Injury prevalence and associated factors among Japanese lacrosse collegiate athletes.

Context: Sports injuries have a substantial impact on athletes' performance and health. To reduce the risk of an injury occurring, the prevalence, localization, and severity need to be established. Objective: To examine the prevalence of sports injuries in collegiate lacrosse athletes. Design: Descriptive epidemiological study using online survey design. Setting: Japanese universities associated with UNIVAS. Participants: A total of 1,689 Japanese collegiate lacrosse athletes, 978 females and 701 males. Main outcome measures: Athletes were surveyed on the injuries within the previous year, their severity, localization, and onset characteristics. The support of an athletic trainer and its association with the odds of sustaining an injury was assessed. Factors related to injuries were explored. Results: One-year prevalence of injuries was 42%. Male sex, higher year at the university, and support from an athletic trainer were identified as factors related to higher odds of sustaining an injury and practicing at least 5 days per week was associated with lower odds of sustaining an injury. Conclusions: Male sex athletes, and athletes at the higher year at university are especially at risk of sustaining a lacrosse injury. The aspects of training (e.g., frequency, volume) should be investigated across the athlete development process to address these findings. Further investigation is needed to determine the extent to which the support of athletic trainers affects both the frequency and severity of injuries in lacrosse athletes.

Controlling Behavior, Sex Bias and Coaching Success in Japanese Track and Field.

Coaching athletes is a complex and lengthy process. Recently, attention has been given to coaches over-controlling behavior toward the athletes' personal lives and possible sex bias, but the impact of these behaviors on coaching success is unclear. An anonymous survey was answered by 412 track and field coaches (male: 369; female: 43), comprising questions regarding controlling behaviors, sex bias, and personal background. A Chi-square test and logistic regression were performed to determine the factors related to the coach's characteristics and their success in coaching athletes (to national vs. non-national level). The results showed that controlling behaviors and sex-bias-related beliefs were present. The coaches who coached national-level athletes were more likely to be older, more experienced, and were national level athletes themselves. More national-level coaches reported controlling behaviors but fewer held sex bias beliefs than the non-national level coaches. However, the strength of these beliefs (scores for controlling behavior and sex bias) was not related to the coaching success.

Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Sports Injuries in 11,000 Japanese Collegiate Athletes.

BACKGROUND: To establish the 1-year prevalence of sports injuries and explore associations of various factors with a sports injury in Japanese collegiate athletes. METHODS: The data were collected through a web-based survey of Japanese collegiate athletes associated with UNIVAS (Japan Association for University Athletics and Sport). The survey questions asked about athletes' personal characteristics, sports participation, and injuries sustained within the previous year. Follow-up questions on the details regarding the three most serious injuries were asked. Differences in proportions of athlete characteristics between males and females and between injured and uninjured were explored with the chi-square test. Factors associated with sustaining an injury were determined with regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of injuries among Japanese collegiate athletes is high, and most of the sustained injuries require athletes to take a considerable time off training and competition indicating their severity. Athletes from year two and higher at the university, overweight or obese, training more often per week, and with longer sports experience were more likely to sustain an injury within the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: There is compelling evidence to suggest that excessive training and insufficient recovery may be contributing to their increased risk of injury. These findings underscore the importance of implementing evidence-based training programs and recovery strategies to mitigate injury risk and optimize performance outcomes among this population.

Risk Factors for Contracting COVID-19 and Changes in Menstrual and Sleep Cycles in Japanese Female Athletes during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Although research on COVID-19 is prevalent, risk factors for contracting COVID-19 and lifestyle changes in athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been thoroughly investigated. This study included 254 female collegiate athletes and 107 female non-athletes from Japan, who completed an anonymous survey comprising questions about COVID-19, personal background and lifestyle changes during the pandemic. A total of 6.30% athletes and 6.54% non-athletes had tested positive for COVID-19. The majority reported no change in menstrual cycle (80.31% and 78.50% for athletes and non-athletes, respectively). Wake-up time and bedtime were delayed in some athletes (42.13% and 39.25%, respectively) and non-athletes (46.73% and 31.30%, respectively) during the pandemic. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in COVID-19 (+) athletes than in their COVID-19 (−) counterparts (22.78 ± 3.40 and 21.26 ± 2.06, respectively, p < 0.01) and logistic regression analysis revealed that younger students and those with higher BMI had an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. The proportion of vaccinated students was significantly higher in athletes than in non-athletes (p < 0.01). Whether the student was an athlete or not was not a related factor in contracting COVID-19. Extra attention should be focused on athletes experiencing weight gain or staying up late and experiencing lower quality sleep.

