Analysis of the Three Most Prevalent Injuries in Australian Football Demonstrates a Season to Season Association Between Groin/Hip/Osteitis Pubis Injuries With ACL Knee Injuries.

Background: Injuries are common in contact sports like Australian football. The Australian Football League (AFL) has developed an extensive injury surveillance database that can be used for epidemiological studies.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify any association between the three most prevalent injuries in the AFL.

Chronic Achilles tendinopathy treated with eccentric stretching program.

Background: This study assessed the efficacy of a modified eccentric heel-drop program (reduced time and increased duration of stretch) in treating chronic Achilles tendinopathy.

Methods: Athletes with at least 12 weeks of symptoms diagnosed clinically as chronic Achilles tendinopathy were enrolled in the study. The only treatment recommended was a 6-week eccentric stretching regimen, with each stretch being maintained for at least 15 seconds.

Hip joint range of motion restriction precedes athletic chronic groin injury.

Although a restricted hip range of motion has been previously associated with chronic groin injury the temporal course of this association remains unclear. Accordingly the purpose of this prospective cohort study was to report preliminary findings examining whether hip joint range of motion restriction is associated with subsequent onset of athletic chronic groin injury. End-range internal and external hip joint range of motion was determined in 29 elite Australian football players, without previous history of groin injury.

Outcome of conservative management of athletic chronic groin injury diagnosed as pubic bone stress injury.

Background: Little data exist on the results of treatment for sports-related chronic groin injury.

Hypothesis: Sports-related chronic groin injury treated with a conservative (rest) program results in a satisfactory outcome.

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

Assessment of physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging findings of hamstring injury as predictors for recurrent injury.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of hamstring muscle injury to determine if any are predictive for recurrent injury.

Background: Hamstring muscle strain injury and subsequent recurrent injury are common.

Assessment of player performance following return to sport after hamstring muscle strain injury.

Objective: To determine if there is any decrease in playing performance of athletes following return to sport after recovery from hamstring muscle strain injury.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Participants: One professional Australian football team over two playing seasons.

Hip joint range of motion reduction in sports-related chronic groin injury diagnosed as pubic bone stress injury.

Traumatic osteitis pubis is a non-specific entity that relates to chronic groin injury and has recently been described as being akin to a pubic bone stress injury. It is uncertain whether or not reduction of hip joint range of motion occurs in traumatic osteitis pubis. The purpose of this study was to establish whether there is a reduction of hip range of motion in athletes who have chronic groin injury diagnosed as pubic bone stress injury.

Description of pain provocation tests used for the diagnosis of sports-related chronic groin pain: relationship of tests to defined clinical (pain and tenderness) and MRI (pubic bone marrow oedema) criteria.

The clinical assessment of groin pain in athletes is difficult, with the lack of specific clinical tests being in part responsible. Three pain provocation tests used in the diagnosis of chronic groin pain are described and their relationship to defined clinical and MRI criteria has been assessed. Eighty-nine Australian Rules football players with and without groin symptoms underwent clinical examination followed by history.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of clinical findings in 83 athletes with posterior thigh injury: comparison of clinical findings with magnetic resonance imaging documentation of hamstring muscle strain.

Background: Little is known about the clinical features of posterior thigh injuries and their contribution to accurate diagnosis and prognostic assessment of hamstring muscle strain injury.

Hypotheses: The clinical features of posterior thigh injury can be used to diagnose hamstring muscle strain and to predict duration of absence from competition.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Clinical risk factors for hamstring muscle strain injury: a prospective study with correlation of injury by magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: To prospectively establish risk factors for hamstring muscle strain injury using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to define the diagnosis of posterior thigh injury.

Method: In a prospective cohort study using two elite Australian Rules football clubs, the anthropometric characteristics and past clinical history of 114 athletes were recorded. Players were followed throughout the subsequent season, with posterior thigh injuries being documented.

Return to Australian rules football after acute elbow dislocation: a report of three cases and review of the literature.

Acute elbow dislocation is an uncommon problem encountered in contact sports such as Australian Rules Football [ARF]. Previously there have been few guidelines presented as to when the athlete can safely return to sport following such an injury. During the 1998 playing season the author as medical officer of a professional ARF team encountered three athletes who had an elbow dislocation.