Sports Medicine

High wearable-derived endurance load links to greater coronary plaque in middle-aged male athletes

In 222 middle-aged men from the Master@Heart study, higher objectively measured annual endurance training load was associated with more CCTA-detected coronary atherosclerosis. Compared with the lowest eTRIMP quartile, the highest quartile had much higher adjusted odds of ≥1 plaque and CAC>0. High objectively measured training duration showed similar positive associations with ≥1 plaque and CAC>100, unlike self-reported MET-min/week. Relative time in high-intensity zones alone was not clearly related to CAD prevalence. 1

Elite youth ballet students sustain frequent, often severe, largely overuse injuries

Over seven academic years, 569 elite ballet students accumulated 2121 medical-attention injuries, 1656 causing time loss across 266,468 student-days. Injury incidence was higher in upper-school students (16–19 years) than lower-school students (11–16 years), with greater days lost per 1000 exposure days. More than one-third of injuries were severe (>28 days), and about half were repetitive-gradual onset, with one quarter being recurrences. Jumping, landing, complex dance movements, and pointe work in girls were common mechanisms. 2

Conventional US and MRI features do not predict outcomes after exercise therapy for patellar tendinopathy

This cohort followed 76 athletes with patellar tendinopathy undergoing 24 weeks of exercise therapy in two different programs. Baseline ultrasound and MRI commonly showed structural abnormalities, including tendon thickening, calcifications, fiber disruption, and peri-tendinous edema. No individual imaging feature, nor the total number of abnormalities, predicted 24-week changes in pain with loading or VISA-P disability scores. These data argue against using conventional US or MRI findings to forecast prognosis, emphasizing clinical assessment and response to loading instead. 3

Sleeper and cross-body stretches provide similar benefits in symptomatic GIRD

In a randomized double-blind trial, 35 competitive overhead athletes with shoulder pain and GIRD performed sleeper or cross-body stretch three times weekly for four weeks. Both groups reported significant reductions in pain intensity and improvements in glenohumeral internal rotation deficit. There were no significant between-group differences in pain, range-of-motion gains, affective responses, adherence, or co-interventions. Clinicians can choose either posterior capsule stretch based on athlete comfort and positional tolerance, integrating it into broader shoulder rehabilitation. 4