The results of the present investigation suggest that the high load in soccer in combination with a high repetition may have an important influence in the development of overuse injuries.

No abstract

We compared sport-specific-skills in 23 athletes with functionally unstable ankle joints to those of 18 healthy volunteers by performing a Japan test as well as a specially designed single-leg jumping test. For external stabilization of the ankle, an Aircast brace, a Ligafix Air brace, a Malleoloc brace and a tape bandage were applied. For the Japan test in the group with uninjured ankle joints, the best results were obtained when wearing the Aircast brace, followed by tape bandage, Ligafix brace and no stabilizing device in descending order. The worst results were presented by the group with the Malleoloc brace. However, there were no significant differences among these devices. In the group with functionally unstable ankle joints, the best score was achieved with the tape bandage, followed by the Ligafix brace, Mallcoloc brace and Aircast brace. The unstabilized group showed significantly worse results compared with all other groups. In the single-leg jumping test, the stabilizing devices had no negative influence on the jumping capability in the uninjured ankle joints. Additionally, there was no significant difference among the orthoses. Volunteers with unstable ankle joints experienced a significant improvement of jumping performance with most of the devices. The best results were achieved with the Aircast brace, followed by the Malleoloc brace, Ligafix brace and tape bandage. However, there was no significant difference among these orthoses. While the reaction time of the volunteers was the same for all test situations, the time for dynamically stabilizing the ankle joint appeared to be significantly worse in those ankle joints without a brace. For athletic activities, which are dominated by movement patterns comparable to the Japan test as well as the jumping test used, these stabilizing devices seem to have no negative effect on sport-specific capabilities.

During the German championships in parachuting 78 paratroopers were asked about acute injuries and chronic pain using a questionnaire. A total amount of 131 injuries was described. These were evaluated in terms of dimension and localisation. Upper and lower parts of the body were injured with a comparable frequency. Bruises (42%), fractures (19%), sprainings (16%) and dislocations (10%) were most often described. The overall injury rate according to the total number of descents (0.09%) was lower than that reported by previous literature. Therefore it can be concluded that parachuting for experienced jumpers is less dangerous than assumed until today.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the injury patterns in professional world cup windsurfing. The one handed jumps and loops are combined with a high risk of injury. 49 world cup professional windsurfers (39 men, 10 women) could be asked regarding their injuries in their professional career. Questionnaires were used in German, English or French. Furthermore the windsurfers were asked about prophylaxis against injuries. 260 injuries could be stated: 43 injuries of the head (17%), 40 injuries of the trunk (15%), 23 injuries of the upper extremity (9%). The majority of the injuries were stated at the lower extremity (n = 154, 59%). As far as the lower extremity is concerned, the strain of the ankle joint was dominating (n = 57). With 22% of all mentioned injuries this was the most common injury and 61% of the windsurfers claimed about an injury of the ankle joint. An injury of the knee was stated in 30 windsurfers, whereby 80% of these injuries were severe injuries of the ligaments or the meniscus. Only 10% of the professionals used a helmet to prevent injuries of the head. The cause of the head injuries are the spectacular jumps like loopings or table tops. The cumulation of injuries of the lower extremity is due to the fixation of the feet in the footstraps. The fixation on the feet leads to extreme rotatory forces in the knee joint in case of a fall. Furthermore the fixation of the feet leads to a high rate of ankle joint strain. In order to prevent injuries a helmet should be used and special footstraps should be developed, which ensure a release of the foot in the danger area.