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THE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR THE UPPER EXTREMITY IN THE OVERHEAD ATHLETE. Alberta FG, ElAttrache NS, et al. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2010;38(5) May:903-911

Based on the results of a pilot questionnaire administered to 21

overhead athletes, a final 10-item questionnaire was developed. Two hundred and eighty- two healthy, competitive overhead athletes completed the new questionnaire, as well as two established upper extremity questionnaires, and were self-assigned into injury categories: (1) playing without pain, (2) playing with pain, and (3) not playing due to pain. Correlations between the scores and differences between injury categories were measured. Responsiveness testing was performed in an additional group of 55 injured

INTRINSIC RISK FACTORS FOR HAMSTRING INJURIES AMONG MALE SOCCER PLAYERS. A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY. Engebretsen AH, Myklebust G, et al. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2010;38(6):1147-1153 A total of 508 players representing 31 amateur teams were tested during the 2004 preseason for potential risk factors for hamstring injury through a questionnaire on previous injury and function score (Hamstring Outcome Score (HaOS)), a clinical examination of the hamstring and specific hamstring relevant tests. During the soccer season, 76 hamstring injuries, affecting 65 legs (61 players), were registered. Analyses revealed previous acute hamstring injury as the most important risk factor for injuries to the hamstring.

sportEX comment Previously injured players have more than twice as high a risk of sustaining a

new hamstring injury. Is this because they have an underlying weakness or because the original injury is not being rehabbed fully before return to play?

LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF AUTOLOGOUS CHONDROCYTE IMPLANTATION A MULTICENTER, OBSERVATIONAL STUDY IN US PATIENTS. J. Bruce

Moseley JB Jr, Anderson AF, et al. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2010;38(2):238-246

Autologous chondrocyte implantation has demonstrated good short- to midterm clinical improvement. The long-term durability (>5 years) of autologous chondrocyte implantation for full-thickness lesions of the distal femur has not been evaluated in US patients to date.

The hypothesis behind this study was that patients who improve from baseline to early follow-up will sustain improvement at later follow-up. The study involved 72 patients mean age 37 years; mean lesion size, 5.2 cm2

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and a poor overall condition score, with full-thickness distal femur lesions who

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were treated with autologous chondrocyte implantation before December 31, 1996. Baseline was 1- to 5-year follow-up and there was a re-evaluation at 6- to 10-years. The autologous chondrocyte implantation durability was determined by comparing early (1–5 years) to long-term (6–10 years) outcomes. Adverse events and treatment failures were recorded.

The results were that 87% who improved at the earlier follow-up period sustained a mean improvement in overall condition score from baseline to the later follow-up period. From baseline to 10-year follow-up (mean follow-up, 9.2 years), 69% improved, 17% failed, and 12.5% reported no change from baseline. Most failures (75%) occurred at a mean follow- up of 2.5 years.

sportEX comment This treatment is becoming popular

with sports people. The conclusion is that early improvement can be sustained at longer follow-up (up to 10 years) in the majority of patients.

athletes, comparing their scores before and after an intervention. The new score showed high correlation with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score and the DASH sports/ performing arts module. The new score correctly stratified overhead athletes by injury category. The new score also demonstrated excellent responsiveness, varying appropriately with improvements in injury category after treatment of injuries.

sportEX comment So, a useful tool then.

PREDICTORS OF RUNNING- RELATED INJURIES IN NOVICE RUNNERS ENROLLED IN A SYSTEMATIC TRAINING PROGRAM. A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY. Buist I,

Bredeweg SW et al, American Journal of Sports Medicine 2010;38(2) Feb:273-280

Participants were 532 novice runners (226 men, 306 women) preparing for a recreational 4 mile (6.7 km) running event. After completing a baseline questionnaire and undergoing an orthopaedic examination, they were followed during the training period of 13 weeks. A running-related injury (RRI) was defined as any self-reported running-related musculoskeletal pain of the lower extremity or back causing a restriction of running for at least one week. Twenty-one percent of the novice runners had at least one RRI during follow-up. Male participants showed that body mass index (BMI), previous injury in the past year and previous participation in sports without axial load were associated with RRI. In female participants, only navicular drop remained a significant predictor for RRI.

sportEX comment So if this study is correct, male and

female novice runners have different risk profiles. Higher BMI, previous injury, and previous sports participation without axial loading are important predictors for RRI in male participants but don’t seem to be in females. Until further research verifies this it might be best to assume that the risk factors cross genders.

sportEX medicine 2010;45(Jul):4-6