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 8 OF 23 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTCohort2022Association Between Intracompartmental Pressures in the Anterior Compartment of the Leg and Conservative Treatment Outcome for Exercise-Related Leg Pain in Military Service Members.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn military service members with chronic exercise-related leg pain, anterior compartment pressure measured 1 minute after exercise did not predict who returned to duty after conservative care. A lower patient-rated leg status score at intake did predict failure.
• PTOther2021Disrupted somatosensory input alters postural control strategies during the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) in healthy people.Gait & postureStanding on foam during a balance test reduced reach distance by 4.58% and shifted body weight laterally. This mimics chronic ankle instability patterns. Clinicians should assess movement quality, not just distance, as foam alters biomechanics significantly.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Measurement Properties of Aerobic Capacity Measures in Neuromuscular Diseases: A Systematic Review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineEvidence for aerobic capacity tests in neuromuscular diseases is very low. Maximal oxygen uptake testing is often incomplete, and the six-minute walk test predicts it poorly in spinal muscular atrophy. Do not rely on these scores to track patient progress or prescribe exercise intensity without caution.
• PTOther2022Effects of step frequency during running on the magnitude and symmetry of ground reaction forces in individuals with a transfemoral amputation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRunning faster steps lowered forces on both prosthetic and intact limbs. However, it increased asymmetry, with the prosthetic side bearing more load. Optimal symmetry occurred near the runner's preferred step rate, not the fastest rate.
• PTCohort2022Fear of Reinjury Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Is Manifested in Muscle Activation Patterns of Single-Leg Side-Hop Landings.Physical therapyPeople with high fear of re-injury after ACL reconstruction showed stiffer muscle activation during single-leg side-hop landings. They did not show different joint angles or worse self-reported knee function compared to those with low fear. This suggests fear alters how muscles stabilize the knee, not how the joint moves.
• PTCohort2021Utilizing Hip Abduction Strength to Body-Weight Ratios in Return to Sport Decision-Making After ACL Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyAthletes with hip abduction strength below 33% of body weight reported lower confidence and function at return-to-sport and two years later. However, they had no more re-injuries than stronger athletes. Low strength flags reduced self-reported function, not necessarily physical risk.
• PTSystematic Review2021Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Y-Balance Test Lower Quarter: Reliability, Discriminant Validity, and Predictive Validity.International journal of sports physical therapyThe Y-Balance Test is reliable for measuring dynamic control, but performance varies significantly by sex and sport. Injury prediction remains unclear because studies used different cut points. Do not use a single universal score to flag risk; interpret results against population-specific norms.
• PTOther2021Examining Sex Differences in Visual Reliance During Postural Control in Intercollegiate Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyMale athletes showed worse single-leg stability than females with eyes open and closed, but the drop when closing eyes was similar in both. This suggests the stability gap isn't just about relying on vision. Sex-specific injury programs might need different amounts of balance training, not different visual conditions.
• PTOther2021Direction-Specific Signatures of Sport Participation in Center of Pressure Profiles of Division I Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyQuiet standing balance profiles differed by sport, but not in the way predicted. Soccer players showed less sway than cross country and basketball athletes. The hypothesis that basketball and tennis players would have better medial-lateral control was not supported.
• PTSystematic Review2021Prevalence and Incidence of Injury during Olympic-style Shooting Events: A Systematic Review.International journal of sports physical therapyInjury rates in Olympic shooting are low, but this likely misses chronic pain. Biathlon has higher injury rates than summer events. Women had more injuries in summer shooting, while men had more in winter biathlon.
• PTOther2021The Functional Assessment of Balance in Concussion (FAB-C) Battery.International journal of sports physical therapyA new concussion balance battery was feasible and safe. It took 44 to 60 minutes to administer, and equipment cost about $100 Canadian. Early results suggest it may help identify ongoing balance problems after concussion.
