTOther2022An Updated Model Does Not Reveal Sex Differences in Patellofemoral Joint Stress during Running.International journal of sports physical therapyHealthy female runners did not have higher patellofemoral joint stress than males when running at a fixed speed, even when the model accounted for sex-specific contact areas and quadriceps muscle force.
• PTCohort2022Glenohumeral Instability and Arm Pain in Overhead Throwing Athletes: A Correlational Study.International journal of sports physical therapyBaseball pitchers with unstable or hypermobile shoulders on manual exam reported significantly more arm pain and lower function than those with normal stability. This cross-sectional study found an association, but it cannot prove that shoulder laxity causes the pain or that screening changes outcomes.
• PTOTCase Report2023Biomechanically designed Curve Specific Corrective Exercise for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis gives significant outcomes in an Adult: A case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne adult with severe scoliosis reported pain dropping from 8/10 to 1/10 and a major curve reducing by 13.8° after eight months of specific corrective exercises. This shows what happened to one person, not that the treatment works for others.
• PTOther2022Lower Extremity Kinematic Waveform Analysis During a Single Leg Drop Task - Including a Single Subject Design.International journal of sports physical therapyNine active women landed on one leg from a 60 cm box. Group data showed no left-right differences. But every woman had at least two asymmetries when looked at individually. Averaging the group hid these personal movement patterns.
• PTSurvey2022Barriers and Facilitators of Research in Pediatric Sports Medicine Practitioners: A Survey of the PRiSM Society.International journal of sports physical therapySports medicine clinicians and allied health practitioners both cited lack of time as their biggest barrier to research. However, what helps them differs: physicians need available research personnel, while allied health practitioners need mentoring and leadership support.
• PTCohort2022Deficits in Dynamic Balance and Hop Performance Following ACL Reconstruction Are Not Dependent on Meniscal Injury History.International journal of sports physical therapyAdolescent athletes with isolated ACL tears and those with meniscal repairs or partial meniscectomies showed similar deficits in dynamic balance and hop performance. Meniscal injury history did not change the degree of limb asymmetry at return-to-sport testing.
• PTOther2022Does the 2D Frontal Plane Projection Angle Predict Frontal Plane Knee Moments during Stepping, Landing, and Change of Direction Tasks?International journal of sports physical therapyA 2D knee angle predicts frontal plane knee moments during landing and cutting, but not stepping. The relationship is weak to moderate, with R-squared values ranging from 12% to 45%, limiting its utility as a standalone clinical measure.
• PTOther2023Predictions of total work based on measures of muscle strength and hop performance in individuals after ACL reconstruction.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineQuadriceps strength at 180°/s and triple hop distance predicted total limb work in ACLR patients. This means these clinical tests can estimate a patient's ability to generate and absorb power during jumping. However, isokinetic strength testing is rarely available in standard clinics.
• PTOTCohort2023Differences in Recovery of Tendon Health Explained by Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy Subgroups: A 6-Month Follow-up.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyFour distinct patient profiles emerged in Achilles tendinopathy. Activity- and Function-Dominant groups recovered fastest, while Structure-Dominant patients showed delayed structural healing. Psychosocial-Dominant patients retained functional deficits. Recovery timelines vary by subgroup, suggesting tailored monitoring is needed.
• PTCohort2023Association between knee function and kinesiophobia 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Journal of physical therapy scienceSix months after ACL reconstruction, patients with more fear of movement had worse hop test performance and more anterior knee pain. Younger age and male sex were also linked to higher kinesiophobia scores.
• PTOTSurvey2023The Comparison of Psychological Barriers Between Individuals with a History of Anterior Knee Pain, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, and Healthy Individuals.International journal of sports physical therapyStudents with a history of anterior knee pain or ACL reconstruction reported significantly higher fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, and fear-avoidance beliefs than healthy peers. The two injured groups showed similar psychological barriers, suggesting these issues persist long after injury.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Stakeholder perspectives on navigating the pediatric concussion experience: Exploring the needs for improved communication across the care continuum.NeuroRehabilitationStakeholders reported that communication from healthcare providers to schools is often ineffective or absent. Parents who actively advocated secured more accommodations. Schools frequently lack a designated point person, and non-athlete students receive less coordinated support than athletes.