Training and physiological characteristics of American and Japanese female track and field athletes.

BACKGROUND: Intensive training without appropriate recovery can predispose athletes to injury. Balancing these two facets - training and recovery - is crucial for keeping athletes at their highest possible performance level while lowering their risk of training-related injury. Cultural differences may also affect athletes' training and daily routines, but research investigating the effects of cultural background on female track and field athletes is lacking. METHODS: In total, 49 Japanese and 28 American track and field athletes competing at the national level were included in this study. Their body composition was evaluated and eating attitudes test (EAT-26) and a survey regarding training schedules, recovery practices, and performance levels were conducted. RESULTS: Compared with the Japanese athletes, the American athletes had significantly higher height, weight, and Body Mass Index measurements, although their performance levels did not differ. Japanese athletes trained for significantly longer hours both on school days and non-school days and spent significantly fewer days per week on weight training. The Japanese athletes slept, on average, for 1 hour less per day than the American athletes, and their EAT-26 scores were significantly higher than those of the American athletes (both P<0.01). The number of days off per week was positively correlated with performance, but training hours on school days and fat mass percentage were negatively correlated with performance (P<0.05). Further, days off per week and nationality were correlated with EAT-26 scores (both P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The American and Japanese athletes performed similarly, but the Japanese athletes were achieving their performance level with less sleep, longer training hours, and a higher risk of developing an eating disorder.

Can We Go Online for Sports Injury Prevention? A Systematic Review of English-Language Websites with Exercise-Based Sports Injury Risk Reduction Programmes.

BACKGROUND: Preventing sports injuries is at the forefront of sports medicine. Although effective preventive strategies in scientific literature exist, their implementation is lagging behind. The Internet could support the translation of knowledge from the literature to end-users, but the quality of the online resources would have to be assured. This online-based systematic review is to assess availability, readability, quality, and content of the websites presenting exercise-based sports injury risk reduction (prevention) programmes. Moreover, the quality of reporting and contents of the exercise programmes were assessed. METHODS: Google, Yahoo, and Bing were searched on 2 September 2018. We used 'sports injury prevention program*' and 'sports injury prevention warm-up' as search phrases. The owners/authors of the included websites were asked for further recommendations on online resources. Search updates were run in DuckDuckGo on 15 May 2020 and 22 August 2021. Eligible websites were active, in English, and contained instructions for the exercise/s aiming at sports injury prevention. Two reviewers independently screened the links and previews and performed an in-depth appraisal of included websites. The website quality was assessed using JAMA framework criteria and Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode) certification. The readability of websites was assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease score. The reporting appraisal of exercise programmes was done using the modified Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT). RESULTS: Among 480 websites screened, 16 were eligible with an additional four recommended and nine found in search updates (29 in total). None of the websites was certified by HONcode. The overall quality of websites was low 2.1 ± 1.0/4, but overall readability was high 67 ± 17/100. The average quality of reporting of exercise programmes was low 5.79 ± 3.1/12. Websites with community input had the lowest readability, but the highest quality, and vice versa websites run by businesses had the highest readability, but the lowest quality. Eight websites presented programmes tested for effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the quality of the websites was low, but their readability was high. Improvements required are relatively easy to implement (i.e. including the date when the website was updated, applying for HONcode certification) and extremely important (e.g. providing resources on which the website's content is based). There are some sports injury risk reduction programmes reported with high quality and effectiveness-tested available online for team sports, but none for individual sports. Trial Registration This review has been registered in the PROSPERO (CRD42019107104).

