Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42549193›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of sports physical therapy2026

Accelerated Return to Competition Following a Full-Thickness Abdominal Wall Tear in an Elite Sprinter: A Data-informed Case Report.

Paul Carragher, Frank O'Leary, Kate Kirby, Martina McCarthy, Sarh Jane Cullen, Claire J Brady

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of sports physical therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Paul CarragherInstitute Sport Ireland.
Frank O'LearyInstitute Sport Ireland.
Kate KirbyInstitute Sport Ireland.
Martina McCarthyInstitute Sport Ireland.
Sarh Jane CullenInstitute Sport Ireland.
Claire J BradyInstitute Sport Ireland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Muscle strain injuries are a leading cause of time loss in elite sport. While lower-limb muscle strains are well documented, full-thickness lateral abdominal wall tears involving the external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis are rare in elite sprinting, with limited evidence to guide rehabilitation or return-to-sport decision-making. The purpose of this case report was to describe the rehabilitation and return-to-competition process following a full-thickness lateral abdominal wall tear in an elite international sprinter. # Case Description A 22-year-old elite international sprinter sustained a full-thickness tear of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis during block acceleration. Rehabilitation commenced two days post-injury and emphasized early optimal loading, objective monitoring using trunk force profiling and sprint kinematic assessment, and collaborative decision-making across the medical, coaching, and performance teams. Progression was guided by athlete response and objective performance data rather than predetermined time-based criteria. # Outcomes Pain-free sprinting was achieved within 16 days, unrestricted training resumed by Day 18, and the athlete returned to competition on Day 28, recording a lifetime personal best of 10.08 seconds in the 100 m. Persistent asymmetries remained in selected trunk force measures despite successful return to competition. # Discussion This case report provides a descriptive example of individualized, data-informed rehabilitation following a severe abdominal wall injury and may contribute to ongoing discussion regarding the role of objective monitoring, clinical reasoning, and symmetry restoration in return-to-sport decision-making. # Level of Evidence 4.

Indexed as

abdominal wall injuryoptimal loadingperformance monitoringrehabilitationsprinting

Identifiers

PMID42549193
PMCPMC13431027

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.