• PTSystematic Review2023The Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Interventions for Athletes Post-Concussion: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyPhysical therapy interventions for athletes post-concussion showed improved recovery times and reduced symptoms in half of the trials. The other four trials showed no significant difference between groups. No adverse effects were reported with early physical activity.
• PTSystematic Review2023Sex-specific differences in neuromuscular activation of the knee stabilizing muscles in adults - a systematic review.Archives of physiotherapyEvidence on sex-specific differences in knee muscle activation is contradictory. Some studies show women activate quadriceps more during landing, others find no difference or opposite effects. Do not assume a distinct neuromuscular profile for women based on current data.
• PTSurvey2023Survey on Knowledge, Use, and Diagnostic Applicability of Special Tests for Rotator Cuff Involvement in Clinical Practice.International journal of sports physical therapyMost PTs know and use empty can and full can tests, but rank infraspinatus, champagne toast, ERLS, and belly-off as most useful for diagnosis. No test was top in all three areas. Experience or specialization did not change test knowledge or use.
• PTOther2023The Need To Change Return to Play Testing in Athletes Following ACL Injury: A Theoretical Model.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a theoretical model for return-to-play testing after ACL injury, focusing on reactive and neurocognitive tasks. It does not report any patient data or outcomes, so there is no evidence here to change your practice.
• PTCase Report2023Novel Orthobiologic Preparation and Regenerative Rehabilitation of a Complex Shoulder Injury in a Competitive Adolescent Female Athlete.International journal of sports physical therapyOne adolescent wrestler with a complex shoulder injury returned to painless sport after a staged protocol combining blood flow restriction, PRP, prolotherapy, dry needling, and collagen supplementation. Because multiple treatments were given together, the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.
• PTSystematic Review2023Physical Therapists Use of Diagnostic Ultrasound Imaging in Clinical Practice: A Review of Case Reports.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 42 published physical therapy cases, ultrasound use was followed by confirmed diagnosis in 33, changed treatment in 29, and referral in 25. These are case reports, not proof ultrasound works.
• PTPilot2023A Preliminary Investigation into the Neural Correlates of Knee Loading during a Change of Direction Task in Individuals after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyEight people with ACL reconstruction showed slightly lower knee extension moments when vision was disrupted, but this change was smaller than the minimal detectable difference. Brain activity in visual-sensory areas correlated with knee loading only during the disrupted vision condition.
• PTRCT2023Bodyblade™ Training in Athletes with Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability.International journal of sports physical therapyAll three shoulder rehab protocols improved patient-reported outcomes. The Bodyblade group showed better stability on a specific functional test than the mixed group. The mixed protocol, which combined half the traditional and half the blade exercises, offered no advantage and performed worse on the stability test.
• PTOther2023Flexor-Pronator Mass Training Exercises Selectively Activate Forearm Musculature.International journal of sports physical therapyWrist ulnar deviation band work activated the flexor carpi ulnaris more than the other two medial forearm muscles. Forearm pronation band work activated the flexor digitorum superficialis and pronator teres more than the flexor carpi ulnaris. In 10 healthy men, both exercises were needed.
• PTPilot2023Signs of Nervous System Sensitization in Female Runners with Chronic Patellofemoral Pain.International journal of sports physical therapyFemale runners with chronic knee pain had lower pain thresholds to pressure at the knee and remote sites like the shin and thigh. Heat pain tests and functional balance scores showed no differences between groups. Pressure testing may better identify sensitization in this population.
• PTNarrative Review2023A Clinically-Reasoned Approach to Manual Therapy in Sports Physical Therapy.International journal of sports physical therapyNo original methods or outcomes are reported. This sports physical therapy commentary gives clinical reasoning and illustrative cases, but there is no finding to act on.
• PTCase Report2023The "Mother Load" and Return to Sport: A Case Report of Returning to Professional Netball Following Cesarean Section.International journal of sports physical therapyA professional netballer returned to full match play 16 weeks after a cesarean section. She completed a staged, multidisciplinary program focusing on pelvic floor muscle training, abdominal control, and wound healing. No injuries or new pelvic floor dysfunction were reported at six months.
• PTOther2023Differences in Thigh Muscle Activation Between Standing and Landing Exercises for Knee Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 20 healthy adults, single-leg landings produced the highest hamstring activation, and BOSU raised activation more than Airex. This describes exercise demands, not proven injury prevention.
