Low Vitamin D Level and Stress Fracture Risk...

A recent study found that reduced levels of vitamin D many be associated with an increased risk of stress fracture for active patients. In the study, they found 83% of patients with a stress fracture had insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels...

NCAA's Most Dangerous Sports...


A recent study analyzed data on NCAA athletes' injuries in 25 sports. The researchers studied data on over 1 million injuries over a fiver year period. The study concluded that football accounts for the most sports injuries each year and wrestling was the most dangerous. The study indicated wrestling poses the highest rate for injury for male college athletes.

Female Soccer Injuries: Concussions

With soccer becoming a more popular sport among girls, here are some important facts...

-for all women’s NCAA sports, soccer has the highest rate of concussions

-among all NCAA sports, women’s soccer is only second to men’s football in terms of concussion rates

-female soccer players have a higher concussion rate than men

-women tend to sustain concussions from head-to-ground and player-to-ball contact, while men sustain a greater proportion of concussions due to player-to-player contact

-females are predisposed to concussions compared to men due to smaller head-to-ball ratio, less neck girth, and less neck stiffness

-after concussion, women have different symptoms and more symptoms than men; females have more headache, fatigue, drowsiness, and noise sensitivity than males

Teenagers and Shoulder Dislocation...

A recent study of patients aged 10 to 16 years found that the rate of primary and recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations among 14- to 16-year-old patients was similar to that in a high-risk group of adults aged 17 to 20 years; the rate was considerable lower in patients aged 10 to 13 years. The study concluded that parents and clinicians should be aware male patients and those aged 14 to 16 years are at increased risk of recurrence after the nonoperative management of a primary anterior shoulder dislocation.

Tips for Avoiding Pitching Injury...

Major League Baseball has a list of risk factors and tips for avoiding injury on its Pitch Smart website. The league advises against:

Pitching while fatigued;

Throwing too many innings over the course of the year;

Not taking enough time off from baseball every year;

Pitching on consecutive days;

Excessive throwing when not pitching;

Playing for multiple teams at the same time;

Pitching with injuries to other body regions;

Not following proper strength and conditioning routines;

Not following safe practices while at showcases;

Throwing curveballs and sliders at a young age; and

Radar gun use

Fish Oil and Osteoarthritis...

 Osteoarthritis (OA) is the leading cause of disability in the United States, affecting more than 50 million people. Current treatments are targeted at reducing symptoms of the inflammatory reaction that occurs after destruction of essential joint cartilage. There are claims that fish oil can prevent or decrease the severity of OA. Lab studies have shown that components of fish oil can reduce proinflammatory mediators and increase joint lubrication in vitro. Also, canine studies have shown clinically significant reductions in various symptom parameters. However, results of human clinical trials have not been consistently significant. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to substantiate or refute the potential benefit of fish oils in OA treatment. Long-term studies are needed to assess the possibility of prevention. In addition, standardization of the fish oil industry is needed for consistency of therapy.

Am J Orthop. 2015;44(7):302-305.

Physical Activity and Your Mental Health...

Did you know being physically inactive is a risk factor for depression? A recent meta-analysis studied over 83,000 participants, and concluded that sedentary behavior is associated with increased risk of depression. Just one more reason to stay physically active...

Senior Athletes and Rotator Cuff Surgery...

A recent study showed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair may help elderly athletes return to sports. The data from this study suggest that arthroscopic rotator cuff repair may reduce pain and improve function among active elderly patients. The researchers collected information on 44 patients aged 70 years or older who were recreational athletes and who had undergone a primary or revision arthroscopic repair of full-thickness tears. At mean 3.6-year follow-up of 43 shoulders, they found significant improvements in both pain and function. In addition, 24 of 31 patients were able to return to their sport at a similar level of intensity to preinjury levels.

Only about half of athletes are at the top of their game after repeat ACL surgery...

A recent analysis of previous ACL reconstruction research suggests many athletes continue to play after multiple surgeries to fix a damaged knee ligament, but only about half of them perform as well as they did before their injury. This study examined data on athletes who had one surgery to address the ACL tear and then a second procedure to revise the surgery or address a new injury. After an average of 5 years, 84% of athletes still participated in sports, but only half of them returned to high level competition.

Overuse Injuries More Common in High School Females...

Young female athletes face greater risk for repetitive injuries than males. A recent study showed the highest overuse injury rate was found in girls who ran track. This was followed by field hockey and lacrosse. For boys, most overuse injuries occurred in swimmers and divers.

Concussions At Football Practice Too...

A recent study found football practice may be a major source of concussions, not games. Findings from a study suggest that football practice may be a major source of concussions. The authors reviewed injury data on about 20,000 players, collected by athletic trainers at youth, high school, and collegiate football practices and games. They found that the game concussion rate was higher than the practice concussion rate across all three competitive levels. However, due to the increased time spent in practice compared to games, the authors note that more than 57 percent of concussed high school and college players were injured at practice, not games.

Injury Prevention Programs Unpopular With High School Coaches...

Although injury prevention programs have been shown to help reduce leg and foot injuries in sports, less than 10% of high school coaches implement the programs as designed, according to a new survey.

Half of coaches are aware of the programs, but many believe they're too complex or do not offer an advantage over existing practices, researchers found.

ACL Reconstruction and Improved Function...

Study: ACL reconstruction surgery linked to improved function in younger patients.

A recent study found that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery may significantly improve physical health and function among younger patients. The research team evaluated 1,411 patients (median age at enrollment 23 years) enrolled in a prospective multicenter cohort. The research team noted that significant predictors of a higher outcomes score were a higher baseline score, younger age, lower baseline body mass index, having >50 percent of the lateral meniscus excised, or having no treatment done on a lateral meniscal tear. Significant predictors of lower scores were a shorter follow-up time since surgery, revision ACL reconstruction, smoking at baseline, fewer years of education, and chondromalacia of the lateral tibial plateau.

Meniscal Repair and PRP...

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) remains a hot topic in sports medicine... A recent study showed similar outcomes for meniscal repair with or without PRP... Data from a small study suggest little efficacy for the use of PRP in meniscal repair. The authors reviewed data from 26 isolated arthroscopic meniscus repairs. Of those, 11 were augmented with PRP, and 15 were performed without PRP augmentation. The authors write that during the study period, PRP was used for patients with meniscus tears in the setting of no anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. At mean 4-year follow-up, the authors found no significant difference across cohorts in reoperation, functional outcome measures (IKDC score, Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale), return to work, or return to sports. The authors point out that larger prospective studies may be needed to definitively determine whether PRP should be used with meniscal repair.

Ankle Sprains and Cartilage Injuries...

Ankle sprains have an estimated daily occurrence of 27,000 in the US. Up to 50% of acute ankle sprains and ankle fractures may lead to ankle cartilage injury. These injuries are commonly called osteochondral lesions. Such cartilage injury can lead to persistent pain and symptoms and eventually lead to osteoarthritis. Considering this, a persistently painful ankle after an ankle sprain requires further evaluation by an orthopaedic surgeon...