Background/Objectives: Hip strength and range of motion have been compared in soccer players with and without hip and groin pain but only in male footballers or gender-combined samples. In female soccer players, the biomechanics contributing to this injury remain poorly understood compared to other sporting injuries. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether differences exist in adductor and abductor isometric test values and hip joint range of motion between elite female soccer players with longstanding groin pain and injury-free controls. Methods: Ten female elite soccer players with current longstanding hip and groin pain and twenty-five injury-free controls from the same teams were included in the study. Hip adductor and abductor isometric strength were evaluated with a hand-held dynamometer. A bent knee fall-out test was also utilized to examine the hip joint range of motion. Results: A significant difference in abductor isometric test values was observed between the control group (2.29 ± 0.53 N/Kg) and the hip and groin pain group (2.77 ± 0.48 N/Kg; p = 0.018). Furthermore, the injured group showed a decreased adductor/abductor ratio compared to the control group (1.00 ± 0.33 vs. 1.27 ± 0.26; p = 0.013). No differences were observed in the bent knee fall-out test (p = 0.285). Conclusions: Female elite soccer players with current longstanding hip and groin pain exhibited higher abductor isometric strength and lower adductor/abductor ratio compared to non-injured women players. There were no differences in the BKFO test between groups.

Background and Objectives: The International Society for Modulation defines persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 (PSPS-type 2), formerly known as failed back surgery syndrome, as a condition where patients continue to experience pain or develop new pain following spinal surgery intended to alleviate back or lower-limb discomfort. PSPS-type 2 is characterized by pain and significant disability, affecting quality of life. Spinal cord stimulation has proven effective in treating this syndrome, although the role of psychological factors, such as pain catastrophizing and central sensitization, remain unclear. This study seeks to examine the potential connection between psychosocial responses and both functionality and pain perception in patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 who have undergone spinal cord stimulation treatment. Materials and Methods: A single-site, cross-sectional study was conducted on individuals diagnosed with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 who were receiving spinal cord stimulation. Study participants were required to meet specific eligibility criteria and were assessed for disability, pain perception, fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, and central sensitization. The spinal cord stimulation procedure involved the placement of electrodes at vertebral levels T8–T11 for precise pain control, with a particular focus on targeting the dorsal root ganglion to alleviate chronic pain. Results: Thirty-seven patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 have undergone spinal cord stimulation treatment for 4.68 ± 5.25 years. Clinical assessments indicated a pain perception score of 5.6 ± 1.96, Central Sensitization Inventory score of 42.08 ± 18.39, disability score of 37.62 ± 16.13, fear of movement score of 33.11 ± 8.76, and pain catastrophizing score of 28.43 ± 13.14. Finally, pain catastrophizing was significantly associated with pain perception (β = 0.075 and p = 0.008) and disability (β = 0.90 and p < 0.01). Conclusions: Catastrophizing plays a crucial role in pain perception and disability among patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 receiving spinal cord stimulation. Integrating psychological interventions may improve clinical outcomes for these patients.

Professional basketball entails high physical demands and a complex injury profile in which injury burden and time-loss distribution critically affect player availability. This study explored the association between preseason anthropometric body composition and in-season injury burden in male professional basketball and explored body phenotypes linked to greater injury accumulation. A retrospective longitudinal cohort design was applied using official injury records and standardized ISAK anthropometric assessments collected during preseason. Players from two male professional teams (first team, ACB; second team, LEB Plata) were included. Outcomes were the number of injuries and observed days lost during the season. Associations were assessed using Pearson correlations, principal component analysis (PCA), team-stratified logistic regression, and unsupervised k-means clustering. Injury burden demonstrated a highly skewed distribution, with a small subset of players accounting for a large proportion of total days lost. Preseason adiposity markers showed strong internal coherence, with PCA identifying a dominant component reflecting an adiposity gradient. Higher preseason body fat percentage was associated with a greater likelihood of high injury burden (≥3 injuries/season) in both teams. Clustering revealed two phenotypes: a higher-adiposity, higher-burden profile and a lower-adiposity, lower-burden profile. These exploratory findings suggest that preseason body composition, particularly adiposity, may be related to injury burden in male professional basketball. However, given the limited sample size and exploratory design, the results should be interpreted cautiously and considered hypothesis-generating. Precompetitive body phenotyping may therefore provide preliminary information for identifying players potentially at elevated risk of recurrent injury accumulation and reduced competitive availability.