• PTOther2023Video Analysis of 26 Cases of Second ACL Injury Events in Collegiate and Professional Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyVideo analysis of 26 non-contact second ACL injuries showed knee valgus collapse in 18 cases. Injuries occurred mostly during single-leg landing or cutting, with athletes focused on the ball or opponent. Hip angles remained unchanged, suggesting a stiff landing contributed to the injury.
• PTPilot2023Adding A Structured Educational Session to the Rehabilitation Program of Soccer Players Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Feasibility Study.International journal of sports physical therapyAdding a structured educational session to usual ACLR rehab was feasible and acceptable: 35 of 36 soccer players agreed, and 30 completed one-week follow-up. In the educational group, fear scores were lower and readiness scores higher, but this was not a test of effectiveness.
• PTCohort2023The Association Between Functional Movement Screen Scores and Knee Valgus Moments During Unplanned Sidestep Cutting in Netball.International journal of sports physical therapyFunctional Movement Screen scores did not correlate with knee valgus moments during unplanned sidestep cutting in female netballers. A low composite score cannot be used to infer high ACL injury risk during this specific sport maneuver. Screening tools must better replicate the unplanned, high-velocity nature of the movement to predict risk.
• PTOther2023Personalized Injury Reduction Strategies in Sports Medicine: Lessons Learned from Advances in Breast Cancer Treatment: A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyNo patient outcomes or tested intervention results are reported. The paper proposes borrowing breast cancer risk assessment ideas for baseball injury management, but there is nothing to act on.
• PTCohort2023Beyond peak torque: Longitudinal analysis of angle-specific isokinetic knee torques in collegiate athletes post-ACLR.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineCollegiate athletes with bone-patellar tendon-bone grafts showed quadriceps asymmetry at deep knee flexion angles until 8 months post-surgery, resolving by 12 months. Testing at both 60°/s and 240°/s speeds yielded similar results, suggesting one speed may be sufficient.
• PTOTSurvey2023Female athlete triad cross-sectional study of soccer players by level of competition.Journal of physical therapy scienceMost female soccer players reported menstruation as bothersome or affecting performance, yet only a few used low-dose pills. Players with a history of amenorrhea had later menarche. Lower-level players expressed a stronger desire to lose weight than top-league athletes.
• PTCase Series2022The Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Therapy on Shoulder Function Following Shoulder Stabilization Surgery: A Case Series.International journal of sports physical therapyMilitary cadets improved shoulder strength, self-reported function, and range of motion after surgery plus standard rehabilitation, including manual therapy and home exercises, and six weeks of blood flow restriction. No control group, so BFR cannot be credited.
• PTCohort2023The efficacy of injury screening for lower back pain in elite golfers.The South African journal of physiotherapyMovement screening failed to identify young elite male golfers at risk for lower back pain. Only three of thirty tests showed weak associations, and the injured group actually scored better on those tests. Do not use these screens to predict injury.
• PTCase Report2023The Development of a Return to Performance Pathway Involving A Professional Soccer Player Returning From A Multi-Structural Knee Injury: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA criteria-based return-to-performance pathway allowed a professional soccer player to return to full league match play eight weeks after a complex knee surgery and meniscectomy. Progression relied on objective strength, power, and sport-specific metrics rather than time, though this is a single case.
• PTCohort2023Using trunk kinematics to predict kinetic asymmetries during double-leg jump-landings in collegiate athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Gait & postureSide-to-side hip position during jump-landings predicted 27% to 38% of the variance in force and knee moment asymmetries in athletes recovering from ACL reconstruction. Simple video analysis of hip shift may help screen for risky loading patterns, though it does not replace force plates.
• PTCase Report2023The Longitudinal Neurophysiological Adaptation of a Division I Female Lacrosse Player Following Anterior Cruciate Rupture and Repair: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyOne athlete's brain activity showed high stress and asymmetry right after ACL injury, then normalized by nine months alongside physical recovery. This tracks a single person's healing. It does not prove brain monitoring guides safe return to sport.
• PTOther2023Periodization in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation: New Framework Versus Old Model? A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a theoretical framework for periodizing ACL rehab but reports no original data. The authors state these concepts have not been tested in randomized controlled trials, so there are no evidence-based findings to change clinical practice.
