Muhammad A. Dawood

Background: CrossFit is a rapidly growing sport characterised by high-intensity functional movements that place substantial demands on the shoulder complex. Although shoulder injuries are frequently reported, the prevalence of self-reported shoulder pain and shoulder function among uninjured CrossFit athletes remains unclear. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of self-reported shoulder pain and to describe shoulder function among uninjured CrossFit athletes in Pretoria, Gauteng. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among CrossFit athletes recruited from gyms in Pretoria. Participants completed a sociodemographic and training questionnaire. Pain presence and severity were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), based on current shoulder pain intensity. Shoulder function was assessed using the Penn Shoulder Score (PSS). Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages) were used to summarise the data. Chi-square tests were used to explore associations between shoulder pain and selected demographic and training-related variables. Results: Sixty-eight participants provided valid responses for pain analysis, while all participants completed the PSS. The prevalence of self-reported shoulder pain was 76% (95% CI: 64%–85%), with a mean NPRS score of 2.97 ± 2.75/10, indicating predominantly low-intensity pain. Shoulder function was generally preserved, with a mean total PSS of 87.8 ± 12.2 (out of 100). Shoulder pain was significantly associated with previous shoulder injury (p < 0.05). No significant associations were found between demographic or training-related variables and shoulder function. Conclusion: Self-reported shoulder pain is highly prevalent among uninjured CrossFit athletes despite largely preserved shoulder function. These findings suggest that athletes may continue training despite experiencing pain, highlighting the importance of routine screening and early intervention strategies.

Background: Health professions education is undergoing a paradigm shift from a predominantly curative focus towards prevention and health promotion, in line with global health priorities such as Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3). Physiotherapy curricula, however, often still devote limited attention to preventative competencies. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to identify risk factors for shoulder pain in amateur fast bowlers and illustrate how such evidence can inform the integration of preventative competencies into undergraduate physiotherapy curricula. Method: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study was conducted during the 2018–2019 amateur cricket season. Thirty-nine male fast bowlers completed baseline musculoskeletal screening and weekly online questionnaires documenting injury incidence. Physical assessments included shoulder range of motion, scapular control, muscle strength, endurance and stability tests. Data were analysed using t-tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, chi-square and/or Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Nine participants (23%) sustained shoulder pain during the season. Risk factors associated with injury included scapular dyskinesia, decreased internal rotation, increased external rotation, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit, poor endurance and reduced isometric muscle strength. These factors demonstrated moderate-to-large effect sizes. Conclusion: The identification of modifiable risk factors for shoulder pain demonstrates the value of embedding screening skills into undergraduate physiotherapy curricula. Teaching students to assess and address risk factors fosters a preventative orientation that extends beyond sports injuries to broader health contexts. Clinical implications: Incorporating risk factor screening into training equips physiotherapy graduates with practical skills for early detection and prevention, thereby reducing the burden of preventable conditions and aligning education with the objectives of SDG3.

Background: Sustaining an injury as an adolescent cricketer can lead to poor performance, an increased risk of injury recurrence, and premature retirement from sports. The incidence and prevalence rate of injuries in adolescent male cricketers from South Africa range from 27% to 81%. However, the injury rate in adolescent female cricketers is unknown. Objectives: This non-experimental survey aimed to determine the incidence and prevalence of injury in adolescent female cricketers in a high school league in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Methods: There were 25 participants aged between 14 and 17 years (mean 15.9 ±1.2). The demographics and injury history were recorded using a questionnaire. The incidence and prevalence of injury per 100 match days were calculated. Results: Twenty-four injuries were recorded (14 new and 10 recurrent injuries). The overall incidence was 0.30 injuries per 100 match days. There were 0.24 non-time-loss injuries and 0.05 time-loss injuries per 100 match days. The injury prevalence was 3.5%. Injuries to the hand (0.06 injuries per 100 match days) and thigh (0.05 injuries per 100 match days) were the most common. Conclusion: The incidence and prevalence of injury in adolescent female cricketers were consistent with international research on elite female cricketers, with the hand and lower limbs remaining at significant risk of injury. It is recommended that future studies focus on investigating prevention strategies for hand and lower limb injuries in female cricketers..

Background: Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is prevalent among athletes engaged in repetitive overhead movements, often linked to sport-specific biomechanical demands. However, research on its prevalence and risk factors in South African amateur athletes is limited, despite the high participation in sports. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of NSLBP and identify sport-specific risk factors among amateur overhead athletes in Gauteng Province, addressing a critical gap in the literature. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 52 amateur overhead athletes aged 18 and above who participated in volleyball, basketball, netball, soccer goalkeeping, tennis, and swimming. Data collection included self-reported NSLBP prevalence, clinical tests for scapular dyskinesia (SD) and latissimus dorsi flexibility, and the Keele STarT Back Screening Tool. Statistical analysis examined the associations between NSLBP, SD, and sport-specific factors. Results: NSLBP prevalence was 25%, with volleyball (33%) and basketball (30%) athletes most affected. Scapular dyskinesia was observed in 48% of participants, particularly grades 1 and 2. Reduced latissimus dorsi flexibility was present in 40% of athletes and was significantly correlated with scapular dyskinesia (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study successfully met its objectives by identifying the prevalence of NSLBP and sport-specific risk factors among amateur overhead athletes. Findings emphasise the importance of targeted interventions focusing on scapular function and muscle flexibility to reduce NSLBP incidence. These insights provide valuable guidance for clinical practice and preventive strategies.

The South African Journal of Physiotherapy is the official scholarly refereed journal of the South African Society of Physiotherapy. It aims to publish original research and facilitate continuing professional development for physiotherapists and other health professions both nationally and internationally.

Background: Evidence-based practice requires the use of objective, valid and reliable tests for measuring the length of a muscle. Latissimus Dorsi is a muscle which undergoes length changes (loss of extensibility) and this muscle has a functional role in many aspects of sport and rehabilitation. The loss of extensibility may result in a decreased range of motion at the glenohumeral joint leading to dysfunction. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of a technique adapted by Comerford and Mottram in 2012 for assessing the length of Latissimus Dorsi (LD) muscle. Method: Fifty-six students from a university's physiotherapy department participated in this study. Four physiotherapists with clinical experience varying between 10 and 30 years independently performed the test for assessing the length of LD. The test was performed twice by each physiotherapist on every participant during two reading sessions. Results: The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) as determined in a mixed-effects, generalised least squares regression analysis was used to assess inter-and intra-rater reliability of the LD length test. A 0.05 level of significance was employed. A sample of 56 participants provided an ICC that varied between 0.76 and 0.55, which is regarded as moderate to poor reliability. The ICC between the experienced raters was found to be 0.48, with a novice rater having an ICC of 0.48 as well. The ICC between all the raters was 0.33, which constituted poor reliability. Conclusion: The poor to moderate reliability of the technique testing the length of LD test is not suitable for application in a research setting. Clinical implications: The small differences noted between Reading 1 and Reading 2 regarding the standard deviation of all the raters combined suggests that the LD length test may still prove to be useful in quantifying dysfunction in a clinical setting.