Knee active range of motion deficit is an objective and accurate measurement, predicting recovery time in elite athletes.

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Therapeutic ultrasound is a reproducible procedure that is reliable to diagnose bone stress injuries.

Purpose: This study tested the clinical utility and relevance of serum phosphorus and magnesium as markers possibly useful to monitor training in athletes.Methods: Phosphorus and magnesium serum concentrations of 130 elite track and field athletes (65 males and 65 females, age range 20-30 years) from the National Athletics Sports Medicine Center database in Thessaloniki, Greece were measured. Results:Abnormal results were found in 61 (47%) athletes (32 men and 29 women). In male athletes, serum phosphate was higher than normal in 18% and decreased in 1.5%, whereas serum magnesium concentration was higher in 26%, and lower in 3%. Regarding female athletes, higher serum phosphate and magnesium levels were detected in 26% and 17% respectively, whereas decreased serum magnesium was found in 3%. The most common alterations were higher serum phosphate (29/61, 47%) and magnesium concentrations (28/61, 46%). Abnormalities of serum phosphorus and magnesium concentrations were detected in almost half of the athletes. Hyperphosphataemia and hypermagnesaemia were the most common abnormalities. Conclusion:The reference intervals used for general population cannot be used for athletes. Given the lack of pathological manifestations, the physiopathological significance of these findings is uncertain. Further studies on the interpretation of reported ion concentrations in athletes should take in account the type of sport practiced and also the possible variations during the training and competition season.

BackgroundHamstring muscle injuries are notoriously found among the most common causes of abstinence and delayed return to sport, in a variety of track, field and other high level athletes. In this respect we present our experience of conservative treatment of total proximal, non-avulsed hamstring rupture in high-level track, field and other athletes and application of an integrated rehabilitation protocol.MethodsEleven high level athletes, nine men and two women, were diagnosed with sub/ total proximal, non-avulsed, hamstring rupture (grade III or IV strain). All of the patients were treated conservatively over a time scheme of twelve weeks.Then the athletes were ready to return to their complete sport–specific training.ResultsAll the athletes were treated conservatively. All of them made a full return to their sport .Mean follow up time was from six months to two years. One male track athlete had a multiple reinjury history after his primary hamstring rupture (over 18 months of follow up).All the other athletes fully returned to their sports with no recurrent hamstring injuries during the follow up.ConclusionsIndications that have been proposed for operative treatment of total proximal hamstring ruptures are most clear and widely acceptable when a bone avulsion is present off the ischial tuberosity.1However when it comes to total proximal, non avulsed ,hamstring rupture (grade III or IV strain) the operative indications may be relative and there still may be a place for integrated conservative treatment.2Conservative treatment has to be based on the correct classification of the injury, the right clinical assessment at the acute phase as well as along the whole length of treatment.Surgical treatment has an important role to play in complete proximal hamstring ruptures bearing in mind the right indications such as acute bone avulsions from the muscles’ origin.3