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 6 OF 23 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOther2021Quadriceps Strength Influences Patient Function More Than Single Leg Forward Hop During Late-Stage ACL Rehabilitation.International journal of sports physical therapyDuring late ACL rehab, quadriceps strength symmetry and involved-limb strength tracked how patients rated their knee function better than single-leg hop distance. Hop tests alone may miss strength deficits that matter for return-to-sport decisions.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Descriptive Strength and Range of Motion in Youth Baseball Players.International journal of sports physical therapyYouth baseball players aged 5-12 already show shoulder adaptations similar to adults: greater external rotation and internal rotation strength in the throwing arm. However, total range of motion remains symmetrical between arms, suggesting these changes are normal development rather than immediate injury risk.
• PTOther2021The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diet, fitness, and sedentary behaviour of elite para-athletes.Disability and health journalReported training volume, training intensity and dietary intake did not change during the pandemic for elite para-cyclists and para-triathletes. Daily screen time rose from 4.5 to 6.1 hours.
• PTOther2021Prevalence of concussion and adherence to return-to-play guidelines amongst male secondary school rugby and hockey players.The South African journal of physiotherapyNearly a third of male secondary school rugby and hockey players had sustained a concussion, but only 30.4% of those injured followed return-to-play guidelines. Players cited peer pressure and fear of losing their spot on the team as reasons for returning too soon.
• PTNarrative Review2021Hip and Groin Injury Prevention in Elite Athletes and Team Sport - Current Challenges and Opportunities.International journal of sports physical therapyHip and groin pain prevention in elite team sport is not well supported by screening alone. Balanced, sport-specific exercise programmes with education, mobility, strength, motor control and load monitoring are proposed, not isolated risk-factor cutoffs.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Latarjet Procedure for the Treatment of Anterior Glenohumeral Instability in the Athlete - Key Considerations for Rehabilitation.International journal of sports physical therapyThis is a proposed five-phase rehab protocol for athletes after Latarjet shoulder surgery, moving from protection to power. It relies on expert opinion and clinical experience, not trial data, so it offers a framework to discuss with your surgeon rather than proven outcomes.
• PTOther2021Worldwide Sports Injury Prevention.International journal of sports physical therapy
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021A survey of health awareness and physical activity among Japanese undergraduate rehabilitation students.Journal of physical therapy scienceMost first-year Japanese rehabilitation students feel healthy and value exercise, but half report decreased physical activity since starting college. Busy school schedules and retired club activities are the main barriers, despite high motivation.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Appraising the Validity of Tools to Measure Multijoint Leg Power: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationNo existing tool reliably measures maximum multijoint leg power for older adults. Three devices were reviewed, but all had validation flaws. Correlation does not prove accuracy. Without a valid measure, therapists cannot accurately prescribe or track leg power rehabilitation.
• PTOther2021Convergent validity of a simplified device and relationship between blood lactate and salivary lactate after a vertical squat jump in healthy non-athletes.Journal of physical therapy scienceA portable saliva lactate device followed the same pattern as a lab analyzer in four participants, but after a vertical squat jump, blood and saliva lactate did not track together at the same times. Saliva lagged by 5 minutes.
• PTSystematic Review2021Spontaneous Interpersonal Synchronization of Gait: A Systematic Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationHealthy adults walking side by side naturally sync their steps, especially when holding hands or touching. No clinical patients were studied, so this does not yet prove that side-by-side walking improves gait rehabilitation outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review of Interventions.International journal of sports physical therapyNo treatment for proximal hamstring tendinopathy has high-quality evidence. Shockwave therapy looked better than a weak multi-modal control in one small trial, but evidence was very low. Surgery had the most complications. Do not assume any single injection or procedure is proven.
• PTSystematic Review2021Systematic review of screening tools for common soccer injuries and their risk factors.The South African journal of physiotherapyScreening tools like the Functional Movement Screen and Landing Error Scoring System showed high sensitivity and specificity for predicting soccer injuries in the included studies. However, the Functional Movement Screen failed to predict injuries in veteran players and showed only minimal association with physical performance in youth players.
