scholarly journals Impact of Patellar Tendinopathy on Player Performance in the National Basketball Association

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 232596712110253
Author(s):  
Toufic R. Jildeh ◽  
Patrick Buckley ◽  
Muhammad J. Abbas ◽  
Brendan Page ◽  
Jacob Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Patellar Tendinopathy ◽  
Control Cohort ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Career Longevity ◽  
Playing Time ◽  
Player Performance ◽  
The Impact

Background: The extent to which patellar tendinopathy affects National Basketball Association (NBA) athletes has not been thoroughly elucidated. Purpose: To assess the impact patellar tendinopathy has on workload, player performance, and career longevity in NBA athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: NBA players diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy between the 2000-2001 and 2018-2019 seasons were identified through publicly available data. Characteristics, return to play (RTP), player statistics, and workload data were compiled. The season of diagnosis was set as the index year, and the statistical analysis compared post- versus preindex data acutely and in the long term, both within the injured cohort and with a matched healthy NBA control cohort. Results: A total of 46 NBA athletes were included in the tendinopathy group; all 46 players returned to the NBA after their diagnosis. Compared with controls, the tendinopathy cohort had longer careers (10.50 ± 4.32 vs 7.18 ± 5.28 seasons; P < .001) and played more seasons after return from injury (4.26 ± 2.46 vs 2.58 ± 3.07 seasons; P = .001). Risk factors for patellar tendinopathy included increased workload before injury (games started, 45.83 ± 28.67 vs 25.01 ± 29.77; P < .001) and time played during the season (1951.21 ± 702.09 vs 1153.54 ± 851.05 minutes; P < .001) and during games (28.71 ± 6.81 vs 19.88 ± 9.36 minutes per game; P < .001). Players with increased productivity as measured by player efficiency rating (PER) were more likely to develop patellar tendinopathy compared with healthy controls (15.65 ± 4.30 vs 12.76 ± 5.27; P = .003). When comparing metrics from 1 year preinjury, there was a decrease in games started at 1 year postinjury (−12.42 ± 32.38 starts; P = .028) and total time played (−461.53 ± 751.42 minutes; P = .001); however, PER at 1 and 3 years after injury was unaffected compared with corresponding preinjury statistics. Conclusion: NBA players with a higher PER and significantly more playing time were more likely to be diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy. Player performance was not affected by the diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy, and athletes were able to RTP without any impact on career longevity.

scholarly journals Effect of Achilles Tendon Rupture on Player Performance and Longevity in Women’s National Basketball Association Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 232596712198998
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Tramer ◽  
Lafi S. Khalil ◽  
Patrick Buckley ◽  
Alexander Ziedas ◽  
Patricia A. Kolowich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Tendon Rupture ◽  
Achilles Tendon Rupture ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Career Longevity ◽  
Women's National Basketball Association ◽  
Player Performance

Background:Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players have a greater incidence of lower extremity injury compared with male players, yet no data exist on functional outcomes after Achilles tendon rupture (ATR).Purpose:To evaluate the effect of Achilles tendon repair on game utilization, player performance, and career longevity in WNBA athletes.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:WNBA players from 1997 to 2019 with a history of ATR (n = 12) were matched 1:2 to a healthy control group. Player characteristics, game utilization, and in-game performance data were collected for each athlete, from which the player efficiency rating (PER) was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed comparing postinjury data to preinjury baseline as well as cumulative career data. Changes at each time point relative to the preinjury baseline were also compared between groups.Results:Of the 12 players with ATR, 10 (83.3%) returned to play at the WNBA level at a mean (±SD) of 12.5 ± 3.3 months. Four players participated in only 1 WNBA season after injury. There were no differences in characteristics between the 10 players who returned to play after injury and the control group. After return to play, the WNBA players demonstrated a significant decrease in game utilization compared with preinjury, playing in 6.0 ± 6.9 fewer games, starting in 12.7 ± 15.4 fewer games, and playing 10.2 ± 9.1 fewer minutes per game ( P < .05 for all). After the index date of injury, the players with Achilles repair played 2.1 ± 1.2 more years in the WNBA, while control players played 5.35 ± 3.2 years ( P < .01) Additionally, the players with Achilles repair had a significant decrease in PER in the year after injury compared with preinjury (7.1 ± 5.3 vs 11.0 ± 4.4; P = .02). The reduction in game utilization and decrease in PER in these players was maintained when compared with the matched controls ( P < .05 for both).Conclusion:The majority of WNBA players who sustained ATR were able to return to sport after their injury; however, their career longevity was shorter than that of healthy controls. There was a significant decrease in game utilization and performance in the year after return to play compared with healthy controls.

