Association between Inter-Limb Asymmetries in Lower-Limb Functional Performance and Sport Injury: A Systematic Review of Prospective Cohort Studies

Background: Inter-limb asymmetry in lower-limb functional performance has been associated with increased risk of sport injury; however, findings are not always consistent. Purpose: To conduct a systematic review on whether inter-limb asymmetry in lower-limb functional performance can predict sport injury. Methods: Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and SportDiscus) were systematically searched for prospective cohort studies reporting the association between inter-limb asymmetry in lower-limb functional performance and sport injury. Results: A total of 28 prospective cohort studies were included in the analyses. Collectively, the findings were highly inconsistent, and a clear statement on the association between each asymmetry and sport injury was difficult. Conclusions: Highly inconsistent findings make it difficult to create clear recommendations on the relationship between the inter-limb asymmetry in lower-limb functional performance (power, muscle flexibility, and dynamic balance) and sport injury. The influence of potential factors (selection of tests/parameters, participant characteristics, definition of injury, and ways of calculating asymmetry) should be considered when using previous findings.

NFL COVID-19 Return to Sport Injury Prevalence Comparison

1. Purpose During the COVID 19 Pandemic, the NFL teams have been reported to have limited training sections in preparation for their games. This study compares the prevalence of injury during the 2018, 2019, and 2020 NFL seasons, with the aim to determine the potential causes of the differences in prevalence. 2. Method Official injury reports from each team were counted during the 17-week regular season of each year (2018, 2019, and 2020). The data was analyzed using an unpaired t-test to compare the injury prevalence between each of the three seasons. 3. Results The 2018 season produced a total of 1,561 injuries and a mean of 48.78 injuries per team. The 2019 season produced a total of 1,897 injuries and mean of 59.28 injuries per team, while the 2020 season produced a total of 2, 484 injuries and mean of 77.63 injuries per team. An unpaired t-test was performed using the data to compare the mean number of injuries per team of each of the seasons. Comparison of the 2020 season against the 2019 season showed a statistically significant difference (P=.0003). Comparison of the 2020 season to the 2018 season found a statistically significant difference (P=.0001). Comparison between the 2019 and the 2018 seasons found a statistically significant difference (P=.0314). Conclusion Although the 2019 and 2018 season showed a statistically significant difference (P=0.0314), this difference is not as astronomical when we compare the 2020 seasons vs 2019 and 2018 seasons (P=0.0003 and P=0.0001, respectively) (Figure 2). The astronomical increase in injury prevalence in the 2020 season over the previous years does raise the possibility that there was reduced physiological adaption to stress, due to the limited amount of training embarked on. The limited amount of training was the result of closure of practice facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. More physiological investigation involving players must be done at the professional and amateur levels to determine if there is a lack of physiological adaptation due to limited use of practice and training facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Content Validation Instrument Rating Factors Contributing to Low Back Pain in Sports

The purpose of this study was to test instruments for assessing the causes of back pain in sports. This research method uses evaluation methods. The research subject is a document. The content validity test used in this study is the expert judgment with the Delphi technique. Validation test uses Content Validity Ratio (CVR) which uses three experts.. The results of the study showed that the items and instrument indicators for assessing the causes of sport injuries on the back showed a high CVR value. The conclusion of the assessment instrument that causes back pain sport injury have high fill validity.This research aims to arrange the assessment instrument to the risk factors of back pain in sports.

Agility Score of Junior Soccer Athletes in Jakarta

Introduction: Agility score is important in setting the rehabilitation’s goal of injured athlete. More agility requirement needs more rehabilitation effort. The aim of this study is to measure the agility score of junior soccer athletes in Jakarta and compare the agility score based on athlete’s playing positions. Methods: Agility score of 65 junior athletes measured using T-Agility test. Subjects categorized based on playing positions which are defender, midfielder and forward. Mean agility score of each group was then compared. Data analyzed using descriptive analysis and one-way annova. Results: The mean agility score is 10.89 ± 0.47 seconds. The mean agility score in defender is 11.02 ± 0.51, midfielder 10.79 ± 0.41 and forward 10.73 ± 0.47. No significance statistical difference between the three groups (p=0,70). Conclusion: Agility score of junior soccer athletes in Jakarta using the T-Agility test is 10.89 ± 0.47 seconds and may illustrate the risk of sport injury. The forward soccer player has higher agility score compared to the midfielder and defender.