# data[].attributes.body
The main symptom is pain. There may also be loss of functionality depending on the area affected.Treatment often involves resetting the bone in place and immobilizing it in a cast or splint to allow it time to heal. Sometimes, surgery or metal rods may be needed to reset the bone.

# data[].attributes.body
Bellow is the area that a groin pull occurs.  Pain and tenderness in the groin and the inside of the thigh. Pain when you bring your legs together. Pain when you raise your knee. A popping or snapping feeling during the injury, followed by severe pain.

# data[].attributes.body
Shin splints result when muscles, tendons, and bone tissue become overworked. Shin splints often occur in athletes who've recently intensified or changed their training routines.

# data[].attributes.body
Still mentioning the broken finger or finger injuries and how treat them are in the resource bellow.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The bones in your fingers are called phalanges. Each finger has three phalanges, except the thumb, which has two phalanges. A broken, or fractured, finger occurs when one or more of these bones breaks. A break is usually the result of an injury to the hand. A fracture can occur in any of the phalanges. Fractures can also occur in your knuckles, which are the joints where your finger bones meet.

Causes

Fingers have the highest risk of injury of all the parts of the hand. You can injure your finger while working with a tool, such as a hammer or a saw. Your finger can break when a fast-moving object hits your hand, such as a baseball. Slamming your hand in a door and putting your hands out to break a fall can also cause you to break your finger.

The nature of the injury and the strength of the bone determine whether a fracture occurs. Conditions such as osteoporosis and malnutrition increase your chances of breaking a finger.

Types

According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the number of combinations of types of hand fractures is infinite. The following terms describe how broken fingers are categorized:

Method of fracture

In an avulsion fracture, a ligament or tendon and the piece of bone it attaches to pull away from the main bone.

In an impacted fracture, the broken ends of a bone drive into each other.

In a shear fracture, the bone splits in two when a force causes it to move in two different directions.

Skin involvement

In an open fracture, the bone breaks through your skin and creates an open wound.

In a closed fracture, the bone breaks but your skin remains intact.

Bone position

In a nondisplaced fracture, or stable fracture, the bone cracks slightly or completely but doesn't move.

In a displaced fracture, the bone breaks into separate pieces that move and no longer line up.

A comminuted fracture is a displaced fracture in which the bone breaks into three or more pieces.

Risk factors

People with weak bones, such as older adults or those with a calcium deficiency, have an increased risk of fracture. Also, people who work with their hands, such as athletes and manual laborers, have an increased risk of broken fingers. Sports that increase risk for broken fingers are:

High-impact events, such as automobile accidents, can also cause broken fingers.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a broken finger include the following:

Your finger might also look misshapen or out of alignment (deformed). Broken fingers may be very painful, especially when you try to move them, but sometimes the discomfort is dull and tolerable. The absence of extreme pain doesn't mean that the fracture doesn't require medical attention.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of finger fracture begins with your doctor taking your medical history and doing a physical examination. X-rays of the finger will usually indicate whether your finger is fractured.

Treatment

Treatment for a broken finger depends on the location of the fracture and whether it's stable. Taping the fractured finger to an adjacent intact finger may treat a stable fracture. Unstable fractures require immobilization. After your doctor aligns the fracture, or reduces it, they can apply a splint.

If your fracture is unstable or displaced, your doctor may need to perform surgery. Surgery stabilizes the fracture when you have:

multiple fractures

loose bone fragments

a joint injury

damage to the ligaments or tendons

unstable, displaced, or open fractures

an impaction fracture

An orthopedic surgeon or hand surgeon will determine the best treatment approach for a complicated fracture. Pins, screws, and wires are useful in surgical procedures for broken fingers. Proper diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of broken fingers help to preserve hand function and strength and prevent deformities.

The recovery time for a broken finger maybe as short as a few weeks or up to a year, depending upon multiple factors. The prognosis also depends on various factors, such as if there is an associated nerve injury or vascular injury, or if there's an injury to the joint surface causing arthritis.

Prevention

A proper diet with adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium can help keep your bones healthy and less prone to fracture. People who have difficulty walking and are likely to fall can do physical therapy and use assistive devices, such as a cane or walker, to help them move around safely. Athletes and laborers should exercise caution to prevent finger fractures.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The bones in your fingers are called phalanges. Each finger has three phalanges, except the thumb, which has two phalanges. A broken, or fractured, finger occurs when one or more of these bones breaks. A break is usually the result of an injury to the hand.

# data[].attributes.body
When a finger is fractured it will be hard to talk due to all of the swelling.

# data[].attributes.body
What the shoulder looks like before and after the shoulder. The correct way that the humerus should be is in the left picture . You can see that is connected to the scapula. Compared to the right side where the humerus is bellow the Scapula

# data[].attributes.body
A severe hamstring injury where the tendon has been torn from the bone. A hamstring strain can be a pull, a partial tear, or a complete tear. Muscle strains are graded according to their severity.

# data[].attributes.body
Bellow is an image of what the brain looks like before and after a concussion.It also shows the right and left side of the brain rather than just one side.

# data[].attributes.headline
Physical Therapy and its importance to injured athletes. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Physical Therapy and its importance to injured athletes. 

# data[].attributes.body
The following is a blog about why it is important for injured athletes to get physical therapy. It follows with some benefits and the effects that it can have on your body.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
South University provides interesting insights into why physical therapy is "crucial to sports injury recovery."

The post states: "Injuries are common while participating in organized sports, competitions, training exercises, or fitness activities."

"Poor training methods, inadequate warm-up, and lack of conditioning are a few of the causes of sports injuries."

says Apostolos Theophilou, DPT, clinical coordinator of the Physical Therapist Assisting program at South University: "Injuries can be caused by a combination of those things without necessarily being the only reasons. Fatigue and overuse are also significant contributors to an injury, and not excluding also the psychosocial aspects and dehydration that cause athletes to be prone to injuries."

The post continues: "Coping with sports injuries often requires physical rehabilitation. Physical therapy helps people rebuild strength and movement in parts of their body after an injury. Therapy can also help someone manage pain and prevent permanent damage and recurring problems."

"Physical therapists are trained to help patients recover following an injury. As part of physical therapy, they can teach exercises, stretches, and techniques using specialized equipment to address problems."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Physical Therapy 'Crucial' to Sports Injury Recovery - Pivot Physical Therapy Blog

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
South University provides interesting insights into why physical therapy is "crucial to sports injury recovery." The post states: "Injuries are common while participating in organized sports, competitions, training exercises, or fitness activities." "Poor training methods, inadequate warm-up, and lack of conditioning are a few of the causes of sports injuries."

# data[].attributes.body
An invention that can detect the type of head injury an athlete receives when playing football or any other contact sport.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A young Irish inventor, concerned with the lack of attention paid to head injuries in full-contact sports, has invented a mouthguard with built-in sensors that can tell someone on the sidelines when a player has received a serious - yet invisible - injury.

The ongoing controversy about concussions in the NFL provides a powerful backdrop for Mark Dillon's invention. Ice hockey, in addition to Gaelic football, inspired him to address the problem.

"At the moment in Ireland, head injuries have gotten a lot of coverage in our national sport, Gaelic football," wrote Dillon in an email to NBC News. "Helmets provide a great deal of protection but unfortunately concussion is unavoidable."

And one of the biggest problems is that it can occur without anyone's knowledge. One ice hockey player received a severe concussion, taking him out of the game, and it wasn't until after a week and multiple tests and doctors that it was determined that he had, in fact, been concussed for several days before the incident - and stacking concussions can have dire, even fatal consequences.

What if, Dillon wondered, the original concussion and others like it could be detected and treated instantly? A few sensors on the player would be able to determine when a shock received was serious enough to cause head injury. So Dillon began work on embedding such sensors in players' gear, first in a helmet and later the mouthguard.

