Histological Definition of Skeletal Muscle Injury: A Guide to Nomenclature Along the Connective Tissue Sheath/Structure.

Recent years have seen the development of various classifications of muscle injuries, primarily based on the topographic location within the bone-tendon-muscle chain. This paper proposes an enhanced nomenclature for muscle injuries that incorporates histoarchitectural definitions alongside topographic classifications, emphasizing the importance of connective tissue damage characterization. A detailed understanding of the distinct anatomical and histological characteristics of tendon, aponeurosis, and fascia is essential for consistent terminology.

The challenge of thigh tendon reinjuries: an expert opinion.

This review critically examines the issue of thigh tendon reinjury in athletes, drawing on recent advancements and diverse perspectives in sports medicine. The findings underscore the paramount importance of an early and accurate diagnosis, which significantly influences treatment efficacy and rehabilitation outcomes. We explore the intricacies of tendon anatomy and the mechanisms underlying injuries, highlighting how these factors interplay with athlete-specific risk profiles to affect reinjury rates.

Muscle Healing in Sports Injuries: MRI Findings and Proposed Classification Based on a Single Institutional Experience and Clinical Observation.

MRI plays a crucial role in assessment of patients with muscle injuries. The healing process of these injuries has been studied in depth from the pathophysiologic and histologic points of view and divided into destruction, repair, and remodeling phases, but the MRI findings of these phases have not been fully described, to our knowledge. On the basis of results from 310 MRI studies, including both basal and follow-up studies, in 128 athletes with muscle tears including their clinical evolution, the authors review MRI findings in muscle healing and propose a practical imaging classification based on morphology and signal intensity that correlates with histologic changes.

Managing Lower Limb Muscle Reinjuries in Athletes: From Risk Factors to Return-to-Play Strategies.

Muscle injuries and subsequent reinjuries significantly impact athletes, especially in football. These injuries lead to time loss, performance impairment, and long-term health concerns. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of muscle reinjuries, delving into their epidemiology, risk factors, clinical management, and prevention strategies.

Effectiveness of Exercise Treatments with or without Adjuncts for Common Lower Limb Tendinopathies: A Living Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Exercise therapy is usually prescribed as first-line treatment for lower limb tendinopathies. The multitude of exercise- and non-exercise-based management options can be overwhelming for the treating sports professional and patient alike. We chose to investigate the comparative effectiveness of exercise therapy with or without adjuncts for managing the commonest lower limb tendinopathies.

Isolated Adductor Magnus Injuries in Athletes: A Case Series.

Background: Little is known about injuries to the adductor magnus (AM) muscle and how to manage them.

Purpose: To describe the injury mechanisms of the AM and its histoarchitecture, clinical characteristics, and imaging features in elite athletes.

Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

MRI findings prior to return to play as predictors of reinjury in professional athletes: a novel decision-making tool.

Background: Because MRI has shown great accuracy in assessing acute muscle injuries, identification of risk factors for reinjury before return to play (RTP) in professional athletes during the healing process could be very relevant. We assessed the value of MRI findings prior to RTP as predictors of reinjury.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of 59 professional athletes, mean age 26 years, with first-time acute muscle injury and successful rehabilitation ready to RTP.

Overview of Thigh and Leg Anatomical and Sonographic Landmarks in Rheumatic Patients.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound has become a practical and accessible diagnostic tool for musculoskeletal diseases. It is used to examine joints, tendons, vessels, and nerves due to its wide availability in rheumatology practice. Ultrasound has also been applied for years in other areas such as muscular injuries in sports activities and rheumatic diseases with inflammation such as myositis.

Biopsychosocial approach to tendinopathy.

Tendinopathy describes a spectrum of changes that occur in damaged tendons, leading to pain and reduced function that remains extremely challenging for all clinicians. There is an increasing awareness of the influence that psychological and psychosocial components, such as self-efficacy and fear-avoidance, have on rehabilitation outcomes in musculoskeletal medicine. Although it is widely accepted that psychological/psychosocial factors exist in tendinopathy, there is currently a distinct lack of trials measuring how these factors affect clinical outcomes.

