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Objectives: Previous studies have shown low to moderate evidence for a variety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features as prognostic factors in athletes with hamstring injuries. Short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) signal intensity has not yet been investigated for assessing the prognosis of acute muscle injuries. Our aim was to explore the relationship between MRI STIR signal intensity and time to return to play (RTP) and to investigate the association between MRI STIR and reinjury risk in athletes with acute hamstring injuries.Study Design: Case-control study.Methods: We used MRI STIR to measure intramuscular signal intensity in patients with clinically diagnosed hamstring injuries at two time points: at injury and RTP. At injury, we calculated the association of MRI STIR signal intensity with the time to RTP and reinjury risk. At RTP, the association of MRI STIR signal intensity and reinjury risk and the change in MRI STIR signal intensity over time on reinjury risk was evaluated.Results: 51 patients were included. We found increased MRI STIR signal intensity: (1) at time of injury not to be associated with time to RTP, (2) at time of injury to be associated with a slightly lower risk for reinjury: odds 0.986 (0.975-0.998, p=0.02) and (3) at RTP not to be associated with reinjury risk. (4) We found no association between the change in MRI STIR signal intensity over time and reinjury risk.Conclusion: Increased MRI STIR signal intensity at injury has no value in time to RTP prognosis, but is associated with a reduced reinjury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research reports limited, mixed evidence on the effectiveness of physiotherapy management in the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome. The purpose of this review was to (1) identify what therapeutic exercises are being utilized in the non-surgical management of patients with FAI syndrome; (2) map the extent to which reported exercises reflect contributory pathomechanics associated with FAI syndrome. Scoping Review. MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and PEDRO electronic databases were searched for studies that implemented a non-surgical, exercise-based treatment approach in patients with FAI syndrome. Exercises were extracted and analyzed according to elements recognized as contributing to the pathomechanics associated with FAI syndrome. 24 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 453 exercises were extracted. Uniplanar exercises accounted for 338/453 or 74.6% of all reported exercises whereas triplanar exercises accounted for 21/453 or 4.6% of all exercises. Non-weight bearing exercises accounted for 220/453 or 48.6% of all exercises. The majority of therapeutic exercises were classified as sagittal, uniplanar exercises, utilizing a concentric exercise approach. These findings highlight that exercises utilizing triplanar, eccentric hip control, in a single limb weightbearing position are considerably underrepresented. • This scoping study maps currently prescribed exercises to pathomechanics in patients with FAI syndrome. • This study highlights a majority of prescribed exercises are uniplanar and non-weightbearing in patients with FAI syndrome. • Exercise design should incorporate exercises reflecting the contributing pathomechanics associated with FAI syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To investigate if national, elite and age-grade rugby teams in Pacific rugby playing nations (Oceania Rugby) are supported by Physiotherapists and/or other sports and exercise medicine (SEM) professionals. Study Design Cross-sectional systematic website search with content analysis aligned with the Otago University's Pacific research protocols. Methods Fourteen Pacific rugby unions, as identified by Oceania Rugby's governing body, were included. The study employed a web-based search of the grey literature. Sources of information included blogs, news articles, Oceania Rugby and World Rugby websites, Facebook pages and websites of Pacific rugby playing unions. Data was extracted using a systematic methodology exploring the websites and Facebook pages available for each union. Data was collected between 24 July 2019 and 11 August 2019, and periodically monitored up until 1 September 2019. Results Of the 14 Unions included in the study, only five had independent websites. Thirteen Unions had an active and current Facebook page. Only three websites had information regarding Physiotherapists or SEM professionals for teams; although this information was also found for nine countries across 27 teams via news articles and, predominantly, Facebook. No qualifications were reported for any Physiotherapists or SEM professionals attached to these teams. Conclusions There is a need for Physiotherapists and SEM professionals to advocate for inclusion of their profiles in the public arena, to illustrate the integral role they play in support of player welfare within Pacific rugby teams. The presence of active and current websites for Pacific rugby unions should be encouraged, allowing for easier information sharing and promotion of these professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]