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 18 OF 23 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOther2025An examination of the intra-rater reliability of the Y Balance test for high school female athletes.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor female high school athletes, the Y Balance test shows high reliability when using the average of the third, fourth, and fifth trials. Earlier trials often show a learning effect, so discarding the first two attempts yields more consistent balance scores.
• PTOther2025Predicting lower body joint moments and electromyography signals using ground reaction forces during walking and running: An artificial neural network approach.Gait & postureIn healthy adults, ground reaction force alone could estimate hip, knee and ankle moments and muscle signals during walking and running. The model was not tested in patients, so it is not a ready clinical tool.
• PTOther2025The Effects of Noxious Electrical Stimulation and Eccentric Exercise on Mechanical and Thermal Pain Sensitivity in Recreational Runners with Achilles Tendinopathy.International journal of sports physical therapy16 runners with chronic Achilles pain reported better function and showed less pressure and heat sensitivity after one week of painful electrical stimulation followed by eccentric calf, core, stretch exercises and running education. Because treatments were sequenced, the effect of any single part is unclear.
• PTOther2025Excellent Reliability for an Instrumented Test of Ankle Plantarflexion Force.International journal of sports physical therapyA new seated plantarflexion strength test showed excellent reliability in 61 healthy adults. Scores need to change by 118N to be considered real. This provides a consistent baseline for monitoring lower-limb rehab and performance in sports.
• PTNarrative Review2025Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound of the Achilles Tendon.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper describes how to image the Achilles tendon and what various injuries look like on ultrasound. It reports no patients and no outcomes, so there is nothing here to change your practice on.
• PTCohort2025Hamstrings and Quadriceps Weaknesses Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Persist Up to 6 Months After Return-to-Sport: An Angle-specific Strength Analysis.International journal of sports physical therapyAthletes cleared to return to sport after ACL reconstruction still have significant hamstrings and quadriceps weakness in the injured leg. These deficits persist for six months without further rehab and are easily missed if you only check peak strength.
• PTCohort2025The Impact of a Concomitant Meniscus Surgery on Hop Performance Symmetry in Patients Rehabilitating After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyAfter ACL reconstruction, patients with a partial meniscectomy had worse single-leg hop symmetry than those with isolated ACL reconstruction or meniscus repair. At six months, a 90% hop score may not mark readiness to return.
• PTOther2025Are We Overlooking Anatomical Contributions to Dynamic Knee Valgus?International journal of sports physical therapyCueing athletes to keep their knees straight did not reduce dynamic knee valgus compared to their natural jump. Static anatomical alignment, not just movement control, explains a significant portion of observed valgus, suggesting clinicians should assess bony structure before correcting form.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Clinical Evolution and Safety of a Cryotherapy - Based Spray for Mild to Moderate Joint and Muscle Pain: A Descriptive Observational Study.International journal of sports physical therapyAmateur football players with mild to moderate knee or ankle pain reported less pain and better movement after using a cooling spray. However, with no control group, these gains may reflect natural healing or placebo effects rather than the spray itself.
• PTPilot2025An Evaluation of the Balance Error Scoring System in Female Soccer Players Following Soccer Heading: A Pilot Study.International journal of sports physical therapyTen headers increased several BESS balance scores in 28 female soccer players, but a foot-volley control also changed a score. This pilot cannot prove heading causes balance impairment.
• PTOther2025Lower-limb asymmetry in healthy male athletes.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy male athletes showed significant lower-limb asymmetry in hip flexor, hip abductor, and knee extensor strength, and in cross-over hop and 90° change-of-direction performance. The dominant leg was stronger and jumped farther, but the non-dominant leg turned faster.
• PTOTRCT2025Sensorimotor Stabilization Exercises With and Without Behavioral Treatment in Low Back Pain: Feasibility and Effects of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSensorimotor exercises reduced pain intensity, while adding behavioral therapy reduced pain-related disability. Both approaches improved trunk extension strength. Benefits were small, and half the participants dropped out during the home-based phase, limiting the real-world impact.
