Dr Sarah Blyton

Objectives: To identify if basketball players aged <20 years (U20) self-report hip and/or groin pain and if they perceive this as a problem. To determine potential differences in self-reported playing (training and match play) loads and Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) between those with and without hip/groin pain. Design: Cross-sectional. Methods: Fifty-one pre-elite (state/national representative level) male U20 basketball players (Australian n = 38; Italian n = 13) self-reported current/historical hip/groin ¿discomfort/pain¿ and ¿problems¿, and playing loads. A two-factor regression model was fitted including main effects for hip/groin pain and Cohort and their interaction, with outcome variables playing loads and HAGOS subscale scores and dependent variable hip/groin pain. Results: Twenty-one players (41%) self-reported hip/groin ¿discomfort/pain¿, of which nine perceived no ¿problems¿. Two of these nine players reported training/playing time loss due to pain. Those self-reporting hip/groin discomfort/pain scored lower than those without in HAGOS subscales Symptoms (mean difference in score 8.94; 95%CI -25.24, -5.97), Pain (5.00; -16.42, -2.81), Function in daily living (0.00; -26.72 to -5.59), Function in sport and recreation (6.25; -21.24, -5.33), and hip and/or groin Quality of Life (5.00; -28.63, -8.10), indicating worse hip/groin problems. Participation subscale scores were different only for Italian players (36.25; -51.25, -20.00), with players self-reporting hip/groin discomfort/pain scoring lower. Conclusion: Most players who perceive both hip/groin ¿discomfort/pain¿ and ¿problems¿ also report training/playing time loss, suggesting players¿ perceptions of problematic symptoms and time-loss are associated. Adolescent basketball players perceive hip/groin pain to negatively impact their daily lives and sporting function.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between pain and movement kinematics during functional tasks, evaluated over time, in individuals with chronic idiopathic neck pain. Methods: Ten participants with chronic idiopathic neck pain performed 2 functional tasks (overhead reach to the right and putting on a seatbelt) while evaluated using 8 Oqus 300+ cameras. Kinematic variables included joint angles and range of motion (ROM) (°), head segment relative to neck segment (head-neck [HN]); and head/neck segment relative to upper thoracic segment (head/neck-trunk), velocity (m/s), and time (% of movement phase). Pain was quantified using a 100-mm visual analog scale. Linear mixed effects regression models were used to analyze associations between pain and kinematic variables adjusting for treatment group. Results: For overhead reach, higher pain was associated with less HN peak rotation at baseline (ß = ¿0.33; 95% CI -0.52 to ¿0.14, P = .003) and less HN total rotation ROM at 6 months (ß = ¿0.19; 95% CI ¿0.38 to ¿0.003, P = .048). For the seatbelt task, higher pain was associated with less HN peak rotation (ß = ¿0.52; 95% CI -0.74 to ¿0.30 to ¿0.74, P < .001) and less HN total rotation ROM at baseline (ß = ¿0.32; 95% CI ¿0.53 to ¿0.10, P = .006). No other movement variables demonstrated meaningful relationships with pain for the reach or seatbelt tasks. Conclusion: Higher pain is associated with less HN peak and total rotation during functional reaching tasks requiring head rotation. Recognizing altered functional kinematics in individuals with chronic neck pain may assist patient management.