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At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effects of different sports on bone density and muscle mass in highly trained athletes.

PURPOSE: It is known that participating in sports can have a beneficial effect on bone mass. However, it is not well established which sport is more beneficial for increased bone mineral density (BMD) and appendicular muscle mass (AMM). This study investigated the effects of different high-intensity activities on BMD and AMM in highly trained athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two male subjects aged 18--25 yr participated in the study. The sample included judo (J; N = 21), karate (K; N = 14), and water polo (W; N = 24) athletes who all competed at national and international level. Twelve age-matched nonathletic individuals served as the control group (C). All athletes exercised regularly for at least 3 h x d(-1), 6 d x wk(-1). Segmental, total BMD, and AMM were measured with a dual-energy x-ray (DXA) absorptiometry (Lunar Corp., Madison, WI). DXA analysis also includes bone mineral content (BMC) and fat and lean masses. RESULTS: Total BMD(C) was significantly lower (mean +/- SD: 1.27 +/- 0.06 g x cm(-2), P < 0.05) than either judo or karate athletes (total BMD(J) (1.4 +/- 0.06 g x cm(-2)) and total BMD(K) (1.36 +/- 0.08 g x cm(-2))) but not different from the W athletes (total BMD(W) (1.31 +/- 0.09 g x cm(-2))). AMM was significantly lower in the C group compared with the three athletic groups (P < 0.05). Fat mass was higher in the W versus J and K athletes but not different from the C group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study has shown that athletes, especially those engaged in high-impact sports, have significantly higher total BMD and AMM than controls. These results suggest that the type of sport activity may be an important factor in achieving a high peak bone mass and reducing osteoporosis risk.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2002

Hematological indices and iron status in athletes of various sports and performances.

PURPOSE: Alterations of the red blood cell system and iron metabolism can influence physical performance. On the other hand, exercise can influence hematological variables. The purpose of this epidemiological study was to investigate the characteristics of the red blood cell system and the iron metabolism in athletes of different sporting disciplines and at different levels of performance. METHODS: We studied 851 male subjects (747 athletes, 104 untrained controls). Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cell count (RBC), iron, transferrin, ferritin (Fer), and haptoglobin were analyzed in standardized blood samples, obtained after 2 d of rest, considering levels of performance (internationally, nationally, locally competitive, and leisure time), distinctive sporting category (endurance- (END), strength- (POW), and mixed-trained (MIX)), and, within endurance athletes, distinctive disciplines (cycling (CYC) and running (RUN)). RESULTS: No difference was found between athletes and controls in Hb and Hct. Reduced Hb, Hct, and RBC levels were observed in END compared with POW and MIX. These findings can mainly be attributed to exercise-induced plasma volume expansion, and only to a lesser degree and in selected athlete populations to hemolysis, as low haptoglobin is only observed in RUN, not in CYC, suggesting that not exercise itself but the "traumatic" movement of running might trigger the destruction of red blood cells. Physical activity of increasing duration and workloads (leisure time compared with competitive athletes) leads to decreased Fer levels in athletes, disregarding their discipline, but more pronounced in RUN. CONCLUSION: Physical training itself has no significant effect on selected hematological variables in athletes compared with untrained controls. The specific type and duration of exercise is of major importance in the adaptations of the blood cell system and the iron metabolism.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗
PubMed2002

Absence of training-specific cardiac adaptation in paraplegic athletes.

PURPOSE: The distinctive nature of left ventricular (LV) adaptation reported in able-bodied endurance- and power-trained athletes probably reflects the different hemodynamic loading patterns that occur during acute exercise. The exercise-induced hemodynamic loads in spinal cord injured athletes are different to those in able-bodied counterparts (lower venous return and stroke volume, higher heart rate). We sought to test the hypothesis that wall thickness, but not chamber dimension, would be larger in endurance- and power-trained spinal cord injured athletes compared with sedentary spinal cord injured subjects. METHODS: We undertook resting two-dimensional, motion-mode, and Doppler examinations of 11 power-trained, 10 endurance-trained, and 5 sedentary spinal cord injured volunteers and compared structural and functional LV data by using ANOVA. LV structural data were also analyzed after being scaled to body mass (BM)(0.33). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences among groups for any of the LV structural or functional measurements. However, there was a trend for larger mean wall thickness (0.95 +/- 0.12 vs 0.83 +/- 0.10 cm) and left ventricular mass (193 +/- 57 vs 164 +/- 66 g) in athletes compared with sedentary individuals. CONCLUSION: It seems unlikely that endurance and power training elicits distinctive patterns of LV enlargement in spinal cord injured athletes. Small adaptations of the left ventricle may occur with athletic training in the spinal cord injured athlete. Research within this population is complicated by extreme heterogeneity in important physical, physiological, and athletic-related variables.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1996

