J Neurol Res

Journal of Neurology Research, ISSN 1923-2845 print, 1923-2853 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Neurol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://jnr.elmerpub.com

Review

Volume 16, Number 4, December 2026, pages 193-209

An Overview of Peripheral Neuropathies in Sports

↓ **Table 1.** Classification System for Nerve Injuries
Classification (Seddon)	Grade (Sunderland)	Description	Recovery potential
Neuropraxia	Grade I	Focal demyelination or conduction block without axonal interruption	Complete recovery typically occurs within days to weeks
Axonotmesis	Grade II	Axonal disruption, but preservation of the endo-, peri-, and epineurium	Recovery depends on the distance between injury site and target muscles; typically requires months
	Grade III	Axonal and endoneurium disruption; preservation of peri- and epineurium
	Grade IV	Axonal, endo-, and perineurium damage; preservation of epineurium
Neurotmesis	Grade V	Complete nerve transection with disruption of all structural elements	Functional recovery is typically incomplete or absent without surgical intervention

↓ Table 1. Classification System for Nerve Injuries

Classification (Seddon)

Grade (Sunderland)

Description

Recovery potential

Neuropraxia

Grade I

Focal demyelination or conduction block without axonal interruption

Complete recovery typically occurs within days to weeks

Axonotmesis

Grade II

Axonal disruption, but preservation of the endo-, peri-, and epineurium

Recovery depends on the distance between injury site and target muscles; typically requires months

Grade III

Axonal and endoneurium disruption; preservation of peri- and epineurium

Grade IV

Axonal, endo-, and perineurium damage; preservation of epineurium

Neurotmesis

Grade V

Complete nerve transection with disruption of all structural elements

Functional recovery is typically incomplete or absent without surgical intervention

↓ **Table 2.** Summary of Common Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathies and Associated Sports
Condition (nerve)	Key symptoms and characteristics	Common sports
Stingers or burner syndrome (brachial plexus formed by the C5–T1 nerve roots)	Immediate unilateral burning, pain, numbness, and weakness following a dermatomal and myotomal distribution	Football, rugby
Carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve—at the wrist)	Nocturnal paresthesias affecting the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of ring finger, pain radiating proximally, motor weakness affecting thumb opposition and abduction	Wheelchair athletes, cyclists, rowers, weightlifters, and racquet sports players
Pronator syndrome (median nerve—at the proximal forearm)	Activity-related pain in the proximal volar forearm with paresthesias in the median nerve distribution, tenderness over pronator teres, weakness of thumb opposition and flexor pollicis longus	Throwing sports, racquet sports, rock climbing
Cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve—at the elbow)	Intermittent numbness and paresthesias affecting the small finger and ulnar half of ring finger (early), progressive motor weakness, intrinsic muscle atrophy leading to clawing (advanced)	Overhead throwing athletes (baseball pitchers), tennis players, cyclists, wheelchair athletes
Guyon’s canal syndrome (ulnar nerve—at the wrist)	Weakness in finger abduction/adduction and reduced grip strength, sensory changes on the palmar aspect of the small finger and ulnar half of ring finger	Cyclists, baseball catchers, racquet sports players
Posterior interosseous nerve syndrome (radial nerve)	Pure motor symptoms with weakness of wrist and finger extension, persistent lateral elbow pain, radial deviation of the wrist is characteristic	Tennis players, volleyball players, rowers
Suprascapular neuropathy (suprascapular nerve)	Shoulder pain and weakness of abduction and external rotation of the shoulder (suprascapular notch); weakness of external rotation (spinoglenoid notch)	Volleyball players, baseball pitchers, and swimmers
Long thoracic nerve palsy	Scapular winging, shoulder pain, weakness with overhead activities	Contact sports (direct trauma), repetitive overhead motion, heavy lifting

↓ Table 2. Summary of Common Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathies and Associated Sports

Condition (nerve)

Key symptoms and characteristics

Common sports

Stingers or burner syndrome (brachial plexus formed by the C5–T1 nerve roots)

Immediate unilateral burning, pain, numbness, and weakness following a dermatomal and myotomal distribution

Football, rugby

Carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve—at the wrist)

Nocturnal paresthesias affecting the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of ring finger, pain radiating proximally, motor weakness affecting thumb opposition and abduction

Wheelchair athletes, cyclists, rowers, weightlifters, and racquet sports players

Pronator syndrome (median nerve—at the proximal forearm)

