Past-season, pre-season and in-season risk assessment of groin problems in male football players: a prospective full-season study

ObjectiveWe assessed past-season, pre-season and in-season risk factors to investigate their association with an in-season groin problem in male amateur football players.MethodsPast-season groin-pain information and pre-season short-lever and long-lever adductor squeeze strength were obtained at baseline, together with anthropometrics (weight, lower limb lever length) and player age. In-season hip-related and groin-related sporting function was monitored every 4 weeks using the Sports and Recreation (Sport) subscale from the Hip And Groin Outcome Score questionnaire (HAGOS (Sport)). Groin problems, including time-loss groin injuries and groin pain irrespective of time loss, were collected over a 39-week competitive in-season. We estimated relative risk (RR), and 95% credibility interval (ICr) from logistic regressions fitted in a Bayesian framework.ResultsPlayers (n=245) suffering from groin pain during the past-season had 2.4 times higher risk of experiencing a groin problem in the new season (2.40 RR; 95% ICr 1.5 to 3.7). This risk was reduced by 35% (0.65 RR; 95% ICr 0.42 to 0.99) per unit (N·m/kg) increase in the long-lever adductor squeeze test. Player age, short-lever squeeze test and the HAGOS (Sport) scores were not associated with the risk of a groin problem.ConclusionsPast-season groin pain increased the risk of a groin problem in the new in-season. This risk was reduced by higher pre-season long-lever adductor squeeze strength. Past-season groin-pain information and long-lever adductor squeeze strength can be quickly obtained during pre-season to identify players with an elevated risk of in-season groin problems. This may be key to reduce these problems in the new season.

Knowledge and attitudes of us adults regarding COVID-19

This was a survey of the general non-healthcare-worker USA population regarding their knowledge and attitudes toward the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost everyone practiced social distancing. Women were significantly more likely to be worried about contracting the virus than men (65% vs. 43%, p = 0.0272). There was also a linear trend with age, with older Americans being more worried about contracting the virus. Women were also significantly likely to have received the influenza vaccine this past season compared to men (60% vs. 37%, p = .0167). Similarly, women were significantly more likely to get the influenza vaccine next season than men (77% vs. 46%, p = .0014.). Overall, across every age group, geographic part of the USA and gender, more (or the same) Americans plan on getting the influenza vaccine next season compared to last, but not fewer. This may reflect more awareness of preventative health brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preseason Adductor Squeeze Strength in 303 Spanish Male Soccer Athletes: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Hip adductor muscle weakness and a history of groin injury both have been identified as strong risk factors for sustaining a new groin injury. Current groin pain and age have been associated with hip adductor strength. These factors could be related, but this has never been investigated. Purpose: To investigate whether soccer athletes with past-season groin pain and with different durations of past-season groin pain had lower preseason hip adductor squeeze strength compared with those without past-season groin pain. We also investigated whether differences in preseason hip adductor squeeze strength in relation to past-season groin pain and duration were influenced by current groin pain and age. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: In total, 303 male soccer athletes (mean age, 23 ± 4 years; mean weight, 74.0 ± 7.9 kg; mean height, 178.1 ± 6.3 cm) were included in this study. Self-reported data regarding current groin pain, past-season groin pain, and duration were collected. Hip adductor squeeze strength was obtained using 2 different reliable testing procedures: (1) the short-lever (resistance placed between the knees, feet at the examination bed, and 45° of hip flexion) and (2) the long-lever (resistance placed between the ankles and 0° of hip flexion) squeeze tests. Results: There was no difference between those with (n = 123) and without (n = 180) past-season groin pain for hip adductor squeeze strength when adjusting for current groin pain and age. However, athletes with past-season groin pain lasting longer than 6 weeks (n = 27) showed 11.5% and 15.3% lower values on the short-lever ( P = .006) and long-lever ( P < .001) hip adductor squeeze strength tests, respectively, compared with those without past-season groin pain. Conclusion: Male soccer athletes with past-season groin pain lasting longer than 6 weeks are likely to begin the next season with a high-risk groin injury profile, including a history of groin pain and hip adduction weakness.

Survival Strategies in New York Theatres

IN THE SEASON of 1893–94, theatregoers in New York would hardly have realized that ‘Broadway’, as a theatre centre, had just come into being. In fact, 1900 would seem a more appropriate date, but business in the commercial theatre in recent seasons has been so hazardous that the League of American Theatres decided to jump-start the past season with a putative centenary salute, ‘Celebrate Broadway: 100 Years in Times Square’. It was a brave attempt and resulted at least in some interesting historical exhibits. Unfortunately, these only served to remind the viewers of Broadway's glory-days years ago.

INTEGRATING DAIRYING WITH DAIRY BEEF AS A DIVERSIFICATION OPTION IN THE SOUTHERN SOUTH ISLAND

The integration of dairy beef with daitying in the southern South Island is a successful means of increasing stocking rates to maximise pasture utilisation when an increase in dairy cow numbers is not practical or economic. However the 1987-88 gross margins illustrate the vagaries of the beef market and the significant effect the schedule can have on the viability of integrating dairy beef even though there was considerable optimism at the start of the dairy season. In previous years the gross margin for bull beef, when the schedule has been about $2.OO/kg was closer to $lOOO/ha During the past season the nursecow option looks the most favourable in economic terms, allows for more management flexibility than bull beef and achieves the aim of maximising pasture utilisation. Keywords: dairy beef, dairying, bull beef