• PTCohort2021Grip Strength Measurement in Baseball Pitchers: A Clinical Examination to Indicate Stride Length Inefficiency.International journal of sports physical therapyShortened stride length caused a 1.9 kg drop in dominant-arm grip strength after 80 pitches, while over-striding showed no significant change. Grip strength loss may signal fatigue when ball velocity remains stable, but this small pilot does not prove injury risk.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Injuries in Quidditch: A Prospective Study from a Complete UK Season.International journal of sports physical therapyQuidditch time-loss injury rates are comparable to other full-contact sports, but concussion rates are higher than rugby. There was no significant difference in injury or concussion rates between males and females, suggesting mixed-sex contact may be safe for head injuries.
• PTOther2021Kinetic Asymmetry During a Repetitive Tuck Jump Task in Athletes with a History of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyNine athletes repeatedly loaded their uninjured leg more during tuck jumps after ACL reconstruction. This happened on all five landings analyzed. For return-to-sport work, check for offloading of the reconstructed leg.
• PTCohort2021Association Between Passive Hip Range of Motion and Pitching Kinematics in High School Baseball Pitchers.International journal of sports physical therapyIn high school pitchers, more internal rotation in the back leg was linked to less trunk rotation toward home plate. This specific range of motion explained a small part of trunk movement. No other hip range of motion measures related to pitching mechanics.
• PTCohort2021The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) and Lower Limb Power Profiles in Elite Rugby Union Players.International journal of sports physical therapyMost elite rugby players in this study scored poorly on landing mechanics, yet those with worse scores produced higher power and reactive strength. This suggests poor landing form does not necessarily mean lower athletic performance, complicating the use of the LESS to screen for injury risk.
• PTCase Report2021Traumatic Hip Dislocation in an NCAA DI Football Player with Occult Sequelae: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA football player returned to sport after hip dislocation but later needed surgery for hidden cartilage damage. This case highlights that early pain relief does not rule out serious complications, and athletes may hide symptoms until activity is limited.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Psychological Factors Change During the Rehabilitation of an Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.Physical therapyPsychological readiness to return to sport increased and fear of reinjury decreased over 12 months, while motivation remained high. High motivation and readiness predicted better sports participation, but not physical test scores. Most patients expected to run by 8 months.
• PTPilot2021Comparisons of trunk and knee mechanics during various speeds of treadmill running between runners with and without patellofemoral pain: a preliminary study.Journal of physical therapy scienceRunners with patellofemoral pain showed no difference in trunk posture or knee joint stress compared to pain-free runners at any speed. Slower running reduced joint stress in both groups, but pain status did not change how the body handled the load.
• PTSurvey2021Changes in the awareness and understanding of trunk muscle training in high school athletes.Journal of physical therapy scienceHigh school soccer players improved their knowledge of trunk muscle classification since 2013, but few understood the purpose of the training. Top-level teams knew significantly more than lower-level teams, suggesting that understanding anatomy may be linked to competition level.
• PTOther2021Relationship between skeletal muscle mass and blood lactate level reduction after short squat jumps in healthy adult non-athletes.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 15 healthy non-athletic men, more skeletal muscle mass was linked to larger drops in blood lactate after a short squat-jump exercise. The study shows association, not that building muscle causes faster lactate clearance.
• PTCase-Control2021Dynamic balance ability in single-leg drop jump landing in junior female athletes after shin splints-assessment from a preventive perspective.Journal of physical therapy scienceJunior female athletes who had recovered from shin splints showed greater early body sway and higher landing forces on the previously injured leg compared to the healthy leg. This suggests lingering dynamic balance deficits despite returning to sport.
• PTQualitative2021Patients' use of physical therapy for lower back pain: A qualitative study.Musculoskeletal science & practicePatients with back pain often wanted a physician to diagnose them before physical therapy, even though they believed exercise helped. Many did not recall being offered physical therapy, and copays discouraged repeated visits.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyExercise training is strongly recommended for acute and chronic low back pain. Manual therapy helps short-term but not long-term. Education alone is ineffective; it must be paired with active treatments. Traction is not recommended.
