To develop a prevention program for rowing-related injuries, it is crucial to study the epidemiological characteristics of injuries among Chinese rowing athletes. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and incidence of injuries among Chinese rowing athletes aged 12–24 years. A retrospective study was conducted in 2024 among 207 rowing athletes in China using a rowing-specific questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised two sections: the first section collected basic information, including gender, age, height, weight, years of training experience, daily training hours, weekly training days, and weekly training hours; the second section collected information on rowing-related injuries over the past year, including injury locations, mechanisms, and severity. An injury was defined as a physical complaint with time loss and/or medical care. Rowing-related injuries were normalized to rates per 1000 training hours and per 1000 training sessions, calculated using the Poisson distribution based on age and gender. A total of 131 injuries were reported, including 51 (38.9%) acute-onset and 80 gradual-onset (61.1%) injuries. The lower back was the most common site (39.7%, 52 cases), followed by the knee and shoulder. Over two-thirds of the injuries caused less than a week’s absence from rowing. The overall injury rate per 1000 training hours was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.38–0.54), and the overall injury rate per 1000 training sessions was 2.16 (95% CI: 1.79–2.53). Rowing-related injuries were significantly associated with gender (OR: 3.52, 95% CI: 1.37–9.02, p = 0.009) and BMI (OR: 3.63, 95% CI: 1.33–9.95, p = 0.012). Among Chinese rowing athletes, injuries frequently occurred, especially in female athletes. Lower back injuries were the most common, followed by knee and shoulder injuries. This study contributes to improving injury prevention and early detection in high-risk anatomical regions and vulnerable athletes among elite rowers.

This study aims to investigate the gender differences in lower limb strength among Chinese national rugby team athletes, as well as the relationship between these variables. Twenty-seven athletes underwent countermovement jump (CMJ) and one-repetition maximum (1RM) squat tests, with relative strength calculated through bodyweight normalization. Results showed that male athletes had significantly higher CMJ height (p = 0.005) and absolute squat 1RM values (p < 0.001) compared to female athletes; male and female athletes showed significant differences in relative strength (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between CMJ height and absolute squat strength (p = 0.002), but no significant association with relative strength. The findings suggest a significant sex-based disparity in absolute lower limb strength among athletes of the Chinese national rugby team, with relative strength levels also exhibiting variations. When developing training programs, coaches and athletes should consider gender-specific differences in absolute strength.

In soccer players, ankle injuries are a common issue that may increase lower limb imbalance. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between the range of motion of the knee and ankle joints and lower limb imbalance in soccer players with and without ankle injuries. We recruited 50 male university soccer athletes, who were categorized into an injury group (21 players) and a non-injury group (29 players). Prior to the experimental tests, basic data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire. During the experiment, participants sequentially completed a passive knee flexion test, a passive knee extension test, an active ankle plantarflexion test, and an active ankle dorsiflexion test. The results indicated that there were significant differences in the imbalance in knee and ankle range of motion between injured and non-injured athletes. Additionally, there was a significant negative correlation between right passive knee flexion range of motion, right active ankle plantarflexion range of motion, and ankle injuries.

Background: Physical functional capacity plays a critical role in sports performance and changes markedly from adolescence to adulthood. This study aimed to compare the physical functional characteristics between adolescent and collegiate soccer athletes. Methods: Fifty elite male soccer athletes (30 adolescents, 20 college students) were assessed for joint range of motion, muscle flexibility, dynamic balance, and trunk functional capacity. Results: Adolescent athletes achieved significantly greater general joint laxity score than collegiate athletes (p = 0.01), with significantly greater hip range of motion across all planes (abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; all p < 0.01). College athletes had significantly lower SLR degree (left: p < 0.01, right: p < 0.05) but significantly greater degrees on passive Ely’s test (p < 0.01) than adolescent athletes. Collegiate athletes delivered significantly superior dynamic balance performance in the Y-balance test, particularly in the posterolateral and posteromedial directions (all p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, trunk functional capacity was significantly lower in collegiate athletes compared with adolescents (p < 0.01). Limb asymmetry was observed in both groups: collegiate athletes showed asymmetry only in the anterior reach direction of the Y-balance test (p = 0.018), whereas adolescents exhibited asymmetry across multiple joints (ankle, hip, hamstrings, and quadriceps; all p < 0.05) and in the posterolateral direction of the Y-balance test (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Adolescent athletes demonstrated significantly superior joint range of motion and lower limb flexibility, whereas collegiate players exhibited better balance performance, indicating distinct functional profiles between the two cohorts, which may be associated with differences in training experience and developmental stages.

Mental health and sleep problems are among the most significant burdens of illnesses for adolescents in China. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of depression and sleep quality among high school students and compare sleep quality across students with varying levels of depression. A cross-sectional study was performed to collect data on depression and sleep quality using a paper questionnaire including a self-rating depression scale (SDS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Among all the 537 high school students, 57.0% (306 participants) experienced depression and 47.5% (255 participants) suffered from poor sleep quality. Males showed significantly greater SDS scores than females (55.2 ± 7.2 vs 53.8 ± 6.8, P = .027). Significantly greater PSQI score in high school students with moderate-to-severe depression than those with mild depression and nondepression (5.2 ± 2.7 vs 5.3 ± 2.4 vs 6.2 ± 2.3, F = 3.5, P = .032). In contrast, an adjusted logistic regression model indicated that depression severity was not an independent significant predictor of poor sleep quality after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI (all P > .05). Overall, high school students exhibited a high prevalence of depression and poor sleep quality, with those experiencing moderate-to-severe depression showing the poorest sleep quality in unadjusted comparisons. However, depression severity did not remain an independent significant predictor of poor sleep quality after adjustment. Depression and sleep problems among high school students should receive greater attention, particularly for high school students with moderate-to-severe depression.