Welcome, science enthusiasts.

In today’s edition:

• Bone stress injuries in female off-road runners

• Micronutrient deficiencies in elite female rugby players

• Effects of electrical stimulation with resistance training

• COVID-19 impacts and vaccine myocarditis in athletes

• Return to play after UCL surgery in baseball pitchers

and several more…

FEATURED ARTICLES 🌭

🏃‍♀️ Bone Stress Injuries Common Among Female Off-Road Runners

Key finding:

Bone stress injuries in female off-road runners are linked to age, menstrual issues, and lower nutrient intake.

How they did it:

• Methodology: This systematic review included 16 studies analyzing epidemiological data and risk factors for bone stress injuries (BSIs) in female off-road runners, compiling data from a total of 897 participants across various studies, with inclusions from NCAA and high school runners, and international races in the U.S., Portugal, and South Africa.

• Results: The incidence of BSIs ranged notably from 0.27 to 34.39 injuries per 100,000 athlete-exposures (AEs), while prevalence ranged from 0% to 40.9%, indicating a greater risk among female off-road runners compared to general running populations.

• Injury Characteristics: The majority of BSIs identified were high severity with the lower leg being the most commonly affected area, highlighting that up to 66.6% of BSIs were tibial fractures, thus emphasizing the need for targeted prevention strategies.

• Innovations: The review utilized a structured assessment of study quality through the Downs and Black tool as well as quality of evidence ratings, facilitating a systematic approach to evaluating the current body of research on BSIs in this female demographic.

• Risk Factors: Eight significant intrinsic risk factors were identified, including disrupted menstruation and lower dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D, which were statistically linked to increased BSI risk, underscoring the importance of nutritional strategies in injury prevention.

Why it matters:

Understanding the incidence of bone stress injuries (BSIs) in female off-road runners is crucial, given that incidence rates can range from 0% to 34%, alongside a prevalence of up to 40.9%. With eight significant intrinsic risk factors identified—such as disrupted menstruation and nutritional deficiencies—coaches and sports practitioners can tailor training and nutrition strategies to mitigate these risks, ultimately enhancing athlete health and performance.

🏉 Is Iron Deficiency Impacting Elite Female Rugby Players?

Key finding:

Iron deficiency has minimal impact on workload measures in elite female rugby league players, but monitoring is recommended.

How they did it:

• Methodology: The study involved 28 elite female rugby league players (average age 24 years, body mass 76 kg), with blood samples collected across three time points during a 17-week National Rugby League Women’s season to assess iron and vitamin D levels. Players wore GPS units to monitor physical performance metrics including total distance and PlayerLoad during training and matches.

• Results: Iron deficiency prevalence varied significantly, with rates from 26% to 57% throughout the season; less than 22% showed vitamin D deficiency at any point. Linear mixed-effects models indicated that the associations between iron levels and physical workload measures were weak to moderate, suggesting limited impact of iron deficiency on performance metrics.

• Innovation: The study utilized a longitudinal design with detailed tracking of micronutrient status and external load measures using advanced GPS technology, enhancing understanding of how micronutrient fluctuations affect athletic performance in team sports.

• Key Finding: Despite initial high rates of iron deficiency, the performance measures primarily showed trivial differences between iron-deficient and sufficient players, indicating positional demands may outweigh the impact of iron status on performance metrics.

• Implication: The results suggest the necessity for ongoing micronutrient monitoring and supplementation to optimize physical performance and address functional deficiency, even among athletes classified as iron-sufficient.

Why it matters:

These findings highlight the significant prevalence of iron deficiency among elite female rugby league players, peaking at 57% early in the season, yet revealing only trivial impact on most performance metrics. For coaches and sports practitioners, this underscores the importance of regular micronutrient assessments to tailor interventions—like iron supplementation—to optimize athlete performance throughout the lengthy season. Understanding individual responses to iron fluctuations can support more effective training loads and overall player health.

QUICK BITES 🍤

Athlete Health and Well-being

🏃‍♂️ Is Myocarditis a Hidden Risk for Athletes?

-Myocarditis in athletes post-COVID-19 infection or vaccination is rare, but may be underreported and requires careful monitoring.

Biomechanics

🏉 Do Male Athletes Really Have Stronger Hips?

-Male athletes show significantly greater hip strength than female athletes, with Gaelic football players outperforming rugby players.

Injury

⚽ Unlocking Soccer Rehab: The Chaos Makes You Stronger

-An updated framework for on-pitch rehabilitation enhances training by integrating cognitive challenges and simulating game conditions for players.

🦵 Optimal Surgery for Patellar Instability

-The combined surgical approach of MPFLR and trochleoplasty shows the best outcomes for patellar instability with trochlear dysplasia.

⚾️ The Truth About UCL Surgery Recovery

-Most MLB pitchers return to play after UCL surgery, but few regain their full performance three years later.

Neuromuscular Function

💪 Unlocking Muscle Gains: The Power of NMES and RT

-Combining neuromuscular electrical stimulation with resistance training significantly enhances strength and muscle mass gains.

Curated by Haresh Suppiah