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Open research questions in Sports injuries and prevention

400 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,654 Sports injuries and prevention papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The study faced challenges in obtaining accurate and consistent data due to the lack of standardized methods of reporting, recording, and treating injuries. The study had to account for overdispersion in the data and correlated injury data from the same athlete across seasons. The study had to exclude data from the COVID-19 pandemic years due to significant changes in training protocols and student illness.

    Injury and illness in non-football collegiate athletics: a single university, 8-year descriptive retrospective analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Prior studies have been unable to examine injury patterns across all variables due to the lack of published data. There is a lack of standardized methods of reporting, recording, and treating injuries.

    Injury and illness in non-football collegiate athletics: a single university, 8-year descriptive retrospective analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to validate the findings in other populations, - Studies should investigate the effectiveness of the FMS as a screening tool in conjunction with other assessment methods, - Research should examine the relationship between FMS scores and injury risk in other sports

    Functional movement screen scores and injury prevalence among collegiate basketball players: a cross-sectional analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited evidence on the applicability of FMS in non-Western collegiate basketball contexts. Limited study of injury patterns and functional assessments among Chinese collegiate basketball players.

    Functional movement screen scores and injury prevalence among collegiate basketball players: a cross-sectional analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Evidence on futsal-specific preventive strategies in youth players remains limited. There is a need to investigate the effects of a futsal-specific preventive program on interlimb asymmetry and injury risk. The study aims to address this research gap by examining the effects of the Futsal Preventive Program.

    Effects of a Futsal-Specific Preventive Program on Interlimb Asymmetry and Injury Risk in Youth Male Futsal Players · 2026 · DOI

  • No universally validated athlete-specific cutoff exists, - Protocols and thresholds vary, - Radiation and limited soft-tissue contrast make CT a selective rather than routine test

    Osteitis Pubis in Athletes in the Era of Pubic-Related Groin Pain: Contemporary Concepts in Diagnosis, Rehabilitation, and Surgical Decision-Making · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research on the clinical decision-making process, - Investigation of the role and limitations of intermediate interventions between conservative and surgical management

    Osteitis Pubis in Athletes in the Era of Pubic-Related Groin Pain: Contemporary Concepts in Diagnosis, Rehabilitation, and Surgical Decision-Making · 2026 · DOI

  • The difference in musculoskeletal health burden between course-based and competitive university-team Wushu Taolu practitioners has not been well characterized prospectively. There is a need to investigate the relationship between training exposure and health problems in this population.

    Training exposure, recovery, and injury incidence among course-based and competitive university Wushu Taolu practitioners: a 12-week prospective cohort study · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigate the relationship between surface type and team performance in other professional sports leagues, - Examine the effects of surface type on player injuries and fatigue, - Analyze the impact of surface type on fan attendance and engagement

    Playing surface, match outcomes, and formation usage patterns in Major League Soccer · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of understanding of the chronic effects of dynamic stretching and tissue flossing on muscle function, sprint performance, balance, and proprioception. The detraining effects of these interventions are also not well understood. There is a need for a study that compares the acute, chronic, and detraining effects of dynamic stretching and tissue flossing.

    Acute, chronic, and detraining effects of dynamic stretching and tissue flossing on muscle function, sprint performance, balance, and proprioception, in soccer players with hamstring shortness: a three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial protocol · 2026 · DOI

  • While both modalities are employed to enhance flexibility and performance, a direct comparison of their longitudinal and residual effects on muscle function, sprinting, balance, and proprioception is lacking (4, 28).

    Acute, chronic, and detraining effects of dynamic stretching and tissue flossing on muscle function, sprint performance, balance, and proprioception, in soccer players with hamstring shortness: a three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial protocol · 2026 · DOI

  • The complex, multi-dimensional process of developing elite youth football players. The need to balance internal and external training loads to reduce injury risk. The challenge of implementing a maturation-indexed approach in a real-world setting, with potential issues related to player selection, coaching, and resource allocation.

