Journal of science and medicine in sport
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This editorial from authors working in elite sport, exercise medicine and sports cardiology, contextualises the best current advice on returning to exercise after COVID infection, specifically acknowledging the Omicron variant and its potential differences.
"...with over 6 million cases recorded in Australia & NZ in the first 4 months of 2022, and few reports of serious adverse outcomes with exercise, the approach to return to exercise has become more pragmatic."
The author's experience has been that most vaccinated elite athletes achieve pre-morbid fitness levels after COVID recovery by day 7-14. Recreational athletes are recommended to pursue a more conservative course, but nonetheless they suggest:
"...a quick return to moderate exercise with a more cautious return to higher intensity exercise."
For those with no or minimal symptoms, the authors describe a graduated approach of exercise return over 6 days (days 1-3, 50% intensity for 15-30 min, then days 4-6, 75% intensity for 30 min), culminating in return to normal activity on day 7 if the graduation is well tolerated.
Elite athletes with close medical and training supervision may be able to undertake an accelerated progression of training intensity.
The full-text article includes a useful decision flowchart.
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Review Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Rehabilitation regimen for non-surgical treatment of Achilles tendon rupture: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
To compare re-rupture rate, functional and quality-of-life outcomes, return to sports and work, complications, and resource use in patients treated non-surgically with different rehabilitation regimens for Achilles tendon rupture. ⋯ Traditional ankle immobilisation with non-weight bearing was not found to be superior to early weight bearing with or without functional ankle motion for patients treated non-surgically for Achilles tendon rupture. Clinicians may consider early weight bearing in functional brace as a safe and cost-effective alternative to non-weight bearing with plaster casting.
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Review magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of elite adult fast bowlers with a history of lumbar spine stress fracture for evidence of bone healing. The findings will determine whether bone healing can occur in this population, and whether MRI may be used as a tool to assess bone healing and inform clinical decision making. ⋯ Lumbar spine stress fractures in elite adult fast bowlers are capable of achieving complete bone healing, as demonstrated in the majority of bowlers in this study. Larger fractures, greater bone marrow oedema, and history of previous injury at the same site may require longer healing time which may be monitored with MRI.
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To present an epidemiological profile of hospital-treated head, neck and facial cricket injuries from 2007/08 to 2016/17 in Victoria, Australia. ⋯ This study provides a novel and current insight of the incidence and details of HNF injuries among cricket participants in Victoria over a decade. It is evident that males and younger participants, regardless of gender, have a higher risk of sustaining a HNF injury. This study provides a solid evidence base for stakeholders in developing strategies to minimise head, neck and facial injuries to make cricket a safe sport for all.
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Biathlon is a discipline that combines cross country skiing with rifle shooting. It demands high shooting accuracy and fast shooting times under increasing levels of physiological fatigue. Building on Vickers and Williams (2007), the current study aimed at scrutinizing the impact of physiological fatigue and gaze behavior on shooting performance in elite and sub-elite biathletes. ⋯ Physiological fatigue seems to have no impact on shooting accuracy, but rather affects shooting times in expert biathletes. Furthermore, the duration of the final fixation does not seem to moderate shooting accuracy in elite biathletes.