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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Muscle fibre composition and glycogen depletion in horses competing in an endurance ride.

An investigation into fibre composition and glycogen depletion pattern within the middle gluteal of 16 horses participating in an 80 km endurance ride was carried out. Although the proportion of slow twitch high oxidative (ST) fibres in the horses varied between 7 and 38 per cent, it was found that the horses with the highest proportion of these fibres usually had the best performance records. The cross-sectional area of the fast twitch low oxidative (FT) fibres was greatest, with the ST and fast twitch high oxidative (FTH) being similar in size. Most marked histological evidence of glycogen depletion after the ride was in the ST fibres, which were apparently totally depleted. A variable degree of depletion was found in both the FTH and FT fibres. Biochemical measurement of muscle glycogen showed a 56 +/- 7.2 per cent (mean +/- SEM) decrease in content.

Animals↗

Spine bone mineral density increases in experienced but not novice collegiate female rowers.

PURPOSE: There is evidence that rowing exercise targets the spine, but the dose of exercise required to build bone is poorly understood. To further explore this topic, we studied the bone response at the spine in novice and experienced female collegiate rowers over their 6-month competitive season. We hypothesized that, with rowing strokes similar between groups during training, experienced rowers would produce greater force at the spine than novices and thus, gain more bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: Subjects included 16 experienced rowers (21.2 +/- 1.2 yr) who had been rowing 26 +/- 10 months and 19 novice rowers (19.5 +/- 0.8 yr) who had been rowing three months and 14 controls (19.2 +/- 1.6 yr). BMD was assessed by DXA at baseline and after the 6-month competitive season. During the season, all rowers participated in the same training program and took approximately the same number of strokes per training session (1000-1200 repetitions). On the 2000- and 6000-m rowing ergometer tests experienced rowers had faster times, indicating that their power output, and thus force production, was greater than novices. RESULTS: In ANCOVA, adjusting for body mass index, age, and initial BMD, the experienced rowers demonstrated a 2.5% increase at the spine that was significantly different than that of the novice rowers, but BMD change scores in the rowing groups were not different than controls. CONCLUSION: Because the number of strokes (repetitions) was similar between rowing groups during training, the higher power output in experienced rowers produced higher forces at the spine over the 6-month period that resulted in gains in spine BMD. These results support the theory that force magnitude is a key variable in osteogenesis.

Adult↗

Challenges of major incident management when excess resources are allocated: experiences from a mass casualty incident after roof collapse of a military command center.

During a military exercise in northern Norway in March 2000, the snow-laden roof of a command center collapsed with 76 persons inside. Twenty-five persons were entrapped and/or buried under snow masses. There were three deaths. Seven patients had serious injuries, three had moderate injuries, and 16 had minor injuries. A military Convalescence Camp that had been set up in a Sports Hall 125 meters from the scene was reorganized as a causality clearing station. Officers from the Convalescence Camp initially organized search and rescue. In all, 417 persons took part in the rescue work with 36 ambulances, 17 helicopters, three ambulance airplanes and one transport plane available. Two ambulances, five helicopters and one transport aircraft were used. Four patients were evacuated to a civilian hospital and six to a field hospital. The stretcher and treatment teams initially could have been more effectively organized. As resources were ample, this was a mass casualty, not a disaster. Firm incident command prevented the influx of excess resources.

Cold Climate↗

[Pattern and risk of injuries of profile athletes in snow boarding].

During winter 1994/95 and 1995/96 a retrospective study was carried out in which datasets supported by questionnaires from 31 female and 64 male professional snowboarders were evaluated. Included were personal data and details of other types of sports. Also the personal style preferred and equipment used was integrated. Particularly of interest were the localization and causes of injury-patterns with the degrees of severity and overexertion disorders. Among the professionals the most frequent injuries occurred in the metacarpals and fingers (37.3%), the shoulder (36.0%), knee joints (33.3%) and the ankles (28%). The predominating pattern of severe joint injuries were capsular/ligament lesions and fractures. Overexertion syndromes in the knee were predominant, followed by thigh and ankle-joint strains. In the alpine group the incidence of injuries and strains, the knee was the most frequent. 75 professionals suffered 195 traumas. In relation to 1000 snowboarding hours, the risk of injury among the professionals is 0.8. Self induced injuries were mostly cause of misjudgement in specific situations (40.1%).

