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Low back pain in young athletes. A practical approach.

Lumbar spine pain accounts for 5 to 8% of athletic injuries. Although back pain is not the most common injury, it is one of the most challenging for the sports physician to diagnose and treat. Factors predisposing the young athlete to back injury include the growth spurt, abrupt increases in training intensity or frequency, improper technique, unsuitable sports equipment, and leg-length inequality. Poor strength of the back extensor and abdominal musculature, and inflexibility of the lumbar spine, hamstrings and hip flexor muscles may contribute to chronic low back pain. Excessive lifting and twisting may produce sprains and strains, the most common cause of low back pain in adolescents. Blows to the spine may create contusions or fractures. Fractures in adolescents from severe trauma include compression fracture, comminuted fracture, fracture of the growth plate at the vertebral end plate, lumbar transverse process fracture, and a fracture of the spinous process. Athletes who participate in sports involving repeated and forceful hyperextension of the spine may suffer from lumbar facet syndrome, spondylolysis, or spondylolisthesis. The large sacroiliac joint is also prone to irritation. The signs and symptoms of disc herniation in adolescents may be more subtle than in adults. Disorders simulating athletic injury include tumours and inflammatory connective tissue disease. Often, however, a specific diagnosis cannot be made in the young athlete with a low back injury due to the lack of pain localisation and the anatomic complexity of the lumbar spine. A thorough history and physical examination are usually more productive in determining a diagnosis and guiding treatment than imaging techniques. Diagnostic tests may be considered, though, for the adolescent athlete whose back pain is severe, was caused by acute trauma, or fails to improve with conservative therapy after several weeks. Radiographs, bone scanning, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging may help identify, or exclude serious pathology. Fortunately, the majority of cases of low back pain in adolescents respond to conservative therapy. Immediate treatment of an acute injury, such as a sprain or strain, includes cryotherapy, electrogalvanic stimulation, anti-inflammatory medications and gentle exercises. Prolonged bed rest should be avoided since atrophy may occur rapidly. Strong analgesics are also usually contraindicated, except for sleep, since they mask pain and may allow overvigorous activity. Early strengthening exercises include the Williams flexion exercises and/or McKenzie extension exercises. Both exercise motions may often be prescribed. Athletes with an acute disc herniation, however, should only perform extension exercises initially. Athletes with spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis and facet joint irritation should initially be limited to flexion exercises.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Acute Orthotic Intervention Does Not Affect Muscular Response Times and Activation Patterns at the Knee.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term effect of a semirigid foot orthotic device on response times and activation patterns of knee musculature in individuals with hyperpronation after a lower extremity perturbation in a single-leg, weight-bearing stance. DESIGN AND SETTING: We used a lower extremity perturbation device designed to produce a forward and either internal or external rotation of the trunk and femur on the weight-bearing tibia to evoke a reflex response. Subjects were tested both with and without orthotic devices. SUBJECTS: Seventeen (13 male, 4 female) volunteers (age, 20.6 +/- 1.8 years; height, 181.0 +/- 8.1 cm; weight, 87.4 +/- 19.5 kg; navicular drop, 12.1 +/- 1.8 mm) with a navicular drop greater than 10 mm volunteered for this study. MEASUREMENTS: Long latency reflex times were recorded via surface electromyography for the medial and lateral hamstrings, gastrocnemius, and quadriceps muscles. RESULTS: A dependent-sample t test revealed a significant decrease in navicular drop with orthotic intervention (P <.0001). With that confirmed, separate repeated-measures analyses of variance with 2 within factors (orthotic condition and muscle) revealed no significant difference in muscle response time between orthotic and nonorthotic conditions for either internal or external rotation perturbation. Although we found a main effect for muscle for both internal (P <.0001) and external (P <.0001) rotation, indicating a preferred muscle activation order, this activation order did not differ between orthotic and nonorthotic conditions (internal rotation P =.674, external rotation P =.829). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a short-term application of a semirigid orthotic device does not alter muscle response times or activation patterns of the muscles that stabilize the knee. Further research is needed to determine whether changes in activation patterns may occur over time since mechanical adaptations occur with long-term wear.