• PTOther2021Reliability of the Cutting Alignment Scoring Tool (CAST) to Assess Trunk and Limb Alignment During a 45-Degree Side-Step Cut.International journal of sports physical therapyThe CAST tool showed good agreement between and within raters for assessing 45-degree side-step cuts in adolescents. Cut width was almost perfectly agreed upon, trunk lean was moderate, but knee valgus scores had only fair agreement.
• PTOther2021The Dorsiflexion Range of Motion Screen: A Validation Study.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 37 healthy college students, a standing lunge ankle screen agreed between trained physical therapists and separated behind from beyond categories, which corresponded to 41.3 and 51.8 degrees of measured ankle motion. It is not evidence the screen predicts injury.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Comparison of Common Methodologies for the Determination of Knee Flexor Muscle Strength.International journal of sports physical therapyKnee flexor strength measured by a wall-anchored handheld dynamometer correlates with lab equipment but cannot be swapped for it. Seated testing yields higher torque than supine, and dorsiflexing the foot increases force compared to plantarflexion.
• PTOther2021Concurrent Validation and Reference Values of Gluteus Medius Clinical Test.International journal of sports physical therapyThe Gluteus Medius Clinical Test is highly reliable but correlates weakly with dynamometer torque. It measures endurance, not strength. Use it as a complementary tool when a dynamometer is unavailable, not as a substitute for isometric strength testing.
• PTOther2021Line Hops and Side Hold Rotation Tests Load Both Anterior and Posterior Shoulder: A Biomechanical Study.International journal of sports physical therapyTwo shoulder tests place high load on posterior structures. The Side Hold Rotation stresses anterior structures at end-range. The Line Hop is more dynamic, rapidly loading the shoulder. Both require handling nearly half bodyweight through one arm.
• PTOther2021The Impact of Dance-Specific Neuromuscular Conditioning and Injury Prevention Training on Motor Control, Stability, Balance, Function and Injury in Professional Ballet Dancers: A Mixed-Methods Quasi-Experimental Study.International journal of sports physical therapyNo injuries occurred, so injury prevention could not be tested. In six dancers, dance function, balance, single-leg hop and upper-extremity scores improved after a 5-week class, but not all tests, and some gains faded by four months.
• PTCohort2021A Preseason Training Program With the Nordic Hamstring Exercise Increases Eccentric Knee Flexor Strength and Fascicle Length in Professional Female Soccer Players.International journal of sports physical therapyAn 8-week Nordic hamstring program increased eccentric knee flexor strength by about 13% and fascicle length by about 7% in professional female soccer players. Strength gains were larger than those typically seen in male athletes, but half the players did not show meaningful fascicle lengthening.
• PTOther2021Comparative Pitching Biomechanics Among Adolescent Baseball Athletes: Are There Fundamental Differences Between Pitchers and Non-pitchers?International journal of sports physical therapyAdolescent pitchers threw faster than non-pitchers but showed similar arm mechanics. Non-pitchers used less trunk rotation and ground force. This suggests non-pitchers may not transfer energy efficiently, potentially increasing upper extremity stress despite similar measured forces.
• PTOther2021Shoulder Rotation Range of Motion and Serve Speed in Adolescent Male Volleyball Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 57 young male volleyball players, shoulder internal rotation was significantly lower on the serving side, but this stiffness did not predict serve speed. Age and BMI explained serve velocity better than any shoulder range of motion measure.
• PTCohort2021Functional Movement Screen Detected Asymmetry & Normative Values Among College-Aged Students.International journal of sports physical therapyStudents who played more sports in high school had fewer movement asymmetries on the Functional Movement Screen. Those without asymmetries played three sports on average, while those with asymmetries played two. However, sport variety only explained 8% of the variation in total movement scores.
• PTCase Report2021The Implementation of Therapeutic Alliance in the Rehabilitation of an Elite Pediatric Athlete with Salter-Harris Fracture: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyIn an elite pediatric athlete after knee fracture surgery, a physical therapist used shared goals, honesty about uncertainty, and sport-specific compromise to maintain engagement; he improved knee motion and returned to racing.
• PTSurvey2021Characterization of Injuries in Male and Female Ultimate Frisbee Players at the Elite Club-Level.International journal of sports physical therapyElite club Ultimate players reported high injury rates, with 63% injured in one season and nearly all having prior injuries. Lower extremity issues, especially hamstrings and ankles, dominated. Self-reported weight training correlated with less time missed in preseason, but this link did not hold in postseason.
