Welcome to the latest edition of Horizons. As the World Cup reaches its final stages (and we recover from the disappointment of England almost making the final – again) we congratulate the sports medicine teams working tirelessly behind the scenes, managing fatigue, treating knocks and keeping squads primed for the biggest stage in football.
This issue also reflects a welcome shift that we’re seeing: research dedicated to female athletes continues to grow, with several of this month’s featured articles addressing topics specifically affecting women and girls in sport. It’s a trend we’re pleased to support and amplify.
Please do let us know if there’s an upcoming event you’d like us to include in the next edition, an article you’d like us to highlight, or any vacancies you might wish to notify other members about.
Research, Articles and Podcasts
MSK
Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries- Effective rehabilitation – https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/OAJSM.S244283#d1e199
Shoulder HA – The experience of stemmed pyrocarbon shoulder hemiarthroplasty in New Zealand https://boneandjoint.org.uk/Article/10.1302/0301-620X.108B6.BJJ-2025-1190.R2
Total Shoulder Arthroplasty – Computer navigation https://boneandjoint.org.uk/Article/10.1302/0301-620X.108B6.BJJ-2025-1772.R1
Rotator Cuff Tears – The association between the morphological patterns of medium to large tears and the retear rate after arthroscopic repair https://boneandjoint.org.uk/Article/10.1302/0301-620X.108B6.BJJ-2025-1566.R2
Anterior Shoulder Instability – Modified arthroscopic suture-button Latarjet procedure for recurrent anterior shoulder instability: 9-Year minimum follow-up https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.70305
Low Back Pain – “The pain isn’t the hardest challenge…” Agency, not anatomy drives recovery in elite athletes https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2026/06/17/the-pain-isnt-the-hardest-challenge-agency-not-anatomy-drives-recovery-from-persisting-low-back-pain-in-elite-athletes/
Spondylolysis – Immediate physical therapy is beneficial for adolescent athletes with active lumbar spondylolysis: a multicentre randomised trial https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/60/2/125
Apophyseal Injuries – Insights from 16,000 player-seasons in academy football https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2026/07/14/apophyseal-injuries-in-academy-football-insights-from-16000-player-seasons/
Anterior Cruciate Ligament – Postcommercialisation outcomes of bridge-enhanced restoration: The first 100 Bridge registry patients https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.12806
Complications of ACWO with ACLR – Hardware-related symptoms are the most common complication after anterior closing wedge osteotomy performed with ACL reconstruction: A systematic review https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.70351
ACL Repair – Retention or sacrifice of posterior cruciate ligament has no effect on in vitro kinematics in medial pivot total knee arthroplasty https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.70121
ACL Management – Smallest worthwhile effect of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared with non-surgical management: a benefit-harm trade-off study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955326000470
MCI versus MFx in Patellar Cartilage Defects – Arthroscopic minced cartilage implantation provides superior clinical and magnetic resonance imaging outcomes compared to microfracture in patellar cartilage defects https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.12800
Patellofemoral Pain – Which factors correlate with muscle strength capacity in people with patellofemoral pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41653815/
Meniscal Deficiency – Long-term clinical and MRI outcomes of a polyurethane meniscal scaffold implantation for the treatment of partial meniscal deficiency: A minimum 10-year follow-up study https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.12724
Substance Use and Postoperative Complications – Postoperative Outcomes After Ankle Fracture ORIF in Patients With Documented Nicotine and/or Cannabis Use: An Observational Analysis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10711007251393661
Toe Taping – Elastic taping of the toes after percutaneous forefoot surgery: a technical tip https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/24730114261433593
Chronic Plantar Fascia Rupture – Surgical reconstruction of with synthetic polyurethane urea-based matrix: a case study https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/podiatry/case-report/surgical-reconstruction-chronic-plantar-fascia-rupture-synthetic
FEMALE ATHLETES
Forward Momentum – Shaping the future of physical activity support and guidance across preconception, pregnancy and postpartum on the island of Ireland https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2026/06/04/forward-momentum-shaping-the-future-of-physical-activity-support-and-guidance-across-preconception-pregnancy-and-postpartum-on-the-island-of-ireland/
Divergent Adaptation In Elite Female Soccer Players – Dual-pillar phenotype: reduced aerobic capacity and repeated-sprint ability coexisting with enhanced explosive power https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2026/06/04/bjsports-2026-111857
Dysmenorrhoea – Period pain in female athletes: a call to action – time to fill the evidence gap and develop tailored management pathways https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/60/13/923
Menstruation – Influencing factors of sport performance during menstruation in elite female football players: a semi-structured interview-based study https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24733938.2026.2682128
ACL – Increased contralateral dynamic valgus in female athletes following ACL reconstruction https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.70291
Football Training – Session and drill-specific physical characteristics of youth women’s football training https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2026.2637051#abstract
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention – Sex differences and gender factors: A call for purpose-driven strategies https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.70257
Breast Health – Impact of breast health education and individual sports bra prescription on elite female football match officials https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2026.2623565#abstract
