Advances in Sports Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Strategies

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2024 | Viewed by 4435

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Public Health, Rehabilitation Unit, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Interests: physical medicine and rehabilitation; musculoskeletal rehabilitation; sport rehabilitation; musculoskeletal ultrasound; ultrasound-guided injections; interventional physiatry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Anatomical and Histological Sciences, Legal Medicine and Orthopedics, Sapienza University, 00189 Rome, Italy
Interests: physical and rehabilitation medicine; cancer rehabilitation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that a physically active lifestyle and sport participation have the potential to improve health. However, sport participation can increase the risk of sustaining an injury. The most common traumatic injuries in team ball sports, such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, and field hockey, are ligament injuries of the ankle and knee, and overuse injuries, which mostly affect the groin area, represent 5%–10% of all sport-related injuries.

Therefore, sport injury prevention is crucial for maintaining a physically active lifestyle and even increasing sport participation, as well as for maximizing the related health and societal benefits. Moreover, because of the difficulty in implementing prevention protocols and translating them into real-world sport settings, injuries continue to occur. As a result, sport injury rehabilitation requires focused care and a highly structured and sport-specific approach that should prepare both the athlete and the injured tissue for the physical and psychological demands of practicing the sport.

Recently, interest in the issues of sport injury prevention and rehabilitation has increased, and numerous studies and systematic reviews have been performed to evaluate the efficacy of new preventive interventions on the risk of sport injuries and even on reducing the risk of recurrent injury.

In this Special Issue, we are pleased to invite researchers with expertise in the field and in these research areas to submit high-quality articles or reviews concerning new strategies for the prevention and rehabilitation of sport injuries.

Dr. Domiziano Tarantino
Dr. Francesco Agostini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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

  • sport injury prevention
  • sport injury rehabilitation
  • sport injury management
  • sport rehabilitation
  • sport medicine physical therapy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