Substance use and other health risk behaviors in collegiate athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To (a) determine the prevalence of alcohol and other drug use, and health risk behaviors among a general university population; and (b) compare health risk-taking behaviors between genders, and varsity athletes and their non-athlete peers. DESIGN: Descriptive survey of multiple health risk behaviors, including physical, mental health, alcohol and other drug, and sexual risk taking. SETTING: Two large midwestern universities. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 86% of 1,210 eligible students (271 athletes and 775 nonathlete peers) completed a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire during team meetings or class sessions. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences between gender and athlete status were assessed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics for the following variables, determined by questionnaire responses: physical risk, mental health, alcohol and other drug use, and sexual behaviors. RESULTS: Common risk behaviors in the entire collegiate sample included riding in a car with a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, driving and swimming under the influence of alcohol, binge drinking, and low rate of condom use for all types of sexual intercourse. Risk-taking behaviors varied by gender, with men showing more risk behaviors than women, except for suicide and sexual behaviors. Male athletes had a higher prevalence of risk behaviors than their male nonathlete counterparts, in contrast to female athletes, who had fewer risk behaviors than their female nonathlete counterparts. CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous studies, results of the present study show, when results are stratified by gender, that not all athletes engage more frequently than nonathletes in high risk behaviors. Results suggest that educational and early intervention strategies to decrease risk may need to be tailored according to gender and athletic status.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

NCAA study of substance use and abuse habits of college student-athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the substance-use patterns of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes for alcohol, amphetamines, anabolic steroids, cocaine/crack, ephedrine, marijuana/hashish, psychedelics/hallucinogens, and smokeless tobacco. DESIGN: Self-reported, anonymous, retrospective survey. PARTICIPANTS: Male and female student-athletes from 30 sports competing at 991 NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Respondents were queried about their use of eight categories of substances in the previous 12-month period. In addition, data were collected regarding substance use according to team, ethnicity, NCAA Division, reasons for use, and the sources for drugs. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 64.3% with 637 of 991 schools reporting with usable data on 13,914 student-athletes. For the eight categories of substance use, alcohol was the most widely used drug in the past year at 80.5%, followed by marijuana at 28.4%, and smokeless tobacco at 22.5%. Although anabolic steroid use was reported at 1.1% overall, some sports demonstrated higher use, and 32.1% obtained their anabolic steroids from a physician other than the institution's team physician. There were wide variations in the pattern of substance abuse according to sport. The results were also analyzed according to division, and it was found that the likelihood of alcohol, amphetamines, marijuana, and psychedelics use is highest in Division III. In addition, the probability of ephedrine use is highest in both Division II and III, while Division II had the highest likelihood of cocaine use. Finally, the results were analyzed according to ethnicity and we found that the likelihood of use of smokeless tobacco, alcohol, ephedrine, amphetamines, marijuana, and psychedelics is highest for Caucasian student-athletes. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates a wide variation of use across NCAA divisions and sports, as well as among ethnic groups. The majority of student-athletes engage in substance use, especially alcohol. According to the survey, substance use is highest among Division III student-athletes and also among Caucasians. By examining reasons for use, the study will assist professionals in designing specific interventions for various substances. This study provides a methodology for surveying a large number of NCAA student-athletes, which will be repeated every 4 years to identify trends in substance abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Effects of intranasal budesonide on symptoms, quality of life, and performance in elite athletes with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess change in symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and performance ability before, during, and after treatment with budesonide in a group of Olympic and Paralympic athletes with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR/C). DESIGN: Because budesonide has already been proven to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment of SAR/C(1), an open-label treatment format was used. SETTING: The study was community-based with participating athletes preparing for Olympic competition. PARTICIPANTS: Olympic and Paralympic athletes were screened for the presence of SAR/C using history and positive skin test results for pollen allergens. INTERVENTIONS: All were offered treatment with intranasal budesonide, applied to each nostril, once daily for eight weeks. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Symptom and medication diaries were completed before treatment and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Similarly, Quality of Life (QOL) was measured with the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire. As a secondary outcome measure, the ability to train and compete was assessed using a performance diary. RESULTS: Of the 236 athletes eligible for the study, 145 (61%) agreed to participate. Forty-six percent of the athletes who were dispensed treatment did not return questionnaires. For those returning questionnaires, scores between baseline (week 0) and weeks 4 and 8 were calculated for total symptoms, QOL, and performance scores. There were statistically significant improvements in symptoms, QOL, and performance scores in athletes who used intranasal budesonide. CONCLUSION: SAR/C is a common condition and has demonstrable negative effects on athletes. Better education of coaches and athletes is necessary to ensure that the condition is correctly diagnosed and treated, with safe, effective, permitted medication.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed2006

