Investigating the role of ELN rs2071307 gene variant as a risk factor for Achilles Tendon Pathologies in a British Cohort

Injuries to the Achilles tendon (tendinopathies or ruptures) are considered as ones of the most severe musculoskeletal traumas in sports with an incidence rate of 50% in athletes and 10% in the general population. A number of gene variants coding for tendon structural proteins such as COL5A11 and FBN22 have previously been associated with Achilles tendon pathologies (ATP). These protein along with others maintain a harmonious interaction with elastin to allow tendons to respond to tensile load by stretching and returning to their original lengths. The ELN rs2071307 variant has been associated with soft tissue pathologies and is believed to be a good candidate gene as it results in the substitution of the hydrophobic amino acid glycine with the hydrophilic serine. However, in a previous study this variant was not associated with either Achilles tendinopathy or ACL rupture in populations from Australia and South Africa2. As recent evidence suggests that genetic risk factors for tendinopathy may depend, to some extent, on geographic location 3, the aim of this study was to determine whether the ELN rs2071307 variant was associated with the risk of ATP in a British cohort

Hand Trauma in English domestic professional county cricket

Background: Hand trauma is a frequent and disabling injury in cricket. However, there is limited published data on its impact on the sport at the elite level. Objectives: This study investigated the incidence and mechanism of hand injuries in professional cricket over a decade and the impact of these injuries upon player availability. Methods: A retrospective hand injury review at Northampton County Cricket Club (NCCC) over 10 years (2009-2018) was performed. All hand injuries had been contemporaneously documented. They were analysed for cause of injury, treatment, and time away from competitive play. Results: There were 45 hand injuries in total. Eleven percent needed surgical intervention. These hand injuries required a total recovery time of 1561 days, and in-season 1416 days were lost from competitive play. The injuries requiring surgery were unavailable for 229 total days during the season. A player had an annual 18% risk of sustaining a hand injury requiring time away from the sport and resulting in a 4% reduction in playing resources during a season. Conclusion: Hand injuries have major implications for player selection during the cricket season and place a potential burden upon the entire squad and the team’s success

Enhancing the Physiology and Effectiveness of Whole-Body Cryotherapy Treatment for Sports Recovery by Establishing an Optimum Protocol: A Review of Recent Perspectives

Whilst several modalities have been adopted to promote optimum sports recovery, the beneficial effects of Whole-Body Cryotherapy (WBC) remain equivocal. Physiological and performance effects of WBC treatment covering anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular and autonomic changes as well as muscle damage marker reductions are well documented. However, evidence concerning the implications of manipulating WBC protocol factors are relatively scant and were the subject of this review. We attempted to address the question as to what is considered the optimum WBC protocol for post exercise recovery. Notable factors were identified as pertinent to the potential efficacy of WBC treatment. Firstly, treatment timing appears to influence WBC effectiveness, probably due to the time course of the inflammatory response post exercise. This can have direct applications for sports practice since many athletes lack immediate access to cryogenic chambers. It is probable that applying WBC within 60 minutes is desirable. Secondly, inter-individual factors such as body fat, age and sex affect WBC response, with young and lean males benefiting apparently more from the treatment. Furthermore, adjustments in WBC temperature, duration and frequency are to be factored in, with the latter potentially being particularly significant. The precise prescription of WBC treatment for optimising recovery could be affected accordingly. Understanding how different WBC protocols can ameliorate the effects of muscle damage can aid practitioners in the application of WBC strategies to facilitate recovery needs and athletic performance. Future studies should consider randomised controlled trials addressing the impact of protocol factors in isolation on physiological and performance parameters

The Effects of Age and Body Fat Content on Post-Downhill Run Recovery Following Whole Body Cryotherapy

This study explored the effects of age and body fat content on responses to whole body cryotherapy (WBC) following a downhill running bout. Forty-one male participants (mean ± SD age 42.0 ± 13.7 years, body mass 75.2 ± 10.8 kg) were allocated into WBC (n = 26) and control (CON, n = 15) groups. WBC participants were divided into old (OLD, ≥45 years, n = 10) and young (YNG, 0.05). WBC may attenuate muscle damage and benefit muscle strength recovery following eccentrically biased exercises, particularly for young males

The role of vancomycin-soaking of the graft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Approximately 1% of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) procedures develop septic arthritis despite intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis and other preventive measures. Infection is most commonly due to contamination during autograft harvest and preparation by introducing bacteria into the knee during graft insertion. Presoaking ACL grafts in 5 mg/mL vancomycin (“vancomycin wrap”) has been utilised to eradicate such bacterial contamination. Many level III studies have reported a marked decrease in infection rates with no increase in graft failure rates. However, the lack of prospective randomised control trials and these studies’ heterogeneity do not allow a universal recommendation for vancomycin pre-soaking of all grafts during ACLR. Randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm efficacy in reducing sepsis rate