Quality Issues in Kinematic Traces from Three Head Impact Sensors in Boxing: Prevalence, Effects, and Implications for Exposure Assessment.

Purpose: When used in-vivo or in biofidelic environments, many head impact sensors have shown limitations related to the quality and validity of the kinematics measured. The objectives were to assess the quality of kinematic traces from three head impact sensors, determine the effects of signal quality on peak accelerations, and compare measurements across sensors.

Methods: Head impacts were collected with instrumented mouthguards, skin patches, and headgear patches during boxing sparring.

Capturing Head Impacts in Boxing: A Video-Based Comparison of Three Wearable Sensors.

Wearable sensors are used to quantify head impacts in athletes, but recent work has shown that the number of events recorded may not be accurate. This study aimed to compare the number of head acceleration events recorded by three wearable sensors during boxing and assess how impact type and location affect the triggering of acceleration events. Seven boxers were equipped with an instrumented mouthguard, a skin patch, and a headgear patch.

A quantitative analysis of factors which influence supplement use and doping among adolescent athletes in New Zealand.

Objectives: Doping is a maladaptive behaviour which poses numerous risks and potentially enhances athletic performance while supplement use poses threats of positive, yet inadvertent, doping control results. Investigation is required to understand factors that influence adolescent supplement use and doping in New Zealand (NZ).

Design: A survey was completed by 660 athletes aged 13 to 18 years, of any gender, who competed at any level of any sport in NZ.

What factors predict outcome from an inpatient multidisciplinary chronic pain service? A prospective cohort study.

Objective To identify baseline factors associated with outcomes from an inpatient multidisciplinary pain management program (PMP) located in a bicultural area of Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods A prospective cohort study was undertaken involving 164 people with chronic pain who attended the PMP. Demographic, clinical, and psychosocial measures were obtained at baseline, whereas clinical and psychosocial outcome measures were also obtained at program discharge and 3-month follow up (N  = 100).

A combination of high preoperative pain and low radiological grade of arthritis is associated with a greater intensity of persistent pain 12 months after total knee arthroplasty.

Aims: Despite new technologies for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), approximately 20% of patients are dissatisfied. A major reason for dissatisfaction and revision surgery after TKA is persistent pain. The radiological grade of osteoarthritis (OA) preoperatively has been investigated as a predictor of the outcome after TKA, with conflicting results.

Impact of high-intensity interval training including Indigenous narratives on adolescents' mental health: a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: We investigated the efficacy of teacher-delivered high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with Indigenous narrative options on the mental health of school students in low-mid socioeconomic areas, compared to standard curriculum physical education practice.

Methods: A cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted in eight schools (N=368, age range 11-13 years) over 16 weeks. The primary outcome was the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) score.

Factors associated with persistent opioid use 6-12 months after primary total knee arthroplasty.

Persistent pain following knee arthroplasty occurs in up to 20% of patients and may require ongoing analgesia, including extended opioid administration. A comprehensive secondary analysis was performed from results of a study that considered persistent postoperative pain in 242 patients who underwent unilateral knee arthroplasty using a standardised enhanced recovery programme. Opioid prescribing for 12 months before and 12 months after surgery was evaluated and converted to oral morphine equivalents.

Risk factors at five-year survival in grade 3 breast cancer: a retrospective observational study of the New Zealand population.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand, with approximately 3000 new registrations annually, affecting one in nine women and resulting in more than 600 deaths. This study analyzed data of patients with selected prognostic factors of Nottingham grade 3 tumors over a specified five-year period. The study aimed to identify factors that result in differential survival in the female, New Zealand population.

Head Impact Research Using Inertial Sensors in Sport: A Systematic Review of Methods, Demographics, and Factors Contributing to Exposure.

Background: The number and magnitude of head impacts have been assessed in-vivo using inertial sensors to characterise the exposure in various sports and to help understand their potential relationship to concussion.

Objectives: We aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the field of in-vivo sensor acceleration event research in sports via the summary of data collection and processing methods, population demographics and factors contributing to an athlete's exposure to sensor acceleration events.

Methods: The systematic search resulted in 185 cohort or cross-sectional studies that recorded sensor acceleration events in-vivo during sport participation.

Reduced individual treatment delivery has no effect on outcomes in a multidisciplinary pain management program.

Objective There is little information on how multidisciplinary pain management programs (MPMPs), the gold-standard treatment for people with chronic non-cancer pain, should be structured or delivered. This study compared outcomes from a 3-week in-patient MPMP between those who attended a group-based program that included 8 h of individual therapy each week and those who attended when the amount of individual therapy had been halved. Methods Participants were patients attending an MPMP with a large component of individual sessions (n  = 112; Standard) and patients attending the same MPMP after it switched to predominantly group-based sessions (n  = 117; Revised).

Cross-cultural validation of the stroke riskometer using generalizability theory.

The Stroke Riskometer mobile application is a novel, validated way to provide personalized stroke risk assessment for individuals and motivate them to reduce their risks. Although this app is being used worldwide, its reliability across different countries has not yet been rigorously investigated using appropriate methodology. The Generalizability Theory (G-Theory) is an advanced statistical method suitable for examining reliability and generalizability of assessment scores across different samples, cultural and other contexts and for evaluating sources of measurement errors.

