Chantal Nguyen

All Publications

• Effects of Supplementation in Masters Athletes and Older Adults: A Narrative Review. Current sports medicine reports Nguyen, C., Allen, M. R., Hornburg, K., Fredericson, M. 2026; 25 (7): 216-223

  Abstract

  Supplementation use in athletes is common and increasing in popularity, especially for adults seeking improvements in athletic performance. However, the effects of supplementation for older adults or Masters athletes in improving athletic performance or musculoskeletal health are less well explored. The aim of this narrative review is to explore common supplements, namely protein, caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine, nitrates, and peptides, including collagen, body protection compound-157, and thymosin-beta 4 and 500, in improving performance or musculoskeletal health in Masters athletes and adults over 55 years of age.

  View details for DOI 10.1249/JSR.0000000000001353

  View details for PubMedID 42385164

• Investigating the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence-enhanced physical therapy and home exercise program on knee pain: a pilot study JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Roh, E. Y., Kaufman, M. W., Nguyen, C., Clark, H., Kwon, S. 2026

  View details for DOI 10.21037/jmai-2025-1-166

  View details for Web of Science ID 001779292600001

• International Analysis of Para Versus Able-Bodied Sport Medical and Executive Governing Boards: Exploring the Impact of Physiatry. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation Nguyen, C., Kim, K., Kaufman, M., Agaibi, M., Kathardekar, V., Johnson, F., Luu, S., Tinney, M. 2026; 105 (5): 439-447

  Abstract

  The goal of this paper is to analyze the composition of all 2024 Olympic and Paralympic international sport federations (medical and executive governing boards) and to assess the involvement of physical medicine & rehabilitation physicians (physiatry) on these boards.A comprehensive Google search was performed in December 2024 to analyze all Olympic and Paralympic 2024 sport medical and executive governing boards. Differences in gender, geography, and medical training were assessed.There were more able-bodied medical (29) and executive (43) boards than para medical (4) and executive (29) boards. The majority of able-bodied and para medical board members were physicians specializing in sports medicine. There were significantly more physical medicine & rehabilitation physicians on para medical boards than able-bodied medical boards (odds ratio = 11.2, P  = 0.005). The odds of a physician being a physiatrist was eight times higher in a para medical board than in an able-bodied medical board.International sport federations include medical and/or executive boards which govern safety and logistics of sport participation. There are more physical medicine & rehabilitation physicians involved at the para medical board level, which is in line with an inherent physiatric training background focused on optimizing function and managing medical/sport-related considerations for individuals with disabilities.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002854

  View details for PubMedID 41066091

• Pickleball-related injuries treated at a tertiary academic center over five years: a cross-sectional study. Injury epidemiology Meng, Y., Chen, A., Nguyen, C., Kaufman, M., Li, D., Pham, N., Chou, R., Roh, E. 2026

  Abstract

  Pickleball has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years, accompanied by an increasing number of reported injuries among players. Our aim is to determine the epidemiology of pickleball-related injuries at a single academic center and evaluate patient-specific factors such as incidence and type of injury, mechanisms of injury, and treatment outcomes.This is a cross-sectional study at a tertiary academic outpatient orthopedic and physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic. We reviewed 164 cases of patients presenting with pickleball-related injuries from 2019 to 2023 involving the shoulder (n = 23), elbow (n = 8), wrist/hand (n = 30), hip/thigh (n = 9), knee (n = 52), foot/ankle (n = 32), and spine (n = 10). Independent variables included age, gender, and hand dominance. Outcome measures included injury type, laterality, treatment modality, and follow-up duration. Demographic and epidemiologic data were analyzed, and comparisons between injury characteristics were performed using appropriate statistical tests (Fisher's exact tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests).The most common pickleball-related injuries included lateral epicondylitis at the elbow (75%), rotator cuff tears at the shoulder (70%), distal radius fractures after a fall at the hand/wrist (60%), Achilles tendon tears at the foot/ankle (50%), radicular pain and spinal stenosis at the spine (50% each), medial meniscus tears at the knee (48%), and hamstring strain or rupture and iliopsoas tendinitis at the hip/thigh (33% each).Rates of injury were similar between male and female players except in the hand/wrist, which was higher among female players (77%). Non-paddle side injuries in the upper extremity occur disproportionally higher in the hand/wrist (52%) when compared to the shoulder (7%) or elbow (17%) (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in laterality for lower extremity and spine injuries.As pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America, the incidence of pickleball-related injuries has risen dramatically. Characterizing the wide spectrum of musculoskeletal injuries unique to pickleball may inform athletes on injury prevention considerations and allows for targeting modifiable risk factors.

