Exercise in bushfire smoke for high performance athletes: A Position Statement from the Australian Institute of SportEndorsed by Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP) and Sport Medicine Australia (SMA).

OBJECTIVES: The frequency of bushfires in Australia is increasing and it is expected bushfire smoke will become a more prevalent phenomenon impacting air quality. The objective of this position statement is to provide guidance to the sport sector regarding exercise in air affected by bushfire smoke. DESIGN: This is position statement from the Australian Institute of Sport, based on a narrative review of the literature regarding bushfire smoke and its effects on health and exercise performance. METHODS: A narrative review of scientific publications regarding the effects of bushfire smoke on health and exercise performance. RESULTS: Bushfire smoke has negative impacts on health and performance. Athletes exercising at high intensity over a prolonged duration will increase their exposure to air pollutants. Athletes with a history of elevated airway responsiveness are likely to be at increased risk of an adverse response to bushfire smoke exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes, coaches, support staff and sport organisations should monitor air quality (PM2.5 concentration) and make appropriate adjustments to training duration and intensity.

The development and test-retest reliability of the periodic health evaluation for female athletes (PHE FA) survey.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and assess the test-retest reliability of a survey exploring Australian high-performance female athlete's perspectives toward the periodic health evaluation and their perceived health needs. METHODS: A structured three-phase method for survey development was used to develop the periodic health evaluation for female athletes (PHE FA) survey. Initially, a literature review and gap analysis was performed to identify themes and questions (Phase 1). Survey questions were developed covering demographic information (n = 9); sports-related medical screening (n = 19) and health needs and information (n = 7) (Phase 2). Test-retest reliability of the survey was then assessed (Phase 3). The survey was administered to a purposeful sample of seven high-performance level female athletes who completed the survey, on two separate occasions, 3 weeks apart via Checkbox© survey software (Checkbox Technology Inc., San Francisco, CA). Test-retest reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: The mean age of the athletes was 29 years (SD 4 years, range 24-34 years). All were able-bodied athletes and 71% participated in team sports. Eighty-six percent of athletes have competed in world championships and 71% were Olympians. The average ICC of all items was 0.998 (95% CI 0.997-0.998, p = 0.000) demonstrating excellent consistency of measures between the two time points.All the athletes preferred a Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician to conduct their PHE and 86% preferred a female doctor. The key topics of interest were pelvic floor health including incontinence (100%); fertility (86%); pregnancy (71%); and mental and emotional wellbeing (71%). Face-to-face education was the preferred option to receive health information. CONCLUSIONS: The PHE FA survey was co-created with an athlete and other key stakeholders. Excellent consistency of measures between the two time points was indicated by the high test-retest reliability of the PHE FA survey. Data collected using the PHE FA survey can contribute to informed evidence-based policies, and processes to support the health and wellbeing of female athletes.

Exploring Australian high-performance athletes' perceptions and experiences of sport participation during pregnancy and post-pregnancy: Development and test-retest reliability of the Mum-Alete Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and assess the test-retest reliability of a survey exploring high-performance athletes' perceptions and experiences during and post-pregnancy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mixed-methods survey. METHODS: A three-phase approach was employed to develop the Mum-Alete survey. Relevant domains and questions were identified through a review of the literature and gap analysis (Phase 1). The face and content validity were assessed during Phase 2. The survey was modified, and the final survey included 113 questions. The test-retest reliability was assessed during Phase 3. Seven athletes aged ≥18 years who were currently pregnant and/or given birth since 1 July 2016 were recruited. The survey was administered via Qualtrics and completed on two occasions. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were determined to assess test-retest reliability (excellent, good, moderate, and poor). RESULTS: The average ICC of all items was 0.962 (95% CI 0.957-0.966) demonstrating excellent test-retest reliability. The test-retest reliability was excellent for the demographic and general questions domain (ICC = 0.967 95% CI 0.955-0.977) and good for the exercise (ICC 0.762 95% CI 0.707-0.811), physical health (ICC 0.841 95% CI 0.810-0.868) and well-being (ICC 0.827 95% CI 0.784-0.865) domains. CONCLUSIONS: The high test-retest reliability of the survey indicates excellent consistency of measures between the two time-points.

Despite maintaining a high daily training availability, a quarter of athletes start the season injured and three quarters experience injury in an Australian State Academy of Sport.

