Sports Sciences Commons^™

Herniated Nucleus Pulposus Radiculopathy In Athletes, Elizabeth G. Massel

Capstone Showcase

Herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), commonly referred to as intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation, is the second most common cause of neck and back pain, and most common cause of radiculopathy. The purpose of this CME article is to provide guidance on the medical management and secondary prevention of HNP in athletic populations, and highlight the pathophysiological process of mechanical overload putting athletes at a proportionately higher risk of the disease. It will address the unique pathophysiology of overuse-related HNP, as opposed to underuse, with the mechanical overload on vertebral discs associated with many sports. It will also review, with more emphasis …

Speed, Agility And Power Potential Of Young Basketball Players, Denis Causevic, Semir Masic, Ivor Doder, Kestutis Matulaitis, Seth Spicer, Ahmed Gawash

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background. As basketball constantly evolves, physical performance becomes more and more important. Physical fitness assessments are the most reliable way to find out at what level a basketball player is prepared to perform. Therefore, the main aim of this research was to determine if the speed, agility and power of under-16-year- old (U16) basketball players is related to their playing positions.

Methods. The study included (n = 40) young basketball (aged 14.99 ± 0.84 years) players. The variables included height, body mass, body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), the percentage of body fat (BF%), the counter movement jump (CMJ), …

Body Composition Of Young Soccer Players, Denis Causevic, Seth Spicer, Ahmed Gawash

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Purpose: The main aim of this study was to examine and analyze the body composition of young soccer players across different age groups.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 126 young soccer players divided by age categories U15 – 53 players (age=14.68±0.47); U17 – 51 players (age=16.47±0.50); U19 – 22 players (age=18.05±0.38). Body height for all subjects was measured by anthropometer, while body composition was measured by digital scale TANITA BC-420MA.

Results: On average, soccer players in the U-15 group had significantly lower body height, weight, body mass index, and fat free mass than U-17 and U-19 players …

A 12-Year Retrospective Analysis Of Vo2max Values In College-Aged Student Athletes, Michelle Wilson, Scott Swanson

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

OBJECTIVE
To examine VO₂max values in a cohort of exercise physiology students over a 12-year time period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT
Student’s VO₂max values were examined for the effects of gender (males vs. females) and athletic status (athlete vs. non-athlete). Significance was set at p

How Can Cognitive Science Contribute To Sport? How Can Sport Contribute To Neuroscience?, Slawomir Kujawski, Agnieszka Kujawska

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: In this mini-review we would like to focus on common points of neuroscience and sports science. We will shortly describe a few parts of this unity namely; nerve conduction studies, cognitive profiles of sportsmen and an influence of physical training on cognitive functioning. We want to emphasize the importance of so far conducted research: on the one hand, its application in the methodology of sport training, and on the other hand, expanding the field of knowledge in neuroscience. Material/Methods: Analysis of articles in the EBSCO database using keywords: athletes, sportsmen, cognitive tests, physical training, elderly, psychological traits, cognitive profile. …

Vertical Jump Peak Power Estimation In Young Male Gymnasts, Andrzej Kochanowicz, Bartłomiej Niespodzinski, Jan Mieszkowski, Kaizmierz Kochanowicz, Mariusz Zasada

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The course of match actions is definitely gaining pace and dynamics because offensive and aggressive styles of the game are preferred. So there is no doubt that an appropriate level of competitors’ physical preparation has a fundamental meaning. The goal of the research was to determine changes in special fitness efficiency. Material/Methods: The research was based on a group of 16 tennis players aged 10 training tennis in the annual training cycle. In order to evaluate the level of special fitness efficiency, two tests reflecting physical fitness were used: “The game against the wall” and “The test of 100 …

Sensitivity To Pain And Strategies Of Coping With Stress In Combat Athletes, Katarzyna Leznicka, Anna Starkowska, Agnieszka Lulinska, Magdalena Kowalczyk

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

The aim of the study was to assess the perception of pain (threshold and tolerance to pain of the combat athletes in comparison to those not practicing any sport and checking whether there is a correlation between the pain perception and strategies for coping with stress in both studied groups. The study was conducted on 273 healthy men. The test group consisted of 203 athletes; the control group consisted of 70 students from the Faculty of Physical Culture, University of Szczecin. The test of the threshold and pain tolerance was performed using an algometer manufactured by Quirumed Company. To assess …

Posture Of Adolescent Male Handball Players Compared To Non-Athletes, Malgorzata Grabara