scholarly journals Return to Play and Performance in the Women’s National Basketball Association After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 232596712094707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Tramer ◽  
Lafi S. Khalil ◽  
Alexander Ziedas ◽  
Nima Mehran ◽  
Kelechi R. Okoroha
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Women's National Basketball Association ◽  
Playing Time ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
And Performance

Background: The incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) athletes continues to increase. There is a paucity of data regarding return-to-play (RTP) rates and performance after ACL reconstruction in these athletes. Purpose: To quantify RTP rates and performance after ACL reconstruction in WNBA athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: All ACL tears sustained in the WNBA from 1997 through 2018 were identified. Body mass index (BMI), age, and position at the time of injury were collected for each player. RTP rates were calculated, and performance data were collected for each player before and after injury to determine changes in playing time and statistical performance. Players who successfully returned to play after ACL reconstruction were compared with a group of healthy controls who were matched by age, years of experience, position, height, and BMI. Statistics at 1 and 3 years after injury were compared to assess acute and longitudinal changes in performance relative to preinjury baseline. Results: A total of 59 WNBA players sustained ACL tears during the study period, and 41 (69.5%) were able to successfully RTP. Players played a mean of 7.5 ± 12.8 fewer games, played 5.0 ± 9.2 fewer minutes per game, and scored 3.7 ± 5.0 fewer points per game in their first year after RTP compared with the year before injury. Athletes with ACL reconstruction demonstrated significantly decreased performance measures regarding games played, games started, minutes, rebounds, assists, and blocks per game in their first season after RTP compared with control athletes in the same indexed year; however, these differences resolved by year 3 after surgery. Conclusion: WNBA athletes have a high RTP rate after ACL reconstruction. Players may experience an initial decrease in playing time and performance when returning to play; however, these variables were found to return to baseline over time.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on Recovered Athletes Returning to Competitive Play in the NBA “Bubble”

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 232596712110045
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Vaudreuil ◽  
Amy J. Kennedy ◽  
Stephen J. Lombardo ◽  
F. Daniel Kharrazi
Keyword(s):  
Case Series ◽  
Professional Sports ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The World ◽  
Performance Statistics ◽  
Player Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Game Performance

Background: The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has had far-reaching implications for the world of professional sports. The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended active regular season play in 2020 after a player tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. No previous studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 on return to play in the NBA. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to examine performance measures for NBA players who had recovered from COVID-19 and returned to play in the NBA bubble. We hypothesized that these athletes would play fewer minutes and have decreased performance statistics compared with performance during the 2019-2020 regular season prior to the lockdown and with career averages. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: NBA players positive for SARS-CoV-2 who played in both the 2019-2020 regular season and the NBA bubble were identified. Data collected included player demographics and player performance statistics. Results: A total of 20 players were included in the study. Players who had recovered from COVID-19 played significantly fewer minutes per game in the NBA bubble (25.8 vs 28.7; P = .04) and made fewer field goals per game (4.6 vs 5.4; P = .02) compared with the season prior to shutdown. While NBA bubble players demonstrated slight decreases in averages for points ( P = .06), rebounds ( P =.13), assists ( P = .23), steals ( P = .30), and blocks ( P = .71) per game, these were not statistically significant. Aside from an increase in made free throws per game during the bubble (3.3 vs 2.8; P = .04), player performance was not significantly different from career averages. Conclusion: For players who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 prior to playing in the NBA bubble, the current study demonstrated that despite playing significantly fewer minutes per game, performance was not statistically different from either their pre-COVID 2019-2020 level of play or from their career averages.

