Martin P. Schwellnus, MBBCh, MSc (Med), MD, FACSM, FFIMS, Nichola Drew, MBBCh, MPhil , Malcolm Collins, PhD

Muscle cramping associated with exercise is described as a painful, involuntary, spasmodic skeletal muscle contraction occuring during or after exercise. This is most prevalent in endurance athletes. The most common risk factors include performing exercises at a higher intensity or duration than normal, having a history of muscle cramps or exercising in a warmer more humid climate than usual.

Initial treatment should consist of rest and passive stretching and prevention strategies should centre around reducing the risk of premature muscle fatigue.

Clinics in Sports Medicine, Volume 27, Issue 1, Pages 183-194 (January 2008)

Thomas W. Kernozek, PhD, Michael R. Torry, PhD and Mark Iwasaki, MSPT

Muscular fatigue has been suggested as a causative factor in non-contact ACL ruptures in both males and females. This study compares the effect of fatigue on drop-landings in 16 male and 14 female athletes. Subjects performed drop-landings pre and post fatigue with fatigue being induced by squat exercises at 60% 1rm until failure. Results demonstrated that fatigue caused more significant alterations when landing in females which may be indicative of ACL injury mechanisms.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine 2008: 36:554-565

A M Cools, G Declercq, B Cagnie, D Cambier, E Witvrouw

Impingement of rotator cuff muscles is commonly see in tennis players. Three shoulder dysfunctions are common in athletes suffering from this injury. These are a lack of retraction strength, shoulder joint instability and a lack of range into internal rotation.

Recommendations for rehabilitation include integrating kinetic chain exercises from the initial stages, stretching the posterior structures of the glenohumeral joint and scapular exercises to restore the strength of the scapula retractors (trapezius and rhomboids).

British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008;42:165-171