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Tennis in the heat : a panel discussion
Pluim, Babette M.; Jay, Ollie; Alsma, Jelmer; Daanen, Hein; Ellenbecker, Todd; Stroia, Kathleen; Hainline, Brian (South African Sports Medicine Association, 2026-02-04)
Tennis is played globally across diverse climates and surfaces, exposing athletes to variable levels of environmental heat stress. With rising global temperatures and more frequent heat events, protecting players’ health has become a major priority in the sport. This panel discussion aimed to synthesize current evidence and expert perspectives on measuring, managing, and mitigating heat stress in tennis, with a focus on harmonizing policies across governing bodies and player groups. Experts from sport science, medicine, and tournament operations reviewed recent advances in heat measurement tools, including the limitations of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and the emergence of tennis-specific heat stress models. Evidence-based cooling strategies—such as ice towels, shaded recovery, and cold-water immersion—were discussed alongside differentiated policy needs for men, women, juniors, seniors, and wheelchair athletes. The discussion further highlighted challenges in achieving effective heat acclimatisation within professional travel schedules and underscored the importance of proactive medical readiness and player education. Enhanced consistency in heat policies, improved access to cooling resources, and continued collaboration between scientists and governing bodies are essential to safeguard player health and performance under increasing environmental heat stress.
Injury prevalence and characteristics among tennis coaches in the Netherlands : a cross-sectional survey
Terink, Rieneke; Baart, Mireille; De Jong, Nynke; Wies, Monika; Pluim, Babette M.; Zwerver, Johannes (BMJ Publishing Group, 2026-04-10)
OBJECTIVES : To describe the prevalence and characteristics of injuries among tennis coaches in the Netherlands and examine associations with individual and occupational factors. METHODS : In this cross-sectional survey, all 1902 licensed tennis coaches in the Netherlands were invited to complete an online questionnaire. Data were collected on injuries during a 2-year recall period, as well as mental health problems, pain-medication use, healthcare utilisation and work-related characteristics. RESULTS : 900 coaches (74.8% men) completed the survey and 37% reported at least one injury in the previous 2 years. Injuries most frequently affected the lower back (19.5%), shoulder (12.0%), knee (11.6%), neck (7.4%) and elbow (6.2%), with overuse injuries accounting for the largest proportion. Injury prevalence did not differ significantly between male and female coaches. Coaches reporting injuries were taller and had a higher body mass index than uninjured coaches, although differences were small. Approximately one-third of coaches reported that injuries interfered with their ability to teach or play tennis. Pain medication use during tennis instruction was reported by 23% of coaches. Among coaches with health problems, 35% consulted a physiotherapist, 35% a general practitioner and 9% attended an emergency department. CONCLUSIONS : Musculoskeletal injuries are common among tennis coaches and most frequently affect the lower back and lower extremities. Many coaches continue teaching despite ongoing injuries and functional complaints, often accompanied by substantial healthcare utilisation and pain medication use. These findings provide insight into the musculoskeletal health burden associated with tennis coaching and highlight the need to include coaches in tennis injury prevention initiatives.
The 2022 Fusarium head blight outbreak in Ethiopia : emerging pathogens, mixed mycotoxins, and interspecies interactions
DeGenring, Liza M.; Gemechu, Ashenafi; Rafiei, Vahideh; Broz, Karen; Regasa, Gizachew H.; Munsamy, Kiara; Yilmaz, Neriman; Dong, Yanhong; Rouse, Matthew N.; Drott, Milton T. (American Phytopathological Society, 2026-03)
As Ethiopia pushes toward self-sufficiency in wheat production, it has escaped large outbreaks of Fusarium head blight (FHB), a disease that threatens wheat production globally. However, in 2022, FHB incidences in Ethiopia rose to 80%, with some areas experiencing 100% disease severity. Here we provide insights into the etiology of this disease outbreak and point toward future directions to mitigate the emerging threat of FHB on a global scale. Although most wheat samples from 2022 exhibited low trichothecene levels, 26% exceeded recommended thresholds and several contained multiple trichothecene variants. We obtained 64 isolates from the outbreak and identified diverse members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) and many Epicoccum species. The FGSC species contributing to the outbreak are rare on a global scale. Genomic analyses reveal that Fusarium aethiopicum has persisted in Ethiopia for decades and shares ancient ancestry with a newly emerged novel species in the FGSC that we formally described as Fusarium kistleri. Single-nucleotide polymorphism–based analyses suggest high clonal fraction among FGSC isolates in Ethiopia, raising questions about a recent population expansion. Our findings reveal that although Epicoccum alone causes minimal disease on wheat, its presence can have a small but synergistic impact on disease symptoms when F. graminearum has already infected. The unique diversity and species composition of the 2022 Ethiopian outbreak underscores the importance of addressing emerging threats in a globalized agricultural economy to secure food safety, food security, and global food equity.
Temperature dependent immunological responses of Spoladea recurvalis exposed to entomopathogenic fungi
Byonanebye, Alex; Khamis, Fathiya Mbarak; Mwangi, Maina; Namikoye, Everlyne Samita; Ajene, Inusa J.; Akutse, Komivi Senyo (Nature Research, 2026-03)
Please read abstract in the article.
Tennis serve biomechanics, joint load mechanics and overuse injuries: a narrative review
Martin, Caroline; Touzard, Pierre; Fourel, Loic; Pluim, Babette M. (Springer, 2026-04)
BACKGROUND : The tennis serve is a fundamental stroke in a player’s performance during matches. But it may be also eminently traumatic as it causes very high joint mechanical loading which can lead to injury regardless of the player’s experience, sex or age. This narrative review aims to synthesize current scientific knowledge on the key factors contributing to changes in joint mechanical loadings during the tennis serve and its potential association with overuse shoulder, elbow, wrist and lower back injuries. MAIN BODY : The databases PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and SPORTDiscus were used to search the related literatures. The publications that evaluated joint mechanical loadings through 3D biomechanical serve motion capture or video analysis in tennis players of all ages, sexes and competitive levels, with or without epidemiological monitoring of injuries were included. Most studies have involved small populations of expert able-bodied male players and focused only on the flat first serve. The results show that multiple factors – including skill level, energy flow, waiter’s serve technique, temporal kinematics, fatigue and racket specifications - seem to influence upper limb and lower back loadings, thereby influencing injury risks. The impact of serve type (kick, slice or flat), leg drive and backswing style (full or abbreviated) on joint loadings remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS : Teaching proper serving technique, choosing appropriate equipment and training conditions can limit the intensity of forces and moments applied on the joints and therefore decrease the risk of injury. However, further research is needed on this topic, especially in under-represented populations such as female, lower-level, juniors, and wheelchair tennis players. KEY POINTS • Various factors, including skill level, energy flow, pathomechanics, racket characteristics, and serving conditions influence lower back and upper limb joint loadings during the tennis serve, impacting the risk of overuse injuries while stance technique has no effect. • The impact of serve type (kick, slice or flat) and backswing style (full or abbreviated) on joint loading, as well as whether an efficient leg drive reduces load, remains uncertain. These questions require further research and debate. • Most studies have involved small populations of expert, able-bodied male players. To fill the gaps and improve the quality of evidence, future research should include broader player demographics, particularly female athletes, lower-level players, juniors, and wheelchair players