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Healthcare
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Sports Injury Prevention
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Sports Injury Prevention

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Preventive Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 11008

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Elena Pocecco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Interests: sports epidemiology; injury prevention mainly in alpine and combat sports

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Physical activity and recreational sports practice have well-known benefits on the physical and mental health of practitioners, as they involve all aspects of the person. Therefore, they have important consequences for public health.

On the other hand, competitive and professional sport exercise aims to improve performance.

However, all efforts to achieve the benefits both of recreational and competitive sport are vain when practice has to be stopped or interrupted because of overuse or traumatic injuries. Therefore, efforts to avoid or reduce the number and severity of sports injuries are of utmost importance. Van Mechelen et al. (1987; 1992) introduced the “sequence of prevention” of sports injuries. According to this model, epidemiological analyses of sports accidents are performed in order to establish the extent of the injury problem (prevalence, incidence, and severity) and to further explore the aetiology (injury mechanisms), as well as related internal and external risk factors of injuries. Thus, targeted preventive measures can be introduced and evaluated. Consequently, the prevention of sports injuries can be undertaken at different “stages” of the described model.

This Special Issue is dedicated to research focusing on the important topic of evidence-based prevention of sports injuries, independent of the subjects involved, the leisure time exercise or sport practiced (individual, combat, or team sport), the level of performance, and the stage of observation/intervention described above. Original articles as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses are welcome. 

Dr. Elena Pocecco
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 725 KiB  
Article
Functional and Lateral Asymmetry of the Knee Joint Muscles Measured Using Tensiomyography (TMG) in Professional Football Players of Different Playing Positions
by Lazar Pajović, Lazar Toskić, Aleksandar Joksimović, Adem Preljević, Dina Joksimović, Slavko Dragosavljević, Djordje Stanić, Ljubiša Lilić, Veroljub Stanković and Borislav Cicović
Healthcare 2025, 13(1), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13010067 - 2 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1407
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine whether different playing positions in football influence muscle asymmetry, which is a common cause of injuries in football. This study aimed to determine the difference in the functional and lateral asymmetry of the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine whether different playing positions in football influence muscle asymmetry, which is a common cause of injuries in football. This study aimed to determine the difference in the functional and lateral asymmetry of the knee joint muscles measured using tensiomyography (TMG) between football players of different playing positions. Methods: This study included 52 professional football players (25.1 ± 4.7 years) divided into three groups according to their playing position: defenders—DF (N = 18), midfielders—MF (N = 15), and forwards—FW (N = 19). Functional and lateral symmetry were investigated by applying TMG on the knee joint muscles Rectus femoris, Vastus medialis, Vastus lateralis, Biceps femoris, and Semitendinosus of the right and left leg, and using the algorithm proposed by the manufacturer and previous studies. Results: The results of one and two-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in functional (F = 0.596, p = 0.555, on average) and lateral asymmetry (F = 0.888, p = 0.497, on average) from the aspect of muscle contraction velocity and muscle stiffness between football players of different playing positions. Conclusions: The study results show that the specificity of the playing position in football does not influence the functional and lateral asymmetry of the knee joint muscles. However, it has been shown that there is a high percentage of players with lateral (n = 14.5, 39.6%, on average) and specifically functional asymmetry (n = 27, 51.9%, on average). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Injury Prevention)
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10 pages, 1025 KiB  
Article
Pain Education in the Wellness, Training Performance, and Pain Intensity of Youth Athletes: An Experimental Study
by Andreu Sastre-Munar and Natalia Romero-Franco
Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020215 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1445
Abstract
Background: Although pain management programs reduce pain and improve wellness perception in the general population, few studies have explored these effects in athletes. This study evaluated the effects of an educational program about pain neuroscience on wellness, training performance, and pain in youth [...] Read more.
Background: Although pain management programs reduce pain and improve wellness perception in the general population, few studies have explored these effects in athletes. This study evaluated the effects of an educational program about pain neuroscience on wellness, training performance, and pain in youth athletes. Differences according to sex were also explored. Methods: For 12 weeks, 52 athletes were randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG: educational program about healthy sports habits and pain neuroscience) or a control group (CG: education on healthy sports habits only). Before the start of the study and weekly until its end, wellness, training performance, and pain intensity were monitored via a questionnaire. Results: After the intervention, IG decreased stress (p = 0.028) compared to the baseline, and a higher number of training sessions were performed without health problems (76.6%) compared to the number in the CG (63.0%) (χ2 = 8.31, p = 0.004). Regarding pain, the IG perceived lower pain than the CG did (p = 0.028). Females in the IG had lower pain than those in the CG did (p < 0.05), without differences in other variables or in males (p > 0.05). Conclusions: An educational program that includes pain neuroscience may help youth athletes improve their wellness status, pain intensity perception, and training session performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Injury Prevention)
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9 pages, 234 KiB  
Article
Injury Incidence, Outcomes, and Return to Competition Times after Sports-Related Concussions during One Professional Ice Hockey Season: A Prospective Cohort Study
by Dominik Höllerer, Peter Kaiser, Armin Runer, Ekkehard Steiner, Christian Koidl, Rohit Arora and Friedemann Schneider
Healthcare 2023, 11(24), 3153; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11243153 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1502
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the incidence and characteristics of sports-related concussions (SRCs) for a professional ice hockey team during one regular season in the International Central European Hockey League. Background: Repeated concussions are a common cause of long [...] Read more.
Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the incidence and characteristics of sports-related concussions (SRCs) for a professional ice hockey team during one regular season in the International Central European Hockey League. Background: Repeated concussions are a common cause of long periods of absence in team contact sports, with a wide range of potential short- and long-term consequences for the affected athlete. Questions mainly regarding early diagnosis and ideal follow-up treatment remain unanswered, especially regarding the timing of return to sports (RTS). Method: A prospective data analysis for a professional ice hockey team during a regular season was conducted. Firstly, concussions per 1000 athlete exposure (AE) and average time loss due to SRC were calculated. Secondly, the data from ImPACT Applications were analyzed for those players who were diagnosed with an SRC. Results: Five SRCs were evaluated during the regular season, which resulted in 1.35 concussions/1000 AEs, a maximum of 17 missed games, and a median of three games per SRC. The average symptom count was 9.6, with the most common symptoms being headache, sensitivity to light, and dizziness. Conclusions: SRCs sustained in professional ice hockey are a common in-competition injury, while practices play a subsidiary role. The duration of RTS is highly individual and can be associated with symptoms lasting days to months. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Injury Prevention)