  View details for DOI 10.1186/s40621-026-00673-6

  View details for PubMedID 41981700

• A Rock Climber's Encounter With Gravity Causing a Real Pain in the Butt. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation Nguyen, C., Dykowski, S., Fredericson, M. 2026; 105 (2): 184-187

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002866

  View details for PubMedID 41082266

• Clinical Recommendations for Female Para and Adaptive Athletes: Perspectives from Current Literature. Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America Nguyen, C., Tinney, M. J. 2026; 37 (1): 117-136

  Abstract

  Female Para and adaptive athletes face health disparities affecting sport performance, clinical health, and well-being unique to the intersection between sex and disability. A guideline to comprehensive clinical care for female Para and adaptive athletes, including discussion regarding concussion, mental health, cardiorespiratory, body composition/nutrition, endocrinologic, gynecologic/urologic, and musculoskeletal factors, are summarized in this article. Data from large epidemiologic studies investigating the role of gender in injury/illness outcomes are additionally summarized, thus providing context on trends disproportionately facing this population.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.pmr.2025.08.016

  View details for PubMedID 41207720

• Increasing Access to Physical Activity Opportunities for Patients: A Review. American journal of lifestyle medicine Nguyen, C., Abbott-Frey, A., Anaya Gallegos, A. D., Kaufman, M., Noordsy, D., Oppezzo, M., Fredericson, M. 2025: 15598276251348174

  Abstract

  Physical activity has been shown to improve health outcomes, decrease risk of medical comorbidities, and improve longevity. Despite these known benefits, most individuals do not meet the recommended national exercise guidelines for physical activity. This paper identifies individual and community-level factors impacting engagement in physical activity, thus focusing on solutions to address common barriers to exercise and optimize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for physical activity. Afterward, several cases within one large academic institution and its affiliates illustrate recent endeavors to improve access to physical activity and highlight future opportunities for growth in all communities.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/15598276251348174

  View details for PubMedID 40485746

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12141265

• Focused Review of Sleep Wearable Technology and Its Application in Sports Performance. Current sports medicine reports Kaufman, M. W., Shetty, M., Nguyen, C., Abas, J., Fredericson, M., Zeitzer, J. 2025; 24 (6): 171-176

  Abstract

  Sleep is a critical component of quality of life, recovery, and performance both physically and cognitively. Tracking sleep with wearables is increasingly prevalent among individuals; the data that are retrieved from these wearables, however, is of unclear relevance. To update this space, literature was reviewed to examine the implications for good and bad sleepers, the current shortcomings of wearables, their current status usage and literature reports in sports medicine, and the future benefits that these devices may have for athletes and nonathletes alike. Wearables have good performance in detecting sleep but have greater difficulty in discerning between quiet wakefulness and early stages of sleep. The use of summative scores in consumer wearables is opaque, which should make sports medicine providers skeptical of their clinical utility. There is ample opportunity for wearables to be clinically useful and research opportunities to better explore the bidirectional relationship between daytime athletic performance and sleep.

  View details for DOI 10.1249/JSR.0000000000001258

  View details for PubMedID 40472156

• Chronic Low Back Pain in a Trapeze Artist-No More "Mousing" Around. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation Nguyen, C., Oh, R. C. 2025; 104 (4): e61-e62

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002615

  View details for PubMedID 39120978

• Diagnostic ultrasonography of upper extremity dynamic compressive neuropathies in athletes: A narrative review. International orthopaedics Nguyen, C., Chou, R. 2025

  Abstract

  This narrative review identifies and summarizes current evidence for diagnostic ultrasonographic evaluation of upper extremity dynamic compressive neuropathies affecting athletes.Relevant literature was identified using the PubMed database and then summarized.The compressive neuropathies affecting athletes we identified included: neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, pectoralis minor syndrome, quadrilateral space syndrome, suprascapular nerve entrapment, proximal median nerve entrapment or bicipital aponeurosis/lacertus fibrosus (lacertus syndrome), radial tunnel syndrome, and cubital tunnel syndrome. Symptoms may develop only during specific sport activity, after specific sport-related trauma, or in setting of overuse during sport. Diagnostic ultrasound strategies assessing compressive neuropathies focus on static evaluation of nerves and surrounding structures, as well as dynamic evaluation of these structures in certain degrees of shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, or forearm pronation.Ultrasonography can be used as a diagnostic tool in assessing upper extremity dynamic compressive neuropathies. Ultrasound allows for dynamic evaluation of these rare conditions, especially for athletes who primarily develop symptoms during movement or participation in sport.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00264-025-06417-3