OBJECTIVES: To 1) investigate the incidence, prevalence, burden and characteristics of injuries; and 2) explore the frequency of physiotherapy and medical servicing for elite sports academy athletes over a 12-month season. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Medical attention and time-loss injuries were prospectively recorded by Physiotherapy and Medical (Sports Physician) staff for 94 athletes (72.3% females). The number of linked physiotherapy and medical servicing appointments was also recorded. Injury incidence rates (IIR), point and period prevalence, and injury burden were calculated and compared by athlete gender, sport, and categorisation (performance level) using incidence rate ratios (IRR). RESULTS: The number of injuries reported was 193 in 71 (75.5%) athletes. The IIR was 2.1 (95%CI: 1.8 to 2.4) injuries per 365 days, with no gender difference observed (IRR: 1.1, 0.8 to 1.4). The injury burden was 43.5 (95%CI: 37.8 to 50.1) days absent per 365 days. More than one-quarter (point prevalence, 26.6%) of athletes commenced the season with an injury. In-season injury risk was 2.5 fold greater in athletes who started the season with an injury compared to athletes who started the season without an injury (IRR: 2.5, 1.9 to 3.4). The majority (81.2%) of the 1164 appointments recorded were physiotherapy, with an overall 4.3:1.0 physiotherapy to medical appointment ratio. CONCLUSIONS: One in four athletes began the elite pathway season with a pre-existing injury, while also demonstrating a 2.5 fold greater risk of subsequent injury in the scholarship period. Sports should not assume their athletes are uninjured at the beginning of their scholarship. Injury profiles, and physiotherapy and medical servicing varied across sports. To reduce health as a barrier in the successful transition of talented young athletes to elite athletes, injury management strategies at the commencement of recruitment and throughout the scholarship should be prioritised in the development pathway.

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in current and former recreational and elite cricketers: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Former sports participants do not necessarily maintain high levels of physical activity (PA) across their lifespan. Considering physical inactivity in former athletes is associated with an increased susceptibility to inactivity-related chronic diseases, research into PA behaviours in cricketers of all playing-standards is needed. The objective was to (1) describe PA and sedentary behaviour in current and former cricketers, and (2) determine the odds of current, former, recreational and elite cricketers meeting PA guidelines and health-enhancing PA (HEPA) compared with the general population. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Questionnaire response, UK. PARTICIPANTS: 2267 current and former cricketers (age: 52±15 years, male: 97%, current: 59%, recreational: 45%) participated. Cricketers were recruited through the Cricket Health and Wellbeing Study and met eligibility requirements (aged ≥18 years; played ≥1 year of cricket). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Age-matched and sex-matched data from Health Survey for England 2015 (n=3201) was used as the general population-based sample. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form assessed PA. Logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, education and ethnicity were used to meet the second aim. RESULTS: 90% of current and 82% of former cricketers met UK PA guidelines. Current (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.49)) and elite (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.78) cricketers had greater odds of meeting UK PA guidelines, and elite cricketers had greater odds of HEPA (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.42), compared with the general population. Former cricketers had reduced odds (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.99) of meeting the UK PA guidelines compared with the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Elite cricketers had a greater odds of meeting the PA guidelines and HEPA, compared with the general population. Former cricketers demonstrated reduced odds of meeting the PA guidelines compared with the general population. Strategies are needed to transition cricketers to an active lifestyle after retirement, since former cricketers demonstrated reduced odds of meeting the PA guidelines compared with the general population.

Prevalence and incidence of injuries among female cricket players: a systematic review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to describe the incidence and prevalence of injuries in female cricket players participating in recreational-, school-, club-, and elite-level cricket. INTRODUCTION: Recent investments in women's cricket, stand-alone tournaments, and increased visibility through new broadcasting milestones has increased participation in many countries. With increased participation of women in cricket comes increased risk of injury. Epidemiological data are needed to underpin evidence-based injury-prevention strategies. No systematic review or meta-analysis of injuries is currently available to provide a comprehensive overview of synthesized findings to make the evidence accessible. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies on female cricket players of all ages and participating in all levels of cricket will be included. Studies that contain data on only male cricket players will be excluded. Studies where data from female cricket players can be distinguished from male players will be included. Injuries sustained when playing cricket, that are self-reported or diagnosed by a health care professional will be included. Definitions of injury including, but not limited to, medical-attention injuries, general time-loss injuries, or player-reported injuries will be considered. METHODS: MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), EBSCO MasterFILE Premier, EBSCO CINAHL Complete, ProQuest Health and Medical Complete, Scopus, and ScienceDirect will be systematically searched from inception to the present. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ClincalTrials.gov will be searched as well as gray literature databases. Retrieval of full-text studies, assessment of methodological quality, and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. If possible, meta-analyses will be performed. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42020166052.

Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation.

