Sep 7–13, 2026 · 34 new studies, 10 reviews · Sports Medicine archive · All weeks
The new Sports Medicine research The Reduction sent the week of Sep 7–13, 2026, with the week’s most recent reviews, each with a one-line summary.
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In MLB pitchers, higher-velocity changeups and greater sweeper usage were linked to increased odds of undergoing arthroscopic shoulder labral repair, while low-velocity off-speed pitches were protective.
Meta-analysis shows Nordic hamstring exercise transiently stiffens the hamstring after a single session, but 6-10 weeks of training produce no significant long-term stiffness change.
In a 10-year longitudinal study of 764 knees, specific combined femoral-tibial varus/valgus alignment phenotypes—not just overall limb alignment—predicted significantly higher rates of osteoarthritis progression.
In 152 knees with patellofemoral instability, MRI-based patellotrochlear index and radiographic Caton-Deschamps index agreed well in normal trochleae but diverged substantially in high-grade trochlear dysplasia, and neither correlated with intraoperative instability angle.
Shear-Wave Elastography for Assessing the Histological Characteristics of Torn Rotator Cuff Tendons.
Shear-wave elastography stiffness values correlated with collagen disorganization and cellularity patterns in torn supraspinatus tendons, supporting its use as a noninvasive histological marker.
Cadaveric study shows labral tears increase superior acetabular contact stress and reduce hip abduction motion, both of which are largely normalized by labral repair, supporting its biomechanical rationale.
Two new MRI-based patellar tendon alignment measures (PT-LTR and PTIA) reliably identify patellofemoral instability in adolescents, adding useful information beyond standard TT-TG, patella alta, and trochlear dysplasia measures.
In 335 Japanese female athletes, noncontact ACL injuries peaked during late puberty (84%), identifying this developmental stage as a key risk period.
In this long-term cohort study, preoperative psychiatric comorbidity was linked to higher failure rates, worse survivorship, and inferior patient-reported outcomes after hip arthroscopy for FAIS at 10 years.
Cadaveric study found LUCL graft length variability is minimized when fixated between 50° and 60° of elbow flexion, suggesting this range may reduce graft stretching and long-term reconstruction failure.
On MR arthrography, gluteus minimus indentation was more common in dysplastic hips and those with increased femoral torsion, correlating with smaller cartilage area and greater labral volume, suggesting it may mark hip instability though its prognostic significance remains unproven.
Patients with generalized ligamentous laxity undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAI had comparable long-term outcomes to matched controls, but those with very high Beighton scores (8-9) recovered more slowly with more early pain.
Analysis of youth soccer matches found higher wet bulb globe temperature was associated with lower, not higher, rates of overall injuries, time-loss injuries, and concussions.
After adjusting for confounders, preoperative GLP-1 receptor agonist use was not independently associated with increased complications after rotator cuff repair, supporting safe perioperative continuation.
A multidisciplinary ESSKA-EHPA-ESMA consensus standardizes terminology, clinical exam maneuvers, and a stepwise imaging approach for evaluating hip and groin pain in athletes.
Increasing age markedly lowers the absolute (but not relative) ACL graft rerupture risk from elevated posterior tibial slope, supporting age-integrated slope-based risk stratification before ACL reconstruction.
A new CT-based classification reproducibly categorizes tibial tunnel morphology (five sagittal types, three axial types) after failed ACLR, potentially aiding revision surgery planning.
International Delphi consensus recommends repairing acute and ACL-associated meniscal radial tears (age alone not a contraindication), prioritizing anatomic restoration and conservative early rehab regardless of technique.
In 42 patients with chronic proximal hamstring avulsion, allograft reconstruction significantly improved PHAS/Tegner/UCLA scores, but only 15% returned to preinjury sport level and rerupture occurred in 12%.
A multimodal deep learning model (KneeFusionNet) accurately detected ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL injuries on MRI and, when used as AI assistance, improved junior surgeons' diagnostic accuracy and sped up interpretation.
In patellofemoral instability, TT-PCL distance failed to correlate with knee rotation or patellar lateralization in high-grade trochlear dysplasia, whereas TT-TG better reflected rotational malalignment and surgical candidacy.
Cadaveric testing showed that combining a ramp lesion with a lateral meniscus root tear in an ACL-deficient knee significantly worsens rotational and anterior translational instability compared to either lesion alone.
In a rabbit model, the novel Lark-Loop suture technique for biceps tenodesis achieved biomechanical and histological healing superior to Lasso-Loop and comparable to Krackow stitch, suggesting a viable arthroscopic alternative.
