The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of interactive digital interventions (IDIs) for physical activity (PA) and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in people with Inflammatory Arthritis [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) axial Spondyloarthritis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA)]. Seven electronic databases identified published and unpublished studies. Two reviewers conducted independent data extraction and quality assessment using the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB). The primary outcome was change in objective PA after the intervention; secondary outcomes included self-reported PA and HRQoL after the intervention and objective or self-reported PA at least 1 year later. Five manuscripts, reporting four RCTs (three high and one low RoB) representing 492 (459 RA, 33 JIA) participants were included. No trials studying PsA or AS met the inclusion criteria. Interventions ranged from 6 to 52 weeks and included 3–18 Behaviour Change Techniques. Due to heterogeneity of outcomes, a narrative synthesis was conducted. No trials reported any significant between group differences in objective PA at end of intervention. Only one low RoB trial found a significant between group difference in self-reported vigorous [MD Δ 0.9 days (95% CI 0.3, 1.5); p = 0.004], but not moderate, PA in people with RA but not JIA. There were no between group differences in any other secondary outcomes. There is very limited evidence for the effectiveness of IDIs on PA and HRQoL in RA and JIA and no evidence for their effectiveness in PsA or AS.

Context: Cryotherapy is used widely in sport and exercise medicine to manage acute injuries and facilitate rehabilitation. The analgesic effects of cryotherapy are well established; however, a potential caveat is that cooling tissue negatively affects neuromuscular control through delayed muscle reaction time. This topic is important to investigate because athletes often return to exercise, rehabilitation, or competitive activity immediately or shortly after cryotherapy. Objective: To compare the effects of wet-ice application, cold-water immersion, and an untreated control condition on peroneus longus and tibialis anterior muscle reaction time during a simulated lateral ankle sprain. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting: University of Hertfordshire human performance laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 54 physically active individuals (age = 20.1 ± 1.5 years, height = 1.7 ± 0.07 m, mass = 66.7 ± 5.4 kg) who had no injury or history of ankle sprain. Intervention(s): Wet-ice application, cold-water immersion, or an untreated control condition applied to the ankle for 10 minutes. Main Outcome Measure(s): Muscle reaction time and muscle amplitude of the peroneus longus and tibialis anterior in response to a simulated lateral ankle sprain were calculated. The ankle-sprain simulation incorporated a combined inversion and plantar-flexion movement. Results: We observed no change in muscle reaction time or muscle amplitude after cryotherapy for either the peroneus longus or tibialis anterior (P > .05). Conclusions: Ten minutes of joint cooling did not adversely affect muscle reaction time or muscle amplitude in response to a simulated lateral ankle sprain. These findings suggested that athletes can safely return to sporting activity immediately after icing. Further evidence showed that ice can be applied before ankle rehabilitation without adversely affecting dynamic neuromuscular control. Investigation in patients with acute ankle sprains is warranted to assess the clinical applicability of these interventions.

The use of a tilt platform to simulate a lateral ankle sprain and record muscle reaction time is a well-established procedure. However, a potential caveat is that repetitive ankle perturbation may cause a natural attenuation of the reflex latency and amplitude. This is an important area to investigate as many researchers examine the effect of an intervention on muscle reaction time. Muscle reaction time, peak and average amplitude of the peroneus longus and tibialis anterior in response to a simulated lateral ankle sprain (combined inversion and plantar flexion movement) were calculated in twenty-two physically active participants. The 40 perturbations were divided into 4 even groups of 10 dominant limb perturbations. Within-participants repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were conducted to assess the effect of habituation over time for each variable. There was a significant reduction in the peroneus longus average amplitude between the aggregated first and last 10 consecutive ankle perturbations (F_2.15,45.09 = 3.90, P = 0.03, ɳ_p² = 0.16). Authors should implement no more than a maximum of 30 consecutive ankle perturbations (inclusive of practice perturbations) in future protocols simulating a lateral ankle sprain in an effort to avoid significant attenuation of muscle activity.

Background: Sports science and medicine (SSM) is integral to professional football clubs. The level below professional football in England, ‘non-league football’ (NLF), consists of full-time and part-time clubs. The existing literature has exclusively focused on SSM in professional football, with the resources and practices in NLF currently unknown. Therefore, this study explored the SSM resources and practices within NLF by investigating the perspectives of key stakeholders working within NLF coaching and SSM disciplines. Methods: Fifty participants (coaching practitioners [n = 25] and SSM practitioners [n = 25]) from NLF clubs completed an anonymous online survey comprising 31 multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions, alongside optional open-ended comments. Results: Support was mixed for SSM evidence-based practices across clubs in Tiers 5–10 within the National League System. The most common SSM resources were the training ground (n = 39), resistance training equipment (n = 15), and rehabilitation area (n = 13). Fitness testing was frequent (86%) pre-season but rare end-of-season (8%). Workload monitoring primarily consisted of the session duration (80%) and time–motion data (36%). Performance analysis of competitive matches commonly used video (74%) or post-match technical analysis (40%). Injury monitoring generally occurred ‘always’ (44%) or ‘sometimes’ (28%). Nutritional support on match days was mostly fluids (80%), with ‘no support’ reported most outside match days (54%). Conclusions: The SSM resources and practices vary considerably within NLF, influenced by individual club constraints and barriers, including financial support, access to facilities, and equipment availability. These findings may inform future SSM provisions in NLF to enhance team performances and player availability.

Objectives: To describe injury epidemiology in British basketball, assess sex-based differences and injury risk factors. Methods: 122 athletes from British basketball leagues and national teams completed an online questionnaire collecting demographic, sporting and injury data from the 2021/2022 season. A medical-attention and 24-hour time-loss injury definition was used. Injury incidence rate (IIR) (injuries/1000 athlete-exposure (AE) hours) was calculated as (number of injuries/season AE-hours)×1000. Mann-Whitney tests assessed sex differences in IIRs. Χ² tests assessed sex differences in injury proportions. Linear regression assessed relationships between IIR and reported risk factors. Results: 46 men and 76 women (median age (IQR): 23.0 years (19.0–26.0)) reported 140 injuries. Median IIR was 2.1 injuries/1000 AE-hours (IQR: 0.0–3.5). Lower limb injuries were most common (70.7%), specifically ankle (32.9%) and knee (25.7%). No significant sex differences were noted in injury site, type, mechanism, timing or severity. Higher IIR was associated with advancing age (B=0.182, 95% CI: 0.038 to 0.325, p=0.014), increased weight (B=0.140, 95% CI: 0.071 to 0.210, p≤0.001), female sex (B=2.214, 95% CI: 0.424 to 4.003, p=0.016), comorbidities (B=2.782, 95% CI: 0.967 to 4.598, p=0.003) and 1–3 years of elite experience (B=2.950, 95% CI: 1.561 to 4.340, p≤0.001 vs 3–8 years). Guards (B=4.996, 95% CI: 3.603 to 6.389, p≤0.001) and forwards (B=3.180, 95% CI: 1.627 to 4.732, p≤0.001) were associated with higher IIR than centres. Conclusion: Lower limb injuries were most common. IIR was positively associated with age, weight, female sex, comorbidities and 1–3 years of elite experience. Guards and forwards had the strongest associations compared with centres. Findings may inform targeted injury prevention strategies. Future research should prospectively assess injury risk.