    Soccer health, performance, and injury prevention in highly trained youth soccer players: a public health approach · 2026 · DOI

  • Traditional chronological age group categorization fails to capture the immense biological variation occurring during adolescence. The Relative Age Effect (RAE) results in severe selection bias, often overlooking late-maturing players. There is a need for a maturation-indexed approach to optimize athletic output and reduce injury risk.

    Soccer health, performance, and injury prevention in highly trained youth soccer players: a public health approach · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should prioritize well-structured longitudinal studies that assess the longterm impact of combat sports participation on physical, psychological, and social health

    Combat sports and wellbeing: advancing health and inclusion in athletes and practitioners. An opinion paper · 2025 · DOI

  • The heterogeneity of disciplines is often inadequately addressed in research. Individual differences in personality, motivation, and previous trauma history may strongly moderate the psychological outcomes of combat sports participation. The need for a rigorous evaluation of investigation methodologies and the validity of hypotheses.

    Combat sports and wellbeing: advancing health and inclusion in athletes and practitioners. An opinion paper · 2025 · DOI

  • Further studies are needed to examine the effects of training exposure on health outcomes in different populations and settings; Studies should investigate the mechanisms by which prior injury increases the risk of subsequent injury; Research should examine the effectiveness of injury-prevention interventions in reducing the risk of injury; Studies should explore the relationship between training load and health outcomes in other sports and activities

    Training exposure, recovery, and injury incidence among course-based and competitive university Wushu Taolu practitioners: a 12-week prospective cohort study · 2026 · DOI

  • The relationship between playing surface and match outcomes in professional football is not well understood. Prior studies have provided inconsistent evidence on the impact of playing surface on competitive balance.

    Playing surface, match outcomes, and formation usage patterns in Major League Soccer · 2026 · DOI

  • Few studies have analyzed its acute effects on distal structures, such as plantar soft tissue properties, local perfusion or temperature.

    Acute effects of the FIFA 11+ warm up protocol on distal mechanical and physiological tissue properties and performance in male and female soccer players · 2026 · DOI

  • Objectives Pediatric sports injuries are common, yet there is limited information on the comparative risk of hospitalization across commonly played sports in the United States.

    Pediatric hospitalizations related to sports participation: a 10-year comparative analysis across 18 commonly played sports in the United States · 2026 · DOI

  • Existing research draws heavily on European‑American Caucasian samples, lacking multi‑center empirical evidence for Asian populations, and the adaptability of the original training system for Asian cohorts remains unclear.

    An Analysis of Adaptation‑Related Issues of Hybrid Racing Fitness (HYROX/DEKA) for Participating Populations · 2026 · DOI

  • Objectives Bowling is a popular youth sport, but despite its popularity, there is limited research on pediatric bowling-related injuries.

    Pediatric bowling injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments: a descriptive epidemiologic study · 2025 · DOI

  • This study makes an attempt to add to the gaps in the literature regarding injury risks and preventive strategies in this fast-growing sport.

    Assessing the Spread of the Sport of Padel and the Prevalence and Causes of Injuries Among Padel Players · 2025 · DOI

  • Background/Objectives: Over half of older adults who play pickleball report falling during play, yet little is known regarding the ability of training programs to reduce the incidence of falls or fear of falling (FOF).

    Effect of a Multi-Faceted Training Program on Falls in Senior Pickleball Players · 2025 · DOI

  • Further exploration of strategies to enhance these interventions and decrease injuries among club athletes is warranted.

    Stretch & exercise education improves pain levels in under-resourced collegiate club lacrosse players · 2024 · DOI

  • Climbing is an Olympic discipline in full development and multidisciplinary in nature, where the influences of body composition and nutritional status on performance have not yet been clarified despite the quest for a low weight in anti-gravity disciplines such as climbing.

    Nutritional Assessment, Body Composition, and Low Energy Availability in Sport Climbing Athletes of Different Genders and Categories: A Cross-Sectional Study · 2024 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Sports injuries and prevention

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400 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,654 Sports injuries and prevention papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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