Perspectives of participants with rotator cuff-related pain to a neuroscience-informed pain education session: an exploratory mixed method study.

Purpose: To explore perceptions and initial outcomes of patients with rotator cuff-related pain to a pain education session.Materials and Methods: Ten individuals with persistent rotator cuff-related pain (≥3 months duration) attended an individual pain education session. They completed patient-reported outcomes measures on a weekly basis, three weeks prior and three weeks following the session. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted three weeks following the pain education. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the General Inductive Approach.Results: There were two over-arching key themes: firstly, 'Participants' Perspectives' of the session generated four themes: Improved understanding of 'the whole'; Mindful self-awareness; Taking charge; "The pain is still there". Their understanding of pain was reconceptualised, evident by their ability to describe the role of neurophysiological mechanisms, stress and general well-being towards their pain. The second over-arching key theme, 'Participants' Recommendations', had two themes: Integrating neuroscience with pathoanatomical knowledge and Educating other health professionals. Pain levels decreased post-pain education compared to pre-pain education.Conclusions: Following the pain education session, participants had greater understanding of factors influencing their shoulder pain. Pain education, in addition to pathoanatomical information may be useful as part of treatment for persistent rotator cuff-related pain.

Becoming a midwife: A survey study of midwifery alumni.

BACKGROUND: Becoming a competent midwife is a complex process. The aim of midwifery education is to support the development of competence in midwifery skills, knowledge and to prepare graduates to meet the responsibilities inherent in the midwifery role. AIM: To explore the experiences of our alumni midwives, ask how well they perceived their midwifery programme had prepared them for beginning midwifery practice and to identify any curriculum changes, or postgraduate study topics, that would support the transition to midwifery practice. METHODS: An online survey was conducted with alumni of a Bachelor of Midwifery programme (New Zealand) who graduated between 2011 and 2014. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and a general inductive approach was used to develop themes from the qualitative data in the comment boxes. FINDINGS: Forty-two alumni viewed becoming a midwife as a blend/combination of: (1) gaining the knowledge and practical skills required for the profession; (2) management skills in areas of running a business, working with other people, navigating local procedures and processes effectively, and balancing work with personal life; (3) gaining confidence in one's competence, and (4) having support along the way. DISCUSSION: Competence in current evidence-based midwifery knowledge and practice is important in educating midwifery students. However, to transition to practice, a supportive environment is needed to assist midwives to develop self-management, business skills, and the confidence to negotiate and collaborate with colleagues and other health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Not only did midwifery knowledge and practice skills matter for alumni, but also the acquisition of management skills, strategies for building confidence, and ongoing support. Content that facilitates these requirements should be included in midwifery programmes to support the transition from student to practitioner.

Effectiveness of extrinsic feedback for management of non-specific low back pain: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain is the greatest cause of years lived with disability worldwide and is linked with high societal and economic burden. Neuromuscular control impairments are a common clinical presentation in patients with non-specific low back pain. Musculoskeletal physiotherapists commonly use feedback as a part of the management of low back disorders. This systematic review will aim to assess the effectiveness of extrinsic biofeedback for reducing pain, disability and recurrence of pain in patients with non-specific low back pain. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Systematic searches will be performed in CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science. We will include randomised controlled trial studies, if the study recruited patients with non-specific low back pain; compared extrinsic feedback versus either placebo or control; another intervention; or in addition to an intervention versus that intervention alone; and have used pain, disability scores or low back pain recurrence as outcome measures. We will exclude studies with designs other than randomised controlled trials. We will assess the risk of bias within included studies using the PEDro scale, and the strength of evidence using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval and patient consent are not required since this is a systematic review based on published studies. The results of this study will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017077888.

The development of an instructional video for the teaching of acupressure for pain management in acute musculoskeletal injuries: A knowledge translation study.