Adolescent↗

[Pathology of injuries due to snow surfing].

The amount of injured snowboarders is increasing each year. The reason is due to the success of snowboarding for teenagers. Accidents occur more during the first hours of practice. Upper limb is the first location: fore-arm breaks and wrist fractures are very common. Elbow and shoulder dislocations also occur often for snowboarders. The location of most injuries for lower leg is the ankle; we found many ankle sprains and astragalus's breaks. The knee sprain is rare unlike alpine ski. Prevention has to be developed to give a better image of this sport, in fact the attitude of the participants is the main reason for the accidents.

Ankle Injuries↗

Exercise and bone mass in young and premenopausal women.

The studies that investigate exercise effects on bone mass in young and premenopausal women are sparse. This population of women represents three distinct subgroups: the young woman just at the end of longitudinal growth, the adult woman who is beginning to lose bone, and the competitive female athlete. The majority of research has focused on the female athlete and most investigators report lower than normal bone mass among women who experience exercise-associated oligo- and amenorrhea. More recent investigations have reported that the type of exercise has a profound effect on bone mineral density and activities that deliver high loads appear to offset the effects of low reproductive hormones. Information gleaned from these studies has important implications for the design of exercise programs to build bone mass in the young adult woman and offset bone loss in the older premenopausal woman.

Adolescent↗

Bone health and prevention of osteoporosis in active and athletic women.

Most studies have found lower bone mass among women with exercise-induced oligomenorrhea compared with eumenorrheic control women and athletes. These findings have important implications regarding increased risk of both stress fractures and premature osteoporosis. Active and athletic women should be encouraged to keep accurate records of their menstrual cycles. Any divergence from normal should be noted and carefully followed. Bone mass evaluation by bone densitometry for women with continued irregularities will allow assessment of skeletal status. Recommendations for treatment can be based, in part, upon these results, and follow-up scans will offer information on treatment efficacy. For athletes experiencing loss of periods accompanied by low bone mass, a decrease in training intensity and volume and an increase in total calories and calcium intake (1200 to 1500 mg/day) may be indicated. The dietary alterations could be accomplished by adding three glasses of skim milk per day to the diet. A program of resistance training designed to increase both muscle strength and mass may improve the skeletal profile of these athletes as well as protect against soft tissue injuries. Finally, estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) may be indicated for those women who are not willing to make changes in their exercise or dietary patterns. Although there are currently no controlled trials that examine the efficacy of ERT for treating these athletes, it is generally accepted that the doses prescribed to postmenopausal women are adequate for reducing bone loss among amenorrheic athletes. It is important that these women be followed with bone mass and serum measurements in order to evaluate the efficacy of the replacement therapy.

Adolescent↗

[Winter sports injuries of the urogenital tract (author's transl)].

During 1964-1974 112 injuries of the urogenital tract caused by winter sports were treated at the University Hospital Innsbruck, Department of Urology. Eighty-eight patients suffered skiing injuries, 20 tobogganing injuries, and one injury each was caused by ski jumping and bobsleighing accidents, two traumas resulted from a fall from a chair lift. On the basis of typical case reports the most common types of trauma of the urogenital tract are demonstrated and the basic mechanisms of the accidents are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the obvious increase of lesions of the external genitalia and the urethra in the last few years caused by the so-called spinning ski, as well as the frequency of kidney traumas, especially in winters with little snow. Tobogganing accidents caused injuries to the kidneys as well as to bladder and urethra. In contrast to traumas caused by skiing, tobogganing injuries were mostly multiple. Analysis of patients records shows an increase of these injuries, which were really not typical for winter sports. The possible reasons as well as their prevention are discussed.

Athletic Injuries↗

In-area and backcountry snowboarding: medical and safety aspects.

