http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/sports_medicine/ Sports medicine. Read the latest research on competitive and recreational sports, including information on the occurrence and treatment of sports injuries. en-us Sun, 20 May 2012 05:05:01 EDT Sun, 20 May 2012 05:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/sports_medicine/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516173721.htm A new study suggests that head impacts experienced during contact sports such as football and hockey may worsen some college athletes’ ability to acquire new information. Wed, 16 May 2012 17:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516173721.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508220116.htm People walking normally, or tottering in high heels, and ostriches strutting -- they all exert the same forces on the ground despite very differently shaped feet, according to new research. The finding suggests that prosthetic lower limbs and robots' legs could be made more efficient by making them less human-like and more like the prosthetics used by 'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius. Tue, 08 May 2012 22:01:01 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508220116.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508124551.htm Female athletes and younger athletes take longer to recover from concussions, findings that call for physicians and athletic trainers to take sex and age into account when dealing with the injury. Tue, 08 May 2012 12:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508124551.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502184422.htm Junior Seau’s apparent suicide might shock the sports world, but not concussion specialists. NFL players have a higher rate of depression, substance abuse, and dementia. This is thought to be connected to head impacts says an expert. Wed, 02 May 2012 18:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502184422.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501134201.htm You think your computer has a lot of memory … if you keep using your computer you may, too. Combining mentally stimulating activities, such as using a computer, with moderate exercise decreases your odds of having memory loss more than computer use or exercise alone, a new study shows. Tue, 01 May 2012 13:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501134201.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426143900.htm Skin problems rank among athletes' most common complaints, but there's little information available regarding dermatoses among Olympic athletes, according to new findings. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120426143900.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120425140457.htm Lefties (only ten percent of the general population) have always been a bit of a puzzle. Researchers have now developed a mathematical model that shows the low percentage of lefties is a result of the balance between cooperation and competition in human evolution. They are the first to use real-world data (from competitive sports, including baseball, boxing and hockey) to test and confirm the hypothesis that social behavior is related to population-level handedness. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:04:04 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120425140457.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120425093936.htm Ankle braces are common in the sport community and there has been concern that stabilizing the ankle joint might alter biomechanics further up the kinetic chain. New research has shown that knee biomechanics known to be risk factors for ACL injury did not appear to be negatively impacted by wearing a lace-up ankle brace. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120425093936.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120424210526.htm Many athletes with asthma may not be using the best treatment for their condition and could be putting their long term health at risk, according to new research. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:05:05 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120424210526.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120423104741.htm Olympic boxers can exhibit changes in brain fluids after bouts, which indicates nerve cell damage. This is shown in a study of 30 top-level Swedish boxers. Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120423104741.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419104629.htm A new brain-machine technology delivers messages from the brain directly to the muscles -- bypassing the spinal cord -- to enable voluntary and complex movement of a paralyzed hand. The device could eventually be tested on, and perhaps aid, paralyzed patients. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120419104629.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418203620.htm In an age when even preschoolers have electronic toys and devices, many parents wonder how to get their children to be more physically active. Now, two studies provide some answers. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418203620.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418203528.htm A new study suggests there may be a starting point at which blows to the head or other head trauma suffered in combat sports start to affect memory and thinking abilities and can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, in the brain. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120418203528.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120417125629.htm Women are more prone to knee injuries than men, and the findings of a new study suggest one cause may be that males and females differ in the way they transmit the nerve impulses that control muscle force. Men control nerve impulses similar to individuals trained for explosive muscle usage -- like those of a sprinter -- while the nerve impulses of women are more similar to those of an endurance-trained athlete, like a distance runner. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:56:56 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120417125629.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416185800.htm Despite the great promise that injecting a new type of anti-inflammatory pain medicine into the spine could relieve the severe leg and lower back pain of sciatica, a new study has found that the current standard of care with steroid injections still does better. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:58:58 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416185800.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416130313.htm Catastrophic brain injuries associated with full-contact football appear to be rising, especially among high school students, according to a new report. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120416130313.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120412113720.htm Overuse injuries -- found most often in low-contact sports that involve long training sessions or where the same movement is repeated numerous times -- make up nearly 30 percent of all injuries sustained by collegiate athletes. And a majority of overuse injuries (62 percent) occurred in females athletes, according to a new study. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120412113720.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120329170220.htm Hard facts about hard hits: An expert weighs in on what athletes and parents need to know about concussions. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120329170220.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326112918.htm Specialized training of complex motor skills may induce sports-specific structural changes in the human brain. Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326112918.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120322100307.htm Runners often extol the virtues of the runner's high, but now a team of researchers suggest that the runner's high could have evolved to motivate us to exercise as part of our early long-distance nomadic lifestyle. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120322100307.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120322095546.htm Baseball shoulder, gymnast wrist, runner’s knee. These are just a few of the labels sports medicine specialists use to describe the increasing number of repetitive-use injuries they see in young children. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:55:55 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120322095546.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120312135107.htm For children aged 14 and under, delaying reconstructive surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may raise their risk of further injury. If surgery occurs later than 12 weeks after the injury, the injury may even be irreparable. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:51:51 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120312135107.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120229155055.htm A new study shows that physiological problems stemming from a concussion may continue to present in the patient even after standard symptoms subside. Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:50:50 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120229155055.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120227162658.htm Heat-related deaths among football players across the country tripled to nearly three per year between 1994 and 2009 after averaging about one per year the previous 15 years, according to an analysis of weather conditions and high school and college sports data. The study found for the eastern US, where most deaths occurred, morning heat index values were consistently higher in the latter half of the 30-year study period. Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120227162658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120211095255.htm Elbow position alone appeared to not affect injury rates and performance in college-level, male pitchers say researchers. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:52:52 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120211095255.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207133610.htm In the US, there are nearly three million youth soccer players, and half of them are female. New research has found that despite reporting appropriate body perception and attitudes toward eating, elite youth soccer athletes face an increased risk for delayed or irregular menstruation. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:36:36 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207133610.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206122626.htm Much orthopedic research has been devoted to determining why women are far more susceptible to knee ligament injuries than men. According to a new study, the answer may lie in geometry -- the length and shape of a patient's knee bone -- more than gender. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120206122626.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202164823.htm A two-year study of high school football players suggests that concussions are likely caused by many hits over time and not from a single blow to the head, as commonly believed. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:48:48 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120202164823.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120184538.htm A new study documents a need for increased injury prevention efforts in many of the most popular activities for kids (walking, bicycling, swimming, sports and playground use) in the United States. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120184538.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120182707.htm Researchers find surprising results regarding how much protection helmets afford children participating in winter sports activities. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120182707.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119102012.htm Researchers have analyzed changes in participation and performance of runners aged 20 to 80 in the New York marathon over the last 30 years. The results are largely unexpected: the best male marathon runners over 65 and the best female marathon runners over 45 have consistently improved their performance over the last 30 years. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119102012.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120113205632.htm The use of heart bracelets connected via ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) to a system of tracking and monitoring could prevent cases of sudden death in sports activities. It could also enable an early detection of cardiac abnormalities, the prevention of certain muscle injuries and the improvement in health care times to the athlete. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:56:56 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120113205632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111223344.htm A new study finds that participating in marathons and half-marathons is associated with a relatively low risk of cardiac arrest, compared to other forms of athletics. The study also identifies bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a key factor in patient survival. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:33:33 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111223344.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120109102302.htm Could heading the ball in soccer lead to degenerative brain disease, like that seen in athletes in other sports? Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:23:23 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120109102302.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214094527.htm Caffeine combined with carbohydrate could be used to help athletes perform better on the field, according to new research. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214094527.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213092138.htm Superstar swimmers and certain comic book superheroes have something unusual in common -- when they wear special suits, they gain phenomenal abilities. A first-of-its-kind study shows how now-banned technical swimsuits artificially enhanced athlete performance in 2009. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:21:21 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213092138.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212221031.htm In response to a lawsuit after a college football player died from complications due to sickle cell trait (SCT) during a workout, the NCAA implemented mandatory SCT screening of all Division I student-athletes. A new study evaluated the impact of that policy and found that testing alone will help identify more than 2,000 athletes with SCT, but warns that screening alone will not prevent death. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:10:10 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212221031.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207000759.htm Researchers have found the first evidence that some athletes who take part in extreme endurance exercise such as marathons, endurance triathlons, alpine cycling or ultra triathlons may incur damage to the right ventricles of their hearts – one of the four chambers in the heart involved in pumping blood around the body. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:07:07 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207000759.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111206151532.htm Testing athletes for concussions may induce mental fatigue in subjects whether or not they have a head injury, according to researchers. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:15:15 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111206151532.