A tiny accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer, along with a wireless chip and battery, are all packed into the device, which Dillon calls "Mamori" (Japanese for "protect"). The inertial sensors constantly monitor for movement and relay that information in real time to a laptop on the sidelines. If a player takes a hit, the force involved is immediately known, and if the impact falls above the threshold where a concussion is likely, medical care can be given instantly.

"As far as I know, there are currently no other products similar to Mamori on the market," wrote Mark. "I would love to see this product make a big impact on the lives of athletes and sports fans around the world.

Mamori is a finalist for the James Dyson Award, in which hundreds of university-level design and engineering students compete for cash and recognition. Fourteen other projects will be evaluated personally by inventor (and vacuum tycoon) Sir James Dyson, with the winner receiving $45,000 and a bit extra for their school. You can browse the rest of the finalists here.

Devin Coldewey is a contributing writer for NBC News Digital. His personal website is coldewey.cc.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Traumatic sports injuries tracked, prevented with high-tech mouthguard

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A young Irish inventor, concerned with the lack of attention paid to head injuries in full-contact sports, has invented a mouthguard with built-in sensors that can tell someone on the sidelines when a player has received a serious - yet invisible - injury.The ongoing controversy about concussions in the NFL provides a powerful backdrop for Mark Dillon's invention.

# data[].attributes.body
Some sports can injure you from your legs but there are many that are related to the muscles and bones in your arms as well. To find ways on how to manage a muscle injury within the back or arm region.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Baseball Injuries | Baseball Injury Prevention & Treatment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Baseball injury prevention information. Tips on preventing baseball injuries and identifying overuse and trauma injuries in kids.

# data[].attributes.body
How athletes make use of the latest inventions. They are all computer based as well as used online to benefit the inside and the improvement of the athlete.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Home Technologist 09 Sports and Tech Sports and tech: How athletes make use of the latest inventions

Running is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. In Europe 50 million people do it on a regular basis, according to the Dutch Measure network. They spend nearly €10 billion a year on shoes, clothes and related technology. Two out of five Europeans now claim to practise a sport on a regular basis, with running and cycling at the top of the list. The motivation is clear: not only is an active and healthy life increasingly valued in our society, but the equipment available has become more sophisticated than ever.

Amateur athletes now use high-tech materials that were until recently available only to professionals, while constantly measuring their performances and analysing their health. Meantime, the pros have also improved their performances thanks to materials like fibreglass, carbon fibre and polyurethane. Data analysis helps reduce the risk of injuries, but even when an injury occurs new therapies and prostheses accelerate the healing process.
Enforcement has a spotty track record, but the fight against harmful drugs is part of what makes us civilised.
Hard as it is to believe, there are people who support the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports. The simplest defence perhaps is the libertarian one: people should be allowed to do what they want with their bodies, even if it involves taking risks. Then there's the argument, not entirely wrong, that enforcement of anti-doping rules hasn't worked - that, as one Oxford professor puts it, "only the dumb dopers get caught." So why waste time, effort and money on anti-doping crusades?

A slightly more thoughtful defence of doping invokes science. It argues that competitive sports benefit from ever more sophisticated technologies . Chemistry is just another technology, which we use routinely to enhance daily life - to feel better, to resist disease, and even to live longer. What's different about taking a drug in order to become citius, altius, fortius - faster, higher, stronger, according to the Olympic motto?

These arguments, incidentally, have little to do with the devastating allegations of systematic doping by Russian athletes at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. That's about cheating, not about science or philosophy.

The libertarian defence could have some merit if athletes performed in a vacuum. Of course the state should not govern everything a person ingests, how much she sleeps or what exercise is appropate.

But if some athletes choose to dope themselves, they are inevitably forcing the entire peloton (to use a cycling term, appropriately) to do likewise if others want any chance of winning. And if the highest-level athletes do it, so will the second tier, and then the juniors...

Enforcement failure is an unpersuasive argument. Do theft, corruption and murder become socially - or legally - acceptable where enforcement has failed?

So that leaves us with the scientific defence. Admittedly we rely on science daily to enhance the body's performance - with everything from painkillers to anti-inflammatories to stimulants. Throughout the world these products are regulated with one aim: to avoid doing harm. That's the most sensible criterion to define what should and should not be acceptable in sports.

With the huge amounts of money that now slosh around the sports world, the temptation to win by whatever means is greater than ever. Do we really want to witness the battle of the chemists rather than highly trained athletes pushing their personal limits?

In the 21 st century, unlike Ancient Rome, athletes no longer have to put their lives in danger to entertain us. Even in "dangerous" sports like boxing or motor racing or extreme snowboarding, various rules and practices reduce the danger. The fight against doping in sports is a part of what makes us civilised.

Do we really want to witness the battle of the chemists rather than highly trained athletes pushing their personnal limits?

By Henri Muller Aluminium, carbon and even bamboo: sport results today depend highly on the materials used by athletes. Beyond the competition among sportsmen, the battle of technologies has just begun.
Anyone who doubts the radical impact that technology can have on sport should consider the swimming contests at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. A few months before the games, British swimwear manufacturer Speedo launched a new all-in-one swimsuit known as the LZR Racer. Made from polyurethane rather than conventional fabrics, the LZR Racer was said to reduce a swimmer's drag and also boost oxygen flow to the muscles. It proved a stunning success: competitors wearing the suit at Beijing scooped 94 per cent of the swimming gold medals, breaking numerous world records in the process.

That outcome, and the continued setting of new records as other sportswear companies produced their own variations on the LZR Racer, eventually led international swimming's governing body to ban the full-body suits in 2010. But while observers complained about "technology-doping", swimming is far from the only sport in which technology has made a huge and sometimes controversial mark.

World records with fibreglass

In a 2009 study, Steve Haake, a sports engineer at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, worked out the effect of technology in a range of Olympic disciplines over the last century. He found that while better equipment had allowed 100-m runners to go just 4 per cent faster, both pole vault and javelin performance had improved by about 30 per cent. In the former, fibreglass poles introduced in the early 1960s allowed athletes to break the world record 19 times in just a decade, raising the maximum height from 4.8 metres to about 5.5 metres.

Ultimately, javelins had to be redesigned to reduce performance. They were being thrown so far by the 1980s that authorities, fearing for public safety, ordered that their centre of gravity be brought forward by 4 cm. That small change was enough to reduce the maximum throwing distance by about 10 per cent.

Then there's cycling. In contrast to the steel bicycles of the late 19 th century and aluminium racers of the second half of the 20 th, modern high-performance bikes are now built from a single piece of carbon fibre. Intended to be extremely aerodynamic, they are designed using computer programs that model fluid flow and tested in wind tunnels.

Dartfish: videos that lead to Olympic gold
Sprinter Usain Bolt worked with the Swiss video analysis software Dartfish before the 2012 Olympics to improve his starting performance and, as a result, managed to beat his own world record. More than 120,000 professional athletes who have won 3,000 Olympic medals use the software, as do sport federations and football clubs like France's Paris Saint-Germain. At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sotchi, Russia, 68 per cent of the medal winners had Dartfish. Athletes and their coaches use it to analyse movements and compare them to previous performances. With the help of data extracted by the software, such as speed and angle, athletes can focus on improving specific moves.

Ghost images Launched in 1997 under the name Simulcam by Serge Ayer of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Dartfish was designed to compare video recordings of athletic performances. Two years later, skiing fans witnessed the first ever TV replays showing not one but two skiers simultaneously, with the second competitor's descent overlaid by the ghost image of the leader's performance. With its 13 offices around the world, Dartfish is now the world leader for video analysis.

Bicycles made of bamboo

Veit Senner and colleagues at the Technical University of Munich are working to further optimise modern bicycle frames. One goal is to improve the safety of mountain bikes by subjecting carbon-composite frames to brutal treatment in the lab. Researchers use infrared, ultrasonic and X-ray imaging to observe how layers of carbon within the frame separate on impact - something that cannot be seen from the surface.