Activity-related pain in the proximal volar forearm with paresthesias in the median nerve distribution, tenderness over pronator teres, weakness of thumb opposition and flexor pollicis longus

Throwing sports, racquet sports, rock climbing

Cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve—at the elbow)

Intermittent numbness and paresthesias affecting the small finger and ulnar half of ring finger (early), progressive motor weakness, intrinsic muscle atrophy leading to clawing (advanced)

Overhead throwing athletes (baseball pitchers), tennis players, cyclists, wheelchair athletes

Guyon’s canal syndrome (ulnar nerve—at the wrist)

Weakness in finger abduction/adduction and reduced grip strength, sensory changes on the palmar aspect of the small finger and ulnar half of ring finger

Cyclists, baseball catchers, racquet sports players

Posterior interosseous nerve syndrome (radial nerve)

Pure motor symptoms with weakness of wrist and finger extension, persistent lateral elbow pain, radial deviation of the wrist is characteristic

Tennis players, volleyball players, rowers

Suprascapular neuropathy (suprascapular nerve)

Shoulder pain and weakness of abduction and external rotation of the shoulder (suprascapular notch); weakness of external rotation (spinoglenoid notch)

Volleyball players, baseball pitchers, and swimmers

Long thoracic nerve palsy

Scapular winging, shoulder pain, weakness with overhead activities

Contact sports (direct trauma), repetitive overhead motion, heavy lifting

↓ **Table 3.** Summary of Common Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathies and Associated Sports
Condition (nerve)	Key symptoms and characteristics	Common sports
Peroneal neuropathy (common peroneal nerve)	Foot drop (weakness of ankle dorsiflexion and toe extension), numbness over the lateral leg and dorsum of foot	Soccer, football, other contact sports
Anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome (deep peroneal nerve)	Dorsal foot pain, numbness in the first dorsal web space	Soccer, dancers, runners, skiers
Sciatic neuropathy (sciatic nerve)	Weakness of knee flexion and all ankle/foot movements, sensory loss over posterior thigh, leg (sparing medial aspect), and foot	Runners, cyclists, athletes performing repetitive hip external rotation

↓ Table 3. Summary of Common Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathies and Associated Sports

Condition (nerve)

Key symptoms and characteristics

Common sports

Peroneal neuropathy (common peroneal nerve)

Foot drop (weakness of ankle dorsiflexion and toe extension), numbness over the lateral leg and dorsum of foot

Soccer, football, other contact sports

Anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome (deep peroneal nerve)

Dorsal foot pain, numbness in the first dorsal web space

Soccer, dancers, runners, skiers

Sciatic neuropathy (sciatic nerve)

Weakness of knee flexion and all ankle/foot movements, sensory loss over posterior thigh, leg (sparing medial aspect), and foot

Runners, cyclists, athletes performing repetitive hip external rotation

↓ **Table 4.** Peripheral Nerve Injury Prevention Strategies for Athletes
Strategy	Purpose
Strength and conditioning programs	Targeted programs to increase protection and improve biomechanics (primary prevention) to reduce the risk of injury
Flexibility programs	Complement strengthening; maintaining range of motion to allow for reduced nerve irritation
Technique instruction	Focuses on coaching safe biomechanics and refining form to minimize nerve stress
Equipment optimization	Well-fitted equipment reduces extrinsic nerve compression
Training load management	Variation in training volume and intensity, with adequate rest between sessions; utilized to prevent overuse injuries
Pre-participation screening	Identify athletes at an increased risk for injury (examples: cervical spine imaging, Torg ratio calculation)
Education of warning signs	Facilitates early recognition and intervention, promotes appropriate medical evaluation

↓ Table 4. Peripheral Nerve Injury Prevention Strategies for Athletes

Strategy

Purpose

Strength and conditioning programs

Targeted programs to increase protection and improve biomechanics (primary prevention) to reduce the risk of injury

Flexibility programs

Complement strengthening; maintaining range of motion to allow for reduced nerve irritation

Technique instruction

Focuses on coaching safe biomechanics and refining form to minimize nerve stress

Equipment optimization

Well-fitted equipment reduces extrinsic nerve compression

Training load management

Variation in training volume and intensity, with adequate rest between sessions; utilized to prevent overuse injuries

Pre-participation screening

Identify athletes at an increased risk for injury (examples: cervical spine imaging, Torg ratio calculation)

Education of warning signs

Facilitates early recognition and intervention, promotes appropriate medical evaluation