This research set out to identify pathways from vulnerability and stressors to depression in a global population of young athletes. Retrospective data were collected at age 18-19 years from Athletics athletes (n = 1322) originating from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. We hypothesised that sports-related and non-sports-related stressors in interaction with structural vulnerability instigate depression. Path modelling using Maximum likelihood estimation was employed for the data analysis. Depression caseness and predisposition were determined using the WHO-5 instrument. Thirty-six percent of the athletes (n = 480) returned complete data. Eighteen percent of the athletes reported lifetime physical abuse, while 11% reported sexual abuse. Forty-five percent of the athletes had recently sustained an injury. The prevalence of depression caseness was 5.6%. Pathways to depression caseness were observed from female sex (p = 0.037) and injury history (p = 0.035) and to predisposition for depression also through exposure to a patriarchal society (p = 0.046) and physical abuse (p < 0.001). We conclude that depression in a global population of young athletes was as prevalent as previously reported from general populations, and that universal mental health promotion in youth sports should include provision of equal opportunities for female and male participants, injury prevention, and interventions for abuse prevention and victim support.

Background: Knowledge to inform the identification of individuals with a poor long-term prognosis after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is limited. Identifying prognostic factors for long-term outcomes after ACL injury may inform targeted interventions to improve outcomes for those with a poor long-term prognosis. Purpose: To determine whether ACL treatment (early augmented or nonaugmented ACL repair plus rehabilitation, rehabilitation alone, or rehabilitation plus delayed ACL reconstruction [ACLR]) and 4-year measures (quadriceps and hamstrings strength, single-leg hop, knee laxity, flexion and extension deficit, self-reported knee function, activity level) are prognostic factors for patient-reported outcomes at 32 to 37 years after acute ACL injury. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 251 patients aged 15 to 40 years with acute ACL rupture between 1980 and 1985 were allocated to early ACL repair (augmented or nonaugmented) plus rehabilitation or to rehabilitation alone, based on birth year. One hundred ninety of 234 completed 32- to 37-year follow-up questionnaires (response rate, 81%); 18 people were excluded, resulting in 172 patients available for analysis (mean age, 59 +/- 6 years; 28% female). Potential prognostic factors assessed 4 years after ACL injury were ACL treatment (early ACL repair, rehabilitation alone, or delayed ACLR), isokinetic quadriceps and hamstrings strength, single-leg hop performance, knee flexion and extension deficit, knee laxity, Tegner activity scale, and Lysholm score. Outcomes included Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales and the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Quality of Life (ACL-QOL) measure. Linear regression adjusted for age, sex, baseline meniscal injury, and contralateral ACL injury was used to assess potential prognostic factors for 32- to 37-year outcomes. Multiple imputation accounted for missing data. Results: A fair/poor Lysholm score (vs excellent/good) at 4 years was a prognostic factor for worse KOOS Pain (adjusted regression coefficient, -12 [95% confidence interval (CI), -19 to -4]), KOOS Symptoms (-15 [95% CI, -23 to -7]), KOOS Sport and Recreation (-19 [95% CI, -31 to -8]), and ACL QOL (-9 [95% CI, -18 to -1]) scores. A 4-year single-leg hop limb symmetry index &lt;90% was a prognostic factor for worse KOOS Pain (adjusted regression coefficient, -9 [95% CI, -17 to -1]) and ACL QOL (-13 [95% CI, -22 to -3]) scores at long-term follow-up. A lower activity level, delayed ACLR, and increased knee laxity were prognostic factors in the crude analysis. Rehabilitation alone versus early repair, quadriceps and hamstring strength, and flexion and extension deficit were not related to 32- to 37-year outcomes. Conclusion: Reduced self-reported knee function and single-leg hop performance 4 years after ACL injury were prognostic factors for worse 32- to 37-year outcomes. Estimates exceeded clinically important thresholds, highlighting the importance of assessing these constructs when managing individuals with ACL injuries.

Background Athletes competing in athletics (track and field) at international level may be participating with underlying undiagnosed life-threatening cardiovascular conditions. Our objective was to analyse variations in pre-participation cardiac evaluation prevalence among athletes participating in two International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Championships, with regard to the human developmental level and global region of their home countries, as well as athletes’ age category, gender, event group and medical insurance type.

Design Cross-sectional web-based survey.MethodsA total of 1785 athletes competing in the IAAF World Under 18 Championships Nairobi 2017 and World Championships London 2017 were invited to complete a pre-participation health questionnaire investigating the experience of a pre-participation cardiac examination.

Results A total of 704 (39%) of the athletes participated. Among these, 59% (60% of women; 58% of men) reported that they had been provided at least one type of pre-participation cardiac evaluation. Athletes from very high income countries, Europe and Asia, showed a higher prevalence of at least one pre-participation cardiac evaluation.

Conclusions The prevalence of pre-participation cardiac evaluation in low to middle income countries, and the African continent in particular, needs urgent attention. Furthermore, increases in evaluation prevalence should be accompanied by the development of cost-effective methods that can be adopted in all global regions.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether self-reported health complaints and choice of heat stress prevention strategies during the taper predicted peaking at an athletics championship in hot conditions.

DESIGN: Cohort study.

METHODS: Data on health and heat stress prevention were collected before the 2015 World Athletics Championship in Beijing, China. Peaking was defined using the athlete's pre-competition ranking and final competition rank. Baseline and endpoint data were fitted into multiple logic regression models.

