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Healthcare
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Common Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation
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Common Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 3165

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Monica Solana-Tramunt

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. SAFE Research Group, FPCEE Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
2. Physiotherapist & Strength and Conditioning of the Spanish Swimming National Team, 28007 Madrid, Spain
3. Department of Sports Sciences, Ramon Llull University, FPCEE Blanquerna, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
4. Royal Spanish Swimming Federation, 28007 Madrid, Spain
Interests: injury prevention; athletes; return to play; asymmetries; range of movement; strength and conditioning; sports; overhead athletes; recovery strategies; rehabilitation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, high-performance sports have become the hobby of large masses of the population. More and more amateur sports are reaching very high participation rates, and the level of training of their practitioners is getting closer to the volumes and intensities more typical of elite athletes. However, the growing population of new “high-performance” amateur athletes does not have the support resources that elite athletes have, so the incidence of injury in this growing group is much higher. In addition, there is little scientific evidence about which are the best physical therapy or strength and conditioning programs for the prevention and rehabilitation of sports-specific injuries that are reaching high rates of participation and popularity. In this Special Issue, we encourage researchers to present studies on types of treatments, exercise, or strength and conditioning programs for the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries in various sports. We seek fundamentally experimental studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods or programs aimed at the prevention of specific injuries in sports. This new approach is characterized by advanced research methods such as prospective longitudinal designs, random controlled trials, meta-analyses, innovative technologies, and the application of these methods and technologies in “special needs” groups, including all kinds of athlete populations. Papers addressing these topics are invited for this Special Issue, especially those combining a high academic standard with a practical focus on providing optimal injury prevention solutions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Monica Solana-Tramunt
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • injury prevention
  • athletes
  • return to play
  • asymmetries
  • range of movement
  • strength and conditioning
  • sports
  • overhead athletes
  • recovery strategies
  • rehabilitation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1194 KiB  
Article
College-to-NFL Stadium Turf Transitions as a Risk Factor for Lower Extremity Non-Contact Injuries in Rookie Players: A 13-Year Cohort Analysis
by Bahman Adlou, John Grace, Christopher Wilburn and Wendi Weimar
Healthcare 2025, 13(12), 1415; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121415 - 13 Jun 2025
Viewed by 277
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Lower extremity non-contact injuries (LE-NCIs) pose a significant burden on the National Football League (NFL), with ongoing debates regarding playing surface safety. The stressful college-to-professional transition period for rookies, which can include adapting to new playing surfaces, may influence injury susceptibility. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Lower extremity non-contact injuries (LE-NCIs) pose a significant burden on the National Football League (NFL), with ongoing debates regarding playing surface safety. The stressful college-to-professional transition period for rookies, which can include adapting to new playing surfaces, may influence injury susceptibility. This study aimed to determine whether the transition in a home stadium turf type (natural grass, artificial, and hybrid) from the final college season to the rookie NFL season impacts LE-NCI likelihood. Methods: A retrospective cohort study analyzed 826 first and second-round NFL draft picks from 2012 to 2024. Data on college/NFL home surfaces (defining six transition types), position group, college training surface access, and rookie season LE-NCIs were collected from public sources. Competing risk analysis was used to estimate the cumulative LE-NCI incidence. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between turf transition and LE-NCI risk, adjusting for position, draft cohort, and college training access. Results: During their rookie season, 21.2% (175/826) of players sustained an LE-NCI. Skill position players had significantly higher adjusted odds of LE-NCI compared to hybrid players (AOR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.20–2.97; p = 0.006). No specific turf transition category showed a statistically significant association with LE-NCI risk compared to the Grass-to-Grass reference in adjusted models. College training surface access was also not significantly associated with risk (AOR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.65–1.45; p = 0.874). Cumulative LE-NCI incidence reached 33.1% by season end, with risk accelerating between weeks 4 and 10. Conclusions: Home stadium turf-type transition from college to the NFL was not significantly associated with LE-NCI risk in this rookie cohort, suggesting that surface transitions may not be a primary risk factor during the professional transition period. However, our analysis revealed significant position-dependent injury patterns (skill players: AOR = 1.88) and a temporal clustering of injuries between weeks 4 and 10, indicating that rookie LE-NCI prevention strategies should prioritize position-specific interventions and enhanced monitoring during the early- to mid-season high-risk period rather than surface transition-based approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Common Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation)
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13 pages, 557 KiB  
Article
Injury Risk and Overall Well-Being During the Menstrual Cycle in Elite Adolescent Team Sports Athletes
by Azahara Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe, Montse Pujol-Marzo, Rai Milà, Berta Campos, Oriol Nevot-Casas, Pep Casadevall-Sayeras and Javier Peña
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1154; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101154 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 1024
