FastFact

Do any players in your team have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Would you know?

Do any players in your team have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Would you know?

4 comments
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common developmental disorder which can cause issues in multiple settings, including the football field. This FastFact highlights a narrative review, published in the BJSM, which provides an overview of the available literature relating to the diagnosis, prevalence, effect on performance and management of ADHD in elite sport and provides useful [...]
Playing football is an effective treatment for hypertension (and other non-communicable diseases)

Playing football is an effective treatment for hypertension (and other non-communicable diseases)

5 comments
This systematic review and meta-analysis from the BJSM analyses the literature relating to football as a treatment for non-communicable diseases1. It has demonstrated compelling evidence relating to the treatment of hypertension – as well as evidence relating other conditions including obesity and elevated cholesterol. The systematic review identified a total of 31 papers that met [...]
Activity and load modification is a successful treatment for patellofemoral pain in adolescents

Activity and load modification is a successful treatment for patellofemoral pain in adolescents

3 comments
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) has a relatively high prevalence in adolescent footballers, and the problem can be persistent and debilitating. Repetitive loading of the knee joint through training or game play, with insufficient recovery time can occur with team players. This prospective study evaluated a 12-week intervention (which included activity modification and reduced patellofemoral joint loading)1. [...]
Should clinical practice guidelines for rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament injury be standardised?

Should clinical practice guidelines for rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament injury be standardised?

3 comments
The ultimate goal of rehabilitation after a football player gets an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is to manage instability and to enable a successful return to the pitch at the pre-injury level of performance. Clinicians follow specific stepwise progression rehabilitation criteria and should rely on several clinical, subjective, objective and functional criteria to base [...]
Are isometric exercises a good treatment for tendinopathy ?

Are isometric exercises a good treatment for tendinopathy ?

5 comments
This edition of the FastFact highlights an editorial, rather than original research, which has prompted an interesting online argument (look for the @BJSM_BMJ Twitter account) about a common clinical problem1. The editorial highlights that while isometric exercise has become a very popular treatment for the management of acute tendinopathy, the evidence for this approach is [...]
Addressing potential barriers for footballers seeking care for mental health symptoms

Addressing potential barriers for footballers seeking care for mental health symptoms

1 comment
This FastFact highlights the recently published International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus statement on the mental health of athletes1. While this comprehensive review gives an overview of the issues relating to the mental health of elite athletes, this FastFact investigates some of the barriers to footballers seeking help when problems arise. Mental health symptoms are often [...]
Taping, bracing and exercise can all help prevent ankle sprains

Taping, bracing and exercise can all help prevent ankle sprains

15 comments
This FastFact showcases a clinical guideline which explores the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of lateral ankle sprains. It was created by a multi-disciplinary team of experts and is evidence-based1. Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in football. They can have significant morbidity and can be associated with recurring instability. One of the stated [...]
Want to reduce the risk of hamstring injuries by half?

Want to reduce the risk of hamstring injuries by half?

2 comments
This systematic review and meta-analysis provides further evidence that incorporating Nordic hamstring exercises (NHE) into an injury prevention programme reduces the risk of hamstring injuries by more than half – in different sports and at different levels of sport1. Hamstring injuries are the most common muscle injury across varying sports (including football). They can cause [...]