Changes in training patterns and confidence to return to sport in United States collegiate athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the training patterns, return to sport (RTS) confidence, and perceived fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic summer 2020 and to compare training patterns and RTS readiness during COVID-19 versus during the 2019 summer in a cohort of Division III collegiate athletes. METHODS: An electronic survey of varsity athletes ≥18 years at three United States Division III colleges querying athlete demographics, Modified Athletic Identity Scale (mAIMS), changes in training regimen summer 2020 vs. 2019, RTS confidence, and perceived physical fitness. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-two surveys were completed (19% response). Total reported summer 2020 training decreased by 4 hours/week, with increased aerobic (56% vs. 53%, p = 0.03) and decreased sport-specific training (48% vs 70%, p < 0.001). Median RTS confidence score for formal training and competition was 3 ('neither more or less confident') in men's versus 2 ('less confident') in women's athletes. Median fitness self-assessment for men's athletes was 3 ('neither more nor less physically fit') compared to previous season versus median score of 2 ('less physically fit) among women's athletes (p = 0.004). For each mAIMS unit, training increased by 11 minutes/week (95% CI: 2-19 minutes; p = 0.01) and sport-specific training increased by 1.3% (95% CI: 0.5-2.2%; p = 0.003), controlling for age, sport, grade, and school. mAIMS was not associated with confidence or fitness rating. CONCLUSION: Collegiate athletes decreased overall training hours, particularly sport-specific training time during the COVID-19 summer compared to the prior summer. Athletic identity was related to overall and sport-specific training hours but not confidence to RTS or fitness.

A single population of red globular clusters around the massive compact galaxy NGC 1277.

Massive galaxies are thought to form in two phases: an initial collapse of gas and giant burst of central star formation, followed by the later accretion of material that builds up their stellar and dark-matter haloes. The systems of globular clusters within such galaxies are believed to form in a similar manner. The initial central burst forms metal-rich (spectrally red) clusters, whereas more metal-poor (spectrally blue) clusters are brought in by the later accretion of less-massive satellites. This formation process is thought to result in the multimodal optical colour distributions that are seen in the globular cluster systems of massive galaxies. Here we report optical observations of the massive relic-galaxy candidate NGC 1277-a nearby, un-evolved example of a high-redshift 'red nugget' galaxy. We find that the optical colour distribution of the cluster system of NGC 1277 is unimodal and entirely red. This finding is in strong contrast to other galaxies of similar and larger stellar mass, the cluster systems of which always exhibit (and are generally dominated by) blue clusters. We argue that the colour distribution of the cluster system of NGC 1277 indicates that the galaxy has undergone little (if any) mass accretion after its initial collapse, and use simulations of possible merger histories to show that the stellar mass due to accretion is probably at most ten per cent of the total stellar mass of the galaxy. These results confirm that NGC 1277 is a genuine relic galaxy and demonstrate that blue clusters constitute an accreted population in present-day massive galaxies.

Initial somatic symptoms are associated with prolonged symptom duration following concussion in adolescents.

AIM: To determine which initial postinjury symptom domains are independently associated with symptoms lasting >28 days in youth athletes who sustained sport-related concussions. METHODS: Patients who presented for care at a sport concussion clinic completed the postconcussion symptom scale. They were classified into two groups: those who reported symptom resolution within 28 days of injury and those who did not. Logistic regression models were constructed for children and adolescents to determine the independent association between symptom recovery and potential predictor variables: initial symptom scores in 5 postconcussion symptom scale domains (somatic, vestibular-ocular, cognitive, sleep and emotional), sex, loss of consciousness or amnesia at the time of injury, history of prior concussion, prior treatment for headaches or migraines, or family history of concussion. RESULTS: Sixty-eight child (8-12 years of age) and 250 adolescent (13-18 years of age) athletes were included. For adolescents, initial somatic symptom severity was independently associated with prolonged symptom duration (adjusted odds ratio = 1.162; 95% CI: 1.060, 1.275) and no other predictor variables were. No potential predictor variables were independently associated with prolonged symptom duration for children. CONCLUSION: Among adolescent athletes, a high initial somatic symptom burden (e.g. headache, nausea, vomiting, etc.) is associated with increased odds of symptoms beyond 28 days postinjury.

Knee injury patterns in young irish dancers.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize knee injury patterns in Irish dancers. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for Irish dancers under age 19 who presented with knee injuries to the sports medicine or orthopedic clinic from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010. Data were collected on all knee injuries partially or directly related to Irish dance. Injury was defined as dance-related pain or damage to the structures in the knee that resulted in evaluation in the clinic. Survey data were collected to determine the number of different schools/studios represented by the dancers in the study. RESULTS: Sixty-seven Irish dancers with 86 knee injuries were evaluated. Half (50.7%) of these patients received more than one diagnosis during these visits. Overuse injuries accounted for 90.7% of knee injuries. Time to presentation ranged from less than 1 week to over 1 year. There was a significant difference in time to presentation, with traumatic injuries being evaluated sooner than overuse injuries. The most common diagnoses, accounting for 53.5% of injuries, were patellar tracking disorders, including patellofemoral syndrome, hypermobile patella, and patellar subluxation. CONCLUSION: In Irish dance overuse injuries represent the great majority of knee injuries, and patellofemoral tracking disorders are the most common diagnosis. For many dancers, there is often a delay of weeks to months between the onset of symptoms and evaluation in clinic. Prevention programs could potentially eliminate a large portion of knee pain experienced by young Irish dancers.

Galaxy disruption in a halo of dark matter.

The relics of disrupted satellite galaxies have been found around the Milky Way and Andromeda, but direct evidence of a satellite galaxy in the early stages of disruption has remained elusive. We have discovered a dwarf satellite galaxy in the process of being torn apart by gravitational tidal forces as it merges with a larger galaxy's dark matter halo. Our results illustrate the morphological transformation of dwarf galaxies by tidal interaction and the continued buildup of galaxy halos.