Endothelial function in post-menopausal former elite athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize endothelial function in postmenopausal former elite athletes in comparison to sedentary controls and to study the influence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on endothelial function in these groups of women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research unit at a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty postmenopausal former elite but still active endurance female athletes and 19 age-matched sedentary controls. The group of athletes and control subjects were each subdivided into two groups on the basis of utilization or non-utilization of HRT involving estrogen and gestagen. METHODS: Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) was employed as an indicator of endothelial function. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for lipids and body composition determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FMD, blood lipids and body composition. RESULTS: Former elite athletes not utilizing HRT demonstrated the highest FMD of all four subgroups, their values being significantly higher than those of control subjects not utilizing HRT (P < 0.05), whereas this difference was not seen between the subgroups of athletes and control subjects using HRT. Serum levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the percentage of fat mass were significantly lower in the former elite athletes than in the control group (P < 0.05 in all cases). However, these variables were not related to FMD. CONCLUSION: This investigation documents enhanced endothelial function in postmenopausal former elite endurance athletes not utilizing HRT, whereas the use of HRT equalizes FMD in former athletes and sedentary control subjects. Our findings suggest that long-term strenuous exercise has beneficial effects on endothelial function in postmenopausal women but that no further improvement can be obtained with HRT.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2005

Use of the preparticipation physical examination form to screen for the female athlete triad in Canadian interuniversity sport universities.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to survey universities affiliated with Canadian Interuniversity Sport on existing screening protocols for the female athlete triad, and to identify any potential areas for improvement of this system. DESIGN: Surveys were faxed or e-mailed to Canadian Interuniversity Sport-affiliated universities in Canada, and preparticipation physical examination (PPE)/medical history forms from each institution were analyzed. SETTING: The Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Clinic at the University of Western Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: In 2000, of the 48 universities, 35 responded (73.0% response rate). In 2002, 39 of 49 universities responded (79.6%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Although the majority of institutions surveyed implement a PPE form (80.0% in 2000, 87.2% in 2002), only 70.6% to 75.0% of these institutions actually conduct a follow-up when deemed necessary. However, the number of forms including a specific female section increased from 46.4% in 2000 to 61.8% in 2002. Also encouraging is the percentage of universities attempting to increase awareness of the triad disorders (33.3% in 2002 vs. 14.3% in 2000). It is interesting to note that in over half of the institutions surveyed both years, the athletic therapist or trainer is responsible for analyzing the completed PPE forms. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown substantial improvement from 2000 to 2002 in the development of the PPE across Canada, even in a relatively short period of 2 years. However, this study also demonstrates the lack of uniformity within Canada of the PPE forms. There remains a need to improve the PPE form to target a section of the form specifically to female athletes, or else cases may be missed. The triad is also not found solely in sports where leanness is associated with better performance. Better efforts need to made to increase awareness of the triad and its risks among female athletes, as well as provide educational opportunities for athletic therapists, who are the first line of intervention in many cases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The key to successful prevention and intervention is education. This study demonstrates the need for education for all people directly involved with the athlete, and the need to work together to promote a healthy and realistic body image and increase awareness of the female athlete triad among athletes.

