The persisting influence of organized sports participation on mental health and wellness: a longitudinal repeated measures study of adolescent female athletes.

Purpose: We examined if female adolescent athletes demonstrated changes on mental health measures 6-months after the end of a sport season compared to an immediate post-season assessment, and whether those who were actively playing sports 6-months after the end of the season reported different mental health ratings compared to athletes who were not.

Methods: Participants underwent three assessments: a pre-season, immediate post-season, and final 6-month post-season assessment on measures of anxiety ratings, depressive symptoms, grit, peer relationships, fatigue, and body appreciation.

Results: Participants reported significantly higher anxiety ratings at 6 months post-season compared to immediately post-season (6.

Pulling the Flag: The Physical and Mental Health Effects of High School Flag Football Among Female Adolescents.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to (1) describe the physical effects (injuries) and associated risk factors during flag football season and (2) evaluate in-season mental health of female flag football athletes.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Participants: We conducted a 4-month longitudinal pilot study of female adolescents participating in a season of high school flag football and nonathlete controls.

Link Between the Female Athlete Triad and Gymnastics-Related Injury in Retired Collegiate Gymnasts.

Objectives: To compare gymnastics-related injuries between former collegiate gymnasts who did and did not report components of the female athlete triad (Triad) during college, including disordered eating or menstrual irregularity. We hypothesized that athletes reporting these 2 triad symptoms would have higher rates of time loss injury and injuries requiring surgery.

Design: Retrospective case-control.

Comparison of Braces for Treatment of Sever's Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis) in Barefoot Athletes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Context: Sever's disease (calcaneal apophysitis) is a common condition in youth athletes, including those who participate in barefoot sports. Health care professionals often recommend that young athletes with Sever's disease wear heel cups in their shoes while active, but barefoot athletes are unable to use heel cups.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of 2 braces used by barefoot athletes with Sever's disease.

Training volume recommendations and psychosocial outcomes in adolescent athletes.

Objectives: Researchers have recommended that youth athletes limit their practice volume to the number of hours/week that they are old in years. We examined sport perceptions, burnout, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among youth athletes who did and did not report playing more hours/week of organized sports than their age.

Methods: Uninjured athletes aged 13-18 years old completed questionnaires documenting demographics, sport participation volume, health and injury history, depressive symptoms, anxiety, burnout, and sport perceptions during a pre-participation physical examination.

Understanding the Cheerleader as an Orthopaedic Patient: An Evidence-Based Review of the Literature.

Cheerleading is a highly popular youth sport in the United States and has been increasingly recognized in recent years for its athleticism and competitive nature. The sport has changed dramatically since its inception. When the sport of cheerleading was first developed, its primary purpose was to entertain crowds and support other athletes.

Intersection of surgical injuries and pain interference among former female collegiate gymnasts.

Background: Gymnastics is a competitive sport with numerous health benefits. However, few data exist that examine the lasting effects of injuries in retired gymnasts.

Objective: To examine pain interference among former collegiate gymnasts.

Single season re-injury risk after concussion and lower extremity injury among male, collision sport, high school athletes.

Objectives: Research suggests that a recent concussion increases subsequent lower extremity injury risk; however, data in high school athletes is limited. This study evaluates the association between concussion and subsequent injury risk among male, collision sport, high school athletes over a single season.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Presence and Perceptions of Menstrual Dysfunction and Associated Quality of Life Measures Among High School Female Athletes.

Context: Adolescent female athletes are at risk for menstrual dysfunction in the setting of exercise and low energy availability. Education regarding menstrual dysfunction and its associated consequences is important to promote athlete wellbeing.

Objective: The primary aim was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of female athletes who believed that losing their period was a normal response to high training demands.

Symptom profiles and postural control after concussion in female artistic athletes.

Objectives: The purpose of our investigation was to compare post-concussion symptom profiles and postural control measures among female youth artistic athletes (gymnasts and cheerleaders) relative to female ball sport athletes (volleyball or basketball).

Methods/findings: We compared 27 artistic athletes (median age = 15.0 years; evaluated median = 13 days post-injury) and 49 ball sport athletes (median age = 15.

Peak sagittal plane spine kinematics in female gymnasts with and without a history of low back pain.

Background: Female gymnasts have a greater prevalence of back pain compared to other female athletes. There is little evidence that female artistic gymnasts with and without back pain demonstrate different movement patterns during gymnastics skills. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were differences in back movements during back walkovers and back handsprings among female artistic gymnasts.

Comparison of pediatric sports fracture outcomes based on provider type.

: Pediatric primary care sports medicine physicians and pediatric sports medicine orthopedic surgeons, in conjunction with physician assistants (PAs), often manage patients with fractures. We sought to determine if pediatric patients with fractures seen by primary care sports medicine physicians had similar outcomes and satisfaction as those seen by orthopedic surgeons. : We performed a retrospective chart review of four to 18-year-old patients who were treated by a sports medicine provider (primary care or orthopedic surgeon/PA) for a fracture of the radius, ulna, tibia, or fibula.

Sleep Quality and Quality of Life Among Healthy High School Athletes.

We examined the association between sleep quality and quality of life (QOL) among uninjured high school athletes. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Profile 25 questionnaire. One hundred ten athletes reported poor sleep quality (mean PSQI: 6.

Association Between Flexibility and Low Back Pain in Female Adolescent Gymnasts.

Objective: To determine the relationship between low back pain (LBP), flexibility, and individual demographic characteristics in competitive adolescent female gymnasts.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: Gymnastics facilities in Colorado.

Low back pain in female adolescent gymnasts and functional pain scales.

Objectives: To determine the scores of gymnasts with low back pain (LBP) on two functional pain scales: the Micheli Functional Scale (MFS) and the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Gymnastics facilities.

Returning to Sport After Gymnastics Injuries.

Acute and overuse injuries are a common experience for artistic gymnasts; however, this population has unique needs when returning to their sport after an injury due to the technical demands imposed during gymnastics. We reviewed the current literature regarding return to play (RTP) in artistic gymnasts and developed four goals: 1) to define the guiding principles used to determine RTP in sports, 2) to identify factors that affect recovery progression among gymnasts, 3) to determine how different injury types affect RTP protocols, and 4) to create structured RTP protocols specific to gymnasts based on sex and body part injured. By establishing these guidelines, we hope to provide guidance to medical providers through a standardized approach for returning gymnasts to their sport.