• PTOTSurvey2025Exploring Trends between Dance Experience, Athletic Participation, and Injury History.International journal of sports physical therapyDancers with more years of experience, those who started before age 12, and those doing more ballet reported more injuries. Doing other sports alongside dance did not lower injury counts. High training volume, not just specialization, appears to drive overuse risk.
• PTPilot2025Post-Acute Concussion-Related Differences in Neuromotor Control Measured Using a Low-Cost Movement Assessment System: A Feasibility Study.International journal of sports physical therapyA low-cost movement test classified 81.67% of 22 young adults correctly when sorting people recovering from concussion from controls, within this small feasibility sample. Balance, gait, and reaction-time patterns mattered together, not one single measure.
• PTCase Series2025A Multimodal Chiropractic Approach to the Treatment and Management of Medial Elbow Injuries in Elite Javelin Throwers: A Case Series.International journal of sports physical therapyFive elite and amateur javelin throwers with medial elbow injuries, including ulnar collateral ligament tears and fractures, returned to competition within 12 to 26 weeks. All achieved 'Excellent' status on the Conway scale after a multimodal chiropractic approach involving manual therapy, dry needling, laser, and progressive rehabilitation.
• PTOTOther2025Revised Dual Task Screen is a Valid Measure of Dual Task Performance: Developing a Motor and Cognitive Dual Task Measure with Healthy Female Athletes.Occupational therapy in health careHealthy female athletes slowed down and caught fewer balls when adding a thinking task, confirming the screen detects motor costs. Cognitive costs were inconsistent, with only the upper-extremity task showing a significant drop in accuracy.
• PTSurvey2025Consensus on the Use of Therapeutic Interventions in Pain Management, Recovery, and Athletic Performance: A Delphi Study.International journal of sports physical therapyExperts did not reach consensus on when to use cold, heat, percussion, vibration, or infrared. They reported considering these tools based heavily on patient presentation, with location of work and training influencing which modalities they had access to and preferred.
• PTSurvey2025The Recognition, Utilization Rates, Barriers, and Application Accuracy of the Hamstring Strain Clinical Practice Guidelines.International journal of sports physical therapyMost sports physical therapists know the hamstring guidelines and find them useful, but only 56% actually use them. The main barrier is not time or access, but a feeling that the guidelines ignore their clinical expertise and autonomy.
• PTCohort2025Drop jump vertical kinetics identify male youth soccer players at greater risk of non-contact knee injury.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineYouth soccer players who land with a high ratio of braking to propulsive force during a drop jump have a 63% greater risk of non-contact knee injury. Single peak force measures are not useful; the shape of the force-time curve matters.
• PTOTCohort2026Movement Behaviors in Youth on the Autism Spectrum: The HUNT Study, Norway.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNo autistic youth in this study achieved the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, compared to about one in five peers. They also sat significantly more. Outdoor activities were the only arena where their participation matched the general population.
• PTOther2025Ulnar Collateral Ligament Hybrid Reconstruction Surgery & Rehabilitation in the Overhead Athlete.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper describes a surgical technique and rehabilitation program, but reports no patient outcomes, so there is no evidence to act on.
• PTOther2025Treatment Decision-Making for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture From the Perspective of Physical Therapists in Australia: A Mixed Methods Study.Physical therapyAustralian physical therapists had mixed beliefs about ACL rupture treatment. Some saw surgery as best for young, active patients, while interviewees described surgeon opinion, referral order and patient expectations as barriers to offering rehabilitation first.
• PTOther2025Morphological analysis of the windlass mechanism during running.Journal of physical therapy scienceDuring slow running in 20 healthy university students, the foot arch lowered later than the ankle angle and ankle moment. Eight runners showed a spike-like arch height rise late in stance, but not all runners.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Long-Term Injury Survey in a Japanese University Women's Soccer Team.International journal of sports physical therapyInjuries were far more common during games than practice, with lower limbs, ankles, and knees most affected. Defenders and first-year players had the highest injury rates. Severe injuries, including concussions and ACL tears, were frequent.
• PTOTSurvey2025How Do Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers Maintain Their Physical Fitness? A Descriptive Survey Study.International journal of sports physical therapyMost surveyed therapists and trainers met physical activity guidelines, averaging 14 hours weekly. They relied on self-guided home workouts and wearables, rarely using formal performance tests. Work schedule and lack of time were the primary barriers to maintaining fitness.