8 pages, 238 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Vertical Jump Force–Time Metrics Between ACL-Injured and Healthy Semi-Professional Male and Female Soccer Players
by Dimitrije Cabarkapa, Damjana V. Cabarkapa, Andrew C. Fry, Yu Song, Thordis Gisladottir and Milos Petrovic
Sports 2024, 12(12), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12120339 - 6 Dec 2024
Viewed by 435
Abstract
Given the increasing use of innovative force plate systems in applied sports settings and the impact that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have on team success, the purpose of the present study was to compare the lower-body neuromuscular performance characteristics of athletes who [...] Read more.
Given the increasing use of innovative force plate systems in applied sports settings and the impact that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have on team success, the purpose of the present study was to compare the lower-body neuromuscular performance characteristics of athletes who underwent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) and their non-injured counterparts (i.e., healthy controls). Forty-five male (thirteen injured) and twenty-six female (ten injured) semi-professional soccer players volunteered to participate in the present study. Each athlete performed three countermovement vertical jumps (CMJs) while standing on a uniaxial force plate system sampling at 1000 Hz. The injured athletes completed a nine-month recovery protocol and were screened 11–13 months post-ACLR. The dependent variables included the force–time metrics within both the eccentric and concentric phases of the CMJ. Independent t-tests or Mann–Whitney U-test were used to examine statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in each variable (i.e., ACL-injured vs. healthy controls). The results revealed no significant between-group differences in any CMJ force–time metrics of interest (e.g., concentric peak force, eccentric mean power, countermovement depth) between ACL-injured and non-injured athletes, including inter-limb asymmetry measures (i.e., peak takeoff and landing force). Besides implying the effectiveness of the implemented rehabilitation protocol, these findings suggest that the CMJ may not present a sufficient neuromuscular performance stimulus needed to expose lower-limb asymmetries and strength and power deficiencies 11–13 months post-ACLR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Strategies)
16 pages, 1873 KiB  
Article
Assessing Brain Processing Deficits Using Neuropsychological and Vision-Specific Tests for Concussion
by Brent A. Harper and Rahul Soangra
Sports 2024, 12(5), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12050125 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1366
Abstract
Introduction: Since verbal memory and visual processing transpire within analogous cerebral regions, this study assessed (i) if a visual function can predict verbal memory performance. It also hypothesized whether neurocognitive (e.g., ImPACT) tests focusing on the Visual Memory and Cognitive Efficacy Index will [...] Read more.
Introduction: Since verbal memory and visual processing transpire within analogous cerebral regions, this study assessed (i) if a visual function can predict verbal memory performance. It also hypothesized whether neurocognitive (e.g., ImPACT) tests focusing on the Visual Memory and Cognitive Efficacy Index will predict Verbal Memory scores and (ii) if vision metrics and age can identify individuals with a history of concussion. Finally, it also hypothesized that King–Devick and near point of convergence scores alongside age considerations will identify candidates with a prior reported history of concussion. Materials and methods: This observational cohort assessed 25 collegiate ice hockey players prior to the competitive season considering age (19.76 ± 1.42 years) and BMI (25.9 ± 3.0 kg/cm2). Hypothesis 1 was assessed using a hierarchical (sequential) multiple regression analysis, assessing the predictive capacity of Visual Memory and Cognitive Efficacy Index scores in relation to Verbal Memory scores. Hypothesis 2 utilized a binomial logistic regression to determine if King–Devick and near point of convergence scores predict those with a prior history of concussion. Results: Hypothesis 1 developed two models, where Model 1 included Visual Memory as the predictor, while Model 2 added the Cognitive Efficacy Index as a predictor for verbal memory scores. Model 1 significantly explained 41% of the variance. Results from Model 2 suggest that the Cognitive Efficacy Index explained an additional 24.4%. Thus, Model 2 was interpreted where only the Cognitive Efficacy Index was a significant predictor (p = 0.001). For every 1 unit increase in the Cognitive Efficacy Index, Verbal Memory increased by 41.16. Hypothesis 2’s model was significant, accounting for 37.9% of the variance in those with a history of concussion. However, there were no significant unique predictors within the model as age (Wald = 1.26, p = 0.261), King–Devick (Wald = 2.31, p = 0.128), and near point of convergence (Wald = 2.43, p = 0.119) were not significant predictors individually. Conclusions: The conflicting findings of this study indicate that baseline data for those with a history of concussion greater than one year may not be comparable to the same metrics during acute concussion episodes. Young athletes who sustain a concussion may be able to overcompensate via the visual system. Future prospective studies with larger sample sizes are required using the proposed model’s objective metrics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Strategies)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 566 KiB  
Review
Rebuilding Stability: Exploring the Best Rehabilitation Methods for Chronic Ankle Instability
by Roberto Tedeschi, Vincenzo Ricci, Domiziano Tarantino, Luigi Tarallo, Fabio Catani and Danilo Donati
Sports 2024, 12(10), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12100282 - 17 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1842
Abstract
Background: Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) is a common condition characterized by repeated episodes of ankle “giving way” and impaired balance, leading to functional limitations. Various rehabilitation techniques, including balance training, proprioceptive exercises, whole-body vibration (WBV), and novel approaches like stroboscopic vision, are used [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) is a common condition characterized by repeated episodes of ankle “giving way” and impaired balance, leading to functional limitations. Various rehabilitation techniques, including balance training, proprioceptive exercises, whole-body vibration (WBV), and novel approaches like stroboscopic vision, are used to address these deficits. This review evaluates the effectiveness of different rehabilitation interventions for CAI management. Methods: A review was conducted by analyzing 11 randomized controlled trials that investigated the impact of balance and proprioceptive training programs on CAI. The primary outcomes assessed were the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM). Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale, and the risk of bias was evaluated with the ROB 2 tool. Results: All rehabilitation interventions demonstrated significant improvements in SEBT, CAIT, and FAAM scores. However, no single intervention was found to be consistently superior. Traditional balance training, strength exercises, BAPS, and WBV all provided meaningful functional gains. Stroboscopic vision training showed similar effectiveness compared to conventional approaches. The evidence supports a combination of balance and strength training for optimal recovery. Conclusions: Balance and proprioceptive exercises are effective in managing CAI, with improvements in both dynamic stability and subjective outcomes. No intervention stands out as the best, but personalized programs incorporating various methods are recommended. Future research should explore the long-term effects and potential synergies of combined interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Strategies)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop