scholarly journals Epidemiology of Traumatic Posterior Hip Instability in the National Football League

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596712110672
Author(s):  
Jakob Ackermann ◽  
Vishal Saxena ◽  
Jim Whalen ◽  
Christina D. Mack ◽  
Mackenzie Herzog ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Football League ◽  
American Football ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Record System ◽  
Hip Instability ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
Full Participation ◽  
Injury Treatment

Background: There is a paucity of literature regarding injury incidence, mechanism, and return to play in National Football League (NFL) players who have sustained traumatic posterior hip instability. Purpose: To describe the incidence of traumatic posterior hip instability and the rate of return to play in NFL players across 18 seasons. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: We retrospectively assessed all traumatic posterior hip dislocations/subluxations that occurred during football-related activities in the NFL seasons from 2000 through 2017. Player demographics and injury data (injury mechanism, season of injury, treatment, days missed, and return to play time) were collected from all 32 NFL teams prospectively through a leaguewide electronic health record system. Descriptive statistics are presented. Results: Across the 18 NFL seasons, 16 posterior hip instability injuries in 14 players were reported, with a maximum incidence of 4 (25%) in 2013. Posterior hip instability was predominantly sustained by offensive players (64.3%), with tight ends being the most affected (31.3%). Half of the injuries occurred during the regular season, 43.8% in the preseason, and 6.2% in the offseason. Of all injuries, 37.5% were noncontact, while 56.3% involved contact (direct or indirect), and 6.2% were of unknown mechanism. Among noncontact injuries, 66.7% occurred during cutting and change of direction while sprinting. The time of return to full participation was documented for 11 of the 16 reported injuries (68.8%); among them, the mean time loss was 136.7 ± 83.8 days—143.3 ± 99.6 days if the player underwent surgery (n = 4) and 116.7 ± 76.2 days missed by players without surgery (n = 6)—the treatment modality was unknown in 1 player. Conclusion: Although the incidence of traumatic posterior hip instability during the study period was low, all injured athletes missed time from football activities and competitions. Injuries that required surgery led to more missed time than those that did not. Ongoing research to understand risk factors and mechanisms of this injury, in conjunction with improvements to prevention and rehabilitation protocols, is necessary to ensure the safety of professional American football players.

scholarly journals Misconceptions in NFL Injuries: A Study on the Achilles

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473011419S0035
Author(s):  
Lauren V. Ready ◽  
Neill Y. Li ◽  
Samantha J. Worobey ◽  
Nicholas J. Lemme ◽  
JaeWon Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Football League ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
American Football ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Field Representation ◽  
Career Length ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

Category: Sports, Trauma, Ankle, Achilles Introduction/Purpose: Injuries are an ever-present entity in the National Football League, with recent research highlighting American football with the highest injury incidence among all major sports. A torn Achilles can sideline a player for six to twelve months and reduce their power rankings by over fifty percent. Within Achilles tears, there was a focus on comparing rookie rates to the rest of the players, examining tear rates for different game conditions and studying the day of the week the injury occurred. Due to the impact of the injury and limited research, we sought to examine Achilles tears in the NFL from 2009-2016 to identify trends correlating tears with game and player demographics. Methods: NFL players with a diagnosed Achilles tear between 2009 and 2016 were selected as the study population for this retrospective analysis. Data on NFL injury was collected from an established database, previously comprised of publicly available athlete information. NFL player profiles were then employed to determine position, team and game statistics at time of injury. Injury rates were calculated as a percentage of total league games on Thursdays and Sundays. The proportion of rookies in the NFL was approximated by summing the number of draft picks and the number of signed, undrafted free agents and measured against the total number of roster spots before the commencement of the season. Game surface was discerned at time of injury by consulting a timeline of the field surfaces and cross referencing the date of the game. Game conditions, such as weather and temperature, were discerned from the game logs published on the NFL website. Results: There were 101 documented Achilles tears. Sixty-four percent (65/101) occurred before the official season, in training or pre-season games. Only 1% (1/101) of tears occurring during post-season play-offs. Twenty-nine percent (19/65) of the pre- season tears occurred in rookies and 97% (35/36) of the in-season game tears affected non-rookies. Thirty-six percent (36/101) of all documented tears occurred in undrafted free agents. Of players with Achilles tear, 58.41% (59/101) returned to play in the NFL after injury. Despite an average age of 26.7 years, the tear distribution was bimodal with players, ages 24 and 36, exhibited the highest rates of tear. With regard to tears during games, 43.18% occurred on grass and 56.82% occurred on turf. These values mirror their field representation in games. The average game temperature was 67.04 degrees Fahrenheit with wide stratification (range: 1-91 degrees). When examining rate of tears for players during away versus home games, there was not a significant difference of note; of the 45 in-game tears, 21 (46.67%) occurred in home games and 24 (53.33%) during away games. Conclusion: In our focused analysis of the Achilles in NFL athletes, we show no significant difference in tear rates when comparing grass and artificial turf surfaces and in comparing Thursday and Sunday games. When reviewing experience level, a large percent of the tears occurred in rookie players, especially during the pre-season, despite these players making up less than a quarter of the athletes. We also show that tears were not restricted to certain weather conditions. When analyzing career length post tear, most players that returned to play continued to perform at a high level. This challenges the perception of AT tear as a career-ending injury.

scholarly journals Management of Elbow Dislocations in the National Football League

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 232596711875545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward S. Chang ◽  
Meghan E. Bishop ◽  
Christopher C. Dodson ◽  
Peter F. Deluca ◽  
Michael G. Ciccotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Football League ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Professional Athlete ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Injury Surveillance System ◽  
Full Participation ◽  
The Mean

Background: Although much literature exists regarding the treatment and management of elbow dislocations in the general population, little information is available regarding management in the athletic population. Furthermore, no literature is available regarding the postinjury treatment and timing of return to play in the contact or professional athlete. Purpose: To review the clinical course of elbow dislocations in professional football players and determine the timing of return to full participation. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All National Football League (NFL) athletes with elbow dislocations from 2000 through 2011 who returned to play during the season were identified from the NFL Injury Surveillance System (NFL ISS). Roster position, player activity, use of external bracing, and clinical course were reviewed. Mean number of days lost until full return to play was determined for players with elbow dislocations who returned in the same season. Results: From 2000 to 2011, a total of 62 elbow dislocations out of 35,324 injuries were recorded (0.17%); 40 (64.5%) dislocations occurred in defensive players, 12 (19.4%) were in offensive players; and 10 (16.1%) were during special teams play. Over half of the injuries (33/62, 53.2%) were sustained while tackling, and 4 (6.5%) patients required surgery. A total of 47 (75.8%) players who sustained this injury were able to return in the same season. For this group, the mean number of days lost in players treated conservatively (45/47) was 25.1 days (median, 23.0 days; range, 0.0-118 days), while that for players treated operatively (2/47) was 46.5 days (median, 46.5 days; range, 29-64 days). Mean return to play based on player position was 25.8 days for defensive players (n = 28; median, 21.5 days; range, 3.0-118 days), 24.1 days for offensive players (n = 11; median, 19 days; range, 2.0-59 days), and 25.6 days for special teams players (n = 8; median, 25.5 days; range, 0-44 days). Conclusion: Elbow dislocations comprise less than a half of a percent of all injuries sustained in the NFL. Most injuries occur during the act of tackling, with the majority of injured athletes playing a defensive position. Players treated nonoperatively missed a mean of 25.1 days, whereas those managed operatively missed a mean of 46.5 days.

scholarly journals Effect of Concussions on National Football League Quarterback Performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Elizabeth C. Heintz ◽  
Emily F. Foret ◽  
Jeremy J. Foreman
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Field Performance ◽  
American Football ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Career Outcomes ◽  
Neurocognitive Performance ◽  
Player Performance

