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At least 1,225 records · Page 68Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament injury in high school and college athletes.

The anterior cruciate (ACL) is the most frequently ruptured ligament of the knee. Some authors have suggested that excessive internal tibial rotation concomitant with hyperpronation of the subtalar joint during stance and inherent knee joint laxity may predispose an athlete to knee injury. Over a period of 2 years, we identified 14 ACL-injured football players and eight ACL-injured female basketball players and gymnasts. We matched them by sport, team, position, and level of competition with 22 athletes without history of ACL injury. Measures of navicular drop, calcaneal alignment, and anterior knee joint laxity with a KT-1000 were obtained from the uninjured knee of the ACL-injured athletes and compared with measures obtained from the ACL-noninjured athletes. ACL-injured athletes had greater amounts of navicular drop, suggesting greater subtalar pronation and greater anterior knee joint laxity. Discriminant analysis and multiple regression indicated that these variables correctly predicted injury status for 87.5% of the females and for 70.5% of all cases. These results suggest that the more an athlete pronates and the greater the anterior knee joint laxity, the greater the association with ACL injury.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Prediction of Academic Achievement in an NATA-Approved Graduate Athletic Training Education Program.

The Purpose of this investigation was to determine which information used in the applicant selection process would best predict the final grade point average of students in a National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) graduate athletic training education program. The criterion variable used was the graduate grade-point average (GPAg) calculated at the completion of the program of study. The predictor variables included: 1) Graduate Record Examination-Quantitative (GRE-Q) scores; and 2) Graduate Record Examination-Verbal (GRE-V) scores, 3) preadmission grade point average (GPAp), 4) total athletic training hours (hours), and 5) curriculum or internship undergraduate athletic training education (program). Data from 55 graduate athletic training students during a 5-year period were evaluated. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that GPAp was a significant predictor of GPAg, accounting for 34% of the variance. GRE-Q, GRE-V, hours, and program did not significantly contribute individually or in combination to the prediction of GPAg. The results of this investigation suggest that, of the variables examined, GPAp is the best predictor of academic success in an NATA-approved graduate athletic training education program.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

The importance of state regulation to the promulgation of the athletic training profession.

States regulate professions to protect the public from harm by unqualified practitioners. Without regulation of athletic trainers (ATs), there is no legal way to assure quality health care to athletes because there is no legal definition as to what an AT can and cannot do. Problems exist, however; 1) ATs nationwide may not be adequately familiar with state regulations; 2) without regulation, legal support is given to high schools to use less qualified persons to care for student-athletes; 3) more education is needed to familiarize the public and the health care industry with the functions and qualifications of a certified AT; and 4) without uniformity of regulation, athletes may continue to suffer as untrained and/or unqualified persons continue to be perceived as members of the profession and as certified and noncertified ATs continue to practice without legal sanction, perhaps beyond their area of expertise. This article encompasses both a literature review and an opinion survey (of ATs) with regard to state regulation of the athletic training profession. The intent of this article is to help ATs understand the implications of state regulation on our profession. A survey was mailed to 500 ATs across the country soliciting opinions on state regulation and its implication of the profession of athletic training. The intent of the survey results are not to verify the literature review nor to infer information regarding other ATs, but merely to be a gathering tool to solicit information from fellow ATs.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

A Model for a Policy on HIV/AIDS and Athletics.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected athletes exist at the collegiate level and are engaging in competitive sports, as was revealed by a 1993 NCAA survey. Unfortunately, there is a void when the issue of policy for the HIV- positive athlete and his or her participation rights at the collegiate level is addressed. Given the controversial nature of opinion on HIV and the resultant acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), it is recommended that a policy be in place for an HIV-infected athlete before it is needed. Ithaca College has recently developed such a policy, and it is offered here to other educational institutions as a model. It is emphasized throughout the policy that HIV-positive athletes should not be restricted from athletic participation for the reason of infection alone, that strict confidentiality guidelines should be followed, and that mandatory testing of athletes for HIV is not justified.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Establishment of normative data on cognitive tests for comparison with athletes sustaining mild head injury.

OBJECTIVE: To provide normal data for comparison with objective measures of an athlete's cognitive ability after mild head injury (MHI). SUBJECTS: Seventy-two Division I college athletes. DESIGN AND SETTING: Athletes were assessed on three test dates (two days apart) in a sports medicine research laboratory. MEASUREMENTS: Normative data were collected on four cognitive tests (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Stroop Test, Reitan Trail-Making Tests, and Wechsler Digit Span Tests). RESULTS: A repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant learning effects on all tests except the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test. A high correlation was noted between the Stroop and the Trail-Making Tests. CONCLUSIONS: These normative data can be used as comparisions to provide an objective measure of an athlete's cognitive ability following MHI. By adding this test battery to the athlete's other physical and neurologic tests, the decision to return an athlete to competition after MHI can be made with greater confidence and with less risk of reinjury.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Management of rotator cuff and impingement injuries in the athlete.