The effect of intra-operative hypotension on acute kidney injury, postoperative mortality and length of stay following emergency hip fracture surgery.

The association between intra-operative hypotension and postoperative acute kidney injury, mortality and length of stay has not been comprehensively evaluated in a large single-centre hip fracture population. We analysed electronic anaesthesia records of 1063 patients undergoing unilateral hip fracture surgery, collected from 2015 to 2018. Acute kidney injury, 3-, 30- and 365-day mortality and length of stay were evaluated to assess the relationship between intra-operative hypotension absolute values (≤ 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 mmHg) and duration of hypotension.

Parent and Teacher-Reported Child Outcomes Seven Years After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Nested Case Control Study.

Increasing evidence suggests potential lifetime effects following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) in childhood. Few studies have examined medium-term outcomes among hospitalized and non-hospitalized samples. Study aims were to describe children's behavioral and emotional adjustment, executive function (EF), quality of life, and participation at 7-years following mild TBI using parents' and teachers' reports.

Inequity in outcomes from New Zealand chronic pain services.

Aim: To evaluate outcomes from chronic pain services in New Zealand based on patient ethnicity.

Method: Clinical and demographic data were obtained from 4,876 patients from the Electronic Persistent Pain Outcomes Collaboration (ePPOC) database, a database of standardised assessments from chronic pain services across New Zealand. Clinical questionnaires included the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI); Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 items (DASS-21); Pain Catastrophising Scale (PCS); and the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ).

Predictors of upper respiratory tract symptom risk: Differences between elite rugby union and league players.

This study examined possible predictors of upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) episodes in elite rugby union and league players (n = 51) during intensive pre-season training. Baseline saliva and blood samples were collected in the first week of pre-season training for analysis of salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and cytomegalovirus. Thereafter, SIgA, URTS, internal training load and self-reported wellness data were repeatedly measured throughout a 10-week pre-season training period.

Short and long versions of a 12-week netball specific neuromuscular warm-up improves landing technique in youth netballers.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of two 'NetballSmart', netball specific warm-ups in improving landing technique measures in New Zealand secondary school netball players.

Design: Multi-site cluster experimental trial.

Participants: 77 youth participants, mean ± SD age = 15.

The effect of a neuromuscular warm-up on the injury rates in New Zealand amateur futsal players.

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of a futsal-specific warm-up to reduce injuries in amateur teams.

Design: Quasi-experimental.

Setting: Two futsal centres followed over one season using a specific report card.

Household illness is the strongest predictor of upper respiratory tract symptom risk in elite rugby union players.

Objectives: To identify periods of increased risk for upper respiratory tract symptom (URTS) episodes, and examine whether biomarkers and/or self-reported lifestyle and wellness data can predict URTS risk in elite rugby union players.

Design: Prospective, longitudinal and repeated-measures study.

Methods: Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), salivary cortisol, URTS, internal training load and self-reported lifestyle and wellness data including household illness, stress, mood, fatigue, muscle soreness and sleep quality were repeatedly measured in elite Southern hemisphere rugby union players (n=28) throughout a season.

Nutritional interventions to improve neurophysiological impairments following traumatic brain injury: A systematic review.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) accounts for significant global health burden. Effects of TBI can become chronic even following mild injury. There is a need to develop effective therapies to attenuate the damaging effects of TBI and improve recovery outcomes.

Ten-year nationwide review of netball ankle and knee injuries in New Zealand.

Objectives: To review netball ankle and knee injuries between 2008 and 2017.

Design: Audit of insurance injury claims.

Methods: Data were divided into 5 equal year groups (2008/9, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2014/15, 2016/17), and 3 age groups (10 to 14 years, 15 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years old).

A comparison of prostate health index, total PSA, %free PSA, and proPSA in a contemporary US population-The MiCheck-01 prospective trial.

Background: Increasing numbers of patients are presenting with aggressive prostate cancer (CaP); therefore, there exists a need to optimally identify these patients pre-biopsy.

Objectives: To compare the accuracy of total prostate specific antigen (PSA), %free PSA, and prostate health index (PHI) to differentiate between patients without CaP, with non-aggressive (Gleason 3 + 3, non-AgCaP) and with aggressive (Gleason ≥ 3 + 4, AgCaP) in a contemporary US population.

Design, Settings, And Participants: Serum samples were collected from 332 US patients scheduled for biopsy due to an elevated age-adjusted PSA.

Predicting Sport-related mTBI Symptom Resolution Trajectory Using Initial Clinical Assessment Findings: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: To identify which aspects of initial clinical assessment for sport-related mild traumatic brain injury (SR-mTBI) predict whether an athlete achieves symptom resolution within 14 days of the injury.

Research Design: Retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data.

Methods: Clinical assessment data were collected from 568 patients diagnosed with SR-mTBI at a single medical clinic between February 2017 and December 2018.

Efficacy of a compulsory homework programme for increasing physical activity and improving nutrition in children: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Most physical activity interventions in children focus on the school setting; however, children typically engage in more sedentary activities and spend more time eating when at home. The primary aim of this cluster randomised controlled trial was to investigate the effects of a compulsory, health-related homework programme on physical activity, dietary patterns, and body size in primary school-aged children.

Methods: A total of 675 children aged 7-10 years from 16 New Zealand primary schools participated in the Healthy Homework study.