RESULTS: Two hundred forty-five (29%) of 841 eligible athletes participated. Both sprint/power (Odds ratio (OR) 0.33 (95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.11 to 0.94), P=0.038) and endurance/combined events (OR 0.38 (95% CI 0.14 to 1.00), P=0.049) athletes having sustained concern-causing health complaints during the taper were less likely to peak. Endurance/combined events athletes who chose pre-cooling to mitigate heat stress were less likely to peak (OR 0.35 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.80), P=0.013), while sprint/power athletes reporting a sudden-onset injury complaint during the taper displayed increased peaking (OR 4.47 (95% CI 1.28 to 15.59), P=0.019).

CONCLUSIONS: Health complaints that caused the athlete concern during the taper were predictive of failure to peak at a major athletics competition. Sprint/power athletes who experienced an acute injury symptom during the taper appeared to benefit from rest. Pre-cooling strategies seem to require further validation during real-world endurance/combined events. It appears that athletics athletes' self-reported health should be monitored during the taper, concerns addressed, and heat stress prevention strategies individually tested before championships in hot conditions.

Background: The long-term prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is unknown, especially in patients without a history of ACL surgery. Purpose: To (1) describe the prevalence of radiographic OA, symptomatic OA, and knee replacement surgery 32 to 37 years after acute ACL injury and to (2) compare the prevalence of radiographic OA, symptomatic OA, and knee symptoms between patients allocated to early ACL surgery or no ACL surgery and patients who crossed over to ACL surgery. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Participants aged 15 to 40 years at the time of ACL injury were allocated to surgical (augmented or nonaugmented ACL repair) or nonsurgical ACL treatment within 14 days of injury. At 32 to 37 years after the initial injury, 153 participants were followed up with plain weightbearing radiographs and completed 4 subscales from the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Radiographic OA was defined as Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 or higher. Symptomatic OA was defined as radiographic OA plus knee symptoms measured with the KOOS. Results: Participants allocated to ACL surgery (n = 64) underwent surgery at a mean +/- SD of 5 +/- 4 days (range, 0-11 days) after injury. Of the 89 participants allocated to no ACL surgery, 53 remained nonsurgically treated, 27 had ACL surgery within 2 years, and 9 had ACL surgery between 3 and 21 years after injury. In the total sample, 95 participants (62%) had radiographic tibiofemoral OA, including 11 (7%) who had knee replacement. The prevalence of radiographic tibiofemoral OA was lower in the group allocated to ACL surgery compared with the group who never had ACL surgery (50% vs 75%;P= .005). The prevalence of symptomatic OA (50% in the total sample) and patellofemoral radiographic OA (35% in the total sample) was similar between groups. Conclusion: Patients allocated to early ACL surgery, performed a mean 5 days after injury, had a lower prevalence of tibiofemoral radiographic OA at 32 to 37 years after injury compared with patients who never had ACL surgery. The prevalences of symptomatic OA, radiographic patellofemoral OA, and knee symptoms were similar irrespective of ACL treatment. Overall, the prevalence of OA after ACL injury was high. Registration: NCT03182647 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)

Objectives

To investigate champion long-distance runners’ strategies for managing injury and illness symptoms and staying well.

Design

Qualitative research study.

Methods

Twelve long-distance runners were interviewed immediately after having competed in World Championships finals. Thematic analysis was used to categorise and structure the data. The results were presented as primary themes and overarching constructs representing connections between the primary themes.

Results

The champion runners’ basic tactic to manage symptoms of ill health was characterized by rapid adjustment of sports load and a strong incentive to learn from experience and professional advice. This tactic was named here educated flexibility. A secondary exigency tactic was associated with reaching short-term goals and a consequential acceptance of health hazards. The runners used economic and other environmental strain to explain use of the exigency tactic. Most champion runners’ long-term strategy to stay well included both tactics successfully combined to maintain a performance level assuring a regular income. Avoidance of letting environmental strain and health problems create vicious circles was at the centre of these strategies.

Conclusions

Champion runners’ main strategy to stay well and sustain their superiority in performance was characterized by constantly paying attention to symptoms of ill health, listening to medical advice, and not letting environmental strain interfere with adjustment of sports load. Many top-level runners originate from global regions where formal education programs and health insurance plans are poorly regulated and supported. Bio-psychosocial models including empowerment at individual and systems levels should be considered when health services are planned for professional runners.

Background. There are presently few methods described for in vivo monitoring of the mechanics of healing human tendon ruptures, and no methods for prediction of clinical outcome. We tested if Roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) can be used to follow the restoration of mechanical properties during healing of ruptured Achilles tendons, and if early measurements can predict clinical results. Methods. Achilles tendon repair was studied with RSA in 10 patients with a total rupture. Tantalum beads were implanted in conjunction with surgical repair. The patients were evaluated at 6, 12 and 18 weeks, and after 1 year. RSA was performed with two different mechanical loadings, and the strain induced by increasing load was measured. The transverse area was determined by ultrasound. CT scan at 12 weeks confirmed that the tantalum beads were located within the tendons. Functional testing was done after 1 year. A heel raise index was chosen as primary clinical outcome variable. Results. The strain was median 0.90, 0.32 and 0.14 percent per 100 N tendon force at 6 weeks, 18 weeks and one year respectively. The error of measurement was 0.04 percent units at 18 weeks. There was a large variation between patients, which appears to reflect biological variation. From 6 to 18 weeks, there was a negative correlation between increase in transverse area and increase in material properties, suggesting that healing is regulated at the organ level, to maximize stiffness. Modulus of elasticity during this time correlated with a heel raise index at one year (Rho = 0.76, p = 0.02). Conclusion. We conclude that the RSA method might have potential for comparing different treatments of Achilles tendon ruptures. © 2007 Schepull et al, licensee BioMed Central Ltd.