Provencher, MT, Chahla, J, Sanchez, G, Cinque, ME, Kennedy, NI, Whalen, J, Price, MD, Moatshe, G, and LaPrade, RF. Body mass index versus body fat percentage in prospective national football league athletes: overestimation of obesity rate in athletes at the national football league scouting combine. J Strength Cond Res 32(4): 1013-1019, 2018-Obesity has been previously noted as a major issue in the National Football League (NFL), where it has been shown that 97% of all players demonstrate a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25.0 with a reported obesity rate of 56% (BMI ≥ 30.0). However, BMI does not take into account body composition by mass, and may overestimate prevalence of obesity. The purposes of this study were (a) to determine the validity of BMI as a measure of body fat percentage and obesity in athletes at the NFL Combine, (b) to define the obesity rate based on body fat percentage compared with BMI, and (c) to determine the relationship between draft status and body composition. It was hypothesized that the rate of obesity, as measured by air displacement plethysmography (ADP), would be less than the rate of obesity as measured using BMI. Athletes who competed at the 2010 through 2016 NFL Combines were included in this study. Air displacement plethysmograph testing at the Combine was performed through BOD POD Body Composition Tracking System with collection of the following metrics: body fat percentage (%), and compared with BMI based on weight and height. In addition, the metrics were evaluated for differences over the 7-year study period to determine temporal changes and to determine draft status based on position relative to BOD POD calculations. A total of 1,958 NFL Combine participants completed ADP body composition testing. Based on BMI (≥30.0), the obesity rate was 53.4% versus an 8.9% obesity rate when using ADP. Drafted players demonstrated a significantly lower body fat percentage than undrafted players (p ≤ 0.05), with the exception of quarterbacks and running backs. All 8 positions of play, with the exception of defensive linemen, demonstrated a decrease in body fat percentage between 2010 and 2017. However, total body mass by position of play remained relatively constant with no significant change noted in any position. In conclusion, the obesity rate in prospective athletes at the NFL Combine was overestimated when calculated based on the BMI. Body fat percentage was more valid for determining an NFL player candidate's true body composition. Drafted players demonstrated a significantly lower body fat percentage in 6 of 8 positions compared with undrafted players. This is important to recognize for a strength and conditioning professional to use the correct metric when evaluating NFL players who could have been erroneously categorized in the obese population by their BMI. Furthermore, a higher percentage of fat translates to lower chances of becoming drafted.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: There is a paucity of literature regarding injury incidence, mechanism, and return to play in National Football League (NFL) players who have sustained traumatic posterior hip instability. Purpose: To describe the incidence of traumatic posterior hip instability and the rate of return to play in NFL players across 18 seasons. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: We retrospectively assessed all traumatic posterior hip dislocations/subluxations that occurred during football-related activities in the NFL seasons from 2000 through 2017. Player demographics and injury data (injury mechanism, season of injury, treatment, days missed, and return to play time) were collected from all 32 NFL teams prospectively through a leaguewide electronic health record system. Descriptive statistics are presented. Results: Across the 18 NFL seasons, 16 posterior hip instability injuries in 14 players were reported, with a maximum incidence of 4 (25%) in 2013. Posterior hip instability was predominantly sustained by offensive players (64.3%), with tight ends being the most affected (31.3%). Half of the injuries occurred during the regular season, 43.8% in the preseason, and 6.2% in the offseason. Of all injuries, 37.5% were noncontact, while 56.3% involved contact (direct or indirect), and 6.2% were of unknown mechanism. Among noncontact injuries, 66.7% occurred during cutting and change of direction while sprinting. The time of return to full participation was documented for 11 of the 16 reported injuries (68.8%); among them, the mean time loss was 136.7 ± 83.8 days—143.3 ± 99.6 days if the player underwent surgery (n = 4) and 116.7 ± 76.2 days missed by players without surgery (n = 6)—the treatment modality was unknown in 1 player. Conclusion: Although the incidence of traumatic posterior hip instability during the study period was low, all injured athletes missed time from football activities and competitions. Injuries that required surgery led to more missed time than those that did not. Ongoing research to understand risk factors and mechanisms of this injury, in conjunction with improvements to prevention and rehabilitation protocols, is necessary to ensure the safety of professional American football players.

Category: Sports Introduction/Purpose: Navicular injuries are documented to have the potential for significant impairment of foot function. Regardless of treatment choice, these injuries can result in persistent pain, advanced osteoarthritis, and chronic dysfunction. A clearer understanding of their prevalence in collegiate athletes as well as their impact on their NFL career would help team physicians better counsel players and their teams, and perhaps also aid in defining optimal treatment. The purpose of this study was to 1) determine the epidemiology of navicular fractures in players participating in the NFL combine, 2) define positions that might be at higher risk for sustaining this injury, and 3) evaluate the impact of navicular injuries on NFL draft position and NFL game play compared to matched controls. Methods: Data was collected from the NFL combine website on all participating players who had sustained a navicular injury before entering the NFL between 2009 and 2015. Medical records, imaging, and treatments were reviewed on all individuals who met these criteria. The epidemiology of navicular injuries was determined by evaluating the number of injuries, surgeries, games missed, position played and draft position of each player. Available exam and imaging findings were reviewed for each player. Players from 2009 to 2013 with a navicular injury were compared to matched controls. Control groups consisted of players who missed less than 2 games in college, played the same position, and did not have a previous surgery. NFL performance outcomes were evaluated through analysis of draft position, career length ≥2 years, and number of games played and games started within their first 2 years. All NFL performance data was obtained from STATS.com. Odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression to assess the risk of sustaining a navicular injury by position. Two-sample, two-tailed T-tests were computed to assess games missed in college and draft position in players with a navicular injury and NFL career consisting of games played, and started in the NFL in the first 2 years of their career versus control players. Results: A total of 2285 foot players participated in the NFL combine between 2009 – 2015. There were 15 navicular injuries (14 players) with an incidence of 0.6% of NFL football players participating in the combine during this time frame. Defensive backs had a statistically significant increased odds ratio (Odds ratio = 3.0, p=0.03) of sustaining a navicular injury, however only 3 defensive backs had a navicular injury. Three players had nonunions or a refracture and 2 players required a revision surgery. Fifty-seven percent of players with navicular injuries (72.7% of fractures) were undrafted versus 30.9% in the control group (P< 0.001). Twenty-nine percent of players with navicular fractures played 2 years in the NFL compared to 69.6% in the control group (P< 0.01). Conclusion: While only a small percentage of players at the NFL combine had a navicular injury, there was a significant...