Return-to-Play Criteria Following a Hamstring Injury in Professional Soccer: Time for a Tailor-Made Approach

Perna, P., Kerin, F., MacDonald, B., Jokela, A., Lempainen, L. & Beato, M. . Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform. 1–5 (2025). Purpose: A hamstring injury rehabilitation and return-to-play (RTP) individualized approach based on the anatomical structure involved, the location of the injury, and the mechanism of injury is still missing in most studies. RTP criteria should be chosen following the …

Evolution of Research Published in Sports and Exercise Medicine Journals: A Quantitative Analysis of Global Trends

Zwack, C. C., Haghani, M. & Benson, A. C. Sports Med. – Open 11, 118 (2025). Background Sports and exercise medicine is important in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of a variety of musculoskeletal presentations and injuries as well as aiding athletes’ recovery and enhancing public health by promoting physical activity for all. It has evolved from a subspecialty into …

Rethinking Acute Sports Injuries: Evidence for an Overuse Mechanism in Hamstring and ACL Injuries

Hooren, B. V. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports 35, e70146 (2025). Sports injuries have traditionally been classified as acute or overuse based on their onset and associated circumstances. Hamstring strain injuries and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are two common sports injuries that are typically implicitly considered to represent acute injuries. This brief review, however, argues that hamstring and ACL …

Sports-related injuries and illnesses amongst adolescent athletes in an urban sports medicine practice setting: a one-year prospective study

Van Loggerenberg , C., Ramagole, D., Jansen van Rensburg, A., Janse van Rensburg, D. C., & Boer, P. (2025). South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 37(1). Background: Approximately 23 million sports-related injuries occur annually among African adolescents, with limited epidemiological data on sports-related illnesses across the continent.  Objectives: This study highlights the prevalence, nature, and severity of sports injuries and illnesses in adolescent …

Anxiety and Mood Disturbance Are Prospectively Associated With Respiratory Infection Risk and the Mucosal Immune Response to Exercise

Harrison, S. E., Edwards, J. P., Roberts, R. & Walsh, N. P. Eur. J. Sport Sci. 25, e70058 (2025). We prospectively examined whether psychological factors influence (a) respiratory tract infection (RTI) risk and (b) the mucosal immune response to exercise. In Study 1, n = 406 adults (67% male) recorded RTI symptoms for two weeks before and after a marathon. …

Lower limb clinical osteoarthritis and its association with joint pain and function, and severe injuries and surgeries, in women professional football players: a cross-sectional observational study

Ramagole, D., Janse van Rensburg, D. C., Bennett, P., Cowie, C., Maas, M., Mehta, R., Ramkilawon, G., Rantanen, J., Salo, J., Pluim, B., Kerhoffs, G., & Gouttebarge, V. (2025). South African Journal of Sports Medicine, 37(1). Background: Athletes may sustain severe injuries and need to undergo surgery, potentially leading to osteoarthritis (OA). Early diagnosis and rehabilitation can significantly improve outcomes and extend …

The Development and Validation of a Questionnaire That Assesses Female Athletes’ and Coaches’ Knowledge of the Menstrual Cycle

Fischer, K., Kirschbaum, E. M., Nikoleizig, L., Lautenbach, F., McGawley, K. & Elbe, A. Eur. J. Sport Sci. 25, e70019 (2025). In this study, a menstrual cycle knowledge questionnaire (MCKQ) was developed and validated for female athletes and coaches. Items for an initial questionnaire (Pre‐MCKQ) were generated from existing questionnaires and supplemented by three experienced gynaecologists. The 21‐item Pre‐MCKQ was …

The prevalence and perceptions of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use among ultra-endurance runners

Cole, P. L., Bontemps, B., Pugh, J., & Owens, D. J. (2025). Research in Sports Medicine, 1–19. Ultra-endurance running imposes extreme physical demands often resulting in exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), pain, and inflammation. Many athletes use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) despite safety concerns, questionable efficacy, and recent bans in some events. However, the prevalence, patterns, and cultural drivers of NSAID …

Exercise as a Therapy for Successful Aging

Ara, I., Gómez‐Cabrera, M. C. & Garatachea, N. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports 35, e70133 (2025). Regular physical activity has profound and multifaceted benefits for individuals as they age. This review highlights the role of exercise in promoting healthy and successful aging, emphasizing its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of frailty and disability. Exercise is a primary intervention to …