Snowboarding is now a well-established winter sport and a popular mode of mountaineering. In-area and backcountry snowboarding are defined, as well as a new term, glisse, that refers to all types of skis and snowboards. New developments in equipment focus on boot and binding systems. Backcountry travel is highlighted, including ascent with snowshoes, skis, a splitboard, and crampons. Injuries are about 4-6 per 1000 snowboarding days. Upper extremity injuries are most often wrist sprains or fractures. Lower extremity injuries are primarily ankle sprains and are generally less severe than knee injuries in skiers. Fracture to the lateral process of the talus has been called snowboarder's fracture. Backcountry injuries include avalanche suffocation and trauma, deep snow immersion asphyxiation, hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, fatigue, acute mountain sickness, and sunburn. Specific recommendations for prevention and safety are discussed.

Ankle Injuries↗

Biomechanical aspects of new techniques in alpine skiing and ski-jumping.

There have been considerable changes in equipment design and movement patterns in the past few years both in alpine skiing and ski-jumping. These developments have been matched by methods of analysing movements in field conditions. They have yielded new insights into the skills of these specific winter sports. Analytical techniques have included electromyography, kinetic and kinematic methods and computer simulations. Our aim here is to review biomechanical research in alpine skiing and ski-jumping. We present in detail the techniques currently used in alpine skiing (carving technique) and ski-jumping (V-technique), primarily using data from the authors' own research. Finally, we present a summary of the most important results in biomechanical research both in alpine skiing and ski-jumping. This includes an analysis of specific conditions in alpine skiing (type of turn, terrain, snow, speed, etc.) and the effects of equipment, materials and individual-specific abilities on performance, safety and joint loading in ski-jumping.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

High-impact exercise promotes bone gain in well-trained female athletes.

Maximizing peak bone mass, as well as reducing its loss after menopause, is important for the prevention of osteoporosis. One mode of activity, gymnastics training, invokes high impact loading strains on the skeleton which may have powerful osteogenic effects. To examine the role of athletic activity, specifically gymnastics, on bone mineral density (BMD) accretion, we monitored longitudinal changes in regional and whole body BMD in collegiate women gymnasts and competitive athletes whose skeletons are exposed to differential loading patterns: runners and swimmers. Two cohorts were studied. Cohort I = 26 gymnasts (19.7 +/- 1.2 years), 36 runners (21.1 +/- 2.7 years) and 14 nonathletic women (19.3 +/- 1.7 years) followed over an 8-month period. Cohort II = 8 gymnasts (18.9 +/- 1.1 years), 11 swimmers (20.0 +/- 2.3 years) and 11 nonathletic women (19.0 +/- 1.2 years) followed over a 12-month period. Lumbar spine (L2-4), femoral neck, and whole body BMD (g/cm2) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. For cohort I, the percent change in lumbar spine BMD after 8 months was significantly greater (p = 0.0001) in the gymnasts (2.8 +/- 2.4%) than in the runners (-0.2 +/- 2.0%) or controls (0.7 +/- 1.3%). An increase in femoral neck BMD of 1.6 +/- 3.6% in gymnasts was also greater (p < 0.05) than runners (-1.2 +/- 3.0%) and approached significance compared with controls (-0.9 +/- 2.2%, p = 0.06). For cohort II, gymnasts gained 2.3 +/- 1.6% at the lumbar spine which differed significantly (p < 0.01) from changes in swimmers (-0.3 +/- 1.5%) and controls (-0.4 +/- 1.7%). Similarly, the change at the femoral neck was greater (p < 0.001) in gymnasts (5.0 +/- 3.4%) than swimmers (-0.6 +/- 2.8%) or controls (2.0 +/- 2.3%). The percent change in BMD at any site did not differ between eumenorrheic and irregularly menstruating athletes. These results indicate that bone mineral at clinically relevant sites, the lumbar spine and femoral neck, can respond dramatically to mechanical loading characteristic of gymnastics training in college-aged women. This occurred despite high initial BMD values and was independent of reproductive hormone status. The results provide evidence to support the view that high impact loading, rather than selection bias, underlies high BMD values characteristic of women gymnasts. Because all athletes underwent resistance training throughout the year of study, muscle strengthening activity did not appear to be a significant factor in the skeletal response observed in gymnasts. We conclude that activities resulting in high skeletal impacts may be particularly osteotropic for young women.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Artificial ski slope injuries: a 1-year prospective study.