INTRODUCTION: Rugby football (Union and League) provides physical activity (PA) with related physical and mental health benefits. However, as a collision sport, rugby research and media coverage predominantly focus on injuries in elite players while the overall impact on health and well-being remains unclear. This study aims to provide a greater understanding of the risks and benefits of rugby participation in a diverse sample of men and women, current and former rugby Union and League players from recreational to the elite level of play. We will explore: (1) joint-specific injuries and concussion; (2) joint pain and osteoarthritis (OA); (3) medical and mental health conditions; (4) PA and sedentary behaviour and (5) well-being (quality of life, flourishing and resilience). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Rugby Health and Well-being Study is designed in two phases: (1) a UK-wide cross-sectional survey and (2) cross-validation using health register data from Scotland. Participants will be at least 16 years old, current or former rugby players who have played rugby for at least one season. We will report standardised, level of play-, sex- and age-stratified prevalence of joint injury, concussion, medical conditions and PA. We will describe injury/concussion prevention expectations and protective equipment use. Rugby-related factors associated with injury, pain, OA, PA, health and well-being will be explored in regression models. We will compare joint pain intensity and duration, elements of pain perception and well-being between recreational and elite players and further investigate these associations in regression models while controlling for confounding variables. In the second phase, we will validate self-reported with health register data, and provide further information on healthcare use. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Yorkshire and the Humber-Leeds East Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 19/HY/0377) has approved this study (IRAS project ID 269424). The results will be disseminated through scientific publications, conferences and social media.

The relationships between rugby union, and health and well-being: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To scope the relationships between rugby union, and health and well-being. DESIGN: Scoping review. DATA SOURCES: Published and unpublished reports of any age, identified by searching electronic databases, platforms and reference lists. METHODS: A three-step search strategy identified relevant published primary, secondary studies and grey literature, which were screened using a priori inclusion criteria. Data were extracted using a standardised tool, to form (1) a numerical analysis and (2) a thematic summary. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 6658 records were identified, and 198 studies met the inclusion criteria. All forms of rugby union can provide health-enhancing physical activity (PA). 'Non-contact' and wheelchair rugby in particular provide a wide range of physical and mental health and well-being benefits. The evidence is either mixed or unclear in relation to 'contact' rugby union and its effects on a range of physical health domains. Injury and concussion incidence rates are high for contact rugby union relative to other sports. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of stakeholders as well as existing and potential participants can use this information to make a more informed decision about participating in and promoting rugby union as a health-enhancing activity. Industry and policy-makers can use this review to inform policies and strategies that look to increase participation rates and use rugby union as a vehicle to contribute positively to population health. Further research understanding rugby union's contribution to PA as well as to muscle-strengthening and balance is indicated, as well as research examining more health and well-being outcomes across more diverse cohorts.

Effects of Herbal Mouthwashes on Plaque and Inflammation Control for Patients with Gingivitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the overall effects of herbal mouthwashes as supplements to daily oral hygiene on plaque and inflammation control compared with placebos and chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwashes in the treatment of gingivitis. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and grey literature databases were searched. Only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing herbal mouthwashes with placebos or CHX in the daily oral hygiene of patient with gingivitis were included to compare the effect of different mouthwashes on plaque and inflammation control. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies satisfied the eligibility criteria, and 11 studies were included in meta-analyses. Significant differences were observed in favour of herbal mouthwashes compared with placebos in both plaque- and inflammation-related indices (Quigley-Hein Plaque Index, QHPI: WMD = -0.61, 95% CI (-0.80, -0.42), P < 0.001; Gingival Index, GI: -0.28 (-0.51, -0.06), P=0.01; Modified Gingival Index, MGI: -0.59 (-1.08, -0.11), P=0.02; Gingival Bleeding Index, GBI: -0.06 (-0.09, -0.04), P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between herbal and CHX mouthwashes. CONCLUSIONS: Herbal mouthwashes have potential benefits in plaque and inflammation control as supplements to the daily oral hygiene of patients with gingivitis. Although no difference was observed between herbal and CHX mouthwashes in the selected studies, further high-quality RCTs are needed for more firm support before advising patients with gingivitis about whether they can use herbal mouthwashes to substitute for CHX mouthwashes or not (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019122841).

The Biathlon Injury and Illness Surveillance (BIIS) project protocol: a prospective cohort study across two World Cup seasons.