• PTCase-Control2022Recreational runners who recovered from COVID-19 show different running kinetics and muscle activities compared with healthy controls.Gait & postureRunners who recovered from severe COVID-19 showed altered mechanics compared to healthy controls. They had higher lateral forces and faster loading rates at heel strike, plus different muscle activation patterns. These changes are linked to injury risk, suggesting a need for specific reconditioning.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2021Physique, range of motion, and gross muscle strength in hemiplegic para swimmers: a cross-sectional case series.Journal of physical therapy scienceHemiplegic swimmers showed significantly smaller arm circumference and restricted shoulder and ankle range of motion on their affected side compared to swimmers with vision impairment. They also had reduced lower-limb strength on their unaffected side and poor streamlined posture.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Thirty-Second Single-Leg Stance Identifies Impaired Postural Control in Children After Concussion: A Preliminary Report.Journal of sport rehabilitationA 30-second single-leg stance test identified postural control deficits in children after concussion, even after clinical recovery. This static task was more sensitive than dynamic gait tests for detecting subtle, persistent balance issues in this preliminary study.
• PTOther2021Chronological changes in neuromuscular cooperativeness before and after muscle fatigue loading using the silent period of the quadriceps and hamstrings in young female athletes.Journal of physical therapy scienceFatigue loading prolonged a lab measure of quadriceps-hamstring switching in the fatigued leg immediately and for 5 minutes. Pre-motor time did not change.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Exploring Age and Sex Patterns for Rehabilitation Referrals After a Concussion: A Retrospective Analysis.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationWhere a patient enters care after concussion strongly predicted referral to therapy. Sports medicine clinics issued 78.6% of all referrals, while only 7% of patients entering elsewhere received one. Women and those with preexisting comorbidities were also more likely to be referred.
• PTOTSurvey2022Risk Factors Associated With Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationWheelchair users with spinal cord injury were more likely to report falls if their injury was more recent or if they had better mobility scores. Better physical quality of life was linked to fewer fall injuries.
• PTOTSLPOther2021The Reliability and Validity of Gluteal Endurance Measures (GEMs).International journal of sports physical therapyTwo new gluteal endurance tests showed high reliability and specificity for gluteal fatigue. However, they did not distinguish between healthy subjects and those with recurrent low back pain. Use these tests to measure gluteal endurance, but not yet to screen for back pain history.
• PTOther2021Dynamic Balance is Similar Between Lower Extremities in Elite Fencers.International journal of sports physical therapyIn 14 healthy national-level fencers, dynamic balance reach distances did not differ between lead and trail legs. Posterolateral and posteromedial reach distances were greater than in other collegiate athletes, but the main limb comparison found no difference.
• PTCohort2021The Relationship between Landing Error Scoring System Performance and Injury in Female Collegiate Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyLanding Error Scoring System (LESS) scores did not predict lower extremity injuries in female collegiate athletes. Athletes with higher error scores were not more likely to get injured than those with lower scores. Do not use LESS total scores alone to screen for injury risk.
• PTSurvey2021Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists.International journal of sports physical therapyAthletic trainers reported feeling more prepared than physical therapists to manage acute sports injuries, but both groups made errors on case scenarios. Feeling prepared did not predict choosing the right action. PTs interested in sideline coverage should seek specific emergency training rather than relying on general confidence.
• PTCase-Control2021Can a Modified Y-Balance Test Predict Running Overuse Injuries over the Course of a Division I Collegiate Cross-Country Season?International journal of sports physical therapySome modified Y-balance scores, not total scores, were associated with running overuse injuries in 29 collegiate cross-country runners. Anterior asymmetry over 2.5 cm or 5.4%, normalized nondominant posterior reach below 0.935, and male posteromedial asymmetry over 5.2 cm or 5.1% were associated with higher risk.
• PTCohort2021Shoulder and Hip Range of Motion and Strength Changes Throughout a Season in College Softball Players.International journal of sports physical therapyHealthy college softball players showed increased shoulder motion but decreased hip motion over a season. Pitchers also lost non-dominant hip abduction strength, while position players lost external rotation strength in both shoulders.
• PTNarrative Review2021The Youth Throwers Ten Exercise Program: A variation of an exercise series for enhanced dynamic shoulder control in the youth overhead throwing athlete.International journal of sports physical therapyNo original outcomes are reported. The article outlines a youth overhead throwing shoulder program and reviews injury risk factors, so there is no finding to change practice on.
