A monthly round-up of podcasts and articles
By Steffan Griffin (@lifestylemedic) &
Dr Markus Laupheimer (@swisssportscare)
Welcome to the first virtual conference of 2016, where we focus on an important yet polarising topic for all SEM practitioners– muscle injuries. There is a lot of discussion as to the best muscle injury classification to guide diagnosis and treatment. Below is a collection of BJSM papers and podcasts so you can decide which one you think is most useful!
An Overview of muscle injury classification systems http://bit.ly/23BCPwH
This paper provides a great overview and a good insight into the development of muscle injury classification systems. It also provides a framework from which to understand the historical progression of the classification and grading of muscle injuries and delve into the strengths and weaknesses of various systems.
Munich Consensus Statement
Inconsistent terminology among SEM practitioners led to the formulation of the Munich muscle injuries consensus statement, where some of the biggest names in sports medicine gathered to define and establish practical and systematic terms. In addition, a new comprehensive classification system was developed, which differentiates between four types… but you’ll have to read/listen to find out more!
PODCAST: The Munich muscle classification – Using it for more accurate diagnosis and treatment http://bit.ly/23BCrhT
Dr Peter Ueblacker is an internationally renowned orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine doctor who had a long and very successful career with Bayern Munich from 2009 – 2015. He gives us an overview of the development of the Munich classification and how it is used in practice, with a particular focus on the spine.
PODCAST: Managing muscle injuries – Does the Munich Consensus Statement help? http://bit.ly/1Vz0qZ9
Grading of muscle injuries should have a big influence on time to return to sport but it’s not so easy! Babette Pluim asks Prof Gino Kerkhoffs how the Munich Consensus Statement of terminology and classification of muscle injuries in sport was developed. And what are the practical implications for clinicians?
PAPER: Terminology and classification of muscle injuries in sport – The Munich consensus statement http://bit.ly/23BDKxl #OpenAccess
Not convinced it works in practice? Ekstrand, Askling and others applied the classification to thigh muscle injuries in elite football and documented the results… http://bit.ly/23BDZbC
British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification
The British Athletics model, constructed by Noel Pollock and others, argue that commonly used muscle injury grading systems lack diagnostic accuracy and provide limited prognostic information to the clinician. Whilst there is recent evidence regarding the prognostic features of muscle injuries, this evidence has not often been incorporated into the grading proposals. The British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification proposes a new system, based on the available evidence, which they hope will provide a sound diagnostic base for therapeutic decision-making and prognostication.
PODCAST: Managing muscle injuries better – tips from Dr Noel Pollock http://bit.ly/23BCyd9
Dr Noel Pollock explains to Dr Markus Laupheimer how and why the Classification developed, as well as why the (older) Munich classification was not ideal. Listen for tips on how this classification adds something special and is of practical value for treating your athletes with muscle injuries.
PAPER: British athletics muscle injury classification: a new grading system http://bit.ly/1Vz0Y13
Again, the authors also put the system to the test in hamstring injuries, and found that time to return to full training is delayed and recurrence rate is higher in intratendinous (‘c’) acute hamstring injury – one of the grades that form the British Athletics classification system http://bit.ly/1Vz1ood
We hope you have found these articles and podcasts useful. If you have any thoughts on the issue, why not let us know on twitter (@BJSM_BMJ) or on Google+, we may even be able to set-up a forum with some of the experts.