• PTSystematic Review2025Clinically Feasible Quantitative Assessments of Dynamic Scapular Motion: A Scoping Review.International journal of sports physical therapyClinically feasible tools can measure some scapular motion during movement, but how consistent and accurate they are varied widely. Upward rotation was measured most often, and no study objectively measured scapular motion during standard functional tests.
• PTCohort2025Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Male Adult Basketball Athletes in Brazil: A One-season Descriptive Study.International journal of sports physical therapyInjuries were 15 times more likely per hour during games than practice. The knee was the most common injury site, while muscle injuries caused the highest overall burden on performance. Monitoring non-time-loss injuries is critical, as they significantly reduce training quality.
• PTOther2025Relationship between Range of Motion and Isometric Shoulder Strength in Elite Team Handball Players.International journal of sports physical therapyAcross pain groups, shoulder strength was similar, but range of motion differed. Men had greater shoulder rotator strength than women, and men without pain had higher internal rotator strength. Players without pain had lower range of motion, especially women.
• PTRCT2025The Comparison of Mechanical Percussion Therapy and Manual Stretching on Hamstring Length.International journal of sports physical therapyBoth five-minute percussive massage and static stretching acutely improved hamstring length compared to doing nothing. There was no significant difference in post-test scores between the two treatments, suggesting either method is a viable option for immediate range of motion gains.
• PTNarrative Review2025TECAR Therapy: A Clinical Commentary on its Evolution, Application, and Future in Rehabilitation.International journal of sports physical therapyThis article reviews the theoretical basis and existing literature on TECAR therapy for musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. It highlights the lack of large, standardized trials and does not present new evidence to support or refute the treatment's efficacy.
• PTOTSurvey2025Motivation Matters: Elucidating Factors Driving Exercise in People With Parkinson Disease.Physical therapyMost people with Parkinson disease who exercise are motivated by wanting to stay independent and seeing physical benefits, not by external rewards. Fatigue is the top barrier. Prior exercise habits and self-compassion predict current motivation more strongly than disease severity or age.
• PTCase Report2025Postoperative Rehabilitation Following Subscapularis Repair and Biceps Tenodesis in an Adolescent Overhead Athlete: A Resident's Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA 13-year-old quarterback and pitcher returned to throwing after surgical repair of a torn subscapularis and biceps tendon. Rehabilitation took 30 weeks and involved strict protection of the repairs, with coordination between the physical therapist and school athletic trainer.
• PTCase Series2025Long-term Follow-up of Patients with Acute Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Treated Non-operatively with a Physiotherapy-led Exercise and Support Brace Intervention.International journal of sports physical therapyMost patients with acute PCL injuries treated with a brace and physiotherapy reported improved knee function five years later. Surgery was rarely needed after two years. However, multiligament injuries showed lower scores and a higher surgery rate, suggesting knee dislocations may need early surgical consideration.
• PTOTCohort2025Symptom Duration is not Related to Central Sensitization Inventory in Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy.International journal of sports physical therapySymptom duration did not correlate with central sensitization scores in people with midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Only 4.9% of the 182 participants scored above the clinical cutoff for likely central sensitization.
• PTNarrative Review2025Have the Power-Rate Capabilities of Skeletal Muscles Received the Attention They Deserve? A Historical Perspective.International journal of sports physical therapyThe author argues that muscle power-rate capabilities are often overlooked in favor of maximal strength, suggesting this gap may hinder return-to-sport outcomes after injuries like ACL surgery. No new patient data is presented.
• PTOther2025The Reliability and Validity of the Modified Butterfly Agility Test.International journal of sports physical therapyThe modified Butterfly Agility Test is reliable if athletes practice three times first. It did not correlate with balance tests or distinguish between player positions, so it cannot yet replace other assessments for return to sport decisions.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025A Novel Figure-Eight Taping Technique for Managing Anterior Shoulder Instability in a Recreational Pitcher: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA single figure-eight taping session plus home exercises reportedly allowed one pitcher with anterior shoulder instability to pitch pain-free four months later. This describes one person's experience and cannot show the tape caused the improvement.