Journal Article↗

Using surface electromyography to assess sex differences in neuromuscular response characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview of the continuum of muscular responses that typically occur with joint perturbation. The applications and limitations of surface electromyography (sEMG) in evaluating these responses are also addressed. Research applications assessing sex differences in these neuromuscular response characteristics are discussed along with suggestions for future research. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE was searched from 1969 through 1998. Sport DISCUS was searched from 1975 through 1998. Terms searched included "anterior cruciate ligament," "epidemiology," "neuromuscular control," "neuromuscular performance," "electromyography," "latency," "reflex," "electromechanical delay," "dynamic stability," "intrinsic stiffness," "short-range stiffness," "muscle," "mechanoreceptors," and "reaction time." DATA SYNTHESIS: It is widely accepted that efficient neuromuscular control is essential to dynamic joint stability and protection. Many studies have established the significant role of the muscles, and particularly the hamstrings, in providing knee stability. By observing the timing, phasing, and recruitment of reflexive muscular activation after a loading stress to the knee, we can better understand the coordinative mechanisms necessary to protect the joint and prevent ligament injury. A number of research models have employed the use of sEMG to evaluate neuromuscular responses at the knee after joint loading or perturbation. However, very few studies have specifically addressed potential sex differences in these response characteristics. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: From the limited research available, it appears that a sex difference may exist in some aspects of neuromuscular responses. However, further research is needed to explore these differences at the knee and their potential role as predisposing factors to the higher incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in females. Future studies should examine sex differences in neuromuscular response characteristics at the knee under functional, weight-bearing conditions while controlling for training and other confounding variables. The limitations of sEMG should be considered when interpreting neuromuscular response studies.

Journal Article↗

[The anterior cruciate ligament, an important structure of the knee joint].

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a crucial structure for a normal kinematic of the knee joint. Its rupture has been thought to present the initiation of a sequel leading to secondary damage of the meniscus and finally to osteoarthritis. Diagnosis of an ACL rupture is based on the history as well as on the physical examination. A positive Lachman-sign is diagnostic for an ACL lesion. The question whether an ACL rupture should be operated or not must be decided individually and is based on the demands of the patient. Conservative treatment includes rigorous physical therapy emphasizing strengthening exercises of the hamstrings and the gastrocnemius muscles as well as prorioceptive training. The indication for reconstruction is given, should instability persist. The timing of the operation is important for the outcome. This paper presents an overview of the literature including the rehabilitation program and a diagnostic concept used by the authors.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament↗

Muscle exercise after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Biomechanics of the simultaneous isometric contraction method of the quadriceps and the hamstrings.

Biomechanical analysis of two-dimensional models composed from roentgenographic pictures and electromyographic analysis on simultaneous isometric contraction exercises of the quadriceps and hamstrings were conducted in 20 healthy adult males. During simultaneous isometric contraction at 5 degrees knee flexion, an anterior drawer force equivalent to 15% of the tension of the quadriceps was exerted to the tibia, and decreased with increased angle of flexion. The mean angle at which this force became zero was 7.4 degrees, with a standard deviation of 5.0 degrees. When the angle increased further, a posterior drawer force to the tibia occurred and gradually increased. Each tension of the quadriceps or hamstrings during maximum simultaneous isometric contraction of the quadriceps and hamstrings was estimated as 30%-60% of that during separate isometric contractions of each muscle. In the early stage of the rehabilitation after the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, the simultaneous isometric contraction of the quadriceps and the hamstrings is useful as one of the muscle exercise methods because it can be performed safely with the knee position near the full extension and can generate sufficient muscle force to be an effective exercise.

Adult↗

MR imaging of the distribution and location of acute hamstring injuries in athletes.

