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Violence in youth sports: hazing, brawling and foul

play. Fields

SK, Collins CL, Comstock RD. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2010;44:32-37

The acceptance of violence within the sporting culture may, in part, explain why sports-related violence has not yet been widely recognised as a public health concern. This review shows that sports- related violence, including hazing, brawling and foul play, occurs among youth athletes of all ages and in a variety of different sports. The few studies to address this issue have all acknowledged the dangers of sports-related violence; however, no incident tracking method has been developed.

sportEX comment

Another review that puts sporting activity into a wider social context. Those of us involved in sport might like to think ‘it’s only a game’ but sport fits into the society in which it survives. If behaviour isn’t acceptable on the streets, at school or in the workplace why should it be tolerated in sport?

Anabolic-androgenic steroid use among young male and female athletes: is the game to blame? Harmer PA. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2010;44:26-31

This review of the use of anabolic-androgenic

steroids (AAS) by young athletes asked some serious questions, the main one being, is this just a sports problem? Research over

several decades has indicated a lifetime prevalence of AAS use for adolescent males of 4–6% and for females of 1.5–3%, indicating a problem involving millions of athletes and a potential epidemic of AAS- related pathologies. More recent studies have questioned the presumption that participation in organised sport is the primary risk factor for AAS use. Increasing evidence indicates that AAS use is associated with non-athletes and is linked to a broader syndrome of problem behaviours rather than efforts to achieve sporting success, and that sports participation may actually be protective against AAS use. Prevention efforts need to be focused beyond organised sport and target the general adolescent population rather than athletes. They should also be founded on interventions with demonstrated efficacy for delinquent, antisocial and self-destructive behaviours rather than the ethical imperative of fair play.

sportEX comment Steroid abuse has been a primary concern of

sports governing bodies because of the implications for unfair advantage in performance and the potential for adverse side effects. This review suggests that the abuse is a much wider social problem. This doesn’t let sport off the hook. Governing bodies need to remain vigilant but is it time to get other people involved?

Shoulder pain in elite swimmers: primarily due to swim volume induced supraspinatus tendinopathy. Sein ML, Walton J et al. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2010;44:105-113 (full article available)

Eighty young elite swimmers (13–25 years of

age) completed questionnaires on their swimming training, pain and shoulder function. They were given a standardised clinical shoulder examination, and tested for glenohumeral joint laxity using a non- invasive electronic laxometer. Fifty two out of the 80 swimmers also attended for shoulder MRI. The results revealed that 73 out of 80 (91%) of the swimmers reported shoulder pain. Most (84%) had a positive

impingement sign, and 69% of those examined with MRI had supraspinatus tendinopathy. The impingement sign and MRI-determined supraspinatus tendinopathy correlated strongly. Increased tendon thickness correlated with supraspinatus tendinopathy. Laxity correlated weakly with impingement pain and was not associated with supraspinatus tendinopathy. The number of hours swum per week and weekly mileage both correlated significantly with supraspinatus tendinopathy. Swimming stroke preference did not.

sportEX comment This study set out to test the

hypothesis that repetitive forceful swimming leads to shoulder laxity, which in turn leads to impingement pain. The jury is out on the laxity issue but it certainly shows that elite young swimmers have impingement problems which leads to questions about training volumes and technique and, from a soft tissue therapy perspective, prompts us to ask whether regular preventative work to supraspinatus would make a difference. What is also positive for therapists is that the impingement tests are supported by MRI findings.

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sportEX dynamics 2010;24(Apr):4-6