OBJECTIVE: To review current concepts of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of rotator cuff and impingement injuries in the athlete. DATA SOURCES: The information we present was compiled from a review of classic and recently published material regarding rotator cuff and impingement injuries. These materials were identified through a search of a personal literature database compiled by the authors, as well as by selective searching of the MEDLINE. In addition, much of the information presented represents observations and opinions of the authors developed over 8 to 10 years of treating shoulder injuries in athletes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Biomechanics of the normal shoulder and pathophysiology of rotator cuff injuries in the athletic population are discussed, followed by a summary of the important diagnostic features of rotator cuff and impingement injuries. The principles of rehabilitation are extensively presented, along with indications and important technical aspects of selected surgical procedures. General principles and specific protocols of postoperative rehabilitation are also summarized. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Rotator cuff and impingement injuries in the athletic population are multifactorial in etiology, exhibiting significant overlap with glenohumeral instability. Nonoperative treatment is successful in most athletic patients with rotator cuff and impingement injuries. When nonoperative treatment fails, arthroscopic surgical techniques such as rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression may be successful in returning the athlete to competition.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

High school athletic departments as sentinel surveillance sites for community-associated methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging infection in athletes. Our study assessed MRSA burden in Texas 4A and 5A high school athletic departments by contacting 447 licensed athletic trainers (LATs) regarding skin infections in athletes; 186 (41.6%) responded. Sixty LATs reported MRSA in their athletic departments. The largest MRSA outbreak (23 infected persons) occurred in football players. The trainers also reported MRSA in wrestlers, volleyball players, cross-country runners, nonathlete students, and adults. Students and adults involved in high school athletics require MRSA intervention because of their large numbers and extensive contacts. Physicians should be aware of the potential for MRSA and should culture rather than treat empirically, communicate with school health staff to maximize surveillance for affected students when MRSA occurs in their student community, and contact their health department when the number of students with MRSA meets the unusual group expression, outbreak, or unusual severity criteria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Bone mineral density of the calcaneus in 70- to 81-yr-old male athletes and a population sample.

Bone mineral content (BMC/W) and density (BMD) were studied in 70- to 81-yr-old active male endurance-trained (long-distance runners, cross-country skiers, N = 67), strength-trained (throwers, weight-lifters, N = 14), and speed-trained (sprinters, jumpers, N = 16) athletes. A population sample of similar age (N = 42) served as a control group. The measurements were performed at the calcaneus by single-energy photon absorption. The endurance-trained athletes had higher bone width and depth, and the strength and speed-trained athletes higher bone depth than the control subjects. The three groups of athletes showed 19-28% higher BMC (g.cm-1) and BMC/W (g.cm-2) than the control group (P less than 0.01-0.001). When the results were corrected for bone depth by assessing BMD (g.cm-3), the mean differences between the athletes and controls were 11-16% (P less than 0.05-0.01, not significant for the strength group). The highest BMD values were associated with moderate training for running and cross-country skiing. BMD did not correlate with serum total testosterone, but there was a negative correlation between BMD and sex hormone binding globulin and a positive correlation between BMD and the free androgen index in the endurance group. The results indicate that athletes having a long-term training history and being still active at over 70 yr of age preserve superior trabecular bone mass compared with the average male population of the same age.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1991

[Coronary risk factors in high-rank athletes].

PURPOSE: To report the prevalence of coronary risk factors in elite athletes. METHODS: The prevalence of coronary risk factors was determined in 88 athletes (62 men and 26 women) who participate representing Brazil, in the Olympic Games at Seul in 1988, in the Project SEUL/COB/AMIL. The risk factors analyzed were: family history of coronary heart disease, hypercholesterolemia (total-cholesterol and subfractions), hypertension, glucose intolerance, smoking and left ventricle hypertrophy (LVH). We compared the mean values of total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol between men and women with unpaired Student's t Test. The distribution of risk factors prevalence by sex was analysed with the chi-square test. RESULTS: Family history of coronary heart disease was detected in 11 (12.5%) athletes. Smoking was found in 12 (13.6%) athletes. There was no one with hypertension or glucose intolerance. LVH was diagnosed with the echocardiogram, in 36 athletes (40.9%). Total-cholesterol mean was 172 +/- 36 mg/dl in men and 187 +/- 34 mg/dl in women. HDL-cholesterol mean was 46 +/- 10 mg/dl in men and 60 +/- 13 mg/dl in women. Total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol mean was 4.02 +/- 1.39 mg/dl in men and 3.21 +/- 0.74 mg/dl in women. The difference between total-cholesterol in mean and women was not statistically significant (p less than 0.05). HDL-cholesterol and total-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol means were statistically different (p less than 0.05). Prevalence distribution of the number of risk factors by sex were not statistically different (p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results shows how important is to look for coronary risk factors in elite athletes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Bronchial asthma in high-performance athletes].