• PTOther2021The Effect Of Mild Exercise Induced Dehydration On Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3) Scores: A within-subjects design.International journal of sports physical therapyIn recreationally active volunteers, fluid-restricted exercise led to higher self-reported symptoms and symptom severity than rest or exercise with fluids. Balance and cognitive scores did not show the same pattern.
• PTOther2021Incorporating Internal and External Training Load Measurements in Clinical Decision Making After ACL Reconstruction: A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes using wearable technology to track training load during ACL rehabilitation. It does not report any patient outcomes or test whether this approach improves return-to-sport decisions, so it offers no evidence that these measurements change clinical results.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021An international study of public contact with people who have an intellectual disability.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRMost people report little contact with those who have intellectual disability. Those with frequent contact were more comfortable meeting them. Contact was linked to volunteering, Special Olympics involvement, working in health or education, and being a parent. This is descriptive survey data, not evidence that interventions work.
• PTOther2021Visual Perturbation to Enhance Return to Sport Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Clinical Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper proposes using stroboscopic glasses and implicit cues to retrain athletes after ACL injury. It does not test if this works. Do not change your current rehab protocol based on this article, as it offers a theoretical framework and exercise examples rather than clinical evidence of benefit.
• PTOther2021Changes in muscle strength and endurance of professional cyclists due to PycnoRacerTM.Journal of physical therapy scienceSome knee flexor strength and endurance measures improved in professional cyclists after PycnoRacer use, but extensor measures did not, and no control group means the drink's effect cannot be separated from training.
• PTCohort2021Preseason functional testing in young basketball players: asymmetries and intercorrelations.Journal of physical therapy scienceYoung male basketball players showed mostly symmetrical leg function, except for the medial triple hop test where the non-dominant leg jumped significantly further. This asymmetry was present in 40.7% to 48.1% of athletes, suggesting this specific test may reveal hidden imbalances.
• PTRCT2021Effects of kinesio taping on hip abductor muscle strength and electromyography activity in athletes with chronic ankle instability: A randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineKinesio tape applied to the gluteus medius increased hip abductor strength by 10.27% and reduced muscle effort by 8.39% in athletes with chronic ankle instability. This effect was significantly greater than placebo tape, which showed minimal changes.
• PTOTCohort2021Fear Avoidance Predicts Persistent Pain in Young Adults With Low Back Pain: A Prospective Study.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyFear avoidance and pain interference predicted persistent pain in young adults. Most participants improved, but those with high fear avoidance stayed in moderate/high pain. Physical activity levels did not differ between groups, challenging the assumption that inactivity drives chronicity in this population.
• PTOther2021The interrater and intrarater reliability of the flexibility and strength tests included in the Sport Science Lab® screening protocol amongst professional rugby players.The South African journal of physiotherapyMost strength and flexibility tests in the Sport Science Lab protocol agreed closely between raters and across days. However, the Modified Thomas test and hip external rotation tests showed poor to moderate reliability. Do not rely on these specific tests to screen elite male rugby players.
• PTCohort2021The role of pre-season health characteristics as injury risk factors in female adolescent soccer players.Journal of physical therapy scienceHistory of concussion correlated with more injuries in female high school soccer players. Pre-season neck pain and dizziness were associated with slower eye movement test scores, but subjective complaints alone did not predict injury count in this small sample.
• PTCohort2021Biomechanical Changes During a 90º Cut in Collegiate Female Soccer Players With Participation in the 11.International journal of sports physical therapySoccer players using the 11+ warm-up showed a clinically meaningful reduction in risky knee collapse during a 90° cut on their non-dominant leg. This change did not reach statistical significance, so treat it as a promising signal rather than proof of efficacy.
• PTCohort2021Composite psychosocial risk based on the fear avoidance model in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Cluster-based analysis.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicinePatients with moderate-to-high preoperative fear-avoidance risk reported poorer knee function and quality of life during follow-up. They were less likely to report returning to sport at the same level without pain, though this result was not clear. Screening may identify risk.
• PTCohort2021Twelve-Week Quadriceps Strength as A Predictor of Quadriceps Strength At Time Of Return To Sport Testing Following Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyQuadriceps strength at 12 weeks after ACL reconstruction predicts strength at return-to-sport testing. This allows therapists to identify patients behind schedule early and adjust rehab before they transition out of structured care.