INTRODUCTION: Reliably and accurately establishing injury and illness epidemiology in biathletes will provide insight into seasonal changes, provide potential to better embed innovative prevention strategies and advance sports medicine through the provision of effective healthcare to biathletes. The main objective of the Biathlon Injury and Illness Study (BIIS) is to provide the first comprehensive epidemiological profile of injury and illness in biathlon athletes during two consecutive Biathlon World Cup seasons over 2-years. METHODS: The BIIS study methodology is established in line with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) injury and illness surveillance protocols using a biathlon-specific injury and illness report form. Team medical staff will provide weekly data using injury and illness definitions of any injury or illness that receives medical attention regardless of time loss. Injuries or illness must be diagnosed and reported by a qualified medical professional (eg, team physician, physiotherapist) to ensure accurate and reliable diagnoses. Descriptive statistics will be used to identify the type, body region and nature of the injury or illness and athlete demographics such as age and gender. Summary measures of injury and illnesses per 1000 athlete-days will be calculated whereby the total number of athletes will be multiplied by the number of days in the season to calculate athlete-days. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by the Bellbery Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC reference: 2017-10-757). Results will be published irrespective of negative or positive outcomes and disseminated through different platforms to reach a wide range of stakeholders.

Relationship between cricket participation, health and well-being: scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Cricket is a popular sport played by 2.5 billion people of all ages and abilities. However, cricket participation is decreasing in the UK, despite an increased focus of governments on increasing sport participation to enhance public health. Understanding the health benefits and mitigating the health risks of cricket participation may help cricket organisations promote cricket participation while optimising the long-term health of cricket participants. Currently, there is no literature review on the relationship between cricket participation, health and well-being; thus, this relationship remains unclear. Therefore, the aims of this scoping review were (1) to investigate the relationship between cricket participation, health and well-being and (ii) to identify the research gaps related to cricket, health and well-being. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Due to the broad nature of our research question and the large number of health outcomes assessed within the cricket literature and to facilitate identification of research gaps, a scoping review methodology was used. The methodology of this paper was informed by previous scoping review protocols and best practice methodological frameworks. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Web of Science and PEDro and grey literature sources (Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN Registry and ProQuest) will be systematically searched. Studies that assess a construct related to health and/or well-being in current and/or former cricketers from all ages and standards of play will be eligible. Two reviewers will independently screen full texts of identified studies for eligibility and will perform data extraction. Results will be presented in tabular and graphical forms and will be reported descriptively. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This research is exempt from ethics approval due to the data being available through published and public available resources. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed sports and exercise medicine journal regardless of positive or negative findings. In addition, results will be disseminated through multiple platforms, including conference presentations and social media using multimedia resources (eg, infographics, animations, videos, podcasts and blogs), to engage stakeholder groups, including cricketers, cricket coaches, sporting bodies, sports medicine professionals and policy makers. There findings will inform clinical decision making, policy changes and future research agendas.

The relationships between rugby union and health: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Rugby union is played by over eight million people across the world and is considered a form of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Consequently, playing rugby may confer health benefits; however, to date, the principal focus of research has been on associated injuries and potential detrimental long-term health sequelae. This protocol outlines the methods behind studying any potential associations between rugby union and both physical and mental health. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Best practice methodological frameworks (Arksey and O'Malley, Levac et al and the Joanna Briggs Institute) and previously published scoping review protocols in sport informs the methodology of this protocol. This protocol enables us to map the key concepts and evidence available, summarise and share existing research findings, and identify research gaps in the current literature. A three-step search strategy will identify reviews, original research, and published and grey literature. An initial search will identify suitable search terms, followed by a search using keyword and index terms. Two reviewers will independently screen identified studies for final inclusion. DISSEMINATION: When publishing the scoping review, we will map key concepts and evidence both numerically and thematically, as well as identify key research priorities for further studies. The review will subsequently be disseminated to stakeholder groups, practitioners and policymakers through a variety of peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications, conferences and via multimedia platforms.

Epidemiology of hospital-treated cricket injuries sustained by women from 2002-2003 to 2013-2014 in Victoria, Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To present the first comprehensive epidemiological profile of hospital-treated injuries sustained by female cricketers from 2002-2003 to 2013-2014 in Victoria, Australia. DESIGN: Analysis of routinely collected hospital data (detailed case-series). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of hospital-treatment data associated with cricket injuries sustained by women between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2014, inclusive were extracted from databases held by the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit in Australia. RESULTS: Over the 12-year period, 668 cases were treated in Victoria. Of these, 547 were emergency department (ED)-presentations. There were 121 hospital-admissions, of which, the length of stay was <2 days for 78.5% cases. All cases were treated and released, and no fatalities were reported. The 10-14 year age group most frequently presented to ED (19.9%) and were most commonly admitted to hospital (16.5% of the total admissions). Fractures were the most common cause of hospital-admissions (47.1%) but only accounted for 17.2% of the ED-presentations. Dislocations, sprains and strains, were the most common (36.4%) cause of ED-presentations. The head was the most commonly injured anatomical location (27.8% of ED-presentations and 28.1% of hospital-admissions), followed by the wrist and hand (27.8% ED-presentations and 17.4% hospital-admissions). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide the first overview of the nature of injuries requiring hospital attendance in female cricketers, and a foundation to inform the development of targeted injury prevention programs for female cricketers.

