Key words: Sitting, screen time, back pain This blog is based on our recent systematic review and meta-analysis (1). Our study explored whether spending too much time sitting causes neck or back pain in children and teenagers or if it makes existing neck or back pain worse. Why is this study important? Childhood and adolescence is […]
Category: General
Utilising a pre-participation evaluation to support the Ramadan fasted athlete.
During the 2023/24 season, we piloted the implementation of a pre-participation evaluation (PHE) questionnaire specifically designed for athletes observing Ramadan fasting (1). This proposal sought to address the complex challenges facing our Muslim players during the holy month, including balancing energy levels, maintaining hydration and nutrition within limited eating windows, and managing disrupted sleep schedules(2, […]
Exploring the hidden link: high-performance athletes, health and abuse
Keywords: Athlete abuse, injuries, mental health, high-performance sport “Olympic level sport takes more than just your daily dedication during practice hours. And when I say that I go beyond the obvious notion of dieting, resting, and even-meditating. What starts as a child’s dream ends up becoming not just something you do, but who you are: […]
Banning heading in youth football – what is the evidence?
Exploring the rationale behind the heading ban in children and adolescent football in the UK In July 2022, the English FA announced a trial for banning the act of heading in matches for the age groups under-12 and below for the 2022-23 season (1). This has since been extended to the 2023-24 season, in an […]
The Fear of Fractures: How to exercise safely with Osteoporosis Part 2
This blog follows on from a recent blog from December 2024. See the below infographic on an example prescription for an individual with osteoporosis. Authors: Dr Callum Innes, Dr Andrew Shafik & Dr Malin Farnsworth […]
Response to: The ‘nervy’ business of T-junction hamstring injuries
What we have learned treating T-junction injuries amongst professional footballers Keywords: Hamstring, T-junction, Rehabilitation Introduction A recent BJSM blog explored the role of neural structures in the occurrence and rehabilitation of distal musculotendinous junction (DMTJ), ‘T-junction’, injuries of the biceps femoris [1]. We read this with interest, having encountered this injury multiple times amongst our […]
Quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength after ACL reconstruction
Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament, muscle strength, rehabilitation, knee This blog summarises the findings of a recent systematic review of quadriceps and hamstrings strength after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR)(1). Why is this study important? After ACLR, weakness of the thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstrings) is common, if not universal, with implications for risk of re-injury […]
The ‘weekend warrior’ physical activity pattern: what’s good for the body is good for the mind!
Author: Gary O’Donovan (Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Email: g.odonovan@uniandes.edu.co) Large studies have shown that the risk of cardiometabolic disease (1) and the risk of death (2,3) are reduced to similar extents in ‘weekend warriors’ who exercise once or twice per week and in the ‘regularly active’ who exercise more often. […]
Unicompartmental Knee Pain
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease with a fifth of people aged over 45 years developing knee OA in their lifetime [1]. Many patients are often told to wait until they are candidates for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) without receiving symptomatic relief. This is because arthroplasty is relatively contraindicated without full thickness chondral […]
The MSK Playbook: Bone stress injuries
Bone stress injuries (BSI) in the young athlete can cause significant time loss, and impact their training at a key developmental phase of bone maturation. Return to play timelines at this age are variable, depending on the site and metabolic potential for the injury to heal, and any associated medical or psychosocial comorbidities. Risk factors […]