Injury Prevention – Lower extremity injury prevention in female, woman, and girl athletes https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2026/05/01/lower-extremity-injury-prevention-in-female-woman-and-girl-athletes/
GENERAL
AI – Large language models as experimental systems in human psychopathology: a modelling study https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(26)00037-3/fulltext
Athlete Mental Health – Building the foundations: organisational leadership https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/60/14/995
Ice Skating – On thin ice: balancing Olympic pursuits and long-term health https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/60/14/1066
Gut Health – Probiotics in football (soccer): a survey on practitioner’s current perceptions and practices https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24733938.2026.2682129
Training Strategy – A pragmatic, parallel-arm, randomised trial on the effects of two repeated-sprint training protocols on fitness outcomes in semi-professional male soccer players: preliminary report https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24733938.2026.2684071#abstract
Organisational Structure – The organisation of medical and performance departments in European elite football teams https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24733938.2026.2685134#abstract
Tech and Sport – This World Cup could be the most high-tech yet — the innovations to watch for https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01866-1
Cycling Injuries – Composite severity score for race-related incidents in cycling https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/60/14/1000
Outdoor Sports and Melanoma – Surfing, Sun, and Skin Cancer Risk: A Personal Reflection https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2026/06/15/surfing-sun-and-skin-cancer-risk-a-personal-reflection/
Preventing Sports Injuries – Predictive modelling of injury risk based on body composition and physical fitness performance tests in professional football: A four-year study https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2026.2673250#d1e357
Fatigue and Performance – The effects of fatigue on the relation between ocular pursuit and interceptive performance in soccer experts https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2026.2653298
Circadian Rhythms And Athletic Performance – Playing against the clock: The hidden costs of circadian disruption in the football ecosystem of performance, recovery and spectator engagement https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epub/10.1080/02640414.2026.2623568
IMAGING
Photon-Counting CT in the Emergency Department – Practical Impact in a High-Volume Setting https://appliedradiology.com/articles/photon-counting-ct-in-the-emergency-department-practical-impact-in-a-high-volume-setting
Calcific Subcoracoid Bursitis – Case review https://appliedradiology.com/articles/calcific-subcoracoid-bursitis
Redefining the Future of CT Imaging https://appliedradiology.com/articles/redefining-the-future-of-ct-imaging
Knee Assessment – Dynamic computed tomography assessment of patellofemoral and tibiofemoral kinematics before and after total knee arthroplasty: A pilot study https://esskajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ksa.70076
CONCUSSION
Head Acceleration Events – Associated with tackler head contact and running speed during tackling in junior Australian football https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24733938.2026.2683589#abstract
CARDIOLOGY
Hypertension And Coronary Atherosclerosis – Resting and exercise-induced occult hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis in male Masters endurance athletes https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2026/05/14/bjsports-2025-111347.info
Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Imaging – Risks, mitigations and the path to safe implementation https://heart.bmj.com/content/112/5/246
Hypertension and Pregnancy – Optimal 24-hour movement behaviour compositions across trimesters and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2026/06/07/bjsports-2025-111091
RESOURCE ROUND UP
Websites, podcasts and resources you might find useful:
Breathwork in Athletes, Friend or Foe? Join Professor James Hull and guests for answers. EP#586 https://bjsmbmj.podbean.com/e/breathwork-in-athletes-friend-or-foe-join-professor-james-hull-and-guests-for-answers-ep586/
Alertness & HRV in Elite Shooters – JSSM Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzQXL2kU1Wg
CSEM – What Does the Formation of The College of Sports and Exercise Medicine Mean For You? https://bjsmbmj.podbean.com/e/what-does-the-formation-of-the-college-of-sports-and-exercise-medicine-mean-for-you-listen-in-to-see-ep587/
Unique Perspectives on Fifth Metatarsal Stress Fractures – Podiatry Today podcast https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/podiatry/podcasts/unique-perspectives-fifth-metatarsal-stress-fractures
Rethinking Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Prevention – BJJ podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/225112/episodes/19390586
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
International Sports Surgery & Medicine Conference – 20th – 22nd July, Glasgow https://rcpsg.ac.uk/education/international-sports-surgery-and-medicine-conference-glasgow-2026?selected_date=2026-07-20
Best Evidence, Better Care For Osteoarthritis – August 7-8, 2026, 3 – 8 pm, La Trobe University Bundoora and online https://hersport.latrobe.edu.au/symposium #LASEM26
Protecting Mental Health in Sport + Exercise Conference – August 17-18th 2026, Colorado Springs https://promiseconference.co.uk/product/promise-2026-delegate-ticket/
Head and Neck Ultrasound Workshop 2026 – 23 September 2026, 08:30 – 16:35, NCVO, London https://www.mybir.org.uk/l/s/community-event
BASEM Annual Conference 2026 – Nov 17 – 18, 2026, Londonhttps://basemconference.co.uk/
Dutch Conference of Sports & Exercise Medicine – Nov 26-27, Rotterdam https://www.sportgeneeskunde.com/dcsem/
The World Congress of Sports Physiotherapy – December 4–5, 2026, Bern https://wcspt.com/
Do let us know your feedback, and any suggestions you have for websites, apps or networks for inclusion in future bulletins.
DISCLAIMER: Horizons is intended as a helpful round-up for members of potentially interesting articles/opinions that have been shared online. SEMPRIS are not qualified to make/infer any clinical judgements, and the inclusion of content, events and resources does not imply endorsement.
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