• PTSurvey2023Landing Technique and Ankle-dorsiflexion Range of Motion are not Associated with the History of Lower Limb Injuries among Youth Basketball Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyLanding technique and ankle range of motion did not predict lower limb injury history in youth basketball players. Age category was the only significant factor. Do not use these screening tests alone to assess injury risk in this population.
• PTCohort2023Elbow Injuries Among MLB Pitchers Increased During Covid-19 Disrupted Season, But Not Other Baseball Injuries.International journal of sports physical therapyOverall MLB injury rates were similar in the disrupted 2020 season and 2015-2019. Pitcher elbow injuries were 3.5 times the 2015-2019 rate in 2020. Watch pitch volume and recovery after abrupt stoppages.
• PTSLPPilot2023The Implementation of a Return-to-Play Protocol with Standardized Physical Therapy Referrals in a Collegiate Football Program: PT's Role in Return-to-Play, A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThirteen football players at high risk for slow concussion recovery were referred to physical therapy within days of injury. They returned to play in a median of 15.5 days, which is comparable to larger groups who did not receive this specific early referral.
• PTOTCohort2023Spatiotemporal Parameters of Gait Among Adolescent Athletes with Concussion When Performing a Visuospatial Cognitive Task.International journal of sports physical therapyAdolescent athletes with concussion showed varied gait deficits during a dual-task test. Females in the acute phase had high rates of abnormal dual-task cost, while males showed fewer. Chronic cases still displayed deficits in some individuals, suggesting symptom resolution alone may not ensure safe return to play.
• PTSystematic Review2023The Effect Of Percussive Therapy On Musculoskeletal Performance And Experiences Of Pain: A Systematic Literature Review.International journal of sports physical therapyPercussive massage guns increased flexibility in the reviewed studies, but a single treatment was not better than static stretching. Strength and pain findings were limited and mixed, and some pain studies gave other treatments at the same time.
• PTNarrative Review2023Graft-Specific Surgical and Rehabilitation Considerations for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with the Quadriceps Tendon Autograft.International journal of sports physical therapyThis clinical commentary discusses quadriceps tendon autografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. It gives surgical and rehabilitation considerations, not original results.
• PTSurvey2023Missing The Forest For The Trees: A Lack Of Upper Extremity Physical Performance Testing In Sports Physical Therapy.International journal of sports physical therapyMost surveyed sports physical therapists reported using time, range of motion, manual muscle tests, readiness and questionnaires to clear athletes after shoulder or elbow injury while upper limb performance tests were uncommon. Equipment, time, and uncertainty about evidence were common barriers.
• PTOther2023Criteria-Based Rehabilitation Following Revision Hip Arthroscopy: A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes a criteria-based rehabilitation protocol for revision hip arthroscopy, moving through protection, endurance, strength, power, and return to sport. It is a clinical commentary, not a study, so it offers expert recommendations rather than tested interventions.
• PTCohort2023The Effects Of Differing Density Of Swim-Training Sessions On Shoulder Range Of Motion and Isometric Force Production In National and University Level Swimmers.International journal of sports physical therapyUniversity-level swimmers had lower shoulder strength at baseline and showed greater drops in range of motion and strength after a single hard training session compared to national-level swimmers. These changes were clinically meaningful for the university group but did not reach statistical significance for most measures due to the small sample size.
• PTNarrative Review2023Adductor Strains in Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyAdductor strains require distinguishing muscle from tendon injury, as treating a tendon issue as a muscle strain is counterproductive. Rehabilitation should progress from short-length isometrics to long-length eccentrics. Return-to-play testing must assess adductor strength unilaterally, as bilateral squeeze tests are invalid.
• PTOther2023Upper Quarter Injury Rates and Risk in United States High School Athletes Prior To and During the Prolonged Sport Stoppage.International journal of sports physical therapyAfter a prolonged high school sport stoppage, upper quarter injury rates and risk were higher in 2020-2021 than 2019-2020. The increase was seen in males, collision sports, and field/court sports; females and individual sports did not show the same increase.
• PTOTCase-Control2023Muscle Strength, Oxygen Saturation and Physical Activity in Patients with Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome Compared to Asymptomatic Controls.International journal of sports physical therapyPatients with chronic exertional compartment syndrome had lower resting oxygen saturation and quit treadmill tests 3.5 minutes earlier than controls, but showed no differences in muscle strength or daily activity. Pain levels, not physiological deficits, distinguished the groups.