Although chronic ankle instability (CAI) and ankle sprains are highly prevalent, there has been little advancement in treatment strategies. A challenging aspect of CAI rehabilitation is the multifaceted nature of CAI. Sensorimotor deficits particularly dynamic postural control impairments, are well documented in those with CAI relative to uninjured controls and likely contribute to the high prevalence of CAI. Because CAI is associated with deficits in sensory pathways, mind-body interventions may help enhance a patient's awareness and processing of sensory information (ie, proprioception). Improved proprioception may subsequently result in more confidence in bodily movements, which we hypothesize would manifest as improved dynamic postural control.

Hamstring strain injuries are a common injury in many sport settings, but are especially common in soccer. These injuries can cause an athlete to miss time from play. Prevention programs have been shown to reduce the risk of injury.

Upper-extremity physical performance tests are essential to assess the functional status of athletes. The Closed Kinetic Chain Upper-Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) is widely used in sports. However, the psychometric properties of its modified version (MCKCUEST) in swimmers are unknown. We aimed to assess the reliability, standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC), and known-group validity of the MCKCUEST in swimmers.

Pain catastrophizing, a psychological response to actual or anticipated pain, has been shown to negatively impact attention and is commonly observed in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and other musculoskeletal conditions. In sport settings, attentional changes associated with pain catastrophizing, combined with environmental distractions, may impair injury-related perceptual-motor skills, such as visuomotor reaction time (VMRT). Characterizing the association between pain catastrophizing and VMRT in an environment that simulates sport-related distractions may highlight the need to address psychological factors that impact attention post-ACLR. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between pain catastrophizing and lower-extremity VMRT among individuals with ACLR under conditions with and without sport-specific visual and auditory stimuli.

This study examined whether a greater number of recovery sessions combining transcranial direct current stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (+F3/-F4 montage configuration) and pneumatic compression would influence elite professional male soccer players' physiological and perceptual markers.

ForceFrame values for hip adduction, abduction, and adduction:abduction strength ratio do not currently exist in the literature for female soccer players. Such values are needed and would inform both strengthening programs and rehabilitative exercise prescription. The purpose of this study was to compare hip adduction and abduction force outputs and hip adduction:abduction ratios across common testing positions in healthy elite-level female soccer players.

Neuromuscular training (NMT) enhances balance among recreational athletes, but the effectiveness of single- versus multicomponent NMT remains unclear.

Field hockey is a popular sport in Australia and worldwide. However, there is limited evidence investigating the most frequent injuries and mechanisms of injury in Australia. We aimed to identify the location and characteristics of injuries of field hockey players in Australia in the 2023 winter season.

Neuromuscular training (NMT) is an effective injury prevention strategy but may have barriers to in-person delivery. Our objective was to examine injury incidence in the year following NMT intervention delivered virtually and to identify functional test performance associated with subsequent injuries.

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition, with nonspecific low back pain (NS-LBP) accounting for the majority of cases. NS-LBP lacks a definitive pathological cause, complicating diagnosis and management. Emerging research has identified diaphragm dysfunction, including alterations in thickness and excursion, as a potential factor contributing to NS-LBP. Ultrasound is a noninvasive tool used to measure these diaphragm characteristics and explore their association with NS-LBP.

Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is a type of low back pain, affecting roughly 15% to 30% of patient cases. Pain management is essential for improving function and quality of life in these patients. However, due to the complexity of the anatomy and the innervations surrounding the SIJ, there is limited consensus on the most effective treatment for SIJ pain, resulting in variable approaches to pain management. Common interventions for SIJ pain include muscle energy techniques (MET) and joint manipulations, both are known for their ability to improve function and reduce pain.

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is prevalent among athletes and is associated with impaired sensorimotor function, reduced dynamic stability, and limited functional movement, increasing the risk of reinjury. Aquatic exercise offers a low-impact alternative to land-based rehabilitation by reducing joint loading and promoting neuromuscular adaptations. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an 8-week aquatic exercise program on functional outcomes in athletes with CAI.

Return to sport assessments after lower-extremity injury/surgery focus on anticipated movement. However, sport requires unanticipated movements with intense visual-cognitive processing. Thus, our purpose was to test the reliability of 2 agility tests augmented with visual-cognitive dual tasks that simulate the attentional demands of sport to improve the ecological validity of return to sport assessments.

This study aimed to differentiate subgroups of chronic ankle instability (CAI), including mechanical ankle instability (structural damage), functional ankle instability (FAI: neuromuscular deficits), Copers (individuals who recovered functional stability without recurrent symptoms), and controls (healthy individuals), using a validated questionnaire set (Cumberland ankle instability tool [CAIT], identification of functional ankle instability [IdFAI], ankle instability instrument [AII], foot and ankle ability measurement [FAAM]/Activities of Daily Living, FAAM/Sports). Additionally, we sought to present a standardized scoring system to classify CAI, Copers, and control participants.

Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) have deficits in force accuracy in evertors and hip abductors due to impaired neuromuscular control. Individuals with CAI rely more on visual information during force accuracy following lateral ankle sprain. To identify the effects of using stroboscopic glasses following a 4-week rehabilitation on force accuracy of ankle evertors, invertors, and hip abductors and visual reliance in individuals with CAI.

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) places a large burden on patients and the larger health care system. Current best evidence suggests an impairment-driven approach to managing PFP. Deep-dry needling (DDN) is a potentially advantageous manual therapy for patients with PFP due to the proposed benefits, including improved blood flow and oxygen saturation, improved range of motion, and improved muscle extensibility and function. However, current best practices do not recommend the utilization of DDN in the management of PFP and fail to evaluate DDN as part of multimodal treatment, and only evaluate DDN of the quadriceps muscle group. This critically appraised topic evaluates the literature on inclusion of DDN as part of the multimodal treatment of PFP exploring multiple muscle groups impacting PFP.

Assessing cognitive-motor function following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction may enable a more comprehensive assessment of readiness to return to sport. The primary purpose of this study was determining the relationship between measures of clinical cognitive-motor interference and laboratory-based second injury relevant biomechanics through a cross-sectional study.

Altered trunk kinematics have been reported in people with knee disorders and may be driven by neuromuscular deficits in the trunk muscles. Yet, no study has synthesized the evidence for trunk neuromuscular function in people with knee disorders compared with those injury-free.

Female athletes frequently experience lateral ankle sprains (LAS) during unilateral jump-landing activities and face a significant risk of recurrent ankle injury. LAS has been associated with reduced diaphragm contractility and altered breathing mechanics. The diaphragm and breathing mechanics are crucial for mitigating landing impact, which is typically impaired in individuals with LAS. Given this connection, innovative rehabilitation approaches that address dysfunctional breathing mechanics may be warranted. To date, no research has investigated associations between breathing mechanics and landing kinetics in adolescent female athletes with LAS. This study aimed to compare ground reaction force (GRF) and dynamic stability during a single-leg stabilization task between female athletes with a history of LAS who exhibited diaphragmatic breathing patterns and those who had dysfunctional breathing patterns.