Sport-specific VR jump tasks revealed more consistent, favorable landing biomechanics after neuromuscular training than traditional drop vertical jump testing, suggesting VR better captures nuanced movement adaptations relevant to ACL injury prevention.
Poor mental health in patients with symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the talus.
This prospective study found that most patients with symptomatic osteochondral talar lesions have mental health scores as poor as those with mood/anxiety disorders, persisting even after successful treatment, supporting integrated mental health care.
Back in the game: analyzing performance outcomes following spinal surgery in WNBA athletes.
In this small case series of six WNBA players, spinal surgery (mostly for disc herniation) was followed by non-significant declines in playing time and efficiency, with older age worsening and greater height favoring postoperative performance.
In a simulator-based RCT with fNIRS monitoring, spacing arthroscopic training sessions 2 days apart produced better skill acquisition and retention than 1-hour or 1-week intervals.
Intraoperative measurements during distalization tibial tubercle osteotomy closely predicted actual postoperative changes in patellar height (Caton-Deschamps Index), supporting the reliability of intraoperative planning.
CT analysis shows distal radius curvature, size, and bone density are greater in men and younger patients, suggesting young male donor grafts are optimal for glenoid allograft reconstruction.
Large database analysis shows hyperlipidemia modestly raises the risk of repeat rotator cuff repair and arthroplasty after arthroscopic RCR, with statin therapy failing to lower this risk.
In 34 DDH hips undergoing periacetabular osteotomy, femoral head decentration on MRI decreased in extent but fully resolved in only about a third of patients, with persistence linked to excess femoral anteversion and greater intraarticular cartilage/labral degeneration.
In this retrospective comparison after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, pectoralis major tendon transfer yielded better internal rotation function and strength than subscapularis repair and was independently associated with higher return-to-work rates, without proving overall superiority.
In rTSA for patients with preoperative ER lag, functional external rotation recovery depends on preoperative active ER magnitude and lag severity rather than implant lateralization/distalization geometry, with thresholds (ER1>25°, ER2>40°, ER2 lag<25°) predicting success.
Most nonoperatively treated medial meniscus posterior root tears improved clinically despite ongoing structural degeneration, though greater varus alignment (HKA ≥5.5°) predicted later conversion to surgery.
Narrative review proposes a tension-aware framework for retracted rotator cuff tears, balancing footprint restoration against repair tension using selective mobilization, margin convergence, or partial repair when full anatomic repair isn't feasible.
This ESSKA-ESA European consensus provides age- and timing-specific treatment and return-to-sport recommendations for traumatic anterior shoulder instability, emphasizing bone loss thresholds and soft tissue repair to guide individualized surgical versus conservative management.
German Knee Society expert review offers practical recommendations for measuring posterior tibial slope, individualizing surgical indication, and favoring an infratuberositary approach for corrective osteotomy in ACL-deficient knees.
This scoping review of 22 studies found no clinically meaningful reduction in concussion rates or neurocognitive effects with jugular venous compression collars, despite some inconsistent imaging changes, so current evidence doesn't support their use.
International Delphi consensus identifies key physical exam tests (AB-HEER, prone instability, anterior apprehension), symptoms, and risk factors (female sex, dysplasia) for diagnosing atraumatic hip instability.
A historical review: Surgical management of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears.
This historical review traces the evolution of surgical treatment for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears, from early open repairs and tendon transfers to modern reverse shoulder arthroplasty and biologic augmentation, noting no single approach is universally best.
This ESSKA-AOSSM-AASPT consensus recommends criterion-based rehabilitation after meniscectomy and combined time- and criterion-based progression after meniscus repair/reconstruction, based on largely low-quality evidence but high expert agreement.
Principles of the superior labrum and biceps complex: an expert consensus from the NEER Circle.
An expert consensus from shoulder surgeons found only partial agreement on managing superior labrum/biceps pathology, favoring SLAP repair in younger active patients and biceps treatment in older, lower-demand patients, with age as the key decision driver.
PRP or not PRP: Is the debate surrounding platelets-based blood-derived products evolving?
This review argues that inconsistent PRP preparation and classification (platelet count, leukocyte content, activation) hampers standardization, and calls for a unified classification system to guide clinical use of blood-derived orthobiologics.
Orthobiologic Augmentation to Improve Rotator Cuff Repair Outcomes: Current and Future Strategies.
Reviews biologic mechanisms of tendon-bone healing after rotator cuff repair and current augmentation strategies—bone marrow stimulation, PRP, and stem cell therapy—while previewing emerging cell-based treatments like extracellular vesicles.
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