Background: Sports-related concussion (SRC) rates are higher in American football than any other sport; therefore, the effects of SRCs on professional football players is a prevalent topic. Previous research has shown that sustaining an SRC has negative financial and overall career outcomes for athletes and may cause performance decrements after an athlete returns to play, however, the results of previous research regarding athlete performance after returning from an SRC are mixed. While some studies found that player performance in the National Football League (NFL) was unaffected upon returning from an SRC, evidence also suggests significant scoring reductions in offensive players. Although previous research has found that NFL running backs and wide receivers perform at levels similar to their performance before sustaining an SRC, little is known about quarterback performance after an SRC. There is also evidence that SRCs decrease neurocognitive performance, a quality that is crucial, especially for quarterbacks. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine changes in NFL quarterback performances upon return to play from an SRC. Method: Quarterback ratings (QBRs) and concussion data from 2012-2015 were used to determine if changes occurred in NFL quarterback performance following an SRC. Results: QBRs decreased by 13.3 points (p = 0.014) after quarterbacks return from an SRC. Conclusions: Changes in on-field performance for NFL quarterbacks after sustaining an SRC could be the result of neurocognitive decrements that impact quick reaction and decision-making skills, which may have greater impacts on quarterbacks than other positions.

scholarly journals Lower Extremity Compartment Syndrome in National Football League Athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-202
Author(s):  
Joseph D. Lamplot ◽  
Dean Wang ◽  
Leigh J. Weiss ◽  
Michael Baum ◽  
Kristina Zeidler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Compartment Syndrome ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Injury Surveillance System ◽  
Record System

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of lower extremity compartment syndrome in National Football League (NFL) athletes and report the mechanisms of injury, methods of treatment, and subsequent days missed. We review the existing literature on lower extremity compartment syndrome in athletic populations. Hypothesis: Lower extremity compartment syndrome occurs with a low incidence in NFL athletes, and there is a high return-to-play rate after surgical management of acute compartment syndrome. Study Design: Case series. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: A retrospective review of recorded cases of lower extremity compartment syndrome from 2000 to 2017 was performed using the NFL Injury Surveillance System and electronic medical record system. Epidemiological data, injury mechanism, rates of surgery, and days missed due to injury were recorded. Results: During the study period, 22 cases of leg compartment syndrome in 21 athletes were recorded. Of these injuries, 50% occurred in games and 73% were the result of a direct impact to the leg. Concomitant tibial fracture was noted in only 2 cases (9.1%) and there was only 1 reported case of chronic exertional compartment syndrome. Surgery was documented in 15 of 22 cases (68.2%). For acute nonfracture cases, the average time missed due to injury was 24.2 days (range, 5-54 days), and all were able to return to full participation within the same season. Conclusion: NFL athletes with acute leg compartment syndrome treated with surgery exhibited a high rate of return to play within the same season. Clinical Relevance: Although compartment syndrome is a relatively rare diagnosis among NFL players, team physicians and athletic trainers must maintain a high index of suspicion to expediently diagnose and treat this potentially limb-threatening condition.

scholarly journals Padded Headgear does not Reduce the Incidence of Match Concussions in Professional Men’s Rugby Union: A Case-control Study of 417 Cases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith A. Stokes ◽  
Matthew Cross ◽  
Sean Williams ◽  
Carly McKay ◽  
Brent E. Hagel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Head Injuries ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Rugby Union ◽  
Return To Play ◽  
Injury Incidence ◽  
Video Footage ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Nested Case Control

AbstractConcussion is the most common match injury in rugby union. Some players wear padded headgear, but whether this protects against concussion is unclear. In professional male rugby union players, we examined: (i) the association between the use of headgear and match concussion injury incidence, and (ii) whether wearing headgear influenced time to return to play following concussion. Using a nested case-control within a cohort study, four seasons (2013–2017) of injury data from 1117 players at the highest level of rugby union in England were included. Cases were physician-diagnosed concussion injuries. Controls were other contact injuries (excluding all head injuries). We determined headgear use by viewing video footage. Sixteen percent of cases and controls wore headgear. Headgear use had no significant effect on concussion injury incidence (adjusted odds ratio=1.05, 95% CI: 0.71–1.56). Median number of days absent for concussion whilst wearing headgear was 8 days, compared with 7 days without headgear. Having sustained a concussion in the current or previous season increased the odds of concussion more than four-fold (odds ratio=4.55, 95% CI: 3.77–5.49). Wearing headgear was not associated with lower odds of concussions or a reduced number of days' absence following a concussion.

