Latest sports medicine research — ACL, meniscus & cartilage studies (2026)

Arthroscopy The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery IF 4.4 Aug 24 2026 LoE I Full text read

Double‐Row Repair Improves Outcomes for Large Rotator Cuff Tears but Offers No Advantage for Small‐to‐Medium Tears: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This meta-analysis pooled 18 randomized trials (1,308 patients) comparing single-row (SR) versus double-row (DR) arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Overall, DR repair had a lower retear rate than SR (20.7% vs 11.9%, OR=1.88, 95% CI 1.33-2.66) and slightly better UCLA scores and forward flexion, but took longer to perform. When tears were stratified by size, DR's advantage in retear rate and functional scores (ASES, UCLA) was significant only for tears >30 mm, while for tears <30 mm there was no significant difference between techniques.

AI summary · from the full text

Why it mattersThis helps surgeons decide when the extra time and cost of double-row fixation is justified: reserving it for larger tears while using the faster single-row technique for small-to-medium tears.

Systematic reviewSportsn = 1,308DOI ↗

Rigor × clinical importance

Rigor88Clinical75Editorial49

Strong71

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders IF 2.3 Jul 20 2026 LoE I Full text read

A randomized controlled trial of brachial plexus block manipulation versus steroid injection in conscious patients for moderate to severe shoulder stiffness

This single-center RCT in China randomized 112 patients with moderate-to-severe frozen shoulder to either an 'Enhanced Recovery After Manipulation' (ERAM) protocol (ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block plus manipulation under anesthesia, intra-articular steroid, and rehab) or standard intra-articular steroid injection plus rehab alone. At every follow-up point through 6 months, the ERAM group had better Constant-Murley shoulder scores, pain scores, and range of motion than the steroid-only group (all P<0.05), and imaging at 8 weeks showed no rotator cuff injury from the manipulation.

AI summary · from the full text

Why it mattersFrozen shoulder is extremely common and often slow to resolve with steroid injection alone, so a same-day, ultrasound-guided manipulation protocol that avoids general anesthesia could change how orthopedic surgeons manage refractory stiffness in the clinic.

RCTSportsn = 112DOI ↗

Presenting this at rounds? Start here

?The trial is single-center, unblinded (patients could tell which treatment they received), and reports only 'P<0.05' rather than exact effect sizes and confidence intervals in the text; does the lack of blinding and precise numbers undermine confidence in the magnitude of benefit?
?If ERAM is adopted, what training, ultrasound equipment, and anesthesia support would a typical orthopedic clinic need to replicate this protocol safely, especially given the one reported case of transient nerve-related weakness?

Rigor × clinical importance

Rigor61Clinical51

Limited41

Sports Health A Multidisciplinary Approach IF 2.7 Sep 11 2026 LoE III Full text read

Functional and Psychological Predictors of Return to Sport and Reinjury Risk in Professional Athletes After ACL Reconstruction

This mixed prospective-retrospective cohort followed 127 professional athletes after ACL reconstruction, comparing 32 who suffered a noncontact graft rupture within 3 years against matched non-reinjured controls using 10 functional hop tests, limb symmetry index (LSI), and patient-reported outcome measures. Absolute hop performance (distance/time) differed significantly between reinjured and non-reinjured athletes on most tests (e.g., lateral hop for distance in males: 104.7 vs 160.0 cm, P<0.001), while LSI showed a significant difference in only one test (TCHD in females, P=0.03). The ACL-RSI psychological readiness score correlated moderately-to-strongly with hop performance (r=0.43-0.73) in both groups, whereas KOOS and IKDC did not correlate with hop tests.

AI summary · from the full text

Why it mattersThis challenges the common reliance on limb symmetry index for return-to-sport clearance, suggesting absolute performance benchmarks and psychological readiness scores may better flag athletes at risk of ACL graft reinjury.

CohortSportsn = 150DOI ↗

Rigor × clinical importance

Rigor45Clinical53Editorial63

Limited38

Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy IF 3.3 Sep 11 2026 LoE III Full text read

The role of generalised joint Laxity in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

This meta-analysis pooled 13 studies (3905 patients) comparing outcomes of ACL reconstruction in patients with generalised joint laxity (GJL) versus without. Patients with GJL had significantly lower IKDC and Lysholm scores and higher rates of positive Lachman and pivot shift tests, but the difference in graft failure rate (9.2% vs 6.1%) was not statistically significant (OR 3.15, p=0.07).

AI summary · from the full text

Why it mattersSurgeons often wonder whether hyperlax patients need a different graft or added lateral procedure, and this review shows the evidence for worse clinical outcomes is inconsistent and failure rates are not statistically different.