The German group is also developing a frame for a racing bicycle made largely from bamboo, which, unlike carbon fibre, can be recycled. They have carried out an extensive test programme to make the frame stronger, stiffer and more robust. According to Senner, many innovations in sporting technology come about through a combination of new materials and improved design. He cites modern "parabolic" skis, introduced in the 1990s, as an example. Unlike older skis, which were more or less straight, parabolic skis are narrower in the middle and wider at each end. This design makes turning much easier, since all a skier has to do is rotate the skis on to their edge via a slight movement of the hips and knees, apply a little pressure and the curved edge forces the skis to naturally "carve" an arc in the snow. "High-performance skiers could carve with old skis but ordinary people couldn't," he says.

Just as parabolic skis required new materials with high torsional stiffness - in other words, that didn't twist very much - so too the development of new skis by researchers at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and Swiss company Stöckli has involved varying material properties as well as working out the relative thickness of each material layer (which can include wood, polymer, aluminium, glass and carbon). The idea, explains EPFL's Véronique Michaud, is to tune two properties of the skis - flexibility (how much they bend) and torsional stiffness. "We're looking for an optimal compromise between ease of turn and stability when going fast," she explains.

Making sweat talk
One of the biggest limitations in measuring physiological variables during athletic activity is the sheer weight of the equipment. The sensors developed by Adrian Ionescu at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne can be used for real-time analysis of the electrolytes and biomarkers in sweat based on technology nearly 10,000 times smaller than current systems. His research is also being applied to design future sensors that can detect gases in our environment and our breath. Hydration, fatigue and nutrition will all be quantifiable as will the amount of allergens and pollutants in the air. "These biosensors will become a reality," says Ionescu. Swiss start-up Xsensio is working on the first models.

Inspired by insects

Scientists are not only developing new materials but also helping sportsmen and women improve their techniques. Josje van Houwelingen, a physicist at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands, has developed a new system to improve the strokes of elite swimmers. The system involves creating small bubbles at the bottom of a swimming pool and using an array of six cameras together with a fluid-dynamics algorithm to study how a passing swimmer affects the motion of those bubbles.

Van Houwelingen is particularly interested to find out whether swimmers could boost their propulsion by creating certain kinds of vortices, just as insects take advantage of vortices they create in the air as they flap their wings. "Insects have been observed to get extra propulsive force by pushing against those vortices," she says. "Maybe swimmers could get a similar benefit."

This is just the beginning. Cycling may see the advent of spray-on clothing that keeps riders dry and safe but also light, as well as sensors to monitor a rider's physiological changes and "phase-change" tyres that vary their tread depending on terrain. "Human Enhancement Technologies" could also become far more widespread. South African amputee runner Oscar Pistorius caused controversy when he competed in able-bodied competitions using artificial limbs, but in the future biomedical devices and prosthetics may be used by athletes to enhance their capabilities rather than simply restoring them.
By Edwin Cartlidge
How Switzerland became a sailing nation
Without seashore, the alpine nation won the America's Cup twice. One reason: ingenious engineering. The benefits that advanced materials and other cutting-edge technologies can bring to elite sporting contests were highlighted by the twin successes of Swiss syndicate Alinghi in the America's Cup. Set up by businessman Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi showed that even land-locked Switzerland could win the coveted sailing trophy when it beat Team New Zealand in 2003 and 2007.

Véronique Michaud, a materials scientist at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, allows that part of Alinghi's success came from its top-notch crew - much of which, including skipper Russell Coutts, had been poached from Team New Zealand. But equally crucial were the boats. To optimise the technology, Alinghi developed two boats with slightly different designs for each race. Starting in 2000, a team of about 20 researchers and students at EPFL carried out a series of experiments and drew on computer models to make the carbon- fibre composite hulls as stiff but light as possible. The researchers also placed thin fibre-optic sensors inside the boats to monitor how their masts changed shape in order to better tune the rigging.

The work paid off. In 2003, Alinghi stormed to a 5-0 win over Team New Zealand, which was hamstrung by a series of technical difficulties, including a snapped mast in the fourth race. Victory came less easily four years later, when Alinghi triumphed 5-2, but with a winning margin of just one second in the final race. "At this level of competition, the slightest improvement in performance can make all the difference," notes Michaud.

A key element of the quadrennial UEFA European Championship, or EURO, is the ball, which has been designed by Adidas since 1972. It's always a major marketing success: in 2012 more than 7 million were sold. The ball, however, is not just a marketing product but also a high-tech object. While the 1972 version was made of leather, the modern ones contain various sophisticated materials.
Better than leather

The EURO 1988 in Germany was the first without a leather ball. Since then, footballs have been made of polyurethane - a type of plastic created in 1937 by German chemist Otto Bayer. With this material, modern balls are lighter and absorb less water when it rains because the patterns on the surface are bonded, not sewn. Also, the balls do not dent when hit by players. Polyurethane is commonly used in car seats, mattresses and shoes.
Journalist: Robert Gloy Infographics: Babou Dussan Every sportsman takes risks. Computer simulations and data analysis can now help prevent injuries, while individual prostheses hasten the recovery process.
When a highly paid professional athlete is out of action, the bills quickly add up. According to the Global Sports Salaries Survey, injuries in the top professional leagues cost football teams worldwide an average of $12.4 million per year. The most common mishaps involve knees, shoulders, elbows and ankles, explains Andreas Imhoff, head of the Sports Orthopaedics Department from the hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich.

Sometimes an injury develops slowly, through incorrect movements. Gait Up, a Swiss spin-off of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), has developed a movement tracker to help prevent this. The athlete wears a matchbox-size plastic box weighing just a few grams on his shoes or chest. The tracker's numerous sensors then record movement patterns. Using analysis software, a trainer can identify errors in these patterns. In theory, it can also work in real time. "We're planning to adapt it so that marathon- runners can identify errors in their running style during the race itself," said Benoit Mariani, founder and CEO of Gait Up. "We've also used movement analysis on skiers, swimmers and players of team sports." Several scientific studies have shown that this approach can reduce the risk of injury.

Fewer injuries thanks to data analysis

So far so good, but what happens when a tendon or muscle fibre tears, or when an athlete accidentally falls or collides with another one? Isn't that simple bad luck? Ireland's Stephen Smith has never believed that. When this former professional coach examined injury statistics for basketball and baseball leagues more closely, he was struck by the huge discrepancies in the teams' injury costs. Statistically, bad luck should have affected them all to the same extent. Smith was therefore convinced that there must be a reason for this uneven distribution - and that it could be found in the data.

Many factors influence an athlete's behaviour and therefore the risk of injury: movement style, vital signs, psyche, fitness level, diet, sleep and of course previous injuries. Smith's company, Kitman Labs, collates all these data and uses an algorithm to calculate individual risk profiles. A trainer can then use an app to see how high the injury risk is for each of his athletes and on that basis decide who plays and who stays on the bench. Kitman Labs has already advised teams in the U.S. football, basketball and baseball leagues, reducing injuries by up to 30 per cent in two years.

Giants like IBM and SAP are getting into the game, too. "The real market, however, is amateur sports, which is where most injuries occur," says Mark Lehew of SAP's Sports & Entertainment Industry Business Unit. "Professional athletes are trained and know how to fall." Indeed, according to a study by the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, every year one million people in Germany injure themselves so severely playing sports as to require medical assistance, which itself has also improved considerably. "Before, we had to cut joints open but now we can use minimally invasive arthroscopic procedures to operate on many different areas," says Imhoff. "And we use biodegradable implants, which shortens an athlete's recovery time tremendously."