  View details for PubMedID 39883178

  View details for PubMedCentralID 2890065

• Minimally invasive needle tenotomy vs. platelet rich plasma injection in the treatment of chronic elbow epicondylitis. JSES international Nguyen, C. T., Lee, M. H., Kaufman, M. W., Meng, Y., Koduri, J. A., Abrams, G., Cheung, E. V., Freehill, M. T., Roh, E. Y. 2025; 9 (1): 231-236

  Abstract

  Medial and lateral epicondylitis, characterized by repetitive microtraumas to common flexor and extensor tendons, respectively, are common causes of elbow pain in adults. Though symptoms are generally self-limiting, 10% of cases are refractory to conservative management, persisting for greater than 18 months, and leading to surgery, which can have increased risk of complications. There is minimal data on sustained pain relief and functional benefit for newer nonsurgical management options, such as minimally invasive needle tenotomy (MINT), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for chronic elbow epicondylitis. Additionally, no previously established correlation exists between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) severity of chronic epicondylitis with pain and functional improvement in MINT- and PRP-treated patients.A retrospective review of 51 adults (n = 23 for MINT; n = 28 for PRP) was conducted to investigate long-term outcomes in pain relief (via visual analog scale or VAS) and improvements in upper extremity function (via quick disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire or qDASH). These outcomes were correlated with radiographic evidence of epicondylitis severity, assessed by the grade of epicondylitis and percentage thickness of tendon tears.There were significant improvements in pain (VAS), but no significant differences in function (qDASH) following MINT and PRP. On average, VAS score improved by 2.6 (P < .001) post-MINT and by 3.8 (P < .001) post-PRP combined for all follow-up time points. No adverse events were reported over the entire study. A significantly higher percentage of patient-reported pain relief was noted post-MINT at all follow-up time points. VAS and qDASH outcomes post-MINT and post-PRP were not correlated with the initial MRI severity of epicondylitis.There are multifactorial benefits of both MINT and PRP as safe, nonopen surgical modalities that can be used, despite MRI severity, to provide sustained pain relief for patients with refractory elbow epicondylitis.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jseint.2024.08.183

  View details for PubMedID 39898191

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11784263

• Supporting a lifetime of fitness for the military veteran athlete: a narrative review. Frontiers in sports and active living Tinney, M. J., Nguyen, C. 2024; 6: 1510422

  Abstract

  The military veteran starts their career at peak physical fitness. Once injured or retired, physical activity for the veteran is integral to rehabilitation, recovery, and ongoing wellness. This may require adaptation for continued participation in physical activity. The military veteran, in the United States, has access to resources which can facilitate ongoing physical activity, engagement in competitive and recreational sports, no matter what age or ability. Reviewing the current literature will help understand the scope of programs available, their outcomes, and strategies employed to support a lifetime of fitness that may be applied to other populations and health care systems.

  View details for DOI 10.3389/fspor.2024.1510422

  View details for PubMedID 39726773

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11669501

• Accuracy of ultrasound-guided iliopsoas tendon injection after total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective observational study. Journal of ultrasound Kaufman, M. W., Nguyen, C., Meng, Y., Roh, E. 2024

  Abstract

  To describe and characterize the accuracy and benefit of a technique for performing ultrasound-guided needle placement for iliopsoas peritendon or bursa injections as an alternative method to fluoroscopic guidance.Patients with a history of total hip arthroplasty who were referred by their orthopedic surgeon for iliopsoas peritendon or bursa corticosteroid injection for iliopsoas impingement syndrome between June 2017 and December 2019 were eligible for inclusion. Of these patients, 19 received a total of 26 ultrasound-guided needle placement followed by confirmatory fluoroscopic guidance prior to injection. Pre-injection and post-injection VAS scores were collected to monitor pain. Additionally, the patients were followed for 6 months via chart review after their injection to assess for complications, need for repeat injections, and progression to surgical intervention. The accuracy of a longitudinal in-plane distal to proximal approach to ultrasound guided needle placement was then evaluated.Ultrasound guided needle placement using a longitudinal in-plane distal to proximal approach demonstrated spread of contrast material in the intended anatomic location with fluoroscopic confirmation in patients who underwent iliopsoas peritendon or bursa injection post total hip arthroplasty.Ultrasound guided needle placement using a longitudinal in-plane distal to proximal approach can be an effective alternative technique for diagnostic or therapeutic iliopsoas peritendon injection in patients with total hip arthroplasty.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s40477-024-00904-w