scholarly journals Professional Soccer Players’ Return to Play and Performance After Operative Repair of Achilles Tendon Rupture

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 232596711881077 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Trofa ◽  
Peter C. Noback ◽  
Jon-Michael E. Caldwell ◽  
J. Chance Miller ◽  
Justin K. Greisberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Tendon Rupture ◽  
Achilles Tendon Rupture ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Playing Time ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Background: The majority of Achilles tendon ruptures are sports related; however, no investigation has examined the impact of surgical repair for complete ruptures on professional soccer players. Purpose: To examine the return to play, playing time, and performance of professional soccer players following Achilles tendon repair. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and Major League Soccer (MLS) athletes who sustained a primary complete Achilles tendon rupture and were treated surgically between 1988 and 2014 were identified via public injury reports. Demographic information and performance-related statistics for the identified athletes were recorded for the season before surgery and 2 seasons after surgery and were compared with information for matched controls. Statistical analyses were used to assess differences in recorded metrics. Results: A total of 24 athletes with Achilles ruptures met inclusion criteria, 17 (70.8%) of whom were able to return to play. On average, players had 8.3 years of professional-level experience prior to sustaining an Achilles rupture. Among athletes who returned to play, no differences were found in the number of games played or started, minutes played, or goals scored 1 year postoperatively compared with the year prior to injury. However, 2 years postoperatively, these athletes played 28.3% ( P = .028) fewer minutes compared with their preoperative season, despite starting and playing in an equivalent number of games. Matched controls had baseline playing time and performance statistics similar to those of players. However, controls played and started in significantly more games and played more minutes at 1 and 2 years compared with players ( P < .05). No differences were found in goals scored at any time point. Conclusion: This is the first investigation examining the effect of an Achilles repair on the career of professional soccer players. This is a difficult injury that most commonly occurs in veteran players and prevents 29.2% of players from returning to play despite surgical management. Additionally, athletes able to return to play were found to play fewer minutes 2 years postoperatively compared with their baseline as well as playing less at 1 and 2 years postoperatively compared with uninjured matched controls. The reduction in playing time following an Achilles repair has significant implications for professional players and teams.

scholarly journals Systematic Review of Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Injuries and Treatment Outcomes in Women's National Basketball Association and National Basketball Association Players

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 232596712098207
Author(s):  
Sachin Allahabadi ◽  
Favian Su ◽  
Drew A. Lansdown
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Cartilage Injuries ◽  
Women's National Basketball Association

Background: Athletes in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) are subject to high injury rates given the physical demands of the sport. Comprehensive data regarding injury patterns and rates in these athletes are limited. Purpose: To summarize available data on orthopaedic and sports medicine–related injuries through 2020 in professional female and male basketball players. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A search was conducted using PubMed and Embase through April 5, 2020, to identify injury studies regarding WNBA and NBA players. Studies were included if the injury or surgery was considered a direct consequence of game play including musculoskeletal/orthopaedic, concussion, ophthalmologic, and craniomaxillofacial injuries. Systematic reviews, screening studies, or studies without sufficient WNBA or NBA player subgroup analysis were excluded. Results: A total of 49 studies met inclusion criteria, 43 (87.8%) of which detailed musculoskeletal injuries. The lower extremity represented 63.3% of studies. A majority (59.2%) of studies were level 4 evidence. The source of data was primarily comprehensive online search (n = 33; 67.3%), followed by official databases (n = 11; 22.4%). Only 3 studies concerned WNBA athletes compared with 47 that concerned NBA athletes. The lowest return-to-play rates were cited for Achilles tendon repairs (61.0%-79.5%). Variability in return-to-play rates existed among studies even with similar seasons studied. Conclusion: The majority of literature available on orthopaedic and sports medicine–related injuries of NBA and WNBA athletes is on the lower extremity. The injuries that had the greatest effect on return to play and performance were Achilles tendon ruptures and knee cartilage injuries treated using microfracture. The reported outcomes are limited by heterogeneity and overlapping injury studies. There are limited available data on WNBA injuries specifically.

