Sports Medicine

Low vitamin D levels are common and associated with higher injury odds in Division I athletes

Among 284 Division I athletes, 47.2% had vitamin D insufficiency and 17.6% had deficiency on 25(OH)D testing. Each 5 ng/mL decrease in 25(OH)D was associated with a 13% higher odds of musculoskeletal injury (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.00–1.27). Vitamin D classification did not significantly influence injury time loss, recovery duration, or measured jump performance. Findings support considering targeted vitamin D screening and correction as part of broader injury risk management in collegiate programs. 1

Subsequent hamstring and groin injuries are frequent within-season in professional football

In 1,258 Qatar Stars League players over nine seasons, 4,700 time-loss injuries were recorded, with 34% classified as subsequent injuries within the same season. Subsequent injuries mainly involved the thigh, particularly hamstrings, and the groin, emphasizing lower-limb muscle vulnerability. Hamstring injuries carried a 7.5% probability of within-season recurrence, and groin injuries had a 2.9% probability of subsequent hamstring injury. Markov-chain modeling of injury transitions highlighted these high-risk patterns, informing targeted rehab, surveillance, and RTP decisions. 2

Rapid growth and mid-maturation height increase growth-related injury risk in elite adolescent dancers

This seven-year cohort followed 506 preprofessional ballet students to relate growth and maturation to growth-related and bone injuries. Higher linear growth rate was significantly associated with greater growth-related injury occurrence (p=0.0006). Percentage of adult height showed an inverted U-shaped relationship with growth injuries, with highest risk around 85%–95% of adult height (quadratic p=0.0019). Similar but less precise patterns appeared for bone injuries, while BMI percentile and BMI change were not associated with either injury type. Tracking growth rate and adult-height percentage can help adjust training loads during vulnerable maturation windows. 3

Substantial global variability in concussion RTP protocols for football players

Across 95 FIFA Member Associations, 73 reported a concussion RTP protocol structured into six stages from rest to full return. Protocols varied widely in initial rest recommendations, timing of stages, and criteria for progression, including handling of residual symptoms. Medical clearance requirements differed, with some protocols mandating physician sign-off and others treating it as optional or variably timed. Total RTP timelines ranged from roughly 30 hours to 23 days, and only 42 associations reported following international standards. These discrepancies highlight opportunities for clinicians to advocate for standardized, evidence-aligned concussion RTP policies. 4