The incidence, prevalence, nature, severity and mechanisms of injury in elite female cricketers: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Incidence, prevalence, nature, severity and mechanisms of injury in elite female cricketers over two seasons from March 2014 to March 2016, inclusive. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Injury data collected via Cricket Australia's Athlete Management System on all elite female players over two seasons were analysed. Profiles of the nature, anatomical location and mechanism of injuries were presented according to dominant player position. Injury incidence rates were calculated based on match playing hours. RESULTS: There were 600 medical-attention injuries; with 77.7% players reporting ≥1 injury. There were 79.5% acute injuries compared to gradual onset injuries. Of the all medical-attention injuries, 20.2% led to time-loss; 34.7% were match-time-loss injuries. Match injury incidence was 424.7 injuries/10,000h for all injuries and 79.3 injuries/10,000h for time-loss injuries. Of all the injuries, 31.8% were muscle injuries and 16.0% joint sprains. Wrist and hand (19.8%), lumbar spine (16.5%) and knee (14.9%) injuries were the most common time-loss injuries. Six players sustained lumber spine bone stress injury that resulted in the most days missed due to injury (average 110.5days/injury). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to focus on specific injuries in female cricket, including thigh, wrist/hand and knee injuries because of their frequency, and lumbar spine injuries because of their severity.

Biathlon Injury and Illness Surveillance project (BIIS): development of biathlon-specific surveillance forms in English, Russian, French and German.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this project was to adapt the English, French, German and Russian versions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) injury and illness surveillance form to be sport-specific for use in biathlon. METHODS: 23 medical representatives from 16 of the 55 biathlon federations participated in this project to adapt the form and create disease coding relevant to biathlon. The English version of the IOC injury and illness surveillance form was used as the primary template. Four review rounds were used to develop electronic fillable PDF forms. The changes were then forward translated onto the Russian, French and German forms. RESULTS: Changes were made to event type to biathlon-specific events. A weekly reporting format was adopted in line with the race week format of World Cup events. Wherever possible, coding replaced free-text format to avoid translation issues. New codes were created to describe the time of injury/illness. A new symptom code was added to reflect the prevalence of respiratory infection: sore throat/cold symptoms. As the number of athletes in a team differs between weeks in the season, an additional question was added to ask for the 'number of athletes in the team for the week' and for the season. CONCLUSION: This project provides a biathlon-specific injury and illness surveillance form in English, French, German and Russian. This forms the basis for surveillance that will contribute to a greater understanding of the illness and injury rate in elite biathletes and ultimately to enhanced athlete well-being and success in biathlon, and winter sports more generally.

Epidemiology of Injuries in Women Playing Competitive Team Bat-or-Stick Sports: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Team bat-or-stick sports, including cricket, softball and hockey, are popular among women. However, little is known about the injury profile in this population. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to describe the incidence, nature and anatomical location of injuries in bat-or-stick sports played by women in a competitive league. METHODS: This review was prospectively registered (PROSPERO CRD42015026715). CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus were systematically searched from January 2000 to September 2016, inclusive. Peer-reviewed original research articles reporting the incidence, nature and anatomical location of injuries sustained by women aged 18 + years in competitive bat-or-stick sports were included. Two meta-analyses based on injury incidence proportions (injury IP) and injury rates per 1000 person-days of athletic exposure (AE) were performed. RESULTS: A total of 37 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, and five had low risk of bias. The weighted injury IP was 0.42 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39-0.45]. The weighted injury rate was 6.12 (95% CI 6.05-6.18) overall, and greater in games [15.79 (95% CI 15.65-15.93)] than in practice [3.07 (95% CI 2.99-3.15)]. The ankle was the most commonly injured anatomical location, followed by the hand (including wrist and fingers), knee and head. Soft tissue and ligament injuries were most common types of injuries. CONCLUSION: Injury prevention in women's sports is a novel and emerging field of research interest. This review highlights that injury incidence is high among female bat-or-stick players, but little information is known about direct causal mechanisms. This review clearly establishes the need for enhancements to injury data collection. Without this information, it will not be possible to develop evidence-based injury prevention interventions.