The perfect prosthesis

Modern computer simulation techniques can help surgeons. Rüdiger Westermann, Professor of Computer Science at the Technical University of Munich, uses a computer to simulate the forces that act on a patient's bones. With this information, he can predict how bones grow. If a patient is fitted with a standard prosthesis, the bones may develop in such a way that the prosthesis works itself loose. "Our simulations give surgeons tips on which type is best for which bone, and where best to fit it."

Westermann's simulations are also useful for healthy athletes. "If we could just simulate the entire body, including muscles and tendons, it would be possible to simulate the perfect motion sequence for an athlete." That is still some way off. But it would then be possible to calculate not just the perfect training schedule, but the perfect discus throw, shot-put or pole vault. The world records of the future could come straight out of a computer.

Active ageing: a European research priority
To face the increasing pressure on health and social-care costs, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) - the European Union's research and development organisation - has launched the EIT Health project. It aims to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovations that promote healthy living and active ageing by bringing together 140 pharmaceutical and medtech companies, research institutions and universities.

Meanwhile, the Technical University of Munich is addressing the issue of restricted mobility with its "Active Hands" project. The goal is to develop a system to support individuals who have trouble performing daily tasks due either to old age or to central nervous system diseases. ETH Zurich is heading in the same direction with its "Hand Tech" project, which could help stroke patients regain control of a paretic hand.

One of the world's largest healthcare initiatives, EIT Health was launched this year with a budget of €2 billion over 10 years.

Smart courts Technis, a start-up in Lausanne, Switzerland, has developed a tennis court that provides players with real-time information on foot impact and errors. The company also offers augmented-reality challenges, like aiming the ball at virtual targets on a court. Embedded in the court surface, the technology will soon be available to professionals as well as amateurs.
By Jens Lubbadeh Amateurs can now enhance their performance and their health by using wireless devices and biosensors that monitor behaviour, environment and physiology. Future applications will go even further.
Data have invaded every area of our lives - even exercise. Embedded accelerometers and GPS, not to mention gyrometers, provide valuable information on our speed, direction and step count. Peripheral sensors measure physiological parameters such as pulse and blood pressure. All these data are fed into applications to set targets, just like a personal trainer.

New technologies have not yet sidelined sports coaches altogether, according to Steven Vos, professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). "The problem with current software is that it explains how to train, but in line with the elite sports concept, i.e. going ever faster and further," he says. "But that's not recommended for people who are not in proper physical condition." He adds: "Exercise undeniably has a positive impact on health, but the benefits take time. That's why too many people stop their workouts prematurely."

Approaches need to cater to each individual to make exercise as appealing as possible. Vos hopes to do that by designing smart systems that can attract, monitor and motivate amateur athletes. "Smartphones have become a natural extension of our body," he says, making a variety of data continuously available. Using this information, researchers have already identified five different profiles of budding athletes, a first step towards personalised programmes to encourage people to exercise.

Mechanical muscles

Until now, most applications have been used in endurance sports like running, because they are widely practised and compatible with today's sensors. But other sports, such as tennis, also require proper technique. Leap Technology, a Danish start-up, has developed sensors made of materials featuring mechanical characteristics similar to muscles. These fibre-like materials, which adhere directly to the skin or are woven into fabric, are made in malleable, stretchable and super-thin electroactive polymers that can detect the slightest fluctuation. "It takes minimal force to distort them, which makes them mechanically transparent and does not hinder movement," says Alan Poole, the company's head of marketing. The system can analyse how muscles and joints work, for example, to perfect a lifted backhand on the courts. It can also be used to study how an athlete interacts with equipment: to optimise how a foot hits the ground when running, while factoring in the shoe's distortion. The sensors are scheduled to hit the market in about two years.

Other technologies are directed at athletes' brains. Jakob Eg Larsen, a professor at DTU - Technical University of Denmark, has developed neuroscience applications such as the electroencephalogram (EEG) for smartphones. He teamed up with the company Emotiv to create the "smartphone brain scanner". This system features a headset fitted with electrodes that collects data on brain activity. The data are then transmitted wirelessly to an application that produces 3D images of the brain. Resolution is not as high as with a laboratory EEG, but its portability makes it easy to use in natural conditions. Neurofeedback, a treatment used for psychological illnesses, could be adapted to improve training. This technique monitors data on brain activity to train the brain to regulate certain functions using video displays.

Virtual vs. human coach

More professional techniques are becoming widely available to amateur athletes. To gain muscle strength and prevent injury, Massimo Mischi, an associate professor at TU/e, has found a way to make weight-lifting training sessions more effective without using heavier weights. His discovery, based on a natural muscular reflex, increases the impact of workouts by 25 per cent to 100 per cent, depending on the specific muscle involved. The Dutch company Hipermotion has applied the technique to develop its new fitness machine, the MaxDFM.

A virtual coach offering personalised advice and ideal muscle build - Olympus for amateurs? Perhaps not. Future applications could even make such recommendations as, "If you want to run a half marathon in your condition, go see a real coach," says Vos. These technological advances applied to amateur sports will more likely enhance our health more than our performance.
European mobile applications that boost running performance
Endomondo (Denmark) Tracks the distance, route, and duration of runs as well as the calories burned. Users can set their goals to beat a friend's or their own previous performance.

Spotify (Sweden) Using phone sensors to measure a runner's tempo, it chooses music that helps keep the pace.

Zombies, Run! (UK) Immerses joggers in a world where they must run to escape zombies and fulfil various missions. The soundtracks make for training sessions full of suspense.

Runtastic (Austria) Offers a personal exercise diary to keep track of running metrics. Other features include a customizable dashboard, detailed exercise information and progress sharing over social networks.
By Yann Bernardinelli

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sports and tech: How athletes make use of the latest inventions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Home Technologist 09 Sports and Tech Sports and tech: How athletes make use of the latest inventions Running is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. In Europe 50 million people do it on a regular basis, according to the Dutch Measure network.

# data[].attributes.body
Volleyball is being classified as a sport that inst the highest on the charts but men and women are being injured most commonly by finger injuries, rotatory cuff tendinitis, ankle sprains and lower back injuries.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Volleyball Injuries | Volleyball Injury Prevention & Treatment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Volleyball injury prevention information. Tips on preventing volleyball injuries and identifying overuse and trauma injuries in kids.

# data[].attributes.body
Behind every injury within basketball games that occur every weekend there are calculations and percentages that are calculated. To learn more about this click bellow.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Mark C. Drakos, MD,*† Benjamin Domb, MD, ‡ Chad Starkey, PhD, ATC, § Lisa Callahan, MD, † and Answorth A. Allen, MD †

Abstract

Background:

Injury patterns in elite athletes over long periods continue to evolve. The goal of this study was to review of the injuries and medical conditions afflicting athletes competing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) over a 17-year period.

Design:

Descriptive epidemiological study.

Methods:

Injuries and player demographic information were reported by each team's athletic trainer. Criteria for reportable injuries were those that resulted in (1) physician referral, (2) a practice or game being missed, or (3) emergency care. The demographics, frequency of injury, time lost, and game exposures were tabulated, and game-related injury rates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results:

A total of 1094 players appeared in the database 3843 times (3.3 ± 2.6 seasons). Lateral ankle sprains were the most frequent orthopaedic injury (n, 1658; 13.2%), followed by patellofemoral inflammation (n, 1493; 11.9%), lumbar strains (n, 999; 7.9%), and hamstring strains (n, 413; 3.3%). The most games missed were related to patellofemoral inflammation (n, 10 370; 17.5%), lateral ankle sprains (n, 5223; 8.8%), knee sprains (n, 4369; 7.4%), and lumbar strains (n, 3933; 6.6%). No correlations were found between injury rate and player demographics, including age, height, weight, and NBA experience.

Conclusion:

Professional athletes in the NBA experience a high rate of game-related injuries. Patellofemoral inflammation is the most significant problem in terms of days lost in competition, whereas ankle sprains are the most common injury. True ligamentous injuries of the knee were surprisingly rare. Importantly, player demographics were not correlated with injury rates. Further investigation is necessary regarding the consequences and sport-specific treatment of various injuries in NBA players.

