BackgroundUpper and lower limb (peripheral) pain is prevalent in athletes. Contemporary research prioritises multidimensional pain assessment and classification. This study aims to review comprehensive athlete pain assessment practices against the reference standard (International Olympic Committee, IOC Athlete Pain framework), identifying trends and highlighting gaps.Methods and analysisSix databases were searched using a comprehensive search strategy. This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute standardised methodology for scoping reviews and is reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Title and abstract, full-text screening and data charting were completed by two independent reviewers.Inclusion criteriaOriginal research, systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines reporting assessment or classification of pain in athletes of any age with chronic or acute peripheral pain in English on human participants from database inception.Results470 studies with 167 different pain assessment tools were mapped against the IOC Athlete Pain Framework. Papers included tools from neurophysiological (470/100%), biomechanical (420/80%), affective (250/55%), cognitive (40/10%) and socioenvironmental (110/30%) domains. Pain classification was included in 108 studies (23%). 4 studies (0.85%) defined pain. Athletes with physical disability were included in 13 (2.7%) studies and no studies included athletes with intellectual disabilities. Socioeconomic factors were addressed in 29 (6.2%) studies.DiscussionNeurophysiological and biomechanical domains are frequently addressed. Affective, socioenvironmental and cognitive tools are under-represented. Potential tools for use by researchers and clinicians are highlighted. Defining and classifying pain and determining predominant pain mechanisms is needed in both research and clinical practice. More work on underrepresented populations is needed.ConclusionThis review informs researchers and clinicians working with athletes in pain how pain assessment and classification is currently conducted and highlights future priorities.

Pain is often presumed to be part of the sport injury experience. The time-loss definition of injury leads to under-reported athletic pain impacting performance and quality of life. Whilst research regarding the assessment and classification of back pain in athletes is emerging, little has been reported regarding how peripheral pain is assessed and classified in research and practice. Six databases will be searched for relevant articles. Title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening will be completed by two independent reviewers. Data charting will be carried out using a modified standardised form. Descriptive results and frequencies will be reported. Pain measures identified in the studies will be mapped against the IOC Athlete Pain Framework alongside a narrative summary. Published peer-reviewed primary research studies alongside systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines reporting the assessment or classification of pain in athletes of any age with chronic or acute peripheral pain across all study contexts in the English language on human participants from inception of the databases will be included. The results of this study are part of a body of research which will be used to inform the development of a pain assessment framework. The scoping review will be submitted for peer-reviewed journal publication and presented at sports medicine conferences. This review will inform researchers and clinicians working with athletes in pain how pain assessment and classification is currently conducted and positioned against the IOC Athlete Pain Framework.

BackgroundObjective measurements of postural control are frequently used to examine the causes of, features associated with, and therapeutic interventions for ankle instability. However, researchers have typically used single-session measures to represent postural control at one point in time. Recent studies in a healthy elderly population demonstrated significant variations in day-to-day postural control and suggest that single-session measurement may not truly reflect postural control. We need to investigate patterns of day-to-day variation in postural control in a younger population, the typical age profile included in ankle instability studies.ObjectiveInvestigate the variations between continuous day-to-day clinical measurements of postural control within subjects, and the associations between once-off and continuous daily measurements, in a healthy young population. It was hypothesised that variations exist and a once-off clinical measure may not be representative of an individual’s true postural control.DesignObservational longitudinal cohort study.SettingUniversity motion capture laboratory.Participants24 healthy young adults (9 female, 15 male) aged 18–40 years.Independent variablesAge, time of day (08:00–10:00), duration (40 s) and testing condition (eyes-open versus eyes-closed).Main outcome measurementsLifestyle questionnaire and 40 s eyes-open/eyes-closed static Wii Balance Board balance tests, on 20 consecutive weekdaysResultsCoefficient of variation demonstrated substantial inter-subject differences from 10–131% (eyes-open) and 10–112% (eyes-closed) across variables. Minimal detectable change percentage showed that 22/30 parameters demonstrated acceptable measurement error (<30%). Across mean COP distance, mean sway length, mean sway frequency and sway area, 16/24 (eyes-open) and 11/24 participants (eyes-closed) exhibited statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the once-off and the daily measures.ConclusionVariations in postural control exist in a healthy young population. Depending on testing conditions and specific variables, a once-off measure is not indicative of an individual's true functional state. Therefore, when investigating subtle changes in postural control, long-term monitoring proves to be a superior assessment tool.

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