  View details for PubMedID 39107567

• Analysis of Common Exercise Modalities in Improving Athletic Performance in Older Adults: A Narrative Review. Current sports medicine reports Nguyen, C., Kaufman, M., Vallejo, A., DeParis, S., Friedlander, A., Frehlich, L., Fredericson, M. 2024; 23 (6): 245-252

  Abstract

  Exercise leads to robust cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and psychological benefits that improve quality of life and longevity for older adults, but accompanying improvements in athletic parameters are less well explored. The aim of this review is to summarize some of the most common exercise modalities, namely, Pilates, martial arts (tai chi, Japanese-style karate, hard martial arts), locomotion (brisk walking/jogging and running), Masters sports, resistance training, and high-intensity interval training, in improving athletic performance for older adults. Regular participation in these activities can have robust yet unique impacts on physical performance that prolong exercise participation. In particular, this review will explore benefits in cardiorespiratory fitness, power, strength, flexibility, and balance, thereby hopefully improving endurance, exercise adherence, and overall fall risk. A narrative literature review was performed to explore benefits, pitfalls, and recommendations for some of the most popular exercise modalities for older adults.

  View details for DOI 10.1249/JSR.0000000000001175

  View details for PubMedID 38838688

• Analysis of Common Exercise Modalities in Improving Athletic Performance in Older Adults: A Narrative Review CURRENT SPORTS MEDICINE REPORTS Nguyen, C., Kaufman, M., Vallejo, A., DeParis, S., Friedlander, A., Frehlich, L., Fredericson, M. 2024; 23 (6): 245-252

  Abstract

  Exercise leads to robust cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and psychological benefits that improve quality of life and longevity for older adults, but accompanying improvements in athletic parameters are less well explored. The aim of this review is to summarize some of the most common exercise modalities, namely, Pilates, martial arts (tai chi, Japanese-style karate, hard martial arts), locomotion (brisk walking/jogging and running), Masters sports, resistance training, and high-intensity interval training, in improving athletic performance for older adults. Regular participation in these activities can have robust yet unique impacts on physical performance that prolong exercise participation. In particular, this review will explore benefits in cardiorespiratory fitness, power, strength, flexibility, and balance, thereby hopefully improving endurance, exercise adherence, and overall fall risk. A narrative literature review was performed to explore benefits, pitfalls, and recommendations for some of the most popular exercise modalities for older adults.

  View details for Web of Science ID 001706576000001

  View details for PubMedID 38838688

• Subscapularis Recess Ganglion Cyst: An Uncommon Cause for Anterior Shoulder Pain in a Recreational Tennis Player. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation Nguyen, C., Lumetta, K., Chou, R. 2024

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002546

  View details for PubMedID 38726962

• Evaluation of range of motion using vision artificial intelligence (AI) in musculoskeletal medicine JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Meng, Y., Lee, M., Clark, H., Nguyen, C., Kwon, S., Schultz, S., Pham, N., Schirmer, D., Roh, E. Y. 2024; 7

  View details for DOI 10.21037/jmai-24-58

  View details for Web of Science ID 001538057400040

• Posterior intra-articular hip injections: a pilot study investigating a new approach. Journal of ultrasound Kaufman, M. W., Nguyen, C., Meng, Y., Roh, E. 2024

  Abstract

  The purpose of this study was to investigate a novel posterior intra-articular hip injection approach while discussing the clinical pearls for methodology, accuracy, and associated adverse events. The goal was to investigate if this approach could potentially be used in those where the typical anterior access would be challenging.10 adults (age > 18 years) who were referred to a tertiary outpatient clinic for hip injection due to hip osteoarthritis or femoral acetabular impingement with labral tearing to a single academic sports medicine clinic. Patients were placed in prone position. Posterior structures were identified using a curvilinear transducer. A 22 gauge 3.5-6-inch spinal needle was advanced in-plane to the transducer towards the hip capsule at the head-neck junction of the femur from inferolateral to superomedial. A fluoroscopic arthrogram was obtained to evaluate needle placement accuracy. Location of the needle, direction of contrast flow, the rate of conversion to an anterior portal, and adverse events were analyzed.A fluoroscopic arthrogram was obtained after the first attempt in nine patients (90%). One patient (10%) was converted to the anterior approach due to inability to obtain the expected arthrogram. Two patients (20%) demonstrated mild adverse events.Ultrasound-guided posterior approach hip injection is accurate and without serious adverse events in our study. The posterior approach can be considered as an alternative approach for patients who cannot tolerate or may have technical difficulty with an anterior approach.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s40477-023-00863-8