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

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.

scholarly journals Relationship between Asymmetries Measured on Different Levels in Elite Basketball Players

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1436
Author(s):  
Filip Ujaković ◽  
Nejc Šarabon
Keyword(s):  
Return To Play ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
Change Of Direction ◽  
Vertical Jumping ◽  
Hip Abduction ◽  
Golden Standard ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Skill Change ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Complex Movement

In this study, we investigated the association of magnitude and agreement in direction between asymmetries measured on single-joint (hip and trunk), complex movement (jumping), and skill (change of direction (CoD)) levels. The study sample comprised 43 junior- and senior-level (age = 20.5 ± 6.0 years; height = 194.5 ± 7.2 cm; body mass = 86.8 ± 10.1 kg) elite male basketball players. Both limbs/sides were tested in hip and trunk isometric strength; passive range of motion (RoM); unilateral, horizontal, and vertical jumping; and CoD tests, from which asymmetry indexes were calculated. The associations between asymmetry magnitudes were calculated with Spearman’s ρ correlation coefficient. The agreement between the direction of asymmetries on different levels was calculated with Cohen’’s Kappa (κ) coefficient. The average magnitude of asymmetry varied substantially (2.9–40.3%). Most associations between asymmetry magnitudes measured on different levels were small and statistically non-significant, with a few exceptions of moderate and large associations. Asymmetry in single-leg countermovement jump parameters was strongly associated with hip abduction maximal strength (ρ = 0.58 and 0.50, p < 0.01). Agreement between asymmetry directions was slight to fair, with a few moderate exceptions. Results indicate that multiple tests are needed to obtain a comprehensive picture of athletes’ asymmetries and that universal thresholds and golden standard tests for return to play should be reconsidered and reinvestigated.

Effect of Turf Toe on Foot Contact Pressures in Professional American Football Players

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 405-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Brophy ◽  
Seth C. Gamradt ◽  
Scott J. Ellis ◽  
Ronnie P. Barnes ◽  
Scott A. Rodeo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Peak Pressure ◽  
American Football ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Plantar Pressures ◽  
History Of ◽  
Turf Toe ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Contact Pressures

Background: The relationship between turf toe and plantar foot pressures has not been extensively studied. Two hypotheses were tested in a cohort of professional American football players: first, that a history of turf toe is associated with increased peak hallucal and first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) plantar pressures; second, that decreased range of motion (ROM) of the first MTP correlates with increased peak hallucal and first MTP plantar pressures. Materials and Methods: Forty-four athletes from one National Football League (NFL) team were screened for a history of turf toe during preseason training. Dorsal passive MTP ROM and dynamic plantar pressures were measured in both feet of each player. Anatomical masking was used to assess peak pressure at the first MTP and hallux. Results: First MTP dorsiflexion was significantly lower in halluces with a history of turf toe (40.6 ± 15.1 degrees versus 48.4 ± 12.8 degrees, p = 0.04). Peak hallucal pressures were higher in athletes with turf toe (535 ± 288 kPa versus 414 ± 202 kPa, p = 0.05) even after normalizing for athlete body mass index ( p = 0.0003). Peak MTP pressure was not significantly different between the two groups tested. First MTP dorsiflexion did not correlate with peak hallucal or first MTP pressures. Conclusion: This study showed that turf toe is associated with decreased MTP motion. In addition, increased peak hallucal pressures were found. Further study is warranted to determine whether these pressures correlate with the severity of symptoms or progression of turf toe to first MTP arthritis.

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