Amenorrhea↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of maximal exercise performance, fatigue, and depression in athletes with acquired chronic training intolerance.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared differences in maximal strength and aerobic capacity and symptoms of fatigue and depression in athletes with acquired training intolerance (ATI) and control athletes (CON) matched for age and current training volume who did not have symptoms of excessive or chronic fatigue associated with their sporting activity. SETTING: University of Cape Town, Sports Science Institute of South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty ATI and 10 CON athletes participated in the trial. Although the ATI athletes reported symptoms of excessive fatigue during exercise, or symptoms of fatigue that occurred at rest and during activities of daily living, they did not fulfill the criteria for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A training and comprehensive medical history was recorded from all subjects. The Beck Depression Inventory Short Form (BDI-SF) was used to assess levels of depression in both ATI and control subjects. Maximal force output during a 5-second isometric voluntary knee extensor muscle contraction, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), maximal heart rate (HRmax), and maximal blood lactate concentrations during a treadmill running test were measured in all subjects. RESULTS: There were no differences in maximal isometric force output, peak treadmill running speed, VO2max, HRmax, or blood lactate concentration at rest or after maximal exercise testing between the ATI and CON athletes. However, the BDI-SF scores were higher in the ATI (7.7 +/- 6.6 arbitrary units) than in the CON athletes (1.7 +/- 1.5 arbitrary units; (P = 0.0052). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the symptoms of excessive fatigue and acquired training intolerance described by these ATI athletes do not affect their maximal isometric and maximal aerobic capacity, and may be associated with psychologic depression in these athletes.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Exhaled nitric oxide during normoxic and hypoxic exercise in endurance athletes.

AIM: Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) through its relaxing effect on smooth muscle cells may be involved in pulmonary gas exchange as well as in the modulation of the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. As athletes with exercise-induced hypoxaemia (EIH) present pulmonary gas exchange abnormalities in normoxia that could be even greater in hypoxia, we hypothesized that pulmonary NO may be lower in such athletes with EIH. METHODS: Eleven athletes with EIH [decrease in arterial oxygen blood partial pressure (PaO2) > 12 mmHg] and 9 without EIH (NEIH) exercised at 40%, 60% (10 min) and 90% (5 min) of normoxic maximal power output (Pmax) in normoxia, and at 40% and 60% (10 min) of Pmax in hypoxia (FiO2 = 15%). Exhaled NO concentration during a constant flow exhalation (FENO(0.170)) and arterialized blood gases were measured at every power output. RESULTS: FENO(0.170) decreased from rest to exercise both in normoxia (-27.8 +/- 22.8% at 90% Pmax, P < 0.001) and hypoxia (-23.8 +/- 17.5% at 60% Pmax, P < 0.001). At 90% Pmax in normoxia, EIH athletes showed lower PaO2 (76.7 +/- 5.4 vs. 82.8 +/- 4.4 mmHg, P = 0.013) and greater FENO(0.170) decrement (-37.0 +/- 24.7% vs. -16.6 +/- 14.6%, P = 0.042) than NEIH athletes. During hypoxic exercise, P(a)O(2) and FENO(0.170) decreases were similar in both groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study shows lower pulmonary NO in athletes with gas exchange abnormalities during intense exercise in normoxia, while EIH and NEIH athletes have similar decreases in blood gases and pulmonary NO during hypoxic exercise. Decreased pulmonary NO in such conditions may contribute to ventilation-perfusion inequality and/or increase pulmonary vascular tone in athletes.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Intrapersonal and interpersonal factors in athletic performance.

Psychologically athletic performance is a multiplicative function of intrapersonal (for example, intrinsic motivation) and interpersonal (for example, social support) factors. It is theorized that the layer immediately surrounding an athlete's inner core of psychological functioning consists of 4 intrapersonal factors: self-motivation, cognitive capacity and coping skills, affective orientation and mental training skills. The layer surrounding these factors is comprised of interpersonal factors, such as social support and the athlete-coach relationship. A theoretical model was advanced to show that competition-generated intrinsic motivation predisposition and social support are the two main properties of the athletic competition context that buffer against increased athletic and life stress. If such buffering effects occur, athletes' physical and psychological capacity is maintained or even enhanced. This in turn promotes continued competitive athletic participation and performance. Maximization of psychological conditions for successful performance requires that coaches foster athletes' intrapersonal and interpersonal psychosocial resources by serving as facilitators of their autonomous self-regulation rather than as controllers of their goals and behaviors.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

Do elite athletes experience low back, pelvic girdle and pelvic floor complaints during and after pregnancy?