Clinical Relevance:

Knowledge of these injury patterns can help to guide treatments and provide more accurate guidelines for an athlete to return to play.

Keywords: National Basketball Association, basketball injuries, injury epidemiology

Over the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the nature of the game has undergone significant changes. Basketball was originally conceived as a noncontact sport, and the rules of the game were based on the idea that "if the offense did not have the opportunity to run with the ball, there would be no necessity for tackling and we would thus eliminate roughness."7 Despite its origins as a noncontact sport, basketball has evolved into an increasingly physical game in which contact is accepted and expected. Contemporary coaches teach their players contact moves. Players routinely use their bodies to their advantage-to fight for position, to intentionally draw contact in the air while shooting the ball, for example-and they use their forearms and elbows to ward off defenders. This evolution has predictably led to a number of injuries to players in the NBA.

Few studies in the orthopaedic literature have reported on the epidemiology of various injuries in professional basketball.2,4,5,9,10 Several recent studies have reported injury rates in high school and collegiate basketball.3,6,8 When compared with their high school and collegiate counterparts, NBA athletes compete on a longer court, for a greater number of minutes per game and times per week, for a longer season, and at an older age. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the injuries and illnesses reported by NBA athletic trainers and team physicians and to analyze the injury rates and games missed as a result of individual injuries.

Materials and Methods

NBA Database

Before the start of the NBA season, each team submits a detailed player profile for each member of the team with demographic and clinical information, including the permanent identification number, player position, height, weight, age, and years of NBA playing experience. Given the frequent turnover of an NBA team roster during the course of a season, this information is constantly being updated with player additions and subtractions. With the termination of the NBA season in June, statistical compilation is performed regarding exposures for games and playing minutes. The Player Profile database was linked to the injury database to provide athletic exposure and demographic information. Information from the 1988-1989 through the 1996-1997 seasons was acquired from the NBA's official statistical publication, The NBA News (New York, New York). From 1997 to the present, these data have been collected via the NBA's Web site: http://www.nba.com. This site is now the NBA's official source of statistical information.

The National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association maintains a database of all injuries and illnesses sustained by NBA players. The criteria for a reportable injury are based on three parameters: the injury required physician referral, prescription medication, or both; resulted in a game or practice being missed, or it necessitated emergent care. These records are leaguewide injury-reporting instruments that are completed by the team's athletic trainer and cosigned by the team physician. The data include pathology, time and place of onset, activity, and mechanism of the injury. Clinical follow-up data were also collected and analyzed regarding the number of practices and games missed, the support devices worn, injured reserve list status, hospitalization, surgery, and medication.

Data Analysis

An analysis was performed of the NBA database from the 1988-1989 through the 2004-2005 basketball seasons for league-sanctioned activities (approximately October 1 through June 15 of each year). The frequency, means, standard deviations, and incidence rates of injury were calculated using SPSS 13.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois).

For the purposes of this study, an athletic exposure was defined as 1 athlete appearing in 1 game. Game injury rates were calculated per 1000 athlete exposures. No distinction was made in the database between athletes who played all 48 minutes of a contest versus athletes who played 1 minute. During a single game, the maximum athlete exposures would be 24, when all 12 players from each team participate in the contest. This method describes the total number of athletes appearing in regular and postseason games. The incidence rate (per athletic exposure) for practices and preseason games was not calculated owing to unreliable reporting methods and lack of a standardized protocol. However, the frequency data for injuries and illnesses sustained during these activities were still included and analyzed.

Incidence rates for a particular injury were defined as number of injuries per 1000 athlete exposures, as calculated with the following formula:

total number of injuries×1000 total number of game exposures

A multivariate analysis was performed for several factors, including height, weight, and years of NBA experience. A P value of .05 was used to determine statistical significance between game-related injury groupings. Confidence intervals (95%) identified differences in game-related injury rates. For the rarer injuries (ie, injures with fewer than 10 game-related occurrences), we did not calculate the confidence intervals owing to the decreasing reliability with decreasing cell frequency.

Results

Patients

From the 1988-1989 through the 2004-2005 seasons, 88.2% of the 30 NBA teams contributed consistent reports on an annual basis to the NBA injury and illness database. In 1988-1990 there were 25 NBA teams. Two expansion teams were added for both the 1989-1990 and 1995-1996 NBA seasons; one final expansion team was incorporated at the start of the 2004-2005 season. Compliant teams averaged 42.8 ± 23.4 reports per year. A total of 1643 individual players appeared on at least 1 preseason, regular season, or postseason roster; 1366 (83.1%) appeared in at least 1 regular season or postseason game. The average player was in the database for 3.7 ± 3.2 seasons, accounting for a total of 6145 player entries in the database across the duration of this study.

Demographics

During the period of study, there were 12 594 reported injuries. Of these, 6287 (49.9%) occurred during games. The incidence of injury was 19.1 per 1000 athlete exposures. These injuries accounted for 59 179 games missed. The players averaged 26.8 years of age. There were no correlations between injury rate and height, weight, or years of NBA experience ( Figure 1 ).

Injury Prevalence

The lower extremity was the most frequently injured body area, accounting for 62.4% of all injuries and 57.8% of all game-related injuries ( Table 1 ). These injuries also were responsible for 72.3% of the games that were missed because of injury. The rate of injury per 1000 athlete exposures was statistically higher than any other body area, at 11.1. The next-most-common areas of injury involved the upper extremity and torso, which accounted for 12.2% and 12.9% of all injuries, respectively.

The ankle was by far the most common joint injured, comprising 1850 injuries and 14.7% of all injuries ( Table 2 ). There were 1123 game-related ankle injuries (17.9%) with an incidence of 3.4 injuries per 1000 athlete exposures. Lumbar spine injuries (n, 1279; 10.2%) were responsible for almost as many games missed (n, 6729) as the ankle injuries (n, 6838). Injuries to the patella (n, 1266; 10.1%) and the knee (n, 1135; 9.0%) resulted in more games missed (n, 8076 and 10 737, respectively) than either of the 2 most commonly injured areas (ankle and lumbar spine).

When the pathology was analyzed, lateral ankle sprains were found most common (13.2%), accounting for 8.8% of all games missed ( Table 3 ). They also accounted for 17.0% of the injuries sustained during games. The incidence of ankle sprain (3.2 per 1000 athlete exposures) was more than twice as common as any other injury. Patellofemoral syndrome represented 11.9% of all reports but only 3.9% of injuries sustained during games. Patellofemoral injuries were the most common reason for games missed (n, 10 370; 17.5% of all causes).

Finally, analysis of injury type revealed that sprains were the most common (27.8%), followed by inflammatory conditions (21.8%) and strains or spasm (21.8%) ( Table 4 ).

Discussion

Professional basketball today has become a highly physical, high-contact sport. All reportable injuries were collected directly from NBA trainers and team physicians over a 17-year period, and injuries rates were determined by demographics, body area, structure, pathology, and injury type.

Player demographics revealed no correlation between injury rate and age, height, weight, or years of NBA experience. This is an essential finding, given that agents and organizations constantly attempt to stratify and predict the injury risk for each player. If there were a correlation between injury rate and player demographics, players at higher risk could be cut from their team.

The finding that lateral ankle sprains were the most common injury (13.2%) is not surprising in light of the frequency of jumping and landing in a crowd of players. Much attention has focused on prevention of ankle inversion injuries in basketball players. Players generally wear mid- or high-top sneakers designed to protect the ankle, and many players tape their ankles or wear braces. The high frequency of ankle injuries suggests that more clinical and biomechanical research is necessary to improve protective shoe and ankle equipment.