Meta-analysisSportsn = 3,905DOI ↗

Rigor × clinical importance

Rigor39Clinical57Editorial63

Limited38

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research IF 2.8 Jul 31 2026 LoE III Full text read

Impact of neuromuscular and visuo-motor training on landing biomechanics, functional performance, and psychological factors in female athletes with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a simple parallel-group randomized controlled trial

This small trial randomized 45 female athletes with prior unilateral ACL reconstruction into neuromuscular training (NMT), visuo-motor training (VMT), or a control group, then measured landing biomechanics (hip/knee/ankle angles, knee valgus, ground reaction force), functional hop/balance tests, and fear of reinjury (ACL-RSI). Both NMT and VMT groups showed significant improvements across nearly every measured variable (e.g., knee valgus p=0.03–0.04, ACL-RSI p=0.001) with large effect sizes, but the two active interventions did not differ significantly from each other on any outcome.

AI summary · from the full text

Why it mattersLanding mechanics like knee valgus and reduced knee flexion are linked to reinjury risk after ACL reconstruction, so trials comparing rehab strategies targeting these mechanics are directly relevant to return-to-sport planning.

CohortSportsn = 45DOI ↗

Presenting this at rounds? Start here

?If NMT and VMT produce statistically indistinguishable improvements in landing mechanics and psychological readiness, how should a clinician choose between them for a given athlete returning to sport after ACLR?
?Given that fear of reinjury (kinesiophobia) improved substantially with both interventions, should psychological readiness be assessed as routinely as biomechanical metrics before clearing athletes for return to sport?

Rigor × clinical importance

Rigor54Clinical45

Limited35

Arthroscopy The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery IF 4.4 Aug 27 2026 LoE III Full text read

Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Repair Is Associated With Better Function But Persistent Knee Varus Thrust and Reduced Knee Internal Rotation During Gait

This cross-sectional study used 3D motion capture to compare gait mechanics and patient-reported outcomes among 58 knees: patients with unrepaired medial meniscus posterior root (MMPR) tears, patients who had undergone MMPR repair (mean 19.7 months prior), and healthy age-matched controls. Both the tear and repair groups showed abnormal gait patterns compared with controls, including increased varus thrust range of motion (repair 5.2° vs control 3.3°, tear 5.0° vs control 3.3°, P<.01) and reduced tibial internal rotation at loading response, but the repair group had significantly better function, less pain, and higher rates of meeting patient-acceptable symptom thresholds than the tear group.

AI summary · from the full text

Why it mattersIt suggests that even after successful MMPR repair with good clinical outcomes, patients may retain biomechanical gait abnormalities linked to knee osteoarthritis progression, which could inform decisions about adjunct gait-modifying therapy or earlier surgical timing.

CohortSportsn = 58DOI ↗

Presenting this at rounds? Start here

?Should patients who show persistent varus thrust after MMPR repair be offered adjunct interventions like gait retraining, bracing, or targeted strengthening to reduce their risk of knee OA progression?
?Does the finding that repaired knees still show abnormal internal rotation and varus thrust argue for earlier repair timing in symptomatic root tears, before compensatory gait patterns become entrenched?

Rigor × clinical importance

Rigor34Clinical46Editorial53

Weak28

Arthroscopy The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery IF 4.4 Aug 24 2026 LoE III Full text read

Losartan Is Not Associated With Decreased Postoperative Arthrofibrosis After Hip Arthroscopy

This retrospective database study used the TriNetX network to compare hip arthroscopy patients prescribed losartan (n=947 after matching) with a matched cohort not given ACE inhibitors or ARBs, looking at rates of capsulolabral adhesions, hip instability, conversion to THA, osteoarthritis, and medical complications up to 2 years. Lysis of adhesions and ankylosis rates were too low to even generate reportable patient counts in either group, and no orthopedic or medical complication differed significantly between losartan and non-losartan patients at any time point, including in subgroups by sex or age under 30.

AI summary · from the full text

Why it mattersLosartan has been promoted as a low-cost adjunct to reduce postoperative stiffness after hip arthroscopy, so a large database study finding no measurable benefit is relevant to whether surgeons should continue prescribing it for this indication.

CohortSportsn = 947DOI ↗

Presenting this at rounds? Start here

?If arthroscopic lysis of adhesions occurred too rarely in this database to even be counted, should surgeons continue prescribing losartan empirically, or wait for a study powered to detect a real difference?
?Given that osteoarthritis rates were transiently higher in the losartan group at 30 days but not later, how should surgeons interpret early postoperative radiographic or symptomatic findings in patients on antifibrotic agents?

Rigor × clinical importance

Rigor16Clinical57Editorial48

Weak27

Latest orthopedic sports medicine research

Double‐Row Repair Improves Outcomes for Large Rotator Cuff Tears but Offers No Advantage for Small‐to‐Medium Tears: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

A randomized controlled trial of brachial plexus block manipulation versus steroid injection in conscious patients for moderate to severe shoulder stiffness

Functional and Psychological Predictors of Return to Sport and Reinjury Risk in Professional Athletes After ACL Reconstruction

The role of generalised joint Laxity in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Impact of neuromuscular and visuo-motor training on landing biomechanics, functional performance, and psychological factors in female athletes with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a simple parallel-group randomized controlled trial

Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Repair Is Associated With Better Function But Persistent Knee Varus Thrust and Reduced Knee Internal Rotation During Gait

Losartan Is Not Associated With Decreased Postoperative Arthrofibrosis After Hip Arthroscopy