Clinical Outcomes, Structure, and Function Improve With Both Heavy and Moderate Loads in the Treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 982-993
Author(s):  
Anne-Sofie Agergaard ◽  
Rene B. Svensson ◽  
Nikolaj M. Malmgaard-Clausen ◽  
Christian Couppé ◽  
Mikkel H. Hjortshoej ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Patellar Tendinopathy ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Level Of Evidence

Background: Loading interventions have become a predominant treatment strategy for tendinopathy, and positive clinical outcomes and tendon tissue responses may depend on the exercise dose and load magnitude. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose was to investigate if the load magnitude influenced the effect of a 12-week loading intervention for patellar tendinopathy in the short term (12 weeks) and long term (52 weeks). We hypothesized that a greater load magnitude of 90% of 1 repetition maximum (RM) would yield a more positive clinical outcome, tendon structure, and tendon function compared with a lower load magnitude of 55% of 1 RM when the total exercise volume was kept equal in both groups. Study Design: Randomized clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A total of 44 adult participants with chronic patellar tendinopathy were included and randomized to undergo moderate slow resistance (MSR group; 55% of 1 RM) or heavy slow resistance (HSR group; 90% of 1 RM). Function and symptoms (Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patella questionnaire [VISA-P]), tendon pain during activity (numeric rating scale [NRS]), and ultrasound findings (tendon vascularization and swelling) were assessed before the intervention, at 6 and 12 weeks during the intervention, and at 52 weeks from baseline. Tendon function (functional tests) and tendon structure (ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging) were investigated before and after the intervention period. Results: The HSR and MSR interventions both yielded significant clinical improvements in the VISA-P score (mean ± SEM) (HSR: 0 weeks, 58.8 ± 4.3; 12 weeks, 70.5 ± 4.4; 52 weeks, 79.7 ± 4.6) (MSR: 0 weeks, 59.9 ± 2.5; 12 weeks, 72.5 ± 2.9; 52 weeks, 82.6 ± 2.5), NRS score for running, NRS score for squats, NRS score for preferred sport, single-leg decline squat, and patient satisfaction after 12 weeks, and these were maintained after 52 weeks. HSR loading was not superior to MSR loading for any of the measured clinical outcomes. Similarly, there were no differences in functional (strength and jumping ability) or structural (tendon thickness, power Doppler area, and cross-sectional area) improvements between the groups undergoing HSR and MSR loading. Conclusion: There was no superior effect of exercising with a high load magnitude (HSR) compared with a moderate load magnitude (MSR) for the clinical outcome, tendon structure, or tendon function in the treatment of patellar tendinopathy in the short term. Both HSR and MSR showed equally good, continued improvements in outcomes in the long term but did not reach normal values for healthy tendons. Registration: NCT03096067 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)

scholarly journals Concussions in the National Basketball Association: An Analysis from 1999-2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0040
Author(s):  
Kelechi Okoroha ◽  
Bhavik H. Patel ◽  
Yining Lu ◽  
Alexander J. Idarraga ◽  
Brian Forsythe
Keyword(s):  
Standardized Testing ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Education Medical ◽  
Player Performance ◽  
First Time ◽  
Game Performance