In 1982, Henry et al reported on 576 injuries that occurred in 71 professional basketball players over 7 years.4 In the current study, 12 594 injuries in 1366 players occurred over 17 years. During this period, the game became increasingly physical and played by larger individuals. Henry et al noted that 94% of games missed were due to injuries of the knee, ankle, and foot, compared to 53% of games missed in this study. Both studies found that ankle injuries were the most common but that knee injuries accounted for the greatest number of games missed.

Starkey reported on NBA injuries over a 10-year period and similarly reported no correlation between injury rate and player demographics.9 A 12.4% increase in game-related injuries was noted during the 10-year period, which may be due to an increase in contact in professional basketball. The increase in size and speed of the players, as well as the improvement in diagnostic tools, may also be a factor in the injury increase.

Meeuwisse et al reported on rates and risks of injury in Canadian intercollegiate competition.6 Ankle injuries were the most common, but knee injuries resulted in more games missed. Studies of elite basketball in Sweden and high school basketball in Texas also found that the ankle was the most commonly injured area, followed by the knee.1,8

Several limitations may affect the accuracy of this study. The injuries in the database include only those reported by the team trainers according to the criteria outlined above. Minor injuries that did not meet the criteria are not included. Injuries may at times be falsely reported to keep players on injured reserve, allowing teams to carry more players on their roster. Finally, the reporting method used does not differentiate between playing the entire game or only a few minutes.

In conclusion, NBA basketball has evolved to become a highly physical sport with a predictably high rate of injury.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Roger Hinds, ATC, for his contributions to this paper.

Footnotes

No potential conflict of interest declared.

References

7. Menke FG. The Encyclopedia of Sports. Vol 160 New York, NY: AS Barnes & Co; 1953 [ Google Scholar]

Articles from Sports Health are provided here courtesy of SAGE Publications

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Injury in the National Basketball Association: A 17-Year Overview

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Mark C. Drakos, MD,* † Benjamin Domb, MD, ‡ Chad Starkey, PhD, ATC, § Lisa Callahan, MD, † and Answorth A. Allen, MD † Injury patterns in elite athletes over long periods continue to evolve. The goal of this study was to review of the injuries and medical conditions afflicting athletes competing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) over a 17-year period.

# data[].attributes.body
A anterior cruciate ligament injury is the over stretching or tearing of the ACL within the knee. The tear can be partial or complete. This is most common in basketball. It is usually caused by a twisting motion.

# data[].attributes.headline
Recent Advances in Treating Sports Injuries

# data[].attributes.subject
Recent Advances in Treating Sports Injuries

# data[].attributes.body
Athletes can now take advantage of some very advanced treatments to heal their injuries and return to the sports they enjoy. There are two procedures this website that show how much technology is advancing for athletes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Athletes can now take advantage of some very advanced treatments to heal their injuries and return to the sports they enjoy. The following two procedures have greatly advanced the treatment of sports injuries:

Arthroscopy

In arthroscopic surgery (also known as arthroscopy) the surgeon inserts a small, fiber-optic scope through a small incision in the skin to view inside a joint. Primarily a diagnostic tool, arthroscopy allows surgeons to carefully view joint problems without performing major surgery.

Depending on the type of injury, surgeons may use small tools inserted through additional incisions to repair damage. A surgeon may repair a torn meniscus or reattach the torn ends of a ligament as well as many other procedures using arthroscopy.

Since arthroscopy uses tiny incisions, it results in less trauma, swelling and scar tissue than conventional surgery and significantly reduces recovery time. Injuries can also be addressed more quickly with arthroscopic surgery, often allowing a higher degree of success.

Tissue Engineering

When joint cartilage is damaged by an injury, it doesn't heal on its own the way other tissues in the body do. A new technique called tissue engineering addresses this problem by transplanting healthy cartilage from one area of the body to another to improve healing. Presently, tissue engineering is used for small cartilage defects, but it may play a bigger role in treating injuries in the future.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Recent Advances in Treating Sports Injuries - Reliant Medical Group

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Athletes can now take advantage of some very advanced treatments to heal their injuries and return to the sports they enjoy. The following two procedures have greatly advanced the treatment of sports injuries: In arthroscopic surgery (also known as arthroscopy) the surgeon inserts a small, fiber-optic scope through a small incision in the skin to view inside a joint.

# data[].attributes.body
Many advances are being invented to make an injury such as a sprain tear or break easier on the athlete. For more information click on the link bellow.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Appcessories - App-enabled Accessories and Wearables

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Athletes are some of the most injury-prone individuals. Strenuous physical activity during sports puts their bodies through extraordinary stresses, putting them at a much greater risk of concussions, tendon injuries, shin splits and so on. Sports medicine is an essential field that ensures athletes have an expert to turn to whenever they need to get back to full health. In the last decade, sports medicine has experienced an upsurge of advances fueled by better technology. Today, sports health professionals are able to apply safer and more effective treatments that get athletes back on their feet quicker than ever. Even better, professionals have access to better preventive methods and new technology in sports medicine that stop injuries from taking place or getting worse.

In the future, sports medicine can only get better. With an influx of new technology and innovations, athletes will be better protected from injuries. Here are the latest emerging advances in sports medicine. They include innovations that have come up in the last few years and those that will be present in the near future.

1. Injury-detecting sensors

An important part of keeping athletes fit and healthy lies in preventing serious injuries early on. If professionals could detect an injury on time, they could treat it before it gets worse and puts the player off the field. Increasingly, coaches are turning to sensors to achieve this.

These sensors are either attached directly on the body or come embedded in wearables (which we will talk about shortly) to be worn out in the field. For example, there are prototype sensors from MotusPro that can monitor arm movements in baseball and help players adopt the right movement ranges to avoid elbow injury. Though these sensors cannot be worn during official games, players can benefit from them during training.

In football, traumatic head injuries are common. Worst of all, they are hard to detect until it is too late when preventive measures barely have any effect. Now, there are sensors that can detect how hard a player has been hit and calculate the risk for serious injury. The system may even recommend a certain player take a break.

Early brain trauma detection

Researchers developed another sensor system that allows medics to detect brain trauma right there on the field. The VEPS sensor system comes in form of a helmet-like device that can be used to detect changes in the patient's brain, which could signal brain injury. This enables quick treatment, which could prevent most of the negative effects associated with brain trauma.

In the coming years, we will see many more injury detecting and preventing sensors come up for all kinds of sports from running to soccer to swimming. These sensors will accomplish two main functions; either detect injury when it has occurred or monitor an athlete's movements and warn them about an impeding injury. Athletes can then seek early treatment or adjust their movements to prevent injury.

The biggest challenge facing the adoption of these sensors is acceptance by league officials. Strict rules often prevent such sensors from being used in official games, denying athletes of their benefits during the most crucial times.

2. Wearables

Wearables have exploded with an unprecedented vigor, with companies filling the market with them and customers eager for these new gadgets. Most wearables, including smartwatches, have been focused on health and fitness. They come loaded with sensors to monitor heart rate, keep track of daily activity, monitor breathing and so on.

Wearables are a perfect fit for sports medicine. They can be loaded with sensors and can be easily worn on the body to monitor health. While most wearables cannot be used during official games, they can prove quite beneficial during training. Currently, there are several wearables designed specifically for sports medicine.

There are wearables that monitor heartbeat and related metrics and calculate the amount of stress the athlete's body is undergoing and recommends specific recovery times. Myontec produces intelligent clothing that monitors both the health and performance of an athlete.

Other wearables contain sensors to monitor things like pressure on joints, temperature and movement range among other metrics. They can warn the athlete when they are pushing their bodies too far and recommend the right movement ranges to prevent injury.

The wearables market for sports medicine will only grow larger as demand increases for ways to keep athletes injury-free. We will see advanced wearables that can even tell when an injury has taken place. These wearables will come in many forms including smart clothing, wrist-worn bands and watches, head gear, foot gear and so on.

