Injury incidences increased during matches and decreased during training. More match injuries were caused by traumatic mechanisms as players aged. Player age might contribute to injury incidence and characteristics in youth football.

In this cross-sectional study, sagittal knee laxity and isokinetic strength of knee extensor and flexor muscle groups were measured and differences related to leg dominance were evaluated. A total of 44 healthy male soccer players (who had trained regularly at least for the last five years) and 44 sedentary people as their control counterparts were involved in this study. All participants were tested using a KT-1000 knee arthrometer for knee laxity. Isokinetic concentric knee peak torque and hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) ratio were also measured at 60, 180, 300 degrees/s through a Cybex 2 - 340 dynamometer. Posterior laxity in the non-dominant side of soccer players was significantly higher than in the dominant side (p < 0.005) while there were no significant anterior and total anteroposterior (total AP) laxity differences in both groups. Soccer players had significantly lower anterior and total AP laxity values than controls (p < 0.0001) while there was no significant difference between posterior laxity values in both sides. Dominant extremity demonstrated significantly higher knee flexor peak torque and H/Q ratio at 180 degrees /s in soccer players (p < 0.05). Similarly in sedentary controls, H/Q ratio at 60 degrees /s of the dominant side was significantly higher than that in the non-dominant side (p < 0.05). Soccer players had significantly higher extensor and flexor peak torque values and H/Q ratios than sedentary subjects for both extremities. In both groups, there were no significant correlations between knee laxity and isokinetic knee extensor and flexor strength and H/Q ratios except weak negative correlation between posterior knee laxity and isokinetic extensor peak torque at 60, 180 and 300 degrees /s (p < 0.005, r = - 0.43, p < 0.05, r = - 0.39, p < 0.05, r = - 0.32 respectively) in the non-dominant side of soccer players and at 300 degrees /s (p < 0.05, r = - 0.32) in the non-dominant side of controls. Soccer players demonstrated significantly less sagittal knee laxity and higher isokinetic strength of the knee flexors and extensors compared to sedentary controls. Isokinetic strength difference was found to be higher for the flexor muscle group. Further prospective studies are needed to explain whether the increased H/Q ratio decreases the risk of ligamentous injury.

A 16-year-old male basketball player had sustained an injury upon landing after a forceful jump. Plain radiography demonstrated bilateral tibial tubercle avulsion fracture involving partially proximal physis. Open reduction and internal fixation were performed at once. Continuous passive motion was started immediately after operation, and the patient was ambulated with hinged knee extension braces. After 27 months follow-up his knees completely regained normal range of motion except a 3 degrees extension loss in the left knee. He resumed all daily functional activities (Lysholm functional score of 99), but he slightly lost his level of activity (Tegner activity level from 7 to 6). No angular deformity at all on the frontal plane was determined upon radiological examination. Tibial slope angles were symmetrical and within the normal range. There were visible small bone fragments inside the left patellar tendon.

Skin lesions are common in athletes. Athletic activities may lead to new skin lesions or aggravate existing ones. We aimed to determine the effects of sport type and participation length on the occurrence of sports-related dermatoses and to identify the localization characteristics of these lesions. A total of 121 licensed athletes (42 swimmers, 23 handball players, 33 soccer players and 23 wrestlers) and 121 sedentary controls were included in the study. A consultant dermatologist examined all subjects. Lesion types, duration, and localization characteristics were noted. The lesions were categorized as viral, bacterial, traumatic, and non-traumatic. Traumatic lesions were frequently seen in soccer players and wrestlers; fungal infections were more commonly seen in swimmers and in soccer players. Lesion types and localizations varied by sport type. There were no significant relationships between sport type and the incidence of viral and bacterial lesions. The results suggest that athletic activity seems to be a predisposing factor, especially for fungal infections and acute or chronic traumatic lesions. Thus, regular dermatological screening of athletes is critical for rapid identification and treatment of dermatoses disrupting sport performance.

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of static and dynamic stretching exercises on dynamic balance. Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven recreational athletes (33 males aged 20.5 ± 2.3 yrs) and 34 females aged 21.4 ± 3.0 yrs) were tested in three different protocols including the control condition, static stretching, and dynamic stretching exercises on three separate days, 48-72 h apart. Before and after each protocol, double limb dynamic balance was tested on an isokinetic balance system. Each protocol involved warm-up for 5 min using the bicycle ergometer at 50-60 rpm and 70 W. Stretching exercises were applied bilaterally on four different lower extremity muscle groups. For the control condition, after warm-up, subjects rested for 12 min and 45 s. The time period between the two dynamic balance measurements was equal for each protocol. Results: All three protocols positively affected dynamic balance performance (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between effects of protocols on dynamic balance (p>0.05). Conclusions: Static stretching after warm-up, dynamic stretching after warm-up, and warm-up alone have positive effect on dynamic balance. Static or dynamic stretching after warm-up do not potentiate positive effect of warm-up alone on dynamic balance.