OBJECTIVE: Although hamstring injuries are common in athletes, the distribution and location of such injuries have not been well defined. We used MR imaging to determine the frequency of injury by muscle, involvement of one or more muscles, and location of injuries within the musculotendinous unit. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed MR imaging on 15 consecutive college athletes with clinically diagnosed acute hamstring injuries. A hamstring injury was diagnosed and located on MR imaging by identifying high signal intensity within the muscle on T2-weighted images. RESULTS: We found that 10 athletes had injuries of a single muscle with six injuries of the biceps femoris, three of the semitendinosus, and one of the semimembranosus. In an additional five athletes, we found primary injuries of the biceps femoris and secondary injuries of the semitendinosus. The injuries occurred in diverse locations within the muscles including five injuries at the proximal musculotendinous junction, two at the distal musculotendinous junction, four within the proximal half of the muscle belly, and four in the distal half. All eight intramuscular injuries were located at the musculotendinous junction within the muscle. CONCLUSION: The biceps femoris is the most commonly injured hamstring muscle and the semitendinosus is the second most commonly injured. Although hamstring injuries often involve one muscle injured proximally, multiple muscles were involved in 33% of athletes (5/15) and the injuries were distal in 40% of athletes (6/15). All intramuscular injuries occurred at the musculotendinous junction, either at the ends of the muscle or within the muscle belly.

Adult↗

EMG modulation in anticipation of a possible trip during walking in young and older adults.

This study investigated whether changes in lower limb muscle activity occurred in anticipation of a possible perturbation in 11 young (mean age 27 years) and 11 older (mean age 68 years) adults. Altered muscle activity could affect tripping responses and consequently the ecological validity of experimental results of studies on tripping. It was hypothesized that anticipatory muscle activity would be present immediately after a trip, and decrease after several subsequent unperturbed (forewarned) walking trials. Electromyograms of lower limb muscles were measured in 3 conditions: during normal walking, during forewarned walking immediately after a trip, and during forewarned walking several trials after a trip had occurred. Small but statistically significant differences in averaged muscle activity over a stride were found among conditions. Young adults showed slightly increased activity immediately after tripping (co-contraction) in hamstrings, quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles. This increased activity diminished after several unperturbed trials, although it did not return to the baseline activity levels during normal walking. In older adults, an increased muscle activity among conditions was only discerned in tibialis anterior and soleus muscles. This suggested that older adults prefer to avoid contact with the obstacle over joint stiffening. Yet, for both age-groups, the increases in muscle activity were very small when compared to tripping responses reported in the literature. Therefore, anticipatory effects are not expected to jeopardize the validity of experiments in which subjects are perturbed more than once.

Accidental Falls↗

Hamstring tendon transfer for quadriceps femoris paralysis.

Fifteen cases of paralysis of the quadriceps muscles secondary to poliomyelitis were managed by hamstring tendon transfers with an average follow-up of 48 months. Results of 13.5% excellent, 73% good, and 13.5% fair were obtained, according to an objective scoring system. Significant improvement in gait pattern, relief from brace use, or "hand-on-thigh" ambulation was seen in all cases. A mean extension lag of 30 degrees was observed in patients examined in the sitting position. Lack of active terminal knee flexion, prohibiting comfortable floor sitting, was the main untoward effect and the source of complaint in four patients.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of the muscles around the knee in rabbits whose anterior cruciate and/or medial collateral ligaments were dissected.

INTRODUCTION: The biological response of the muscles around the knee in chronic ligamentous instability was investigated in an animal study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: There were four groups of 6- to 9-month-old adult New Zealand albino rabbits (2500-3300 g). The animals were divided into groups according to the ligament that was surgically sectioned: group A anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), group B medial collateral ligament (MCL), group C both ACL and MCL, and group D served as the control group undergoing no surgical intervention. Three months after surgery, biopsy specimens of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, extensor digitorum longus, and gastrocnemius muscles of the rabbits were obtained. Electron-microscopic cross-sections of the biopsy specimens were evaluated using the new predetermined atrophy parameters. RESULTS: Atrophy was found in the biopsy specimens of the quadriceps muscles in groups A and C (p<0.005). Unimportant changes were seen in the hamstrings, extensor digitorum longus, and gastrocnemius muscles (p>0.05). Only in the group undergoing MCL dissection were no changes observed in the muscles (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that ACL lesions affect the biomechanics of the knee negatively and this situation causes atrophy, especially in the quadriceps muscle. An MCL lesion alone does not cause an important problem in the surrounding musculature, probably because of its spontaneous healing capacity. New criteria for assessment of atrophy in the muscles employing electron-microscopic evaluation are suggested.