3. Platelet rich plasma therapy

Human blood contains several components including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are important in blood clotting, an essential process in stopping bleeding from an injury. Platelets also contain various proteins called growth factors. They help promote tissue repair and healing.

Platelet rich plasma therapy or PRP is a therapy that involves treating an athlete's injury with platelet rich plasma. Unlike normal blood, PRP contains a higher concentration of platelets. When used on a site of injury, PRP promotes accelerated tissue repair.

Whether it is joint pain, a torn tendon or a pulled muscle, platelet rich plasma can be used to speed up healing and get the athlete back on the field quicker.

Blood is taken from the athlete, processed to increase platelet concentration and then used on the site of injury. This treatment can even be used after surgery to boost healing. Other conditions where it can be used include muscle injuries, fractures and tendon injuries.

PRP therapy is not exactly a new thing, having been developed back in the 1970s. But it is only in recent years that it has been adopted in sports medicine. Famous athletes including Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal have used it. With more and more research supporting its efficacy, a bigger number of athletes are turning to PRP to treat their injuries.

4. Radio frequency therapy

This is another treatment that has gained favor only in the last few years. It involves using radio waves to generate an electrical current that heats up a specific tissue area.

Athletes face plenty of pain-inducing conditions. In some cases temporary pain turns into chronic pain that negatively impacts their performance.

Chronic pain is especially common with Plantar Fasciitis or what is known as heel pain. Radio frequency therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for chronic pain in the heel, joint, back or muscles.

The treatment works by generating an electric current using radio waves. The current goes deep inside the body to a specific area where the pain is originating from.

The current heats up that specific area without causing any damage to surrounding tissue. This accomplishes two things. One, it triggers the body's own healing mechanism to kick in.

Two, it dulls the small nerve endings in the area, which induces pain relief. This relief can last for months and sometimes even years after a single treatment.

One of the biggest advantages of radio frequency therapy is the lack of adverse side effects. There may be some soreness and swelling on the treatment region but it fades away after a few days. No long term negative effects have been observed. In fact the success rate is very high, with most patients experiencing pain relief and faster healing.

5. Microcurrent wound dressing

Wounds are common in the field. Collision with other players and falls are common causes of wounds. It is extremely essential that wounds be treated in the right manner. Even a small wound can develop serious complications when proper treatment and care are absent. Like with any other sports injury, the aim is to get the wound healing quickly and have the player back on the field as soon as possible.

To this end, researchers have created a new type of wound dressing that promotes faster healing through the use of microcurrents. The dressing is used when a player sustains an open injury or after surgery along the incision point.

This dressing comes with embedded microcell batteries that produce tiny amounts of electrical current when exposed to moisture. This is essentially the same mechanism used by the body to heal wounds. The body generates electrical signals to guide the migration of new cells to the wound site in a process called reepithelialisation.

The microcurrents in the dressing mimic this process to produce an enhanced wound healing effect. The result is faster healing and a quicker return to form for the athlete. Another important benefit of this technology is that it protects the injured area from dangerous microbes and pathogens.

There are numerous reports of athletes getting infected by drug-resistant microbes, which pose a major health risk.

Microcurrents dressing technology protects the wound and creates the ideal environment for healing.

6. Remote NMES therapy

NMES or Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation is a form of muscle rehabilitation used after surgery, injury or an illness. It is a widely preferred treatment thanks to its non-addictive and non-invasive nature. Electrical stimulus is applied, causing a muscle to continually contract and gradually regain its form and function.

In most cases NMES therapy is carried out in a clinical setting, which can potentially increase medical costs for the patient and deny them a familiar environment for best recovery. But home NMES therapy is starting to get popular with special NMES devices designed for personal use at home.

A group of researchers has gone a step further and created a wireless app-controlled NMES therapy system for home use.

The system captures various data metrics from therapy sessions and delivers real-time information via cloud to a physician. Medical professionals can easily interact with patients, setting goals and providing guidance. The transmitted data helps them monitor the patient's progress.

In general, NMES therapy has been observed to lead to faster and more effective rehabilitation. This ensures that athletes are back in the field sooner and recovery costs do not go too high. This new NMES system is bound to produce even better results.

7. Advanced rehabilitation braces

Braces are an important part of rehabilitation from various ligament and muscle injuries. Rebound PCL is a new type of brace unlike any other in the market. Instead of simply offering rehabilitative support, it actively applies force to specific areas to promote faster healing.

The brace is designed specifically for use in treating injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament or what is commonly known as PCL. The PCL is one of major knee ligaments and plays an important role in leg movement.

Rebound PCL targets specific areas of the leg with dynamic levels of pressure, which helps boost repair of the ligament. This treatment method can be used after surgery, to enhance healing speed, or during non-surgical treatment of an injury.

The brace can be customized to fit an individual's anatomy and rehabilitation requirements.

8. Laser biostimulation

If you look at most of the methods and technologies we have outlined above, you will notice that a good number of them rely on triggering or enhancing the body's own healing mechanism. Laser biostimulation is yet another method that puts the body to work healing its own injuries.

This technology makes use of a laser that contains both infrared and visible light. These photons enter the body in their billions and target the injury area. Body tissue absorbs this energy and converts into chemical energy, which then triggers the body to begin self-repair.

The resulting effects included reduced inflammation, less pain and faster tissue healing and regeneration. Some of the conditions treated using this method includ:

knee pain,

tendonitis,

tennis elbow,

sprains and heel pain.

Essentially, any athletic injury involving pain or inflammation can be treated using laser biostimulation.

The treatment is painless and produces no heat, meaning no tissue is damaged. Additionally, no adverse side effects have been observed.

New Technology in Sports Medicine

Athletes face a set of conditions that puts them at constant risk of injury. The above innovations continue to play a big role in helping players maintain performance and stay active as long as possible.

In the coming years, new technology in sports medicine will only get better. For example, there is talk about using artificial intelligence to monitor players' health data and movements to calculate the risk of injury.

This and other innovations are much welcome in a field of medicine that faces unending challenges.

Have we left out any emerging or future sports medicine technology? Feel free to mention it in the comments.
See recommended smartwatches on Amazon

Max is the Senior Editor at Appcessories and a regular contributor with a keen eye on new inventions and is always one step ahead when it comes to technology.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New Technology in Sports Medicine - 8 Impactful Inventions 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Athletes are some of the most injury-prone individuals. Strenuous physical activity during sports puts their bodies through extraordinary stresses, putting them at a much greater risk of concussions, tendon injuries, shin splits and so on. Sports medicine is an essential field that ensures athletes have an expert to turn to whenever they need to get back to full health.

# data[].attributes.body
Something that is very common in sports rather than a broken bone is a sprain. This is when there is a wrench or twist of an ankle,wrist,or other joint violently so as to cause pain and swelling but not dislocation.

# data[].attributes.body
As an athlete there are things that you have to consider before you decide to make this you job that you will be doing this is stressed tremendously especially in football because it is more common to get concussions and injuries in one of the most popular sports in america.

# data[].attributes.body
As an athlete there are injuries that you should be aware of as well as thing to do after an injury. Bellow is a website that give information on what is the most common sports injuries. As well as how to treat them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What weekend warriors need to know about preventing and treating the seven most common sports injuries
From the WebMD Archives

After a sedentary work week, end-zone catches and 36-hole weekends can take their toll in common sports injuries. The seven most common sports injuries are:

1. Ankle sprain

2. Groin pull

3. Hamstring strain

4. Shin splints

5. Knee injury: ACL tear

6. Knee injury: Patellofemoral syndrome - injury resulting from the repetitive movement of your kneecap against your thigh bone

7. Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)

To see how to prevent and treat these common sports injuries - and to learn when it's time to look further than your medicine cabinet to treat sports injuries- read on.