• PTNarrative Review2025Diagnostic Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in the Evaluation of the Median Nerve.International journal of sports physical therapyNo study results are reported. This narrative review describes median nerve ultrasound anatomy and diagnostic thresholds.
• PTNarrative Review2025The Deceleration Dilemma: Leveraging The Relationship Between Quadriceps Function and Deceleration to Optimize Return to Sport.International journal of sports physical therapyNo study methods or validated findings are reported. The paper proposes deceleration tests and exercises after ACL injury, so there is no finding to act on.
• PTCohort2025The Effect of Single Leg Romanian Deadlift on the Risk of Hamstring Strain Injuries in Track and Field Athletes: A Cohort Study.International journal of sports physical therapyAdding single-leg Romanian deadlift to warm-up was associated with lower risk of mild to moderate hamstring strains in high school track athletes. Severe strains did not show a reduction, and compliance was high.
• PTCase Report2025Hamstring T-Junction Surgical Repair: An Elite Footballer's Return to Play Journey Through a New Football-Centered Complex Approach.International journal of sports physical therapyOne elite footballer was cleared for official match play 19 weeks after surgery for a hamstring T-junction injury, then completed 26 games without symptoms. This describes his rehab, not proof the approach works.
• PTOther2025Comparison of subject-specific musculoskeletal model calibration strategies on muscle force and fatigue estimation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor computer models estimating elbow muscle force and fatigue, calibrating the model using dynamic movements works better than using static holds. This dynamic calibration reduced estimation error to 4.5 percent. Adding patient-specific fatigue settings did not improve accuracy further.
• PTCase Report2025Postoperative Physical Therapy for Cervical Total Disc Replacement: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA single athlete returned to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 12 weeks after two-level cervical disc replacement. He completed 14 physical therapy sessions over 16 weeks, focusing on gradual strength and mobility. While he reported no pain and full function at one year, this is one case, not proof of efficacy.
• PTCase Report2025Patellar Tendinopathy Responding to Spinal Treatment: A Case Report Using Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy.International journal of sports physical therapyOne marathon runner with a referred diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy reported pain-free running and a knee function score of 100/100 at six months, following a lumbar-focused assessment and treatment program. This is one person, not a pattern.
• PTOther2025Treatment of Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy with Individualized Physiotherapy: A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyNo patient outcomes are reported. This commentary describes a staged physiotherapy protocol for proximal hamstring tendinopathy, so it does not show whether the approach works.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Improved Hip Flexibility and Gluteal Function Following a Daily Lunge-and-Reach Stretching Intervention.International journal of sports physical therapyA daily six-week lunge-and-reach stretch improved hip extension range of motion and single-leg jump distance in healthy young adults. It did not improve hip extension strength or gluteal endurance. The intervention was simple, requiring only two and a half minutes per limb per session.
• PTCase Report2025The Immediate Effects on Shoulder Internal Rotation Motion and External Rotation Strength Following a Muscle Energy Technique in a Young Overhead Thrower: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyIn one asymptomatic pitcher, a single muscle energy technique immediately increased shoulder internal rotation motion and external rotation strength at 0 degrees of abduction. This describes a response in one person, not proof that the technique works for others.
• PTCohort2025Administering the ACL-RSI Before or After ACL Functional Testing: Does It Matter?International journal of sports physical therapyOverall ACL-RSI scores did not change after return-to-sport testing. The emotions subscale decreased, while confidence and risk appraisal did not.
• PTSurvey2025Collegiate Student-Athlete Perception of Value and Programming Barriers in Pre-Participation Movement Screen Implementation.International journal of sports physical therapyMost student-athletes perceived pre-participation movement screening could help coaches and trainers; only 41% had ever had one. Time was not a barrier, but lack of interest and awareness were.
• PTOther2025Maximal Strength Testing Using the Long-Lever Hip Adduction Squeeze Test in Youth Elite Football (Soccer) Players: A Four-Week Reliability Study.International journal of sports physical therapyWeek-to-week hip adduction strength scores in youth footballers are consistent. However, a drop of about 22% is needed to be sure it is a real change. This helps clinicians distinguish true weakness from normal daily fluctuations.