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The impact of the menstrual cycle on the well-being and injury risk of young elite female athletes is poorly understood. This study assessed how the menstrual cycle phase influences perceived well-being and injury risk among young elite female team athletes aged 14–18 [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The impact of the menstrual cycle on the well-being and injury risk of young elite female athletes is poorly understood. This study assessed how the menstrual cycle phase influences perceived well-being and injury risk among young elite female team athletes aged 14–18 throughout a season. Methods: Wellness data, time-loss injuries, and menstrual cycle information were prospectively recorded for 59 young elite female team players throughout one season. The menstrual cycle was categorized into four phases using a standardized model: early follicular (menstruation), late follicular, early luteal, and late luteal (pre-menstrual) phases. Results: Significant differences were observed in wellness data, especially in sleep and fatigue, with poorer sleep quality and greater fatigue reported during the early luteal and late luteal (pre-menstrual) phases (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle was significantly associated with a higher incidence of sports injuries, particularly for joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injuries (p = 0.024 and p = 0.040, respectively). Conclusions: In elite female team athletes, poor sleep, increased fatigue, and elevated injury risk were significantly observed during the luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (early and pre-menstrual). These findings emphasize the importance of individualized monitoring and adaptive training strategies to mitigate the physiological effects of the menstrual cycle on athletic performance and injury risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Common Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation)
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19 pages, 4233 KiB  
Article
Muscle Recruitment and Asymmetry in Bilateral Shoulder Injury Prevention Exercises: A Cross-Sectional Comparison Between Tennis Players and Non-Tennis Players
by Maite Terré and Mònica Solana-Tramunt
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101153 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 524
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Shoulder injuries are common in overhead sports like tennis due to repetitive unilateral movements that can lead to muscle imbalances. This study aimed to compare muscle recruitment and asymmetry during bilateral shoulder injury prevention exercises (performed with both arms simultaneously) in tennis [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Shoulder injuries are common in overhead sports like tennis due to repetitive unilateral movements that can lead to muscle imbalances. This study aimed to compare muscle recruitment and asymmetry during bilateral shoulder injury prevention exercises (performed with both arms simultaneously) in tennis players versus non-tennis athletes. Methods: Thirty-nine athletes (sixteen tennis players, twenty-three non-tennis athletes) performed two bilateral scapular retraction exercises at 45° and 90° shoulder abduction. Surface electromyography (sEMG) recorded the activation of the middle and lower trapezius. Root Mean Square (RMS), peak RMS and muscle symmetry indices were analyzed. Results: Tennis players showed significantly lower trapezius activation, especially during prone retraction at 90°. Muscle symmetry was slightly higher in tennis players at 90°, but asymmetry increased at 45°, suggesting angle-specific adaptations. Conclusions: Repetitive asymmetric loading in tennis may reduce the activation of scapular stabilizers and contribute to muscular imbalances. Including targeted bilateral exercises in training may help improve scapular muscle function and reduce injury risk in overhead athletes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Common Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation)
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12 pages, 241 KiB  
Article
Examination of Non-Specific Low Back Pain, Pain Perceptions and Disability Between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Boxing Athletes
by Anna Christakou, Elena Karvouni, Ioannis S. Benetos, Dimitrios S. Evangelopoulos and Spyridon G. Pneumaticos
Healthcare 2025, 13(5), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050447 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 702
Abstract
Background: Non-specific low back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. The present study investigates non-specific low back pain, pain perceptions and disability due to pain among Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Boxing athletes. Methods: The study included [...] Read more.
Background: Non-specific low back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. The present study investigates non-specific low back pain, pain perceptions and disability due to pain among Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and Boxing athletes. Methods: The study included 90 amateur athletes (aged 18–45 years; M = 28.97, SD = 5.88). The athletes completed the valid and reliable Pain Beliefs Perceptions Inventory (PBPI), the Quebec Pain Disability Scale (QPDS) and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) which includes the Visual Analogue Scale (10 cm VAS 0–10 rating system) and the Present Pain Intensity index (PPI). Results: The results revealed that the majority of athletes rated their pain as low (SF-MPQ: M = 12.34, SD = 8.91; VAS: M = 1.65, SD = 1.82; PPI: M = 2.10, SD = 1.08) with low disability due to pain (QPDS: M = 18.98, SD = 22.71). Also, the majority of athletes disagreed that their pain was mysterious or persistent with high duration (PBPI: M = 1.43, SD = 2.23). Between the three martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes showed statistically significantly (a) higher emotional and sensational pain intensity (x2(2) = 15.73; p < 0.001; x2(2) = 19.34; p < 0.001), (b) higher disability due to pain (x2(2)= 25.30; p < 0.001) and (c) more mysterious, more persistent pain with more duration (x2(2)= 9.32; p < 0.05) than Muay Thai and Boxing athletes. Also, a few correlations were found between age and pain perception only in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Boxing martial arts athletes. Conclusions: Further research is required to elucidate the biomechanical and psychological factors contributing to these differences between martial arts athletes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Common Sports Injuries and Rehabilitation)
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