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205170057.htm In a new study, researchers analyzed the prevalence of headaches three and 12 months after mild, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury in children ages 5 to 17, and discovered the risk of headache was higher in adolescents (ages 13 to 17) and in girls. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205170057.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111129092420.htm Using advanced imaging techniques and cognitive tests, researchers have shown that repeatedly heading a soccer ball increases the risk for brain injury. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:24:24 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111129092420.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111116143057.htm The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board of Directors has recently approved and released an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) on the treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures. Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111116143057.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114133738.htm The brain scans of high school football and hockey players showed subtle injury -- even if they did not suffer a concussion -- after taking routine hits to the head during the normal course of play, according to a new study. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114133738.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111113141250.htm According to a state survey, fewer than 6 percent of doctors fully follow national guidelines for assessing sudden cardiac death risk during high school sports physicals, researchers report. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111113141250.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111109125747.htm Football players experience repeated head trauma throughout their careers, which results in short and long-term effects to their cognitive function, physical and mental health. Researchers are investigating how other lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise, impact the late-life health of former collision-sport athletes. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:57:57 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111109125747.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107162738.htm Integrating a coach-led neuromuscular warm-up prior to sports practice appeared to reduce the risk of lower extremity injuries in female high school soccer and basketball athletes, according to a new report. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107162738.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111105153304.htm Old-fashioned "leatherhead" football helmets from the early 1900s are often as effective as -- and sometimes better than -- modern football helmets at protecting against injuries during routine, game-like collisions, according to researchers. Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:33:33 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111105153304.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031120239.htm Doctors should not only treat the heart muscle in chronic heart failure patients, but also their leg muscles through exercise, say researchers. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031120239.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111028115352.htm A person who uses a manual wheelchair can burn up to 120 calories in half an hour while wheeling at 2 mph on a flat surface, which is three times as much as someone doing the same action in a motorized wheelchair. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111028115352.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111028103730.htm Engineers have developed an open source software package called OpenSim that accurately models human movement. OpenSim is free and in use across the world helping scientists understand the complex forces of movement to improve diagnosis of physical disabilities and prevent harmful wear and tear. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111028103730.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027083043.htm A recent study found that higher levels of testosterone were associated with reduced loss of lean muscle mass in older men, especially in those who were losing weight. In these men, higher testosterone levels were also associated with less loss of lower body strength. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:30:30 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027083043.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111025113546.htm A new class of anti-inflammatory drugs may one day serve as an alternative to steroid medications and possibly help avoid the serious side effects of steroids, new research findings suggest. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111025113546.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019213617.htm Olympic timing procedures don't accurately detect false starts by female sprinters, according to a new analysis. Under the current rules, a woman can purposely anticipate the gun by up to 20 milliseconds, or one-fiftieth of a second, without getting called for a false start, the researchers say. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111019213617.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017111604.htm Nearly all active people suffer ankle sprains at some point in their lives, and a new study suggests that the different ways people move their hip and knee joints may influence the risk of re-injury. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017111604.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017075514.htm Deceiving the brain can lead to an improvement of up to five per cent in sporting performance, according to research from the UK -- news which could have a significant impact on athletes' chances in the 2012 Olympics. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:55:55 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111017075514.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111016121715.htm Knee injuries in children with tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus have increased dramatically over the past 12 years, say orthopedic surgeons. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111016121715.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005180509.htm When an athlete consistently does well, sports commentators may describe them as being "hot" or "on fire." Scientists have debunked these streaks as being in the eye of the beholder, but a new study supports the "hot hand" phenomenon: that a streak of positive outcomes is likely to continue. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:05:05 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005180509.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929144639.htm People taking oral steroids are twice as likely as the general population to have severe vitamin D deficiency, according to a study of more than 31,000 children and adults. Their findings suggest that physicians should more diligently monitor vitamin D levels in patients being treated with oral steroids. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929144639.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929103103.htm A new study highlights the injury risks for schoolboys playing rugby. The research shows that the chance of a school player suffering an injury during a single season is at least 12 percent and, according to some research, could be as high as 90 percent. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929103103.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110926104616.htm Male bodies are increasingly objectified by mass media. Consider Michael 'The Situation' Sorrentino, a cast member of MTV's Jersey Shore reality show, who garnered fame by flashing his chiseled abs before cameras. Such objectification should send young men running to gyms or fretting before mirrors, right? Not quite. A new study found most boys simply want an average physique. Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110926104616.htm