Animals↗

[Treatment of tumorous disease in proximal femur by customized hip arthroplasty].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and analyze the clinical experience and the clinical outcome of treating tumorous diseases in the proximal femur by the customized hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Eleven patients (7 males and 4 females, aged 40-69 years) with a tumorous disease in the proximal femur received a removal of the proximal femur and the customized hip arthroplasty from February 1994 to November 2002. Of the 11 patients, 7 had giant cell tumor in the proximal femur, 2 had chondroblastoma, 1 had osteitis deformans, and 1 had fibrous dysplasia. Six patients received the artificial total hip replacement and 5 underwent the dipolar-cup artificial femoral head prosthesis replacement. RESULTS: The follow-up for 1-5 years in 9 patients (2 patients lost the follow-up) revealed that after operation one patient with hemorrhage from the incision had been given a local compression for 5 days, and finally lost the function of the quadriceps muscle and had sensory deprivation in the anterior part of the thigh. Five years later, the patient had a quadriceps muscle power of the "0" degree, a decreased sensation, the "3" degree of the hamstring and the extension and flexion muscles of the lower limb, with lameness and crutch walking. The quadriceps muscle power test showed that 5 patients had the "3" degree of the muscle power and 2 of them had paroxysms of pain in the upper part of the thigh, especially after a long time of standing and walking, so both of them received the dipolar-cup artificial femoral head prosthesis replacement. Three patients had the "4" degree of the quadriceps muscle power, with an extension range of the hip joint of 10 degrees-27 degrees and an average flexion degree of 74 degrees. According to the Harris scale, 3 patients were assessed to be good (80-89), 5 moderate (70-79), but 1 bad (<70). No infection, recurrence or the loosening of the prosthesis was found in all the patients during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: The customized hip arthroplasty has a good clinical outcome in treatment of a tumorous disease in the proximal femur. However, there is a high incidence of deficiency of the quadriceps muscle power after operation, which may be relevant to the removal of the upper attachment of the quadriceps muscle. If the attachment of the quadriceps muscle, especially the internal, external and posterior septum attachment, can be fixed in the body of the prosthesis during operation, the power of the quadriceps muscle can be enhanced and the patient can have a better therapeutic effect.

Adult↗

Motor programmes for the termination of gait in humans: organisation and velocity-dependent adaptation.

1. The organisation of the muscular activities responsible for the termination of gait, their modulation as a function of the rate of progression and the associated mechanical effects were investigated in normal adults, using EMG, force plate and kinematic recordings. In particular, the braking actions in reaction to a visual cue presented at the instant of heel-strike were analysed quantitatively, with a focus on representative leg and thigh muscles of the weight-supporting (stance) and oscillating (swing) limb, during walk-and-stop trials performed at three different velocities. 2. In the stance limb, the EMG associated with braking started approximately 150 ms after the stop signal and, on average, displayed a distal-to-proximal activation sequence that primarily involved the posterior muscle groups (soleus, SOL, and hamstring, HAM). With the exception of SOL, which showed a single EMG burst, EMG patterns consisted of two or three progressively larger components occurring reciprocally in antagonistic muscles. Increasing walking speed yielded a significant reduction of the activity in distal muscles, and a simultaneous increment in proximal muscles. The mechanical effect of the earlier braking actions, estimated from the backward-directed wave of the horizontal ground reaction force, decreased in a velocity-dependent manner. 3. In the swing limb the braking activities began approximately 330 ms after the stop signal and, on average, revealed a proximal-to-distal activation sequence with the extensor groups (quadriceps, QUAD, and SOL) playing a prominent role. They always consisted of single EMG bursts, largely co-activated in the antagonist muscles. The onset latencies of the individual components showed a close correlation, and the spatio-temporal parameters were always scaled in parallel. Unlike the stance limb, the mechanical braking action associated with the final contact of the swing limb increased with walking speed. 4. The results indicate that the muscle synergies responsible for the rapid termination of gait in response to a ground-contact visual cue are produced by a relatively flexible set of motor commands modulated according to different velocity-dependent strategies in the weight-bearing limb, and by a single, fairly robust motor programme in the swing limb. Mechanical constraints related to the relative position of the centre of foot pressure and centre of body mass at the time the braking commands begin to affect external forces, may condition the difference between the two sides of the body.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Cross-correlation as a method for comparing dynamic electromyography signals during gait.

