From the Research
The current gaps in sports medicine literature in New Zealand primarily center around limited research on indigenous Māori athlete health outcomes, insufficient longitudinal studies tracking long-term effects of sports injuries, and inadequate investigation into female athlete-specific issues, as highlighted in recent studies 1, 2, 3.
Key Gaps in Sports Medicine Literature
- Limited research on concussion management protocols specific to New Zealand's sporting population, with minimal research comparing the effectiveness of various rehabilitation approaches for common sports injuries like ACL tears in the New Zealand context 1
- Insufficient research on the physiological impacts of training at different altitudes within New Zealand's varied topography, and limited studies examining the nutritional needs of New Zealand athletes across different sporting disciplines
- Mental health research specific to New Zealand's sporting culture remains underdeveloped, with few studies addressing the unique psychological challenges faced by athletes in this region
- Minimal research on injury prevention strategies tailored to New Zealand's most popular sports and limited investigation into how environmental factors specific to New Zealand affect athletic performance and recovery
- A recent scoping review with an evidence gap map of stretching studies in healthy athletes identified significant gaps in the literature, including limited representation of elite-level athletes, underpowered sample sizes, and a lack of research on dose-response relationships and injury prevention 2
Priorities for Future Research
- Investigating the effects of early specialisation and sport volume on musculoskeletal injury in New Zealand children, as recent studies have suggested that exceeding recommended sport participation volumes may increase the odds of reporting a history of gradual onset injury 3
- Developing concussion tools adapted for use in primary care, integrated with patient management software, and supporting pathways to optimise patient recovery, as recommended by a recent study on knowledge and management of sport-related concussion in primary care in New Zealand 1
- Addressing the unique challenges faced by indigenous Māori athletes and female athletes in New Zealand, including investigating their specific health outcomes, injury risks, and nutritional needs
- Conducting longitudinal studies to track the long-term effects of sports injuries and investigating the effectiveness of various rehabilitation approaches for common sports injuries in the New Zealand context.