Is core stability a risk factor for lower extremity injuries in an athletic population? A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Sport specialization is often associated with intense, high volume training, which may result in injury – especially overuse injuries. However, there is limited prospective research investigating these relationships. Additionally, previous research has focused on adolescents older than 12 years of age with no data available in younger cohorts, who may be more susceptible to repetitive stress. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if sport specialization is associated with increased risk of overuse and acute lower extremity injuries in middle school aged athletes. METHODS: A total of 281 children (113 females (40%), age=12.1±1.2years; range 10-14 years of age) completed an online survey with their parents for 39 weeks. The study was conducted during the 2017-2018 academic year with a baseline survey conducted the first week of September. Weekly surveys were sent to respondents via Qualtrics with the final weekly survey in June of 2018. The baseline survey consisted of 1) demographic information, 2) injury history in the previous 12 months, 3) a sport specialization scale which classified individuals in low, moderate, and high levels of specialization, and 4) sport participation volume (months per year in primary sport). The weekly surveys asked participants to report and musculoskeletal injury they sustained during sport participation. Participants were included in the analysis if they completed at least 80% of the total surveys. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were utilized to examine associations between specialization category (reference category: low) and prospective injury categories, while adjusting for differences in age, sex, and previous injury history. RESULTS: Respondents reported 57 acute and 32 overuse lower extremity injuries during the observation period. Highly specialized athletes had significantly greater odds of reporting a prospective lower extremity overuse injury than subjects in the low specialization group (OR: 3.78, 1.02-12.90, p=0.03), even after adjusting for sex, age, and previous injury history. However, specialization was not a risk factor for acute lower extremity injuries (OR: 2.20, 0.72-6.77, p=0.17). CONCLUSION: Highly specialized middle school athletes are nearly 4 times greater risk of developing an overuse injury compared to low specialization athletes. Younger athletes may be more susceptible to injuries at younger ages. Thus, adolescent athletes should avoid specialization when possible.

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Motor Performance as Risk Factor for Lower Extremity Injuries in Children

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/mss.0000000000000877 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 (6) ◽

pp. 1136-1143 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

LISBETH RUNGE LARSEN ◽

PETER LUND KRISTENSEN ◽

TINA JUNGE ◽

SIGNE FUGLKJÆR MØLLER ◽

BIRGIT JUUL-KRISTENSEN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Motor Performance ◽

Lower Extremity Injuries ◽

Extremity Injuries

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The Prevalence of Lower Extremity Injuries in Running and Associated Risk Factors: A Systematic Review

Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.5334/paah.109 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 133-145

Author(s):

Jade Dempster ◽

Frédéric Dutheil ◽

Ukadike Chris Ugbolue

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Lower Extremity Injuries ◽

Associated Risk Factors ◽

Extremity Injuries

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Although the injury rate of yoga is low, nearly two-thirds of musculoskeletal injuries in yoga affect the lower extremity: a systematic review

Journal of ISAKOS Joint Disorders & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/jisakos-2017-000149 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 229-234

Author(s):

Arya Bekhradi ◽

Daniel Wong ◽

Brayden J Gerrie ◽

Patrick C McCulloch ◽

Kevin E Varner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Lower Extremity ◽

Injury Rate ◽

Musculoskeletal Injuries ◽

Injury Incidence ◽

Time Duration ◽

Lower Extremity Injuries ◽

Level I ◽

Extremity Injuries ◽

Yoga Practitioners

ImportanceYoga is a very popular sporting activity across the world. There is limited information on the epidemiology and characteristics of yoga-related injuries.ObjectiveTo determine the incidence and prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries sustained in yoga.Evidence reviewA systematic review was registered with PROSPERO and performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and checklist. Level I–IV evidence studies reporting the incidence and prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in male and female yoga practitioners were eligible for inclusion. The number and types of injuries were extracted from each study. Duplicate patient populations within separate distinct publications were analysed and reported only once. Injury rates were recorded and calculated on the basis of gender and nature of injury. Incidence was defined as the number of injuries sustained over a specific time duration. Prevalence was defined as the proportion of subjects with an injury at a given point in time.FindingsFive studies were analysed that reported injury incidence or prevalence in yoga (7453 subjects). In four of these studies, the type of yoga was not specified, but Mikkonenet alfocused solely on Ashtanga Vinyasa practitioners. There were 6544 female (88%) and 909 male (12%) yoga practitioners analysed (49.1±13.6 years of age). The incidence of injury among yoga practitioners was 1.18 injuries per 1000 yoga hours. Only four studies provided prevalence data, displaying 6.6% injury prevalence in 7415 yoga practitioners overall (up to 62% in Ashtanga Vinyasa). Overall, lower extremity injuries comprised 64% of total injuries; specifically the hip, hamstring, knee, ankle, feet and toe. The upper extremity and head and trunk injuries account for 13% and 23%, respectively.Conclusions and relevanceThere is limited quantity heterogeneous evidence reporting the characteristics of yoga injuries. The overall injury incidence is 1.18 injuries per 1000 yoga hours. The prevalence of injury is poorly characterised. However, the weighted mean prevalence is 7%. The majority of yoga injuries are lower extremity injuries.Level of evidenceLevel IV, a systematic review of level I–IV studies.

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Judgment and Approach for Management of Severe Lower Extremity Injuries

Clinics in Plastic Surgery ◽

10.1016/s0094-1298(20)30851-8 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 525-543 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert L. Walton ◽

Douglas M. Rothkopf

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Lower Extremity Injuries ◽

Extremity Injuries

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Concussion in National Football League Athletes Is Not Associated With Increased Risk of Acute, Noncontact Lower Extremity Musculoskeletal Injury

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/23259671211003491 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 232596712110034

Author(s):

Toufic R. Jildeh ◽

Fabien Meta ◽

Jacob Young ◽

Brendan Page ◽

Kelechi R. Okoroha

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

National Football League ◽

Field Performance ◽

Return To Play ◽

Lower Extremity Injury ◽

Extremity Injury ◽

Lower Extremity Injuries ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Extremity Injuries ◽

And Control

Background: Impaired neuromuscular function after concussion has recently been linked to increased risk of lower extremity injuries in athletes. Purpose: To determine if National Football League (NFL) athletes have an increased risk of sustaining an acute, noncontact lower extremity injury in the 90-day period after return to play (RTP) and whether on-field performance differs pre- and postconcussion. Study Design: Cohort study, Level of evidence, 3. Methods: NFL concussions in offensive players from the 2012-2013 to the 2016-2017 seasons were studied. Age, position, injury location/type, RTP, and athlete factors were noted. A 90-day RTP postconcussive period was analyzed for lower extremity injuries. Concussion and injury data were obtained from publicly available sources. Nonconcussed, offensive skill position NFL athletes from the same period were used as a control cohort, with the 2014 season as the reference season. Power rating performance metrics were calculated for ±1, ±2, and ±3 seasons pre- and postconcussion. Conditional logistic regression was used to determine associations between concussion and lower extremity injury as well as the relationship of concussions to on-field performance. Results: In total, 116 concussions were recorded in 108 NFL athletes during the study period. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of an acute, noncontact lower extremity injury between concussed and control athletes (8.5% vs 12.8%; P = .143), which correlates with an odds ratio of 0.573 (95% CI, 0.270-1.217). Days (66.4 ± 81.9 days vs 45.1 ± 69.2 days; P = .423) and games missed (3.67 ± 3.0 vs 2.9 ± 2.7 games; P = .470) were similar in concussed athletes and control athletes after a lower extremity injury. No significant changes in power ratings were noted in concussed athletes in the acute period (±1 season to injury) when comparing pre- and postconcussion. Conclusion: Concussed, NFL offensive athletes did not demonstrate increased odds of acute, noncontact, lower extremity injury in a 90-day RTP period when compared with nonconcussed controls. Immediate on-field performance of skill position players did not appear to be affected by concussion.

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EFFECTIVENESS OF PRE-SEASON PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE TESTS IN IDENTIFYING IN-SEASON LOWER EXTREMITY INJURIES IN ADOLESCENT GYMNASTS

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967121s00141 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7_suppl3) ◽

pp. 2325967121S0014

Author(s):

Danielle A Farzanegan ◽

Emily Francione ◽

Nicole Melfi

Keyword(s):

Lower Extremity ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Performance Tests ◽

Kinetic Chain ◽

Chi Square ◽

Balance Test ◽

Lower Extremity Injuries ◽

Common Location ◽

Acute Injuries ◽

Extremity Injuries

Background: Artistic competitive gymnastics results in a wide, unique spectrum of injuries. Due to the high number of injuries and the current lack of research related to pre-competitive testing in adolescent gymnasts, it is crucial to find a method to predict the likelihood of an athlete sustaining an in-season injury. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to 1) describe the frequency and type of pre-season and in-season injuries, 2) determine if there were differences in physical performance tests between those who had a lower extremity (LE) injury in-season and those who did not, and 3) determine if there were differences in age, level, sex, BMI, sport modifications, previous injury, and current injury between those who had a LE injury and those who didn’t. Methods: Thirty-seven adolescent gymnasts (average age: 12.81 years) were included with levels ranging from 5 (novice) to 10 (elite). Participants (15 males and 22 females) were surveyed for previous and current injury. The athletes completed a performance battery before the competition season including: Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (LQYBT), Closed Kinetic Chain dorsiflexion (CKCDF), single hop (SH), triple hop (TH), and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Follow-up data was collected at the end of the competitive season for comparison. The data was analyzed using descriptive methods and comparative analyses including chi-square and independent t-tests with an alpha level set at .05. Results: Sixty-five percent reported an injury in the last year and seventy-eight percent reported pre-season injuries at testing day. The most common location for pre-season injury was the ankle/foot (24% and 31% respectively). There were no differences between injured and non-injured athletes when comparing asymmetries in CKCDF, LQYBT posteromedial or posterolateral reach, hop testing, or FMS. The LQYBT-anterior scores were significantly different at p=.049 between the injured versus uninjured groups, with 91% of the in-season injury group having a difference <4cm. Similarly, the LQYBT-composite score using a cut-off of 95% was significant at p=.043 with those >95% category being more likely to get injured. There were no significant differences in demographic information comparing injury occurrence. Conclusion: The tested physical performance battery may be useful in tracking gymnasts over time, but may not be beneficial in forecasting injuries in a sport with high percentages of acute injuries. The collected injury volume may not be reflective of a standard season as COVID-19 decreased the number of competitions. Additional research to identify athletes at risk for injury requires further investigation.

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