Musculoskeletal Findings Following Pre-Participation Screening in Young Athletes: A Retrospective Observational Study.
5 affiliations
- 1Sports Medicine and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit, Unità Locale Socio Sanitaria (ULSS) 3 Serenissima, Noale, 30033 Venice, Italy.
- 2Sports and Exercise Medicine Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.
- 3Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy.
- 4Department of Medicine and Surgery, UniCamillus-Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, 00187 Rome, Italy.
- 5Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Unità Locale Socio Sanitaria (ULSS) 3 Serenissima, Noale, 30033 Venice, Italy.
Abstract
Background: Pre-participation screening (PPS) is widely used to evaluate athletes before sport participation, traditionally focusing on cardiovascular risk prevention. However, musculoskeletal assessment performed during PPS may also allow early identification of biomechanical and structural abnormalities that can affect sport participation during growth. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and management pathways of musculoskeletal alterations detected during PPS in young athletes, with particular focus on referral patterns to pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists. Methods: This retrospective observational study included athletes aged ≤15 years who underwent PPS between January 2022 and December 2023 at the Sports Medicine Unit of Noale (ULSS 3 Serenissima, Venice, Italy). Musculoskeletal screening was systematically performed during PPS. Athletes presenting newly detected abnormalities were either managed conservatively by the sports physician or referred for PM&R evaluation. Clinical indications for referral, imaging investigations, diagnoses, and treatment strategies were analyzed. Results: A total of 707 athletes underwent PPS during the study period. After applying exclusion criteria, 635 athletes were eligible for analysis. Musculoskeletal alterations were identified in 141 athletes (22.2%). Among them, 54 athletes were referred for PM&R evaluation and 40 completed the consultation. No statistically significant differences were observed between referred and non-referred athletes. The most frequent reasons for referral were suspected scoliosis (n = 22), foot alignment disorders n = 18), thoracic hyperkyphosis (n = 5), and lower limb length discrepancy (n = 4). Specialist evaluation resulted in conservative management in most cases, including corrective exercise programs and orthotic interventions, while one athlete required surgical treatment for congenital scoliosis. Conclusions: Musculoskeletal screening during PPS identified a broad spectrum of findings in young athletes, including clinically relevant abnormalities requiring specialist evaluation and management. These findings suggest that musculoskeletal assessment may provide an opportunity for early clinical identification within PPS; however, prospective studies are needed to evaluate diagnostic accuracy, long-term clinical benefit, injury prevention, and cost-effectiveness before routine implementation can be recommended.
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BibTeX
@article{vecchiato2026musculoskeletal,
title = {{Musculoskeletal Findings Following Pre-Participation Screening in Young Athletes: A Retrospective Observational Study.}},
author = {Marco Vecchiato and Stefano Palermi and Luisa Ancona and Giulio Barbaro and Giampietro Brontesi and Rosario Conte and Fulvio De Luca and Giulia Foccardi and Luigi Gerbino and Mattia Grassi and Vincenzo Pandolfi and Giulia Quinto and Carlo Sutto and Stefano Varponi and Stefano Bargellesi and Erica Brugin},
journal = {Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jfmk11040413},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924692},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Musculoskeletal Findings Following Pre-Participation Screening in Young Athletes: A Retrospective Observational Study.
AU - Marco Vecchiato
AU - Stefano Palermi
AU - Luisa Ancona
AU - Giulio Barbaro
AU - Giampietro Brontesi
AU - Rosario Conte
AU - Fulvio De Luca
AU - Giulia Foccardi
AU - Luigi Gerbino
AU - Mattia Grassi
AU - Vincenzo Pandolfi
AU - Giulia Quinto
AU - Carlo Sutto
AU - Stefano Varponi
AU - Stefano Bargellesi
AU - Erica Brugin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
JO - Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology
DO - 10.3390/jfmk11040413
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924692
AB - Background: Pre-participation screening (PPS) is widely used to evaluate athletes before sport participation, traditionally focusing on cardiovascular risk prevention. However, musculoskeletal assessment performed during PPS may also allow early identification of biomechanical and structural abnormalities that can affect sport participation during growth. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and management pathways of musculoskeletal alterations detected during PPS in young athletes, with particular focus on referral patterns to pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists. Methods: This retrospective observational study included athletes aged ≤15 years who underwent PPS between January 2022 and December 2023 at the Sports Medicine Unit of Noale (ULSS 3 Serenissima, Venice, Italy). Musculoskeletal screening was systematically performed during PPS. Athletes presenting newly detected abnormalities were either managed conservatively by the sports physician or referred for PM&R evaluation. Clinical indications for referral, imaging investigations, diagnoses, and treatment strategies were analyzed. Results: A total of 707 athletes underwent PPS during the study period. After applying exclusion criteria, 635 athletes were eligible for analysis. Musculoskeletal alterations were identified in 141 athletes (22.2%). Among them, 54 athletes were referred for PM&R evaluation and 40 completed the consultation. No statistically significant differences were observed between referred and non-referred athletes. The most frequent reasons for referral were suspected scoliosis (n = 22), foot alignment disorders n = 18), thoracic hyperkyphosis (n = 5), and lower limb length discrepancy (n = 4). Specialist evaluation resulted in conservative management in most cases, including corrective exercise programs and orthotic interventions, while one athlete required surgical treatment for congenital scoliosis. Conclusions: Musculoskeletal screening during PPS identified a broad spectrum of findings in young athletes, including clinically relevant abnormalities requiring specialist evaluation and management. These findings suggest that musculoskeletal assessment may provide an opportunity for early clinical identification within PPS; however, prospective studies are needed to evaluate diagnostic accuracy, long-term clinical benefit, injury prevention, and cost-effectiveness before routine implementation can be recommended.
SN - 2411-5142
ER -