The most common sports injuries are strains and sprains

Sprains are injuries to ligaments, the tough bands connecting bones in a joint. Suddenly stretching ligaments past their limits deforms or tears them. Strains are injuries to muscle fibers or tendons, which anchor muscles to bones. Strains are called "pulled muscles" for a reason: Over- stretching or overusing a muscle causes tears in the muscle fibers or tendons.

"Think of ligaments and muscle-tendon units like springs," says William Roberts, MD, sports medicine physician at the University of Minnesota and spokesman for the American College of Sports Medicine. "The tissue lengthens with stress and returns to its normal length - unless it is pulled too far out of its normal range."

Preventing the most common sports injuries

Sometimes preventing common sports injuries is beyond our control, but many times sports injuries are preventable. "Some injuries," Roberts says, "we bring on ourselves because we're not conditioned for the activity." His advice: "Work out daily and get double benefit - enjoy your weekend activities and garner the health benefits."

Every workout should start with a gentle warm-up to prevent common sports injuries, says Margot Putukian, MD, director of athletic medicine at Princeton University. "Getting warmed up increases blood flow to the muscles, gets you more flexible, and could decrease injuries," she adds.

Overuse injuries are common and preventable, according to Putukian. "Don't come out and hit the ball for an hour after not playing for a while," she says. Whether it's hiking, running, or team sports, do some "pre-participation training" first by lightly working the relevant muscle groups in the weeks before the activity.

And learn to recognize when you've already left it all on the field. "Stop when you are fatigued," says Roberts. "Muscle fatigue takes away all your protective mechanisms and really increases your risk of all injuries." You can always come out to play again next weekend - if you don't get injured today.

Continued

Treating the most common sports injuries

Usually, common sports injuries are mild or moderate - there's some damage, but everything is still in place. You can treat them at home using the PRICE therapy method described later in this article. But you should expect that some common sports injuries may take months to heal, even with good treatment. If a sprain or strain is severe, however, the entire muscle, tendon, or ligament is torn away, and surgery may be needed.

Here are some specific tips for treating each of the most common sports injuries:

1. Ankle sprain

What it is: Most athletes have experienced a sprained ankle, which typically occurs when the foot turns inward. This turning stretches or tears the ligaments on the outside of the ankle, which are relatively weak.

What you can do: With an ankle sprain, it's important to exercise to prevent loss of flexibility and strength - and re-injury. You can ask your doctor or physical therapist to help you know what kinds of exercise you should do.

When to see a doctor: It's important to note where the sprain has occurred. "A 'high ankle sprain' is slower to heal and should probably be seen by a doctor to make sure the bones in the lower leg did not separate," says R. Marvin Royster, MD. Royster is assistant team physician for the Atlanta Braves and an orthopedic surgeon with Peachtree Orthopedic Clinic in Atlanta. One way to recognize a high ankle sprain is that this sprain usually causes tenderness above the ankle.

2. Groin pull

What it is: Pushing off in a side-to-side motion causes strain of the inner thigh muscles, or groin. "Hockey, soccer, football, and baseball are common sports with groin injuries," says Royster.

What you can do: Compression, ice, and rest will heal most groin injuries. Returning to full activity too quickly can aggravate a groin pull or turn it into a long-term problem.

When to see a doctor: "Any groin pull that has significant swelling should be seen early by a physician," Royster says.

Continued

3. Hamstring strain

What it is: Three muscles in the back of the thigh form the hamstring. The hamstring can be over-stretched by movements such as hurdling - kicking the leg out sharply when running. Falling forward while waterskiing is another common cause of hamstring strains.

What you can do: "Hamstring injuries are slow to heal because of the constant stress applied to the injured tissue from walking," says Royster. "Complete healing can take six to 12 months." Re-injuries are common because it's hard for many guys to stay inactive for that long.

4. Shin splints

What they are: Pains down the front of the lower legs are commonly called "shin splints." They are most often brought on by running - especially when starting a more strenuous training program like long runs on paved roads.

What you can do: Rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medicine are the mainstays of treatment.

When to see a doctor: The pain of shin splints is rarely an actual stress fracture - a small break in the shin bone. But you should see your doctor if the pain persists, even with rest. Stress fractures require prolonged rest, commonly a month or more to heal.

5. Knee injury: ACL tear

What it is: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) holds the leg bone to the knee. Sudden "cuts" or stops or getting hit from the side can strain or tear the ACL. A complete tear can make the dreaded "pop" sound.

When to see a doctor: Always, if you suspect an ACL injury. ACL tears are potentially the most severe of the common sports injuries. "A completely torn ACL will usually require surgery in individuals who wish to remain physically active," says Royster.

6: Knee injury: Patellofemoral syndrome

What it is: Patellofemoral syndrome can result from the repetitive movement of your kneecap (patella) against your thigh bone (femur), which can damage the tissue under the kneecap. Running, volleyball, and basketball commonly set it off. One knee or both can be affected.

What you can do: Patience is key. Patellofemoral pain can take up to six weeks to clear up. It's important to continue low-impact exercise during this time. Working out the quadriceps can also relieve pain.

Continued

7. Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)

What it is: Repetitive use of the elbow - for example, during golf or tennis swings - can irritate or make tiny tears in the elbow's tendons. Epicondylitis is most common in 30- to 60-year-olds and usually involves the outside of the elbow.

What you can do: Epicondylitis can usually be cleared up by staying off the tennis court or golf course until the pain improves.

The PRICE principle for treating common sports injuries

The U.S. Marines say that "pain is weakness leaving your body." Most of the rest of us would add, "OK, but can't we hurry it up a little?" The answer is yes. Using the PRICE method to treat any common sports injury will help get you back in the game sooner.

First, it's important to know that swelling is a normal response to these injuries. Excessive swelling, though, can reduce range of motion and interfere with healing. You can limit swelling and start healing faster after common sports injuries by using the PRICE principle:

P -protect from further injury
For more severe injuries, protect the injured area with a splint, pad, or crutch.

R -restrict activity
Restricting activity will prevent worsening of the injury.

I - Apply ice immediately after a common sports injury. "Ice is the miracle drug" for sports injuries, says Putukian. "It's an anti-inflammatory, without many side effects." Use ice for 20 minutes every one to two hours for the first 48 hours after the injury. Don't use heat during this time - it encourages swelling and inflammation.

C -apply compression
Compression with an elastic bandage will help reduce swelling.

E -elevate the injured area
Elevating the injured area above the heart will also reduce swelling.

Over-the-counter pain relievers usually relieve the pain of common sports injuries to a tolerable level. If they don't, it's probably time to see a doctor.

When to get medical attention for common sports injuries

We know you're tough - but you also need to be smart. If you suspect a serious injury or if you have any of these signs, see a doctor:

Deformities in the joint or bone - it looks "crooked," or moves abnormally

You cannot bear weight or can't use the limb without it "giving way"

Excessive swelling

Changes in skin color beyond mild bruising

It's not getting any better after a few days of PRICE therapy

Sources

SOURCES: William Roberts, MD, sports medicine and family practice physician, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN; spokesperson, American College of Sports Medicine. R. Marvin Royster, MD, orthopedic surgeon and assistant team physician for the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta, GA. Margot Putukian, MD, director of athletic medicine, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ; associate clinical professor, Robert Wood Johnson University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ. American College of Sports Medicine: "Sprains & Strains: What They Are, and What to Do About Them." Wolfe, M., American Family Physician, 2001; vol 63: pp 93-104. eMedicine: "Adductor Strain," "Groin Injury," and "Hamstring Strain." National Institutes of Health Medline Plus: "Shin Splints." Juhn, M., American Family Physician, November 1999; vol 60: pp 2012-2022. DeLee, J., DeLee & Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, 2nd Edition, Saunders/Elsevier, 2003.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What weekend warriors need to know about preventing and treating the seven most common sports injuries From the WebMD Archives After a sedentary work week, end-zone catches and 36-hole weekends can take their toll in common sports injuries.