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 3 OF 23 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOther2018Electromyographic activity of selected trunk, core, and thigh muscles in commonly used exercises for ACL rehabilitation.Journal of physical therapy scienceForward lunges and squats activated quadriceps most, while glute bridges activated hamstrings and glutes; sit-ups and double leg raises activated abdominals. These are healthy female muscle-activation comparisons, not ACL outcome evidence.
• PTOther2018The relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement among adolescent in South Korea.Journal of physical therapy scienceBetter physical fitness was linked to higher final exam scores across subjects in 236 South Korean middle school students. This link was not tested in a trial, so it does not show exercise improves grades.
• PTOTNarrative Review2018Soft robotic devices for hand rehabilitation and assistance: a narrative review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOf 44 soft robotic hand devices, 20 were portable, 12 had clear safety mechanisms, and 13 detected user intent. Many are early prototypes, and there is little clinical evidence for any particular design.
• PTOther2018Gait Alterations in Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome Differ by Sex.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyMales with FAI syndrome showed hip and pelvic walking differences compared with males without hip pain. Females with FAI syndrome showed differences mainly between their more and less painful limbs.
• PTPilot2018Comparing the effects of mechanical perturbation training with a compliant surface and manual perturbation training on joints kinematics after ACL-rupture.Gait & postureAfter 10 sessions, manual perturbation increased knee bend during walking, while mechanical compliant-surface training tended to reduce it. The study measured walking angles only, not long-term joint health, in a very small group.
• PTOTCohort2018Prospective Changes in Vestibular and Ocular Motor Impairment After Concussion.Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPTVOMS symptom scores and near-point convergence distance rose above baseline after concussion, especially days 1-7. When baseline symptoms were subtracted from post-injury scores, only vertical eye movement reflex and visual motion sensitivity differed from baseline at days 8-14.
• PTRCT2018Feasibility and Effect of Cervical Resistance Training on Head Kinematics in Youth Athletes: A Pilot Study.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAfter 8 weeks, the neck-strengthening group did not change head movement more than controls. The training group had some significant changes on its own, including neck girth, but this pilot cannot show reduced concussion risk.
• PTCase Report2018Feasibility of robot-based perturbed-balance training during treadmill walking in a high-functioning chronic stroke subject: a case-control study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOne high-functioning stroke survivor completed thirty robot sideways-push sessions while walking. After training he could be assessed at 90 N sideways pushes, and his walking and balance tests improved.
• PTOther2018The reliability of postural control method in athletes with and without ACL reconstruction: a transitional task.Journal of physical therapy scienceForce plate measurements of weight-shifting balance tasks are reliable for both ACL-reconstructed athletes and healthy controls. Clinicians can trust these dynamic balance tests to track rehabilitation progress, as scores remained consistent between test and retest sessions.
• PTOther2018Inter- and intra-rater reliability of a technique assessing the length of the Latissimus Dorsi muscle.The South African journal of physiotherapyThe shoulder muscle length test showed poor to moderate agreement between raters and repeated readings in healthy physiotherapy students. Do not rely on it as an objective measure yet.
• PTPilot2018Preliminary Use of the Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs for Detecting Subtle Motor Signs in Adolescents With Sport-Related Concussion.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAdolescents with recent sport concussion performed worse on bedside subtle motor tests while symptomatic and after clinical recovery, compared with never-concussed athletes. The timed movement subscore remained poorer after recovery.
• PTPilot2018Exercise loading for cardiopulmonary assessment and evaluation of endurance in amputee football players.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 8 amputee football players, two-armed peak work rate was significantly higher than in healthy men, while peak heart rate, peak oxygen uptake and peak ventilation were not significantly different. In healthy participants, two-armed peak work rate was significantly higher than one-legged peak work rate.
• PTCohort2018Forefoot transverse arch height asymmetry is associated with foot injuries in athletes participating in college track events.Journal of physical therapy scienceMale track athletes with foot injuries had greater asymmetry in forefoot arch height under heavy weight-bearing than uninjured peers. This asymmetry, not the arch height of either foot alone, was linked to injury history.