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the posture and somatic parameters in adolescent male handball players compared to non-athletes and determine whether a relationship exists between the posture and the volume of training and/or its frequency. Material/Methods: Sixty-eight adolescent male handball players and sixty-nine non-athletes aged 15–18 were examined. The posture was evaluated by the moiré method. Results: Handball players exhibited smaller and less frequent asymmetries compared to the nonathletes. Statistically significant differences were found in the position of shoulder blades (p < 0.05) and pelvic alignment in the frontal (p < 0.001) and transverse (p < 0.05) planes. The spinal shape in the sagittal plane did not differentiate the training subjects from nonathletes. The study also revealed weak correlations between the training period and a deviation of the spinous processes (r = 0.25), a symmetry of the shoulder blades (r = 0.25), and an inclination angle of the thoracolumbar segment (r = -0.26). No correlations were observed between the training frequency and posture parameters. Conclusions: It can be concluded that despite the predominance of asymmetric elements, handball training does not negatively affect the posture in the frontal and transverse planes.

Muscle Bloodflow As An Indicator Of Anaerobic Threshold In Young Athletes – A Near Infrared Spectroscopy Study, Maciej Chroboczek, Magdalena Jakubowska, Sylwester Kujach, Marcin Luszczyk, Radoslaw Laskowski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: In this study we evaluated the effect of exercise with increasing intensity until exhaustion on muscle tissue oxygenation in children. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis that a decrease in muscle indirect blood flow (O2Hb) predicts the anaerobic threshold determined by analysis of ventilation parameters. Material/Methods: Five, young, school-aged tennis players were engaged in this study (age 16.2 ±1.63 years, VO2max 56.7 ±2.00 ml · kg-1 · min-1). Changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHB), blood volume (tHb = HbO2 + HHB) and muscle tissue oxygenation (TOI%) in the right vastus lateralis muscle, using a near-infrared spectrometer were recorded. …

Macronutrients And Water – Do They Matter In The Context Of Cognitive Performance In Athletes?, Ewa Karpecka, Barbara Fraczek

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Proper nutrition is a key factor in physical performance, but there are also indications of an impact of dietary components on the brain function. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the impact of macronutrients and water on cognitive performance. Assumptions of the Mediterranean diet correlate with better global cognition, episodic memory, lower risk of cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. In turn, a high-fat and high-sugar diet shows the opposite effect. Omega-3 fatty acids could be used as a preventive tool for cognitive decline, but there is still insufficient evidence if supplementation improves cognitive functions. The proper intake …

Emotional States Of Athletes In The First Lockdown Due To Covid-19: A Comparison Of Polish And Spanish Samples, Dominika Wilczynska, David Alarcon Rubio, Patrycja Sliwinska, Jose Carlos Jaenes

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Introduction: The situation of the coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of many athletes from different disciplines. Therefore, the present study investigated the impact of Covid-19 first lockdown on emotional states and motivation of athletes from Spain and Poland. Material and methods: Polish male (N=24) and female (N=94) and Spanish male (N=81) female (N=95) athletes were investigated. The respondents did online ad hoc questionnaires, namely Emotional and Adaptative reactions during confinement (COVID-19-RECOVID-19), and Profile of Mood States (POMS). Results: Significant differences were observed in training conditions by country, with the Polish sample having higher scores than Spaniards. Stressing thoughts characterized …

Positive Body Image Among Polish Elite Athletes, Aleksandra Budzisz, Krzysztof Sas-Nowosielski

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: This study aimed to analyze factors differentiating body appreciation among Polish elite athletes. Material and Methods: Participants were athletes, both men and women (N=408), who completed questionnaire BAS-2. Results: In general, men had a better perception of their body than women (p<0.01). Higher appreciation of the body was visible among women sprinters, opposite to volleyball players (p <0.03). Indirect competition for women was connected to higher body appreciation (p<0.05). Gender and individual/team sport also significantly differentiated appreciation of the body (p<0.02). Furthermore, training frequency in a week differentiated body appreciation (p<0.03), as well as characteristic of sports performance [indoor sports, and higher in water sports (p<0.02)]. Conclusions: Results suggest that not only the common category of the sport type – aesthetic, technical, strength – differentiates the body image. Equally important for differences in body appreciation is also gender, sport discipline, and background of sport training: frequency per week, the character of competition (direct-indirect), individual/non-individual competition, or characteristic of sports performance.