  View details for PubMedID 38311662

  View details for PubMedCentralID 3789916

• Popular Dietary Trends' Impact on Athletic Performance: A Critical Analysis Review. Nutrients Kaufman, M., Nguyen, C., Shetty, M., Oppezzo, M., Barrack, M., Fredericson, M. 2023; 15 (16)

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Nutrition fuels optimal performance for athletes. With increased research developments, numerous diets available, and publicity from professional athletes, a review of dietary patterns impact on athletic performance is warranted.RESULTS: The Mediterranean diet is a low inflammatory diet linked to improved power and muscle endurance and body composition. Ketogenic diets are restrictive of carbohydrates and proteins. Though both show no decrements in weight loss, ketogenic diets, which is a more restrictive form of low-carbohydrate diets, can be more difficult to follow. High-protein and protein-paced versions of low-carbohydrate diets have also shown to benefit athletic performance. Plant-based diets have many variations. Vegans are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies and decreased leucine content, and therefore, decreased muscle protein synthesis. However, the literature has not shown decreases in performance compared to omnivores. Intermittent fasting has many different versions, which may not suit those with comorbidities or specific needs as well as lead to decreases in sprint speed and worsening time to exhaustion.CONCLUSIONS: This paper critically evaluates the research on diets in relation to athletic performance and details some of the potential risks that should be monitored. No one diet is universally recommend for athletes; however, this article provides the information for athletes to analyze, in conjunction with medical professional counsel, their own diet and consider sustainable changes that can help achieve performance and body habitus goals.

  View details for DOI 10.3390/nu15163511

  View details for PubMedID 37630702

• Sternomanubrial Joint Pain Secondary to Ulcerative Colitis Treated with Ultrasound-Guided Injection. PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation Nguyen, C., Stanek, J. L. 2023

  View details for DOI 10.1002/pmrj.13031

  View details for PubMedID 37376805

• Artificial Intelligence System for Automatic Quantitative Analysis and Radiology Reporting of Leg Length Radiographs. Journal of digital imaging Larson, N., Nguyen, C., Do, B., Kaul, A., Larson, A., Wang, S., Wang, E., Bultman, E., Stevens, K., Pai, J., Ha, A., Boutin, R., Fredericson, M., Do, L., Fang, C. 2022

  Abstract

  Leg length discrepancies are common orthopedic problems with the potential for poor functional outcomes. These are frequently assessed using bilateral leg length radiographs. The objective was to determine whether an artificial intelligence (AI)-based image analysis system can accurately interpret long leg length radiographic images. We built an end-to-end system to analyze leg length radiographs and generate reports like radiologists, which involves measurement of lengths (femur, tibia, entire leg) and angles (mechanical axis and pelvic tilt), describes presence and location of orthopedic hardware, and reports laterality discrepancies. After IRB approval, a dataset of 1,726 extremities (863 images) from consecutive examinations at a tertiary referral center was retrospectively acquired and partitioned into train/validation and test sets. The training set was annotated and used to train a fasterRCNN-ResNet101 object detection convolutional neural network. A second-stage classifier using a EfficientNet-D0 model was trained to recognize the presence or absence of hardware within extracted joint image patches. The system was deployed in a custom web application that generated a preliminary radiology report. Performance of the system was evaluated using a holdout 220 image test set, annotated by 3 musculoskeletal fellowship trained radiologists. At the object detection level, the system demonstrated a recall of 0.98 and precision of 0.96 in detecting anatomic landmarks. Correlation coefficients between radiologist and AI-generated measurements for femur, tibia, and whole-leg lengths were>0.99, with mean error of<1%. Correlation coefficients for mechanical axis angle and pelvic tilt were 0.98 and 0.86, respectively, with mean absolute error of<1°. AI hardware detection demonstrated an accuracy of 99.8%. Automatic quantitative and qualitative analysis of leg length radiographs using deep learning is feasible and holds potential in improving radiologist workflow.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10278-022-00671-2

  View details for PubMedID 35794502