Current clinical interpretation of dynamic electromyography (EMG) data is usually based on qualitative assessments of muscle timing. Cross-correlation may provide a method for objectively comparing the timing and shape of EMG signals. This study used cross-correlation to compare EMG signals from different walking trials, different test sessions, and different individuals in able-bodied adults. Cross-correlation results (R-values) for different walking trials within a single test session were high, averaging > or = 0.90 for all muscles tested (R = 1.0 indicates exact agreement). Cross-correlation values were also high among trials from different test sessions conducted by the same and different examiners (average R > or = 0.78 for all muscles). R-values were much more variable when comparing different subjects (average 0.40-0.81, range 0.00-0.91). R-values were lower for the medial hamstrings and rectus femoris compared with the other muscles tested. These results suggest that cross-correlation may be useful for evaluating changes in an individual patient's muscle activation patterns, such as before and after surgery, but not for comparing EMG patterns among different individuals, such as between patients and normative data. This is especially true for biarticular muscles such as the hamstrings and rectus femoris, which may have variable activation patterns and/or increased sensitivity to electrode placement. Cross-correlation may also be useful for identifying appropriate muscles for transfer, identifying "outlier" trials within a test session, and selecting representative EMG curves for a given patient. The advantages of cross-correlation are that it considers shape of the EMG signal in addition to timing and that the assessments it provides are objective, rather than subjective.

Adult↗

Analysis of EMG measurements during bicycle pedalling.

Activity of eight leg muscles has been monitored for six test subjects while pedalling a bicycle on rollers in the laboratory. Each electromyogram (EMG) data channel was digitized at a sampling rate of 2 kHz by a minicomputer. Data analysis entailed generating plots of both EMG activity regions and integrated EMG (IEMG). For each test subject, data were recorded for five cases of pedalling conditions. The different pedalling conditions were defined to explore a variety of research hypotheses. This exploration has led to the following conclusions: Muscular activity levels of the quadriceps are influenced by the type of shoes worn and activity levels increase with soft sole shoes as opposed to cycling shoes with cleats and toeclips. EMG activity patterns are not strongly related to pedalling conditions (i.e. load, seat height and shoe type). The level of muscle activity, however, is significantly affected by pedalling conditions. Muscular activity bears a complex relationship with seat height and quadriceps activity level decreases with greater seat height. Agonist (i.e. hamstrings) and antagonist (i.e. quadriceps) muscles of the hip/knee are active simultaneously during leg extension. Regions of peak activity levels, however, do not overlap. The lack of significant cocontraction of agonist/antagonist muscles enables muscle forces during pedalling action to be computed by solving a series of equilibrium problems over different regions of the crank cycle. Regions are defined and a solution procedure is outlined.

Bicycling↗

Organization of lumbosacral motoneuronal cell groups innervating hindlimb, pelvic floor, and axial muscles in the cat.

In a study on descending pathways from the nucleus retroambiguus (NRA) to hindlimb motoneurons (see accompanying paper), it appeared impossible, using data from the literature, to precisely determine which muscles were innervated by the motoneurons receiving the NRA fibers. This lack of data made it necessary to produce a detailed map of the lumbosacral motoneuronal cell groups in the cat. Therefore, 50 different muscles or muscle compartments of hindlimb, pelvic floor and lower back were injected with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in 135 cases. The respective muscles were divided into ten groups: I, sartorius and iliopsoas; II, quadriceps; III, adductors; IV, hamstrings; V, gluteal and other proximal muscles of the hip; VI, posterior compartment of the distal hindlimb; VII, anterior compartment of the distal hindlimb; VIII, long flexors and intrinsic muscles of the foot; IX, pelvic floor muscles; and X, extensors of the lower back and tail. The L4-S2 segments were cut and incubated, and labeled motoneurons were counted and plotted. A new method was developed that made it possible, despite variations in size and segmental organization between the different cases, to compare the results of different cases. The results show that the spatial interrelationship between the hindlimb and pelvic floor lumbosacral motoneuronal cell groups remains constant. This finding enabled the authors to compose an accurate overall map of the location of lumbosacral motoneuronal cell groups. The general distribution of the motoneuronal cell groups is also discussed in respect to their dorsoventral, mediolateral, and rostrocaudal position within the lumbosacral ventral horn.