The aim of the present investigation was to study prevalence of low back pain, pelvic girdle pain (PGP) and pelvic floor disorders during pregnancy and after childbirth in elite athletes. A postal questionnaire was sent to all elite athletes who had given birth registered with The Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (n=40). Eighty age-matched women served as the control group. The response rates were 77.5% and 57.5% in the elite athletes and control groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of low back and PGP, urinary or fecal incontinence among elite athletes and controls at any time point. The prevalence of low back pain without radiation to the leg in elite athletes was 25.8%, 18.5%, 9.7% and 29% the year before pregnancy, during pregnancy, 6 weeks postpartum and at the time of completing the questionnaire, respectively. The prevalence of PGP was 0, 29.6%, 12.9% and 19.4%. Prevalence of stress urinary incontinence was 12.9%, 18.5%, 29% and 35.5%. None of the elite athletes had fecal incontinence at any time point. There were no differences in mode of delivery or birthweight between elite athletes and controls. The elite athletes had a significantly lower body mass index at 6 weeks postpartum and at present compared with the control group.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Working with young athletes: views of a nutritionist on the sports medicine team.

Athletes are influenced by coaches, other athletes, media, parents, the national sport governing body, members of the sports medicine team, and the athlete's own desire for success. It is impossible, therefore, for one member of the sports medicine team to unilaterally determine workable solutions that enhance performance and diminish health problems in an athlete. A focus on ensuring that the athlete can perform to the best of her ability is a key to encouraging discussion between the nutritionist, athlete, and coach. Using the assumption that health and top athletic performance are compatible, this focus on performance provides a discussion point that all parties can agree to and, if approached properly, also fulfills the nutritionist's goal of achieving optimal nutritional status. Membership on the sports medicine team mandates that the nutritionist know the paradigms and health risks associated with the sport and develop assessment and feedback procedures specific to the athlete's needs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Energy balance in young athletes.

Very little is known about the energy needs of young athletes. Recent studies using the doubly labeled water method have shown that the recommended dietary allowances for energy may be too high for normally active children and adolescents living in affluent societies. No studies of energy balance in young athletes have been published. Self-report dietary records of young athletes indicate that energy, carbohydrate, and select micronutrient intakes of certain athletic groups and individual athletes may be marginal or inadequate. Potential consequences of inadequate energy and nutrient intakes in young athletes include poor bone health, fatigue, limited recovery from injuries, menstrual dysfunction in female athletes, and poor performance. Studies of energy balance and nutrient status in young athletes are needed to better understand the nutritional needs of this group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Effective nutrition support programs for college athletes.

This paper presents an overview of the Husky Sport Nutrition Program at the University of Washington. This program is a component of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Total Student-Athlete Program, an NCAA-sponsored CHAMPS/Life Skills Program that provides life skills assistance to student-athletes. Successful integration of a sport nutrition program requires an understanding of the athletic culture, physiological milestones, and life stressors faced by college athletes. The sport nutritionist functions as an educator, counselor, and administrator. Team presentations and individual nutrition counseling provide athletes with accurate information on healthy eating behaviors for optimal performance. For women's sports, a multidisciplinary team including the sport nutritionist, team physician, clinical psychologist, and athletic trainer work to prevent and treat eating disorders. Case studies are presented illustrating the breadth of nutrition-related issues faced by a sport nutritionist working with college athletes.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Reliability and validity of a brief questionnaire to assess calcium intake in female collegiate athletes.