Introduction: Overactive bladder (OAB) and urinary incontinence (UI) are prevalent, particularly in older adults, and affect quality of life. OAB involves urgency, frequency, nocturia, and urgency incontinence, often linked to involuntary detrusor contractions. Treatment guidelines recommend a stepwise approach, starting with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), followed by pharmacological or minimally invasive therapies, such as neuromodulation. However, the combined effects of PFMT and neuromodulation have not been well established. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of combining pelvic floor exercises with neuromodulation versus PFMT with sham neuromodulation or standard physiotherapy after a 12-week intervention in individuals with OAB and UI. Methods/Materials: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was designed with three groups: PFMT + neuromodulation, PFMT + sham, and conventional physiotherapy (control) in a 1:1:1 ratio. This study followed the CONSORT guidelines and was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06783374). The sample size was calculated using GPower^® software, assuming a Cohen’s effect size of 1.04, a power of 0.80, an alpha of 0.05, and a 15% dropout rate, totaling 63 participants (21 per group). Participants attended 24 sessions over 12 weeks (2 sessions per week). The interventions were based on previously validated protocols. Outcomes: The primary outcomes included health-related quality of life, pelvic floor muscle function, pain, adherence, and general health. The secondary outcomes included Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire, 3-day bladder diary, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence Short Form, kinesiophobia, and electromyographic data.

Background/Objectives: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries frequently lead to long-term quadriceps impairments despite surgical repair. There is growing evidence that these deficits are caused in part by alterations in the central nervous system. Thus, transcranial neuromodulation (TNM) could be valuable in ACL rehabilitation. To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of TNM on neurophysiological, functional, and safety outcomes in patients with ACL injury or reconstruction. Methods: We conducted searches on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane. We considered all original studies evaluating TNM, including transcranial current stimulation (tCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in patients with ACL reconstruction or injury. Measures of corticospinal excitability, safety, balance, and muscle strength were assessed. We employed the Cochrane RoB 2 method to assess the risk of bias. Results: Seven studies comprising 129 participants (64 TNM, 65 controls) were included. Most studies applied transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex contralateral to the ACL injury in conjunction with physical rehabilitation. Single-session protocols demonstrated minimal effects, whereas repeated sessions resulted in improvements in corticospinal excitability, quadriceps strength, and balance. No serious adverse events were reported; minor effects included transient headache or scalp tingling. The risk of bias was assessed as low to moderate across the studies. Conclusions: TNM appears to be safe and may enhance functional recovery in individuals with ACL injuries when administered in multiple sessions alongside standard rehabilitation. Further high-quality trials are necessary to determine optimal protocols and long-term outcomes.

Introduction: Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome Type 2 (PSPS-T2) is associated with changes in the brain’s pain processing. This is often due to problems with the body’s natural way of handling the pain management system. Exercise therapy, such as motor control and spinal stabilization, can help reduce pain and disability. However, exercise alone may not be sufficient. Approaches that consider both body mechanics and brain function are gaining popularity. Since brain changes play a role in muscle and bone problems, noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is considered a helpful adjunctive treatment. Studies have shown that NIBS may help people with spinal pain and mood disorders. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of combining tDCS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with spinal motor control exercises in patients diagnosed with PSPS-T2. This investigation is based on the hypothesis that such a combined intervention could result in a more significant reduction in disability. Methods/Materials: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) is structured as a double-blind, comparative, longitudinal design in accordance with the CONSORT guidelines. This RCT has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06969456). Forty-two participants diagnosed with PSPS-T2 will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into two groups: tDCS + rehabilitation (E_tDCS) or sham tDCS + rehabilitation (E_SHAM). The intervention will use tDCS to deliver low-intensity direct current to modulate cortical excitability. The intervention will consist of 24 supervised sessions (2 per week, 60 min each) over 12 weeks. Neuromodulation and exercise protocols will be adapted to the intervention phases based on previous research. The sample size has been calculated using GPower^®, assuming an effect size of 0.81, α = 0.05, power = 0.95, and a 40% dropout rate. Data will be collected from October 2025 to January 2027. Impact Statement: This study integrates neurophysiological modulation via tDCS with targeted exercise therapy, presenting an innovative approach to enhance pain modulation, functional recovery, and cortical reorganization in patients with PSPT-2. This approach has the potential to inform future evidence-based strategies for neurorehabilitation and pain management.