Objectives: Several studies have examined the incidence and effects of concussions in professional football, baseball, and hockey, but there has been limited evaluation of the effects of concussions in National Basketball Association (NBA) players. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiologic trends of concussions, as well as the effects of concussions on in-game performance, in NBA players. Methods: Publicly available records were searched to include all players who sustained an in-game concussion while playing in the NBA from the beginning of the 1999 NBA season to the conclusion of the 2018 season. For each player the following variables were collected: date of injury, number of days and games missed before returning to game play, player efficiency rating (PER) in the season of injury, the season preceding the injury, and the season following the injury, position of the injured player, and the incidence of multiple concussions for a single player. Concussion trends before and after the institution of the NBA Concussion Protocol were calculated, as well as the effects on PER after return to play. Results: From the start of the 1999 season to the end of the 2018 season, 185 basketball-related concussions were incurred across 149 NBA players. All players were able to return to play following a first-time concussion after missing an average of 7.7 days and 3.5 games. The NBA Concussion Protocol was instituted ahead of the 2011-2012 season, prior to which there were 5.7 concussions recorded/season, with an average of 6.7 days and 3.0 games missed per first-time concussion. Following the institution of the concussion protocol, there were approximately 11 more concussions recorded/season (16.7 vs. 5.7, P = 0.007), with 1.7 more days missed (8.4 vs. 6.7, P = 0.27) and 0.9 more games missed (3.9 vs. 3.0, P = 0.24) per concussion, compared to prior seasons. Of the 149 players who suffered concussions, 27 were concussed multiple times (18.1%). There was no difference found in the incidence of recurrent concussions within the same season before vs. after the institution of the concussion protocol (4 vs. 5, P > 0.05). PER was almost identical for concussed players in the season prior to the injury, the season in which the injury occurred, and the season following the injury (13.93 vs. 13.94 vs. 13.91, P = 0.998). Conclusion: There has been a significant increase in the incidence of concussions in the NBA player following the institution of a league-wide concussion protocol. This likely reflects more accurate reporting secondary to advances in player education, medical knowledge, national media coverage, and standardized testing protocols. Despite this increase in reported concussions, the amount of time missed following injury has remained relatively constant. Player performance as reported by PER was not significantly affected by sustaining a concussion. [Figure: see text][Table: see text]

scholarly journals The Effect of Regular-Season Rest on Playoff Performance Among Players in the National Basketball Association

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 232596711772979 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Belk ◽  
Hayden A. Marshall ◽  
Eric C. McCarty ◽  
Matthew J. Kraeutler
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
National Basketball Association ◽  
Matched Pairs ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
Player Performance

Background: There has been speculation that rest during the regular season for players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) improves player performance in the postseason. Purpose: To determine whether there is a correlation between the amount of regular-season rest among NBA players and playoff performance and injury risk in the same season. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The Basketball Reference and Pro Sports Transactions archives were searched from the 2005 to 2015 seasons. Data were collected on players who missed fewer than 5 regular-season games because of rest (group A) and 5 to 9 regular-season games because of rest (group B) during each season. Inclusion criteria consisted of players who played a minimum of 20 minutes per game and made the playoffs that season. Players were excluded if they missed ≥10 games because of rest or suspension or missed ≥20 games in a season for any reason. Matched pairs were formed between the groups based on the following criteria: position, mean age at the start of the season within 2 years, regular-season minutes per game within 5 minutes, same playoff seeding, and player efficiency rating (PER) within 2 points. The following data from the playoffs were collected and compared between matched pairs at each position (point guard, shooting guard, forward/center): points per game, assists per game, PER, true shooting percentage, blocks, steals, and number of playoff games missed because of injury. Results: A total of 811 players met the inclusion and exclusion criteria (group A: n = 744 players; group B: n = 67 players). Among all eligible players, 27 matched pairs were formed. Within these matched pairs, players in group B missed significantly more regular-season games because of rest than players in group A (6.0 games vs 1.3 games, respectively; P < .0001). There were no significant differences between the groups at any position in terms of points per game, assists per game, PER, true shooting percentage, blocks, steals, or number of playoff games missed because of injury. Conclusion: Rest during the NBA regular season does not improve playoff performance or affect the injury risk during the playoffs in the same season.

scholarly journals Adductor Muscle Injuries in UEFA Soccer Athletes: A Matched-Cohort Analysis of Injury Rate, Return to Play, and Player Performance From 2000 to 2015

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 232596712110230
Author(s):  
Ophelie Lavoie-Gagne ◽  
Nabil Mehta ◽  
Sumit Patel ◽  
Matthew R. Cohn ◽  
Enrico Forlenza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Injury ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Adductor Muscle ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Player Performance