Calcium intake often is inadequate in female collegiate athletes, increasing the risk for training injuries and future osteoporosis. Thus, a brief and accurate assessment tool to quickly measure calcium intake in athletes is needed. We evaluated the reliability and validity, compared to 6 days of diet records (DRs), of the Rapid Assessment Method (RAM), a self-administered calcium checklist. Seventy-six female collegiate athletes (mean age = 18.8 yrs, range= 17- 21; 97 % Caucasian) were recruited from basketball, cross-country, field hockey, soccer, and volleyball teams. Athletes completed a RAM at the start of the training season to assess calcium intake during the past week. Two weeks later, a second RAM was completed to assess reliability, and athletes began 6 days of diet records (DRs) collection. At completion of DRs, athletes completed a final RAM, corresponding to the same time period as DRs, to assess agreement between the 2 instruments. The RAM demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability over 2 weeks (n= 56; Intraclass correlation [ICC] = 0.54, p < 0.0001) and adequate agreement with DRs (n = 34; ICC = 0.41, p = 0.0067). Calcium intake was below recommended levels, and mean estimates did not differ significantly on the RAM (823 +/- 387 mg/d) and DRs (822 +/- 330 mg/d; p = 0.988). Adequacy of calcium intake from both DRs and the RAM was classified as "inadequate" (<1000 mg/d) and "adequate" (> or = 1000 mg/d). Agreement between the RAM and DRs for adequacy classification was fair (ICC= 0.30, p = 0.042), with the RAM identifying 84% of athletes judged to have inadequate calcium intake based on DRs. The RAM briefly and accurately estimates calcium intake in female collegiate athletes compared to DRs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding hydration and fluid replacement of collegiate athletes.

The purpose of this study was to determine collegiate athletes' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors concerning hydration and fluid replacement. A survey containing questions pertaining to demographics and knowledge, attitude, and behavior on hydration and fluid replacement was distributed to the athletes during team meetings and practices. A total of 139 out of 171 (81.3%) athletes participated in the study. The mean age of the athletes was 19.8 y. The mean score for knowledge, attitude, and behavior was 13.9 +/-1.8, 9.8 +/- 2.2, and 12.4 +/- 2.5, respectively, with higher scores indicating positive hydration knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Significant positive correlation was observed between knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores (P < 0.05). Significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in the reported hydration behaviors between skilled (11.79 +/- 2.08) and endurance (12.71 +/- 2.63) athletes. Most athletes correctly answered the general hydration questions on the survey, but the majority did not correctly answer statements in regards to National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position stands and lacked knowledge regarding appropriate use of sports drink. The results of this study identify specific areas of education for athletes with regards to hydration.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Relation between serum creatinine and body mass index in elite athletes of different sport disciplines.

OBJECTIVES: To document the relation between serum creatinine concentration and body mass index in elite athletes from five different sports, and to study potential differences among athletes performing different sports with different features and requirements. METHODS: Before the start of the competitive season, serum creatinine was measured in 151 elite athletes from five different sports: rugby (n = 44), soccer (n = 27), alpine skiing (n = 34), sailing (n = 22), cycling (n = 24). Pearson's correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relation between serum creatinine and body mass index (BMI). Analysis of variance and unpaired Student's t test were used to compare creatinine concentration and BMI in different sport disciplines. RESULTS: In the whole group of athletes, a positive correlation between serum creatinine and BMI was found (r = 0.48, p<0.001). Significant differences in creatinine concentration and BMI were found between athletes competing in different sports: their mean (SD) values were respectively 1.31 (0.12) mg/dl and 28.83 (2.41) for rugby players, 1.27 mg/dl (0.10) and 23.10 (1.01) for soccer players, 1.15 (0.11) mg/dl and 25.8 (1.50) for skiers, 1.08 (0.11) mg/dl and 26.93 (2.36) for sailors, and 0.91 (0.07)mg/dl and 21.33 (1.21) for cyclists. CONCLUSIONS: There is a correlation between creatinine concentration and BMI in elite athletes competing in different sports characterised by different kinds of training, competitive season, and involvement of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism. Interpretation of creatinine concentrations in male athletes should consider professional status as well as the specific sport performed. All athletes should be monitored with consecutive creatinine assessments, using as the baseline the concentration determined before the start of training and the competitive season, but taking into consideration the specific sport performed and the BMI until equations that include creatinine and factors that affect its concentration are used.

Adolescent↗