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.