• PTCase-Control2018Running mechanics of females with bilateral compartment syndrome.Journal of physical therapy scienceFemale runners with bilateral chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) showed greater overstride and ankle dorsiflexion angles at initial contact than healthy runners. These mechanical differences were strongly linked in the CECS group but not in controls, suggesting gait retraining targets.
• PTRCT2018The impact of auditory rhythmic cueing on gross motor skills in children with autism.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 30 children with autism, a physical therapy program plus rhythmic auditory cueing showed better gross motor scores after 3 months than the same program without cueing. Both groups improved, so cueing was part of a broader therapy plan.
• PTOther2018Comparison of posturographic parameters between young taekwondo and tennis athletes.Journal of physical therapy scienceYoung taekwondo athletes had less standing sway than tennis athletes. The groups differed in height and weight, and training was not assigned, so this is an association, not proof taekwondo improves balance.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2018Everyday Activities for Children with Mitochondrial Disorder: A Retrospective Chart Review.Occupational therapy internationalChildren with mitochondrial disorders across all functioning levels engaged in the same nine activity categories, from self-care to leisure. The difference was not what they did, but how: varying levels of assistance, adaptive devices, and energy management were required for participation.
• PTOther2018Development and validation of a modified performance-oriented mobility assessment tool for assessing mobility in children with hypophosphatasia.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineThe modified POMA-G is a reliable and valid tool for assessing gait impairment in children with hypophosphatasia aged 5 to 15. It scores step length, symmetry, continuity, trunk sway, and stance from video, showing strong agreement between raters and correlation with functional measures.
• PTOther2019Amputee Locomotion: Joint Moment Adaptations to Running Speed Using Running-Specific Prostheses after Unilateral Transtibial Amputation.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationIn eight men running with running-specific prostheses, intact limbs produced larger knee and hip moments than prosthetic limbs, but similar to control limbs. Faster speed increased intact-limb hip flexion and knee swing moments more than prosthetic-limb moments.
• PTNarrative Review2018Sex Differences in Common Sports Injuries.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationFemale athletes have higher reported risk for bone stress, ACL, and concussion, with different recovery patterns. Therapists should target movement, strength, and energy availability, but sex alone should not dictate treatment.
• PTCase Report2018Nonoperative Management of a Severe Proximal Rectus Femoris Musculotendinous Injury in a Recreational Athlete: A Case Report.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationA 37-year-old recreational athlete with a severe proximal rectus femoris musculotendinous injury returned to competitive soccer after 12 weeks of nonoperative care: ice, compression, ibuprofen, and staged physical therapy. This is a single outcome, not proof the approach works for others.
• PTCohort2019Inertial Sensors Reveal Subtle Motor Deficits When Walking With Horizontal Head Turns After Concussion.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationWearable sensors showed athletes with sport-related concussion turned their heads more slowly while walking with side-to-side head turns, even when walking speed and head range looked normal. The difference was not present at day 10.
• PTCohort2018A Preliminary Study of Early-Onset Dementia of Former Professional Football and Hockey Players.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationNone of the living former professional football and hockey players in this study had early-onset dementia. Most cognitive and brain imaging comparisons with non-contact athletes were similar, but pain, sleep problems, and low activity were more common.
• PTNarrative Review2019Analysis of Motor Control in Patients With Low Back Pain: A Key to Personalized Care?The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapySubgrouping low back pain by motor control is plausible, and existing clinical systems can classify patients reliably, but evidence that matched treatment improves outcomes is mixed, so it is not yet a tested basis for personalized care.
• PTPilot2018Brain-Behavior Mechanisms for the Transfer of Neuromuscular Training Adaptions to Simulated Sport: Initial Findings From the Train the Brain Project.Journal of sport rehabilitationIn four female soccer players, brain activity changes during knee tasks were closely associated with lower-risk landing movements in virtual soccer after six weeks of visual-feedback neuromuscular training. This is an initial link, not proof the training prevents injury.
