Welcome to our second quarter recap for Current Sports Medicine Reports (CSMR). The past few months have brought exceptional research and clinical insights directly applicable to your daily practice. Below, we highlight the standout, high-impact articles from April through June 2026 that are shaping the future of our field.
April 2026
Most Influential Article: Functional Testing for Return to Activity with COVID-19 (Shane Hudnall, MD)
- The Content & Impact: This section article establishes a structured, evidence-based framework for functional testing to safely clear athletes returning from COVID-19 infection. It matters profoundly to sports medicine because it provides objective clinical markers to mitigate cardiovascular and respiratory risks, ensuring a safe transition back to peak performance.
Additional Highlight: Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) Syndrome by Aaron L. Moody, MD, delivers an essential CAQ Review on diagnosing and managing FAI, offering clinicians a refined, practical approach to managing this common cause of hip pain.
May 2026
Most Influential Article: Sideline Medical Bag Preparation for Sports Medicine Physicians (Moira Davenport, MD, et al.)
- The Content & Impact: This highly practical section article outlines comprehensive standardization and checklist strategies for sideline medical bags. It is a critical contribution to the field because immediate, organized access to the correct emergency equipment directly dictates outcomes during high-stakes, acute sideline emergencies.
Additional Highlight: Planning Inclusive Mass-Participation Endurance Events (ACES Framework) by Michele Leavitt Weinstein, EdD, introduces a vital framework for expanding accessibility, ensuring event organizers can safely accommodate athletes with impairments.
June 2026
Most Influential Article: Mental Health Emergencies in Sports (Eric C. Daubach, MD, et al.)
- The Content & Impact: This timely CAQ Review tackles the immediate evaluation and management of acute psychiatric crises in athletes. It marks a significant impact by shifting the sports medicine paradigm toward holistic care, equipping clinicians with actionable protocols to handle psychological emergencies as decisively as physical trauma.
Additional Highlight: Non-surgical Treatment of ACL Tears by Martín Roldán-Auffant, MD, et al. reviews the latest evidence on non-operative ACL management, identifying the optimal candidates who can achieve excellent knee stability without undergoing reconstruction.
Thank you for your dedicated readership and commitment to advancing patient care. We look forward to sharing more groundbreaking sports medicine literature with you in the quarters ahead.
Kevin R. Vincent, MD, PhD, FACSM, is a highly respected leader in sports medicine, musculoskeletal health, and rehabilitation, bringing more than two decades of expertise to The Orthopaedic Institute (TOI). As the founder of Florida’s most established and comprehensive Running Medicine Clinic, Dr. Vincent has earned national and international recognition for his work in advancing the performance, health, and safety of runners of all ages and skill levels. His clinical interests include running medicine and sports performance, musculoskeletal health and overuse injury prevention, and strength training and biomechanics. With a passion for evidence-based care, Dr. Vincent has published extensively in the areas of sports medicine, resistance exercise, sports nutrition, and biomechanics. He is also an in-demand speaker, frequently presenting at national and international conferences on running medicine and injury prevention. Dr. Vincent has been a member of ACSM since 1992 and has served as an ACSM vice president and currently serves as the editor-in-chief of Current Sports Medicine Reports and on ACSM’s Clinical Sports Medicine Leadership Committee and ACSM’s Foundation Board.
