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Introduction: Groin pain is one of the prevalent injuries in soccer players.1 Since groin pain takes time to heal and affects the performance of the players, it is necessary to monitor the groin condition regularly to prevent its onset and reccurence. The Groin Injury Screening Questionnaire (GISQ) was developed in Norway to evaluate the groin condition for soccer players.2 GISQ has already been translated in several language, but not into Japanese. Objectives: To develop the Japanese version of the GISQ (GISQ-J), and to examine its validity and reliability. Moreover, to investigate the relationship between a history of groin pain and GISQ-J scores. Study design: Cross-sectional study Methods: The GISQ-J, translated with permission from the original author, was distributed twice to 114 Japanese high school and university soccer players by Google Forms. The second response was given within 72 hours of the first 79 80 response, recalling the condition of the groin at the time of the first response. The GISQ-J is a 100-point scale, with a higher score indicating better groin conditions. Cronbach's α was calculated to assess the validity of each GISQ-J scale, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to evaluate the reliability. In addition, an unpaired t-test was used to compare GISQ-J scores by the presence or absence of a history of groin pain. Results: A total of 60 soccer players (52.6%) responded. Cronbach's α for each scale ranged from 0.71 to 0.97, and the ICC from 0.72 to 0.86. Those with a history of groin pain (n=14) had significantly lower GISQ-J scores than those without (n=46)(p<0.05). Conclusions: The GISQ-J showed good validity and reliability on each scale. The GISQ-J scores were poor with a history of groin pain, suggesting that the GISQ-J may be useful in the evaluation of groin conditions in Japanese soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Blind football is a para-sport played by athletes with severe visual impairments, and ranked second highest of the five levels for concussion risk rate in para-sports competition.1 In Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, there were game time and goal size changes at the blind football competition. It is possible that this may have also changed the head impact characteristics in Tokyo 2020, but this has not been examined. Objectives: To compare the head impact characteristics during blind football competition between Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games using the official videos. Study design: Cross-sectional study Methods: All 36 official game videos from the national blind football teams participating in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 summer Paralympic Games were obtained from the International Paralympic Committee's official website channel YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/paralympics). The duration of the match was 50 minutes for Rio 2016 and 40 minutes for Tokyo 2020. Eight teams participated in each Paralympic Game, which consisted of 12 preliminary games and six ranking and final games. The videos were analyzed to assess the number of scores, number of head impacts, and their details (round, playing phase, scoring situation, impact situation, occurrence area, impact object, site of head impact, fall, and foul). Results: The total number of goals scored at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 were 23 and 45, respectively. The number of head impacts was 1,105 and 931 for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, respectively. Significant differences were observed in head impact characteristics between the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 among seven outcomes (round, scoring situation, impact situation, occurrence area, impact object, site of head impact, and fall). Conclusions: Compared with the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games showed an increase in the number of points scored and different head impact characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Shoulder instability may exist in healty overhead (OH) athletes, as high ligament and bursa flexibility contributes to performance exertion in OH athletes. Previous study reported that methods for measuring shoulder laxity using ultrasonography was reliable.2 However, no studies have examined differences in shoulder laxity between non-OH and OH athletes using ultrasound imaging devices. Objectives: To compare shoulder laxity and rotator cuff muscle strength between OH and non-OH athletes and to examine the characteristics of shoulder joint stability in OH athletes. Study design: Cross-sectional study Methods: The dominant shoulder of 7 healthy men who play OH sports (OH group) and 7 healthy men who did not play OH sports (non-OH group) were included. Shoulder laxity were measured according to the method of Sangeeta et al2). The shoulder joint was fixed in 90-degree abduction and external rotation in the sitting position, the posterior labrum and posterior humeral border were delineated by an ultrasonography (KONICA MINOLTA, Japan). The humeral head was pulled back and forth up to 30 N with a tensiometer (TAKEI, Japan), and the anterior and posterior laxity were measured. Internal and external rotation muscle torque were measured by a dynamometer (ANIMA, Japan). For statistical analysis, group comparisons were performed by unpaired t-test (p<0.05). Results: The OH group had significantly higher anterior laxity (0.9 ± 0.6 mm; 1.9 ± 0.8 mm), internal rotation muscle torque (31.1 ± 7.1 Nm; 42.4 ± 8.9 Nm), and external rotation muscle torque (29.2 ± 6.5 Nm; 35.9 ± 4.3 Nm) than the non- OH group (p<0.05, respectively). Conclusions: The OH group had higher anterior laxity than the non-OH group, suggesting the presence of structural instability of the shoulder joint in healthy OH athletes. Internal and external rotation muscle torques was higher in the OH group and may be antagonistic to increased structural instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The peroneus longus (PL) and peroneus brevis (PB) have different functions for ankle stability. Although resistance training (RT) is effective in improving the muscle function, since it takes a long time to obtain muscle hypertrophy, a simple measure to confirm the effects of RT would be useful. A previous study has shown a positive correlation between muscle swelling and muscle hypertrophy.1 However, it is unclear about PL and PB. Objectives: To examine whether the muscle swelling of PL and PB was associated with muscle hypertrophy. Study design: Intervention study Methods: Participants were divided into PL (n=10, push the TheraBand out form the ball of the foot by ankle eversion) and PB (n=9, pull the TheraBand through the base of the fifth metatarsal by ankle external rotation) groups2). RT of 2 sets of 100 times was performed 3 times a week for 8-weeks. Cross-sectional area (CSA) of muscles was measured using ultrasound before and after 8-weeks. To examine the acute morphological changes after RT, each CSA was measured before RT, immediately after (post), 10, and 20 minutes after the RT. Paired t-test was used to compare CSA before and after 8-weeks. A one-way repeated ANOVA with post-hoc test was performed to confirm acute changes. The correlation between the changes in CSA at each time point after RT and the changes by 8-weeks intervention was calculated with Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: Each CSA increased after 8-weeks (p<0.05). Post-hoc test revealed that each CSA at post was greater compared with others (p<0.05). We found a correlation between the amount of muscle swelling at post and the amount of muscle hypertrophy in each CSA (PL: r=0.682, p<0.05; PB: r=0.680, p<0.05). Conclusions: We reaffirmed selective RT for peroneus muscles is possible. Furthermore, this report is useful in efficiently performing RT to obtain muscle hypertrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous research has investigated the relationship between the morphology of intrinsic foot muscles and post-jump landing posture control ability in adolescent athletes (Arima et al., 2022). However, gender differences in this relationship are still not clearly understood. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the intrinsic foot muscles morphology, toe grip strength, and post-jump landing posture control ability in adolescent athletes, considering gender differences. Study design: This study is cross-sectional design. Methods: A total of 171 adolescent athletes (104 males and 67 females) were included. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickness of the abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis (FHB), and flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) were measured by an ultrasound system. Toe grip strength was assessed with a digital grip strength meter. The single-leg forward jump landing stability was evaluated using the Dynamic Postural Stability Index (DPSI), calculated from the combined medial-lateral, vertical, anterior-posterior stability index (APSI). Correlations between each variable were calculated for gender, and the relationships were examined using multiple regression analysis. Results: In males, there was a significant correlation between the CSA and thickness of FHB, toe grip strength, and DPSI (p < 0.05). For females, significant correlations were observed between the CSA of FHB and DPSI, as well as the CSA of FDB and thickness with APSI (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that in males, the CSA of FHB and toe grip strength, while in females, the CSA of FHB and FDB were significantly associated with DPSI (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings suggest that overall toe grip strength contributes to post-jump landing stability in males, while in females, the FDB, which is widely attached to the sole and contributes to foot stiffness, generates stability. Support for adolescent athletes needs to consider the gender differences between toe grasp and FDB function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) has high recurrence rate, which has considered to be associated with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Ankle instability in individuals with CAI has seemed as a risk of LAS re-injury, and LAS often occur during landing. A previous study used ultrasound imaging to measure the distance between the talus and lateral malleolus as an assessment of ankle instability. In previous study, this distance was greater in individuals with CAI than without.1 However, the distance has been only evaluated statically, and dynamics of the distance during landing is unknown. Objectives: To evaluate dynamics of the distance between the talus and lateral malleolus during single-leg drop landing and compare between with and without CAI. Study design: Cross-sectional study Methods: In total 12 adults (22 feet) were participated in this study, and they were divided into the healthy group (12 feet) and the CAI group (10 feet). The task movement was single-leg drop landing from a 30 cm high box. The distances between the talus and lateral malleolus during landing were measured using the ultrasound synchronized with a motion capture system. 2 The analysis was conducted from 400 ms before to 400 ms after initial contact (IC). To compare the distances between healthy group and CAI group, unpaired t-test was conducted. Results: The distance was significantly greater in the CAI group than the healthy group from 400 ms before to 400 ms after IC (p<0.01). Conclusions: The distance between the talus and the lateral malleolus was greater in the CAI group compared to the healthy group during drop landing, and this may reflect the ankle instability and be a risk for LAS re-injury. The result of this study suggests the necessity of compasating the ankle instabiltity of individuals with CAI during landing by taping, orthosis, muscle training and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]