Background: The effects of adductor muscle injury on performance in soccer athletes are unknown. Purpose: To (1) determine the rate and time to return to play (RTP) after adductor muscle injury, (2) investigate the rate of reinjury after RTP, and (3) investigate any long-term effects of injury on elite soccer player performance. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Using publicly available records, athletes sustaining adductor muscle injury were identified across the 5 major European soccer leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A) between 2000 and 2015. Injured athletes were matched to controls by demographic characteristics and performance metrics from 1 season before the index timepoint. Investigations included the rate of RTP, reinjuries, player characteristics associated with RTP within 2 seasons, player availability, field time, and performance metrics during the 4 seasons after injury. Results: A total of 671 players with adductor muscle injury were included. Based on time to RTP, 86% of injuries were mild to moderate (4-28 days missed), and 4% required surgical intervention. Players with adductor muscle injury were absent for a median of 22 days (range, 1-700 days) and 4 games (range, 1-76 games). A total of 521 (78%) players returned at the same level, with no demographic or clinical characteristics associated with RTP on the multivariable regression. Of those returning to play, 143 (21%) experienced adductor reinjury. After RTP, defenders demonstrated decreased field time compared with controls ( P < .05). As compared with controls, defenders and midfielders scored more points and goals per game during the season of the injury ( P < .01), while attackers recorded more goals and assists per game the season after injury ( P < .05). Conclusion: Only 3 in 4 players (78%) returned to participate in an official match, and the reinjury rate was high (21%). After RTP, defenders demonstrated decreased field time versus controls. On the other hand, defenders and midfielders recorded more points and goals per game, while attackers recorded more goals and assists per game versus controls. Although the multivariable analysis results did not identify player characteristics associated with RTP, there was a position-dependent association on player performance after RTP.

scholarly journals Return to Play and Player Performance After Meniscal Tear Among Elite-Level European Soccer Players: A Matched Cohort Analysis of Injuries From 2006 to 2016

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596712110595
Author(s):  
Ophelie Z. Lavoie-Gagne ◽  
Avinaash Korrapati ◽  
Julia Retzky ◽  
David N. Bernstein ◽  
Connor C. Diaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surgical Management ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Meniscal Tear ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Meniscal Tears ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Player Performance

Background: Meniscal injuries are extremely common in soccer athletes, and little is known about postrecovery performance. Purpose: To (1) identify characteristics associated with return to play (RTP) to the same league level and (2) evaluate long-term effects that injury and management approach may have on player performance. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Using publicly available records, we identified athletes who sustained meniscal tears across the 5 major European soccer leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, and Serie A) between 2006 and 2016. Injured athletes were matched to controls 1:2 by demographics and performance. Investigations included rate of RTP to the same league level, reinjury, player characteristics associated with RTP within 2 seasons, long-term availability, field time, and performance metrics standardized to 90 minutes of play during the next 4 seasons. Results: A total of 250 players sustaining meniscal tears were included, of which 106 (42%) received surgical management. Median absence was 57.5 days (interquartile range [IQR], 35-92) or 7 games (IQR, 4-12). Rate of RTP was 70%, and the reinjury rate 5% if a player could RTP. Age greater than 30 years was a negative predictor for RTP (odds ratio [OR], 0.62; P = .002), whereas higher preinjury goals per game (OR, 2.80; P = .04) and surgical management (OR, 1.38; P = .002) were positive predictors for RTP. Surgical management was associated with higher long-term availability ( P < .01). As compared with the control, there were no significant differences in field time or performance metrics after RTP, either overall or by player position. As compared with nonoperative management, defenders undergoing surgery demonstrated decreased field time. Attackers and midfielders demonstrated similar field time and performance regardless of management. Conclusion: RTP of elite soccer athletes sustaining meniscal tear is contingent on age, preinjury performance, and management approach. Those who RTP to the same league level can be expected to demonstrate equivalent field time, performance, and long-term availability as noninjured athletes.

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