Poor isometric neck extension strength as a risk factor for concussion in male professional Rugby Union players.

Background: Concussion is one of the highest burden injuries within professional Rugby Union ('rugby') and comes with a high health and financial cost to players and teams. Limited evidence exists as to the existence of modifiable intrinsic risk factors for concussion, leaving athletes and clinicians with few options when developing prevention strategies.

Objective: To investigate whether neck strength is significantly associated with concussion incidence in professional male rugby players.

Self-Directed Oral Vitamin D Supplementation in Professional Ballet Dancers: A Randomized Controlled Trial Pilot Study.

Inadequate levels of vitamin D may lead to poor performance in professional dancers. Therefore, dietary supplementation may be essential in this population. This longitudinal pilot study to a randomized controlled trial assessed dancer compliance with self-directed oral vitamin D supplementation.

The Physical Attributes Most Required in Professional Ballet: A Delphi Study.

It is commonly accepted that dancers are undoubtedly athletes, with ballet perhaps the most demanding dance form. No previous study has sought to define the physical attributes most desired for classical ballet by professional companies and vocational schools. These are likely to include both aesthetic features and attributes that reduce the risk of injury as well as enhance performance.

Moving concussion care to the next level: The emergence and role of concussion clinics in the UK.

Concussion is a worldwide issue in sports medicine at present, and in recent years has evolved into a major consideration for sports in the United Kingdom (UK). Governing bodies, sports clinicians, and indeed athletes themselves are dealing with the implications that this injury brings. In parallel with this, innovative means of managing this condition are emerging.

Prevalence and profile of musculoskeletal injuries in ballet dancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and anatomical regions which are most frequently injured in ballet dancers.

Methods: Published (AMED, CiNAHL, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, psycINFO, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library) and grey literature databases (OpenGrey, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Current Controlled Trials and the UK National Research Register Archive) were searched from their inception to 25th May 2015 for papers presenting data on injury prevalence in ballet dancers. Two reviewers independently identified all eligible papers, data extracted and critically appraised studies.

Oral health and elite sport performance.

While the research base is limited, studies have consistently reported poor oral health in elite athletes since the first report from the 1968 Olympic Games. The finding is consistent both across selected samples attending dental clinics at major competitions and more representative sampling of teams and has led to calls from the International Olympic Committee for more accurate data on oral health. Poor oral health is an important issue directly as it can cause pain, negative effects on appearance and psychosocial effects on confidence and quality of life and may have long-term consequences for treatment burden.