• PTOther2021Reliability of an Observational Biomechanical Analysis Tool in Adolescent Baseball Pitchers.International journal of sports physical therapyA 2D video tool for adolescent baseball pitchers gave consistent total scores among trained sports raters, but some individual mechanics items were less consistent. It does not yet show injury risk or replace 3D motion analysis.
• PTOTCohort2021Sport Specialization, Physical Performance and Injury History in Canadian Junior High School Students.International journal of sports physical therapySport specialization was not linked to higher injury odds or worse physical performance in Canadian junior high students. However, girls and students with more total sports hours had higher odds of reporting a previous injury, regardless of specialization level.
• PTOther2021Telehealth Physical Therapy: More Than an Alternative to In Person Care of the Young Athlete.International journal of sports physical therapyThis paper is a clinical commentary, not a study. It argues that telehealth helps physical therapists see how young athletes actually perform exercises at home and adjust programs accordingly. It reports no patient outcomes or comparative data, so there are no findings to act on.
• PTOther2021Effective Attentional Focus Strategies after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Commentary.International journal of sports physical therapyThis commentary suggests changing exercise wording so patients focus on the movement effect, not their body, after ACL reconstruction. It reports no new methods or outcomes.
• PTCohort2022Injury-related psychological distress and the association with perceived running ability in injured runners.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineInjured runners showed elevated psychological distress at the start of rehab, which generally improved over 12-16 weeks. However, athletic fear-avoidance did not improve and was linked to lower perceived running ability. General screening tools missed this specific athletic fear.
• PTRCT2022Fear of Reinjury Following Surgical and Nonsurgical Management of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: An Exploratory Analysis of the NACOX Multicenter Longitudinal Cohort Study.Physical therapyFear of reinjury remained high at 12 months after ACL injury, regardless of whether patients chose surgery or rehabilitation alone. Patients who later opted for surgery reported worse fear than those who did not. Prognostic factors differed by treatment group, with self-efficacy predicting lower fear only in the rehabilitation group.
• PTOTSLPOther2021The Reliability and Validity of a Clinical Measurement Proposed to Quantify Humeral Torsion.International journal of sports physical therapyPalpating the biceps forearm angle was consistent when the same clinician repeated it, but it correlated only moderately with ultrasound and showed wide disagreement in individual values. Use it for side-to-side comparisons only when imaging is unavailable.
• PTOther2022A Multi-Systems Approach to Human Movement after ACL Reconstruction: The Nervous System.International journal of sports physical therapyNo study results are reported. This is a commentary on nervous-system contributions to rehabilitation after ACL reconstruction.
• PTOther2022Application of the 4-Element Movement System Model to Sports Physical Therapy Practice and Education.International journal of sports physical therapy
• PTOther2021The Inaugural IJSPT and OSET Research Symposium: 2021 Abstracts.International journal of sports physical therapyThis document is a collection of conference abstracts, not a single study. It summarizes varied findings, such as dry needling adding no benefit to hip strengthening in runners, while visual biofeedback increased quadriceps activation more than verbal cues.
• PTNarrative Review2022Forefoot Injuries in Athletes: Integration of the Movement System.International journal of sports physical therapyThis clinical commentary describes how to examine and treat athletes with forefoot injuries. It reports no patients and no outcomes, so there is nothing here to change your practice on.
• PTNarrative Review2022A Multi-Systems Approach to Human Movement after ACL Reconstruction: The Integumentary System.International journal of sports physical therapyNo finding to act on. This is a clinical commentary on skin and scar care after ACL reconstruction, not a study of outcomes.
• PTOther2022A Multi-Systems Approach to Human Movement after ACL Reconstruction: The Cardiopulmonary System.International journal of sports physical therapyThere is no trial result to report. This paper is a clinical commentary arguing that cardiopulmonary fitness declines after ACL reconstruction and should be assessed and trained alongside strength and movement. It offers expert recommendations, not tested interventions.