BRINGING SCIENCE TO TREATMENT
in Diagnose & Treat, Neck and back injuries
Chris Mallac explores the concept of extension pattern back pain in athletes and provides insights for clinicians treating low back injuries. Low back pain is common in the general population, with reported rates as high as 84%(1). In athletes, complaints of low back pain are less common, only accounting for about 6-10% of injuries behind... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Shoulder injuries
In the second part of this two-part series, Chris Mallac highlights some clinically relevant exercises designed to retrain serratus anterior function. Overhead athletes need stable shoulders. Their power and performance comes directly from the stability and mobility offered in this joint. As reviewed in part I of this series, the serratus anterior (SA) helps stabilize... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Email Newsletters, Knee injuries
Adolescence is often a period of rapid growth for most children. Because bones grow faster than muscles, this growth can lead to tension from the tendons at their insertion on the bone, causing an apophysitis. One of the most difficult-to-treat conditions related to such growth is Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD), an apophysitis at the tibial tuberosity.... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Shoulder injuries
Dysfunction in the serratus anterior can lead to shoulder injuries and affect performance. In the first of a two-part series, Chris Mallac looks at its anatomy and biomechanics, Shoulder pain is a common complaint in overhead athletes involved in sports such as swimming, tennis and the throwing sports. Overhead arm movements place high demands on... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Musculoskeletal injuries
Andrew Hamilton looks at new evidence identifying key biomechanical characteristics of running gait that can predict injury in recreational runners, and how to use this knowledge to reduce injury risk. Running is beneficial for general health, and while some runners train to compete in race situations, more runners are recreational who run mainly for fitness... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Email Newsletters
Athletes are slowly returning to sport with the lifting of restrictions, as evidenced by the comeback of the Bundesliga and NASCAR this past weekend. Some of these athletes may have previously tested positive for the novel coronavirus or may contract it as their social interaction increases. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the latest guidelines concerning... MORE
in Ankle and foot injuries, Diagnose & Treat
Chris Mallac investigates the causes, diagnosis, and management of navicular stress fractures in athletes. First described by Towne and colleagues in 1970(1), stress fractures of the navicular bone are uncommon in the general population. However, male athletes in their mid-20s participating in sports such as sprinting, middle distance running, hurdling, and basketball are more at... MORE
In the second part of this two-part article, Tracy Ward reviews the best-practice, home-executed loading techniques for runners seeking a return to sport following injury. Returning to running following an injury is a complex process that requires careful planning and monitoring. The most common running-related injuries are medial tibial stress syndrome, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis,... MORE
in Ankle and foot injuries, Diagnose & Treat
Chris Mallac explores the etiology and classification of 5th metatarsal fractures in athletes, provides diagnostic guidance, and available treatment options. First described in 1903 by Sir Robert Jones(1), fractures of the fifth metatarsal (MET) are relatively common fractures of the foot(2). The estimated incidence of fifth MET fracture is 1.8 per 1000 person-years(3,4), and 68%... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Improve, Sports psychology
Fatigue is a complex issue, rarely noted beyond athlete complaints of feeling tired. Alejandro Nino explains why an athlete or patient stops exercising and how to influence variables for improved performance. Two of the main theories of exercise regulation are the peripheral model and the central governor model of fatigue(1). These two models are mostly... MORE