The Relationship Between Scapular Endurance And Core Endurance In Elite Amputee Football Players, Gurkan Gunaydin

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity

Background: Body structure constitutes a kinetic chain with thoracolumbar fascia and this chain may induce a relationship between scapular and spinal stabilizers. Amputee soccer players use crutches during the game and, considering that the crutch use may also activate different muscle groups, the possibility of the relationship between scapular and spinal stabilizers becomes important for organizing training programs. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between scapular endurance and core endurance in elite amputee players. Material and methods: Fifteen male amputee national football team players took part in the study. The players’ scapular endurance was evaluated by …

Preventive Training Program Feedback Complexity, Movement Control, And Performance In Youth Athletes, Hayley J. Root, Eleanor M. Beltz, Julie P. Burland, Jessica C. Martinez, R. Curt Bay, Lindsay J. Distefano

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Context: Preventive training programs (PTPs) reduce injury risk by improving movement control. Corrective feedback is important; however, many cues at once may be too complicated for athletes.

Objective: To compare movement control and long-jump (LJ) changes in youth athletes participating in a season-long PTP, with simplified feedback, traditional feedback, or a warmup of the coaches' choosing.

Design: Cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Soccer fields.

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 420 athletes (simplified feedback = 173, traditional feedback = 118, and control = 129; age = 11 ± 3 years).

Intervention(s): Teams were randomized into the simplified PTP, traditional PTP, …

Effectiveness Of Two Frequently Used Screening Tools In Identifying Depression And Anxiety In Collegiate Athletes, Adriana C. Isacke Do, Amy Haskins Phd, Christina Holt Md, Msc, Williams Dexter Md, Facsm

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Introduction: To determine whether the Electronic Pre-participation Physical Examination (EPPE), a proprietary and frequently used tool, is an effective method for depression and anxiety screening in the collegiate athlete population as compared to the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4).

Methods: College athletes at a Division III university completed PHQ-4 questionnaires and a proprietary EPPE. Positive reponse rates to depression and/or anxiety for both questionnaires were collected and analyzed with a kappa (κ) statistic.

Results: Among 420 students, we found that 9 (2%) reported depression and/or anxiety via the EPPE. Of the 26 students (6%) who answered positively on the PHQ-4, we …

Myocardial Work Index: A Novel Method For Assessment Of Myocardial Function In South Asian Recreational Athletes, Shantanu Sengupta, Renuka Jain, Nitin Burkule, Susan Olet, Bijoy K. Khandheria

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: We used a novel noninvasive method based on speckle-tracking echocardiography to evaluate myocardial performance in South Asian recreational athletes who completed a half marathon.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed on 24 recreational athletes 48 hours before they took part in a half marathon (premarathon), within 2 hours of half marathon completion (postmarathon), and 72 hours after completion. Clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic variables were collected. Speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed in all subjects to characterize myocardial mechanics.

Results: Mean age of participants was 41.8 ± 7.4 years, and 23 (95.8%) were male. No subject had a prior history of coronary artery …

Efficacy Of High-Performance Vision Training On Improving The Reaction Time Of Collegiate Softball Athletes: A Randomized Trial, Diana R. Feldhacker, Whitney Lucas Molitor, Ashley Athmann, Molly Boell, Angela Kaiser, Ashley Musch, Logan Willhite

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Purpose. A well-developed visual system is integral to the dynamic nature of sport performance among collegiate athletes. Occupational therapists play an important role in addressing an athlete’s visual skills through incorporating meaningful occupation, in this case sport, into interventions while addressing specific client factors. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of occupational therapist led high-performance visual training in improving the reaction time of collegiate softball athletes. Method. A mixed method approach was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data were collected to assess athlete perceptions of sport, and quantitative data were collected using …

Assessment Of Social Support Among High School Athletes, Courtney Zarnick, Laura Harris, Janet Simon

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

In volume 4, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professional Research Abstracts, as well as Bachelor Student REsearch Abstracts and Case Reports.

Thank you for viewing this 4^th Annual OATA Special Edition

Sleep Deprivation Affecting Athletic Performance, Candace Dubetz, Andrea Cripps

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

In Volume 3, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professionals abstracts, as well Under Graduate student research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 3^rd Annual OATA Special Edition.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Programmes For Low-Risk Patients And Leisure Athletes: A Potential Paradox, Wendy Bjerke, Stu Steinman, Vincent Cotto

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Background: Athletes are enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes in small numbers and require unique diagnostic testing and training considerations. Additionally, many physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, athletic trainers and physicians lack experience treating athletes in CR due to their limited exposure to these types of patients. Content: This analysis distinguishes athletes from typical CR patients within the context of diagnostic testing, assessment, exercise prescription, and management. Several case studies present unique challenges and approaches to the rehabilitation of athletes in a CR setting. Conclusions: Athletes enrolled in CR should be treated and trained according to their abilities and goals. Combining traditional …