1. Return to Play and Fracture Union After the Surgical Management of Jones Fractures in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Attia AK, Taha T, Kong G, Alhammoud A, Mahmoud K, Myerson M.
Orthopedic Surgery Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines of 22 studies eligible for meta-analysis with a total of 646 Fifth Metatarsal (Jones) fractures in atletes. The RTP rate with IM screw fixation was 98.8%, with other surgical fixation methods (plate, Minifix) was 98.4%, and with nonoperative management was 71.6%. The time to RTP in the IM screw fixation group was 9.6 weeks, which was significantly less than that in the nonoperative group of 13.1 weeks. The authors recommend surgical fixation for all Jones fractures in athletes.
DOI: 10.1177/0363546521990020 PMID: 33740393
Am J Sports Med. 2021 Mar 19:363546521990020. doi: 10.1177/0363546521990020.
2. Effects of Small-Sided Games vs. Running-Based High-Intensity Interval Training on Physical Performance in Soccer Players: A Meta-Analytical Comparison.
Clemente FM, Ramirez R, Afonso J, Sarmento H.
Escola Superior Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana Do Castelo, Rua Escola Industrial e Comercial de Nun’Álvares, Viana Do Castelo, Portugal.
This systematic review with meta-analysis of 650 articles, 6 of which were included in the study, found a significant favoring effect of HIIT-based over SSG-based training interventions for the improvement of linear sprinting time, with no significant differences observed for jumping and change of direction performance, suggesting that SSG-based programs should be supplemented by other training methods in order to benefit sprinting capacities in soccer players.
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.642703 PMCID: PMC7957011 PMID: 33732171
Front Physiol. 2021 Mar 1;12:642703. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.642703. eCollection 2021.
3. Effect of whey vs. soy protein supplementation on recovery kinetics following speed endurance training in competitive male soccer players: a randomized controlled trial.
Kritikos S, Papanikolaou K, Draganidis D, et al.
Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Karies, 42100, Trikala, Greece.
This is a randomized and double-blinded study in 10 well-trained male soccer players receiving whey protein (WP) or soy protein (SP) both at 1.5 g/kg/day, or an isoenergetic placebo (PL; maltodextrin) at 0.8-1 g/kg/day, before completing 3 speed-endurance training sessions performed 1 day apart. High-intensity and high-speed running decreased across the sessions, but WP and SP mitigated this response, with no effect on the decrement in isokinetic strength, maximal voluntary isometric contraction, 30-m speed, repeated sprint ability and countermovement jump performance, and neither on the raising of exercise-induced muscle damage and redox status markers.
DOI: 10.1186/s12970-021-00420-w PMID: 33726784
J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Mar 16;18(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00420-w.
4. External and internal load during Small-Sided Games in soccer: use or not floaters.
Asian JA, Rabano A, Núñez FJ, Suarez-Arrones L.
Real Betis Balompié, Performance Department, Seville, Spain – Football Science Institute, Granada, Spain.
15 male semi-professional football players played 3, 5 and 7 players’ SSGs maintaining the same relative area per player. The absence of floaters and the increment of the number of players in the SSG increased the internal and external loads of the regular players, except for the number of accelerations that was higher in SSGs with 3 players’ and floaters. Floaters were subjected to less internal and external load than regular players in every SSG, but with an increment in load with more players.
DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12103-6 PMID: 33721980
J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2021 Mar 15. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12103-6. Online ahead of print.
5. Head Impact Situations in Professional Football (Soccer).
ABeaudouin F, Demmerle D, Fuhr C, Tröß T, Meyer T.
Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
A video observation analysis of match head impact incidents (HIIs) was conducted in the German Bundesliga (2017/18 season). The total number of HIIs was 1,362 corresponding to an IR of 134.9/1000 match hours. In 123 HIIs the contact was classified as severe. Head contact with the opponent was the most frequent cause (85%), with 58% during header duels, and with 44% due to arm/elbow-to-head, followed by head-to-head and hand-to-head contacts (each 13%). 29 head injuries were recorded: Concussions/traumatic brain injuries 48%, head/facial fractures 24%, head/facial contusions 21%, and lacerations/abrasions 7%. On-field identification and severity assessment of HIIs should be improved as many might go unrecognised based on their large numbers.
DOI: 10.1055/a-1338-1402 PMCID: PMC7946547 PMID: 33718592
Sports Med Int Open. 2021 Mar 10;5(2):E37-E44. doi: 10.1055/a-1338-1402. eCollection 2021 Mar.