• PTSystematic Review2021Functional electrical stimulation cycling exercise after spinal cord injury: a systematic review of health and fitness-related outcomes.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationFor adults with spinal cord injury, functional electrical stimulation cycling consistently improved lower-body muscle health across studies. It also often increased leg power and aerobic fitness. Evidence for other health outcomes was weaker and less consistent.
• PTOther2021Reducing the metabolic energy of walking and running using an unpowered hip exoskeleton.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAn unpowered hip exoskeleton reduced the metabolic cost of both walking and running in healthy young men. Walking energy use dropped by 8.2% and running by 9.1% at their respective optimal spring stiffnesses, or by roughly 7% for both at a single common setting.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2021The Efficacy and Treatment Fidelity of Kinesiology Taping in Conjunction With Conservative Treatment Interventions Among Individuals With Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.International journal of sports physical therapyAdding kinesiology tape to shoulder exercises showed no significant pain reduction, but suggested large improvements in disability and range of motion. However, most studies had poor treatment fidelity, meaning the tape application was inconsistent, so these positive findings are unreliable.
• PTCase Report2021A Targeted Approach to Evaluating the Golfing Athlete with Low Back Pain: A Resident's Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA golfer with right-sided low back pain reported being pain-free after golfing and working out following seven visits of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, home exercises, and education. The report describes a single person, not proof that this approach works.
• PTOther2021Female Adolescent Soccer Players Utilize Different Neuromuscular Strategies Between Limbs During the Propulsion Phase of a Lateral Vertical Jump.International journal of sports physical therapyJump height did not differ between kicking and non-kicking limbs in adolescent female soccer players. The limbs still moved differently during takeoff: the kicking limb used more hip contribution and less knee contribution.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Gluteal Muscle Activation During Common Yoga Poses.International journal of sports physical therapyHalf Moon and Warrior Three poses produce high muscle activation in the glutes, making them suitable for strengthening exercises. Other poses like Tree and Warrior Two generate lower activation, fitting better for endurance work. No significant sex differences were found in gluteus maximus activity.
• PTPilot2021The Effects of Whole Body Vibration on the Limits of Stability in Adults With Subacute Ankle Injury.International journal of sports physical therapyHigh-frequency whole-body vibration improved reaction time and movement speed in adults with subacute ankle sprains, but the changes were smaller than those needed for clinical significance. Low-frequency vibration and rest produced no improvement.
• PTOther2021Medio-Lateral Hamstring Muscle Activity in Unilateral vs. Bilateral Strength Exercises in Female Team Handball Players - A Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of sports physical therapyRomanian deadlifts, performed either one or two legs, produced the highest medial hamstring activity relative to the lateral hamstring. Unilateral execution did not reduce this medial dominance. These exercises effectively target the medial hamstring in female handball players.
• PTPilot2021The Test Re-Test Reliability of A Novel Single Leg Hop Test (T-Drill Hop Test).International journal of sports physical therapyThe T-Drill Hop Test showed excellent consistency when healthy young adults repeated it days apart. It also revealed no time difference between dominant and non-dominant legs in this healthy group, establishing a baseline before testing injured athletes.
• PTOther2021Differences in Muscle Activities and Kinematics between Forefoot Strike and Rearfoot Strike in the Lower Limb during 180° Turns.International journal of sports physical therapyForefoot strikes during 180-degree turns showed lower vertical ground force and higher hamstring activity than rearfoot strikes, suggesting potential ACL protection. However, rearfoot strikes had smaller knee valgus angles. The study was a small lab simulation, not a test of injury prevention.
• PTCase-Control2021Lumbopelvic Stability and Trunk Muscle Contractility of Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability.International journal of sports physical therapyCopers had greater transversus abdominis contractility than people with chronic ankle instability and healthy controls. No difference was found between the instability group and controls. Static trunk endurance tests did not separate groups.
• PTCase Report2021Strategies for Gait Retraining in a Collegiate Runner with Transfemoral Amputation: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA collegiate runner with a transfemoral amputation reported complete resolution of phantom limb pain after eight weeks of running gait retraining. She also showed improved running mechanics and faster sprint times, though this single case cannot prove the treatment works for others.