Review

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16 pages, 1165 KiB  
Review
Strength Training vs. Aerobic Training for Managing Pain and Physical Function in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Luis Ceballos-Laita, Silvia Lahuerta-Martín, Andoni Carrasco-Uribarren, Sara Cabanillas-Barea, Héctor Hernández-Lázaro, Silvia Pérez-Guillén and Sandra Jiménez-del-Barrio
Healthcare 2024, 12(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010033 - 22 Dec 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5144
Abstract
(1) Background: Strength training (ST) and aerobic training (AT) are the most recommended interventions in patients with knee OA. These recommendations are supported by high-quality evidence, but it is still unknow whether one type of exercise is superior to the other. Thus, the [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Strength training (ST) and aerobic training (AT) are the most recommended interventions in patients with knee OA. These recommendations are supported by high-quality evidence, but it is still unknow whether one type of exercise is superior to the other. Thus, the aim was to investigate whether one type of exercise (ST or AT) is superior to the other for improving pain and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. (2) Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out following the PRISMA statement. The search strategy was conducted in PubMed, PEDro, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized controlled trials comparing ST and AT on pain intensity and physical function in patients with knee osteoarthritis were included. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed with a PEDro scale and risk-of-bias tool, respectively. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE guidelines. (3) Results: Four studies (6 publications) were included. The qualitative and quantitative synthesis showed that ST produces no more improvement in pain intensity (SMD after intervention: 0.02; 95%CI: −0.15, 0.19; I2: 0%; three studies; 426 patients) and physical function (SMD after intervention: 0.07; 95%CI: −0.10, 0.24; I2: 0%; three studies; 426 patients) compared to AT in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The certainty of evidence was rated as very low. (4) Conclusions: Both type of exercises showed clinical benefits in people with knee osteoarthritis, but no differences between ST and AT were found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Injury Prevention)
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