Animals↗

In vivo leucine oxidation at rest and during two intensities of exercise.

After ingestion of a mixed diet containing a tracer dose (10 muCi) of L-[1-14C]leucine (Leu), 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats (70-90 g) remained at rest (R) or completed 1 h exercise at 80 (E80) or 40% VO2max (E40). 14CO2 production was assessed for 6 h (exercise occurred from h 2 to 3). Four rats were killed at 2, 3, 4, and 6 h (R), at 3 and 6 h (E80), and at 6 h (E40). Determinations were 1) tissue specific activity dpm X mumol-1 from a) mixed skeletal muscle (gastrocnemius, soleus, quadriceps, and hamstrings) and b) liver and 2) radioactivity remaining in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Leu oxidized (mumol) was estimated (14 CO2 dpm X tissue sp act dpm-1 X mumol-1) independently from skeletal muscle and liver. Results were 1) 14CO2 production increased in both E80 and E40 compared with R (P less than 0.05), 2) E80 14CO2 increase was greater than E40 (P less than 0.05), 3) GIT absorption was reduced in E80 and E40 compared with R (P less than 0.05), and 4) exercise Leu oxidation (weighted average of tissue estimates) was 26% greater than R (P less than 0.05). The origin and site of the increased Leu oxidation cannot be determined from the present data; however, due to the magnitude of increase in skeletal muscle metabolism relative to other tissues during exercise, it is probable that skeletal muscle plays a significant role.

Animals↗

Hierarchy of different muscles in postural control.

The effects of muscle spindle activation on different postural muscles were examined in eight volunteers, using a force platform technique. Small electrical vibrators were placed symmetrically over the muscles concerned and the effects of vibration frequencies of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 Hz were studied at a constant amplitude of 0.4 mm (peak-to-peak). Significant responses were observed in most muscles. The responses were observed (in maximum response order) from: the neck, triceps surae, gluteus, abdominal, hamstring, quadriceps, lumbar and tibialis anterior muscles. The response direction did not follow anatomical gonistic vis-à-vis antagonistic distribution of the muscles studied, indicating that it is the functional properties of the muscles that determine posture stabilization. The large inter-individual variability in responses, but the consistency in intra-individual muscle responses indicates that the subjects used afferent muscles to a varying extent in postural control. The vibration-induced activation of the muscles was presumably derived by activation of stretch-sensitive secondary endings of muscle spindles that control postural stability.

Adult↗

Muscle function after mid-shaft femoral shortening. A prospective study with a two-year follow-up.

We performed isokinetic knee testing to assess thigh muscle function in ten patients (12 legs) before and after mid-shaft femoral shortening averaging 46 mm (27 to 70). Tests were at angular velocities of 60 degrees/sec and 180 degrees/sec, and were performed preoperatively and after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Isokinetic tests at two years showed a significant reduction in muscle function in both quadriceps and hamstrings, but recovery of function was significantly better for the hamstrings. There was a linear relationship with correlation of r2 = 0.31 to 0.86 between loss of muscle force at two years and the magnitude of shortening. Long-term loss of muscle force should be expected after a mid-shaft shortening of the femur of more than 10%.

Adolescent↗

Imaging of hamstring injuries: therapeutic implications.

Though recent research into the diagnosis and management of hamstring disorders has resulted in early and accurate recognition of injury, hamstring strain remains the most common form of muscle injury in the active population. With prompt recognition of hamstring strain, an appropriate rest and rehabilitation routine may be devised by the sports clinician in the hope of avoiding future and possibly more debilitating injury. As such, imaging has played a pivotal role in assisting athletes, both elite and recreational, in returning to activity expeditiously.

Athletic Injuries↗