• PTOTNarrative Review2019Motor Control Changes in Low Back Pain: Divergence in Presentations and Mechanisms.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyPeople with low back pain do not all move the same way. Some stiffen their trunk to protect themselves, which raises tissue load. Others lose control and move more loosely. Treating everyone with the same exercise ignores these two distinct problems.
• PTOther2018Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport Is Associated With Knee Kinematic Asymmetry During Gait Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyAthletes with lower psychological readiness to return to sport walked with greater knee flexion asymmetry. This cross-sectional analysis cannot show that readiness caused the gait difference.
• PTCase Report2018Rehabilitation of an Adolescent Equestrian Athlete With a History of Multiple Concussions: A Case Report Describing an Adapted Return-to-Sport Protocol.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyA 14-year-old equestrian athlete with a third concussion and symptoms for two weeks returned to competition eight weeks after injury following physical therapy and an adapted riding protocol. She reported no symptoms at discharge, but this describes one person, not proof the protocol works.
• PTOther2018Altered landing mechanics are shown by male youth soccer players at different stages of maturation.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineSingle-leg landing patterns differed by maturity in elite male youth soccer players. Near peak height velocity, left-leg landing forces were higher relative to body mass than after peak height velocity. After peak height velocity, left-leg knee valgus was lower but trunk lean was greater.
• PTPilot2018Dynamic balance asymmetries in pre-season injury-prevention screening in healthy young soccer players using the Modified Star Excursion Balance Test-a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceYoung male soccer players had a side-to-side dynamic balance asymmetry when reaching backward and outward, with the stability-dominant leg farther. This pilot found asymmetry only; it did not show that the asymmetry causes or predicts injury.
• PTOther2019Sex and Maturation Differences in Performance of Functional Jumping and Landing Deficits in Youth Athletes.Journal of sport rehabilitationFemale athletes showed more knee valgus at landing and more technique decline than male athletes. Deficits usually decreased with maturation, but female athletes did not improve knee valgus as they matured.
• PTNarrative Review2018Wearable Movement Sensors for Rehabilitation: A Focused Review of Technological and Clinical Advances.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationWearable movement sensors can track gait and activity outside clinics, but their clinical use is uneven and many devices lack validation. Check the specific sensor before relying on it.
• PTOther2018Limping on split-belt treadmills implies opposite kinematic and dynamic lower limb asymmetries.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationThe faster leg on split-belt treadmills took longer steps but also produced more ankle power earlier, while the slower leg produced less power. Step asymmetry alone may not show whether ankle work is balanced.
• PTSurvey2018Anterior knee pain and its intrinsic risk factors among runners in under-resourced communities in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.The South African journal of physiotherapyAnterior knee pain affected 40% of runners in under-resourced communities. Quadriceps weakness, hip muscle dysfunction, tight hamstrings and iliotibial bands, and patellar tilt were linked to the pain. Screening for these specific physical traits can help target prevention and rehabilitation.
• PTSystematic Review2018Proposing a Patellar Tendinopathy Screening tool following a systematic review.The South African journal of physiotherapyMale sex, poor lower-limb flexibility and strength, and jumping-sport exposure were the key risk factors identified for patellar tendinopathy. The proposed screening tool is untested, so use it to guide assessment, not as validated evidence.
• PTNarrative Review2019Myths and Facts of In-Office Regenerative Procedures for Tendinopathy.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationSome studies report pain reduction after prolotherapy or platelet-rich plasma injections in chronic tendinopathy, but protocols vary, some include local anaesthetic or exercise, and evidence is inconsistent. Cell therapies and ultrasonic tenotomy are less established. Discuss risks before referral.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019A systematic review of measures of adherence to physical exercise recommendations in people with stroke.Clinical rehabilitationNo validated tools exist to measure adherence to exercise after stroke. Clinicians currently rely on diaries and surveys with no proven accuracy. Do not assume patient-reported completion matches actual performance, as these methods lack evidence of validity.