OBJECTIVES: To survey potential stakeholders to obtain information relevant to the production of a video on teaching acupressure for sports injury management, and gain feedback from potential users on the prototype video. DESIGN: Focus groups and online survey methods nested within a knowledge translation framework. PARTICIPANTS: Four focus groups (n = 24) were conducted, two with sports medics and two with sports physiotherapists as a part of the development of a prototype video. Nineteen stakeholders viewed the prototype video and participated in the subsequent online survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Focus groups' transcripts were analysed to develop themes using a general inductive approach. Survey data analysis incorporated quantitative and qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Three key themes concerning the design of the video emerged from the focus groups: 1) the recommendation for both demonstration and verbal instructions on the acupressure technique; 2) keeping the content of the video to a minimum; and 3) the need for professionalism in the production of the video, and highlighting the presenter's expertise and qualifications. The survey participants found the video to be clear and professional. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively these studies described the development and assessment of a user-oriented instructional video on teaching of acupressure for the management of sports injuries.

Physiological stability in an indigenous sleep device: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare overnight oxygen saturation, heart rate and the thermal environment of infants sleeping in an indigenous sleep device (wahakura) or bassinet to identify potential risks and benefits. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Family homes in low socio-economic areas in New Zealand. PATIENTS: 200 mainly Maori mothers and their infants. INTERVENTIONS: Participants received a wahakura or bassinet from birth. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overnight oximetry, heart rate and temperature at 1 month. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis for 83 bassinet and 84 wahakura infants showed no significant differences between groups for the mean time oxygen saturation (SpO2) was less than 94% (0.54 min, 95% CI -1.36 to 2.45) or less than 90% (0.22 min, 95% CI -0.56 to 1.00), the mean number of SpO2 dips per hour >5% (-0.19, 95% CI -3.07 to 2.69) or >10% (-0.41, 95% CI -1.63 to 0.81), mean heart rate (1.99 beats/min, 95% CI -1.02 to 4.99), or time shin temperature >36°C (risk ratio (RR): 0.63, 95% CI 0.13 to 2.99) or <34°C (RR: 0.89, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.30). A per-protocol analysis of 45 bassinet and 26 wahakura infants and an as-used analysis of 104 infants in a bassinet and 48 in a wahakura found no significant differences between groups for all outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: This indigenous sleep device is at least as safe as the currently recommended bassinet, which supports its use as a sleep environment that offers an alternative way of bed-sharing. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12610000993099.

Does Acupressure Hit the Mark? A Three-Arm Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Acupressure for Pain and Anxiety Relief in Athletes With Acute Musculoskeletal Sports Injuries.

OBJECTIVES: Injuries are a common consequence of sports and recreational activity. The optimal management of symptoms is a crucial element of sports injury management. Acupressure has previously been shown to effectively decrease symptoms of musculoskeletal injury, thus may be considered a potentially useful intervention in the management of sport-related injuries. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of acupressure in decreasing pain and anxiety in acutely injured athletes. DESIGN: A prospective 3-arm randomized placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: A sports injury clinic, Dunedin, New Zealand. PATIENTS: Seventy-nine athletes who sustained a sport-related musculoskeletal injury on the day. INTERVENTION: Three minutes of either acupressure, sham acupressure, or no acupressure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes of pain and anxiety intensity were measured before and immediately after the intervention on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Pain and anxiety relief, satisfaction with treatment, willingness to repeat a similar treatment, and belief in the effect of acupressure were secondary outcomes measured on Likert scales after the intervention. RESULTS: The acupressure group reported 11 mm less pain (95% CI: 5-17) on average than the sham acupressure group, and 9 mm less (95% CI: 3-16) than the control group as a result of the intervention (P < 0.05). There was no difference between groups in: anxiety levels, or in any of the secondary outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Three minutes of acupressure was effective in decreasing pain intensity in athletes who sustained an acute musculoskeletal sports injury when measured on the VAS, but did not change anxiety levels.

Does Acupuncture Alter Pain-related Functional Connectivity of the Central Nervous System? A Systematic Review.

