Supporting morphometric determinants as a basis for the physical culture safety

BACKGROUND: Connective tissue failure is a predisposing factor for retraumatism, post-traumatic musculoskeletal diseases, and disability. The variety and polysystem clinical manifestations of this pathology hinder its prompt identification.

AIM: To identify pathognomonic morphometric determinants of high injury risk and apply them in the examination of individuals engaged in physical culture and sports.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period from October 2018 to March 2023, 117 patients with recurrent musculoskeletal injuries who underwent clinicо-somatometric examination and connective tissue assessment at Sechenov University and the European Osteopathic Clinical Center were recruited. Statistical data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and MedCalc 11.5.00 (Medcalc Software, Belgium).

RESULTS: The rates of dysplastic features were higher in patients with recurrent musculoskeletal injuries than in healthy controls. The morphometric determinants of a high injury risk were determined. In women, these included an asthenic build, joint hypermobility, soft auricles, hyperelastic skin, atrophic striae, telangiectasia, and varicose veins of the lower extremities. In men, these included chest deformities, arachnodactyly, dolichostenomelia, flat-valgus feet, and abdominal muscle diastasis. In the ontogenesis, a significant modification, and accumulation of dysplastic stigmas were noted. Of particular diagnostic value are universal, sex-, and age-independent predictors, which included a gothic palate, kyphoscoliosis, temporomandibular joint crunching during movements, O- or X-shaped legs, and moderate, or high myopia.

CONCLUSIONS: Biomedical support of sports activities should include the mandatory screening of the connective tissues. Timely and rapid diagnostics of the established pathognomonic morphometric determinants of a high risk of injury will help prevent musculoskeletal injuries, post-traumatic diseases, and disability, which are important for the physical culture safety and preservation of public health.