• PTOther2018Biomechanics of single-leg running using lofstrand crutches in amputee soccer.Journal of physical therapy scienceFaster single-leg crutch running was linked to more forward pelvic tilt and shorter crutch stance time. Six experienced participants simulating amputation ran faster than six beginners, but this small study does not prove training effects.
• PTOther2019The Potential Role of the Cervical Spine in Sports-Related Concussion: Clinical Perspectives and Considerations for Risk Reduction.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy
• PTOther2019The Impact of Decreased Scapulothoracic Upward Rotation on Subacromial Proximities.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyDecreased scapulothoracic upward rotation shifted the closest space under the acromion to lower arm-raising angles, especially with the arm at the side. Contact and area of close contact did not differ between low and high upward rotation groups.
• PTCohort2019Physical activity in wheelchair-using youth with spina bifida: an observational study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWheelchair-using children with spina bifida spent 90% of school-day wear time sitting or lying, less active than peers, and only 19% met activity guidelines.
• PTOther2019Differences in postural stability and dynamic visual acuity among healthy young adults in relation to sports activity: a cross sectional study.Journal of physical therapy scienceHealthy young adults who regularly played sports stood more steadily while turning their head and read numbers more accurately than non-sports peers. Quiet standing was similar, and the study cannot show sports caused this.
• PTOTOther2019PROMIS Physical and Emotional Health Scores Are Worse in Musculoskeletal Patients Presenting to Physiatrists than to Other Orthopedic Specialists.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPatients choosing physiatrists reported worse physical and emotional health than those seeing surgeons or other specialists. This holds true even after adjusting for age, sex, and race. Clinicians should expect higher baseline symptom burden and potential biopsychosocial complexity in this referral group.
• PTSystematic Review2019Do alterations in muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, and alignment predict lower extremity injury in runners: a systematic review.Archives of physiotherapyNo muscle strength, flexibility, range-of-motion, or alignment test reliably predicted running injury across seven studies. Some isolated associations appeared, but they were inconsistent and not strong enough to guide practice.
• PTPilot2019A resistance exercise set for a total body workout for adults with intellectual disabilities, a pilot study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDA seven-exercise resistance set without weight machines was completed and correctly performed by all participants who attended the second session, and participants liked the exercises. The pilot showed feasibility, but did not test weights, strength, fitness, or a training programme.
• PTRCT2019A prophylactic effect of local vibration on quadriceps muscle fatigue in non-athletic males: a randomized controlled trial study.Journal of physical therapy scienceLocal vibration applied to the quadriceps before fatigue testing allowed young men to sustain maximal contraction longer than sham vibration. However, it did not significantly change muscle electrical activity or median frequency. The effect was small, so do not expect this to prevent fatigue in clinical populations.
• PTNarrative Review2019Are Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologies Crucial to Our Understanding of Spinal Conditions?The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyThis is a clinical commentary on magnetic resonance imaging research for spinal conditions. It has no original results, so it does not tell therapists what to change.
• PTOther2019The relationship between movement of the shank while running and foot alignment factors that lead to the onset of Achilles peritendinitis.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn healthy male runners, a more outward leaning shank tracked with greater inward foot roll, a higher Navicular index, and restricted ankle dorsiflexion. These are links in healthy people, not proof of Achilles tendon injury.
• PTOTOther2019Medium-Term Outcomes of Digital Versus Conventional Home-Based Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Prospective, Parallel-Group Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesPatients using a digital home-rehab system after knee replacement showed greater improvement in walking speed and knee motion at 3 and 6 months than those receiving standard physiotherapy. However, the digital group had more treatment hours, and the study was not randomized.
• PTOther2019Years of running experience influences stride-to-stride fluctuations and adaptive response during step frequency perturbations in healthy distance runners.Gait & postureEnforced step frequencies did not produce a clear change in the main measure of step-to-step pattern. The most experienced runners had a different baseline step-to-step pattern and returned to preferred step frequency faster. No injury outcome was tested.