Acupuncture has been studied for several decades to establish evidence-based clinical practice. This systematic review aims to evaluate evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture in influencing the functional connectivity of the central nervous system in patients with musculoskeletal pain. A systematic search of the literature was conducted to identify studies in which the central response of acupuncture in patients with musculoskeletal pain was evaluated by neuroimaging techniques. Databases searched were AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PEDro, Pubmed, SCOPUS, SPORTDiscuss, and Web of Science. Included studies were assessed by two independent reviewers for their methodological quality by using the Downs and Black questionnaire and for their levels of completeness and transparency in reporting acupuncture interventions by using Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) criteria. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Three studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four studies were nonrandomized controlled trials (NRCTs). The neuroimaging techniques used were functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). Positive effects on the functional connectivity of the central nervous system more consistently occurred during long-term acupuncture treatment. The results were heterogeneous from a descriptive perspective; however, the key findings support acupuncture's ability to alter pain-related functional connectivity in the central nervous system in patients with musculoskeletal pain.

Online technology use in physiotherapy teaching and learning: a systematic review of effectiveness and users' perceptions.

BACKGROUND: The use of online technologies in health professionals' education, including physiotherapy, has been advocated as effective and well-accepted tools for enhancing student learning. The aim of this study was to critically review the effectiveness, and user perceptions of online technology for physiotherapy teaching and learning. METHODS: Following databases were systematically searched on the 31(st) of August 2013 for articles describing implementation of online technologies into physiotherapy teaching and learning: ERIC, CINAHL, Web of Science, Academic search complete, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source, Medline, Embase, and Scopus. No language, design or publishing date restrictions were imposed. Risk of bias was assessed using the 2011 Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool checklist (MMAT). RESULTS: A total of 4133 articles were retrieved; 22 articles met the inclusion criteria and were accepted for final analysis: 15 on the effectiveness of technology, and 14 on users' perceptions. Included studies used three designs: case study (14 articles), controlled trial (3), and randomized controlled trial (5). Studies investigated both pre-registration physiotherapy students (1523) and physiotherapy professionals (171). The quality of studies ranged from 67 to 100 % on the MMAT checklist which can be considered moderate to excellent. More than half of the studies (68 %) received scores greater than 80 %. Studies typically investigated websites and discussion boards. The websites are effective in enhancing practical skills performance, and discussion boards in knowledge acquisition, as well as in development of critical and reflective thinking. Students' perceptions of the use of websites were mostly positive, providing students with entertaining, easy accessible resources. Perceived barriers to the use of websites included difficulties with internet connection, insufficiently interactive material, or personal preference for paper-based materials. Discussion boards were perceived as deepening students' thinking and facilitating reflection, allowing for learning from multiple perspectives, and providing easy communication and support. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this review suggest that online technologies (i.e., websites and discussion boards) have many benefits to offer for physiotherapy teaching and learning; There was minimal evidence of barriers for the use of online technologies, however, addressing the identified ones could enhance adherence to use of online technologies in health professionals' education.

What "CAM" we learn about the level of evidence from 60 years of research into manipulative and body-based therapies in sports and exercise medicine?

OVERVIEW: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly accepted in modern western society, including amongst amateur and professional athletes, however, it has not yet been determined how CAM is reflected in scientific publications in sports and exercise medicine (SEM). AIM: The aim of this study was to identify trends in the levels of evidence for manipulative and body-based therapies within the SEM literature. METHODS: The literature was systematically searched with no language restrictions in seven databases and retrieved articles were screened and classified according to their study design using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine system. RESULTS: From 6088 retrieved articles, 395 were retained for evaluation and these included 180 on massage, 96 on acupuncture and 95 on manipulation. The majority of the articles were published in English, with 88 in non-English languages. Level-1 evidence was available for acupuncture, manipulation, massage, and Pilates. From the nineteen-seventies onwards, a decreasing trend was observed for low evidence articles with a corresponding increasing trend for clinical trials. After the year 2000, over 50% of the published articles were clinical trials, RCTs or systematic reviews. CONCLUSIONS: This review revealed an increase in the quantity and quality of published manipulative and body-based therapy articles in SEM over the last 60 years with the evidence level varying considerably between therapies. The timeframe associated with the development of evidence in CAM may reflect the move to provide scientific support for therapies previously justified primarily by anecdotal evidence, or traditional and cultural use.