Self-reported bio-psycho-social factors partially distinguish rotator cuff tendinopathy from other shoulder problems and explain shoulder severity: A case-control study.

Objective: Examine how rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy differed from other shoulder problems (OSP) by measuring a variety of self-reported bio-psycho-social factors, and establish which explain severity.

Methods: A validated online survey battery was used to collect self-reported biopsychosocial variables in an international population. Diagnostic group and severity were the dependent variables.

Hamstring Muscle Injuries: MRI and Ultrasound for Diagnosis and Prognosis.

Hamstring injuries (HSI) are the most frequent muscle injuries in active individuals and professional athletes. Early and accurate diagnosis is key for planning a correct and individualised return to play (RTP). For that diagnosis imaging tests such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) are the most useful tests in the initial stages.

The effect of exercise on cytokines: implications for musculoskeletal health: a narrative review.

The physiological effects of physical exercise are ubiquitously reported as beneficial to the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. Exercise is widely promoted by medical professionals to aid both physical and emotional wellbeing; however, mechanisms through which this is achieved are less well understood. Despite numerous beneficial attributes, certain types of exercise can inflict significant significant physiological stress.

Management of patellar tendinopathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised studies.

Objectives: We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to provide insights into the effectiveness of available treatment modalities in patellar tendinopathy(PT).

Methods: Several databases were searched in May 2021 for RCTs assessing the effectiveness of any intervention compared with any other intervention, placebo or no treatment for pain and/or function in PT. The risk of bias and strength of evidence were assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations)/GRADE-NMA tools.

Heel fat pad syndrome beyond acute plantar fascitis.

Heel pain is a frequent cause of pain and disability in adult active population. In patients with this clinical presentation, several causes must be ruled out, among them plantar fasciitis the most common. Other etiologies of plantar heel pain are the entrapment of muscular branch of the lateral plantar nerve (Baxter nerve) or fat pad atrophy, being the last one the second cause of heel pain after plantar fasciitis.

Muscle Madness and Making a Case for Muscle-Specific Classification Systems: A Leap from Tissue Injury to Organ Injury and System Dysfunction.

Despite the recent publication and subsequent clinical application of several muscle injury classification systems, none has been able to address the varying and often unique/complex types of injuries that occur in different muscles. Although there are advantages of using a unified classification, there are significant differences between certain muscles and muscle groups. These differences may complicate the clinical effectiveness of using a unified injury classification.

Ultrasound classification of medial gastrocnemious injuries.

High-resolution ultrasound (US) has helped to characterize the "tennis leg injury" (TL). However, no specific classifications with prognostic value exist. This study proposes a medial head of the gastrocnemius injury classification based on sonographic findings and relates this to the time to return to work (RTW) and return to sports (RTS) to evaluate the prognostic value of the classification.

A Histoarchitectural Approach to Skeletal Muscle Injury: Searching for a Common Nomenclature.

In recent years, different classifications for muscle injuries have been proposed based on the topographic location of the injury within the bone-tendon-muscle chain. We hereby propose that in addition to the topographic classification of muscle injuries, a histoarchitectonic (description of the damage to connective tissue structures) definition of the injury be included within the nomenclature. Thus, the nomenclature should focus not only on the macroscopic anatomy but also on the histoarchitectonic features of the injury.

Incidence of Tendinopathy in Team Sports in a Multidisciplinary Sports Club Over 8 Seasons.

Tendinopathy is a critical medical condition that often hinders level of participation for professional and young athletes in many sports. The purpose of the study was to describe the incidence and severity of tendinopathy in a multi-sport club with professional and youth teams. We performed a retrospective epidemiological study.

Sonographic landmarks in hamstring muscles.

The ultrasound examination of hamstrings inspires respect due to the connective complexity of their structures, particularly for sonographers who are not used to this kind of study. Therefore, it is important to know the specific ultrasound reference points that facilitate the location of the hamstring structures, dividing them into four areas of interest: (a) tendinous origin of the hamstring, (b) the proximal half, (c) distal and medial half, and (d) distal and lateral half. The origin of the hamstrings is found at the level of the ischial tuberosity.