Skiing is one of the fastest growing sports in the United Kingdom. A prospective study of 119 patients who sustained injuries while skiing on the Edinburgh artificial ski slope was performed. The ratio of injury of the arm to that of the leg was 4.2:1, which is the reverse of that found with snow skiing. In particular, thumb injuries accounted for 32 per cent of all injuries. Attention is drawn to the high incidence of damage to the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, which is related to the construction of the 'snow slope' matting. The pattern of injury is described and the mechanisms of injury discussed.

Adolescent↗

Recovery from run training: efficacy of a carbohydrate-protein beverage?

Post-exercise nutrition is critical to facilitate recovery from training. To determine if added protein (P) or increased carbohydrate (CHO) differentially improves recovery, eight runners ingested: 6% CHO (CHO6), 8% CHO + 2% protein (CHO-P), and isocaloric 10% CHO (CHO10) following a 21-km run plus treadmill run to fatigue (RTF) at 90% VO2max. RTF was repeated after 2 h recovery. After 24 h, a 5 km time trial was performed. Insulin and blood glucose were higher (P < 0.05) following CHO10 compared to CHO-P and CHO6, but did not affect improvement from the first to second RTF (29.6% +/- 6, 40.5% +/- 8.8, 40.5% +/- 14.5) or 5 km time (1100 +/- 36.3, 1110 +/- 37.3, 1118 +/- 36.5 s). CK was not different, but perceived soreness with CHO-P (2.1 +/- 0.5) was lower than CHO10 (5.2 +/- 0.7). Additional calories from CHO or P above that provided in sports drinks does not improve subsequent performance after recovery; but less soreness suggests benefits with CHO-P.

Adult↗

A noninvasive technique to evaluate human-generated stress in the black grouse.

The continuous development of tourism and related leisure activities is exerting an increasingly intense pressure on wildlife. In this study, a novel noninvasive method for measuring stress in the black grouse, an endangered, emblematic species of European ecosystems that is currently declining in several parts of its European range, is tested and physiologically validated. A radiometabolism study and an ACTH challenge test were performed on four captive black grouse (two of each sex) in order to get basic information about the metabolism and excretion of corticosterone and to find an appropriate enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) to measure its metabolites in the feces. Peak radioactivity in the droppings was detected within 1 to 2 hours. Injected (3)H-corticosterone was excreted as polar metabolites and by itself was almost absent. A cortisone-EIA was chosen from among seven tested EIAs for different groups of glucocorticoid metabolites, because it cross-reacted with some of the formed metabolites and best reflected the increase of excreted corticosterone metabolites, after the ACTH challenge test. Concentrations of the metabolites from fecal samples collected from snow burrows of free-ranging black grouse were within the same range as in captive birds. The noninvasive method described may be appropriate for evaluating the stress faced by free-living black grouse populations in the wild, particularly in mountain ecosystems where human disturbance, especially by winter sports, is of increasing conservation concern.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Physiological aspects and injury in elite Alpine skiers.

Alpine skiing requires aerobic and anaerobic power, muscular strength, and a variety of complex motor abilities including quickness, agility, balance and coordination. There is evidence of variability in physical characteristics between skiers of different events. Generally, successful alpine competitors are taller and heavier than in the past. Greater size, specifically lean mass, may be related to technique changes because of the advent of breakaway poles. Aerobic power, although important, does not discriminate competitors of varying ability categories. Aerobic power is more likely to be a result of conditioning for alpine skiing rather than a profound requirement of the sport. Anaerobic power is important for skiing and both laboratory and field power tests correlate well with performance. Tests that measure explosive and sustained anaerobic power such as the Wingate, vertical jump, 60-second repeated jump, and Margaria-Kalamen stair run are valuable in assessing skiers. On-snow lactate and oxygen consumption measurements further substantiate the need for high anaerobic power. Alpine skiers have very high leg strength compared with other athletes. Isokinetic testing has been used to evaluate dynamic leg strength in skiers, but little is known about high speed dynamic or eccentric strength capabilities. A new mechanism of knee injury that is associated with tibial acceleration has been identified in competitive alpine skiers. A release binding that is sensitive to physiological factors in addition to release forces should be developed. Strength profiling of skiers may also be valuable in evaluating injury risk.

Anaerobic Threshold↗