Bronchial asthma is as frequent among high performance athletes as in the general population. We requested information from 2961 athletes of national or international level about these matters and received 2060 answers. From these, we identified 146 athletes (7.1%) with exercise-related deep respiratory airways symptoms. Athletes subject to hay fever (42%) suffer significantly more often (p less than 0.001) from such symptoms during exercise. 80% of these 146 cases had an insufficient diagnostic investigation and/or were treated with medicines unsuited to their needs or even not treated at all. Of particular interest, athletes who additionally had hay fever also received inadequate treatment, even though it is well known that they are subject to enhanced bronchial irritability during the pollen season. As a rule, athletes with exercise-related respiratory problems should be advised to abstain from smoking, especially if they suffer from an atopy-like illness, such as hay fever.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Development and testing of a carbohydrate monitoring tool for athletes.

Improving carbohydrate intake in athletes will increase muscle glycogen storage. This in turn can improve exercise time and performance by delaying fatigue. However, planning and consuming a diet that contains 60% to 70% carbohydrate is difficult for most athletes. To develop a simple carbohydrate monitoring tool for athletes, we analyzed three sets of 3-day diet records from 17 male endurance runners over a 10-week competitive period and 9 female endurance runners over a 9-week training period. We then developed a simple carbohydrate monitoring tool. To validate the instrument, we compared each athlete's carbohydrate intake as estimated using the instrument with the athlete's actual carbohydrate intake from the 3-day diet records. Mean estimated percents of energy from carbohydrate using the carbohydrate monitoring tool were not significantly different from the actual mean carbohydrate intakes. Examination of individual diets showed that the estimated carbohydrate was always within 2% of the actual carbohydrate. Therefore, the instrument did a good job of estimating the percent of energy from carbohydrate in the diets of endurance runners. This instrument will provide a quick method by which the athlete can assess and improve carbohydrate intake on a daily basis without the use of daily diet records.

Diet↗
PubMed1991

[Pulsatile release of gonadotropins in athletic women].

In athletic women menstrual disorders such as luteal insufficiency, oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea are often seen. It has been suggested that such disorders may be related to hypothalamic-pituitary axis insufficiency caused by physical activity. To investigate the mechanism by which the disorder is promoted, episodic gonadotropin secretion was studied in 10 athletic women (normal ovulatory, 5; short luteal, 5) and 6 non-athletic controls. In the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, blood samples were obtained through an indwelling venous catheter at 15-minute intervals for 4 hours. The concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean LH and FSH concentrations in the athletic groups were lower than those in the control group. LH pulse frequencies in the short luteal group were 2.8 +/- 0.2 times/four hours (mean +/- standard error) and decreased compared with that of the control group (3.7 +/- 0.2 times/four hours; p less than 0.001). The LH pulse amplitudes of all three groups were similar. Pulsatile FSH secretion was also observed in all the women. Dynamism of FSH was the same as that of LH except for low pulse amplitude in the athletic groups. These data suggest that hypothalamic-pituitary axis insufficiency, especially of hypothalamic origin may be caused by athletic activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The incidence of hay fever in leading Swiss athletes].

This enquiry covers 2961 active Swiss athletes of national or international standing in 68 different sports. Of these, 2060 (70%; 1507 males, 552 females) answered the questionnaire. 347 athletes (16.8%) indicated they suffered from hay fever, 204 of them (59%) needing medication during the pollen season. 25% took antihistamines, 20% various nasal decongestants, 19% Similasan, a homeopathic drug, and 11% various eye drops. 6% received injections of depot corticosteroid preparations. 50% of the athletes obtained these medications on prescription. 146 athletes (7.1%) complained of lower respiratory tract symptoms, 77 of them mentioning asthma attacks and 47 continuous dyspnea. The enquiry shows that the incidence of hay fever in highly trained athletes is as high as in the general Swiss population. The same is true of asthma. A considerable proportion of allergic athletes are inadequately informed as to both antiallergic therapy and doping regulations.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neuromuscular adaptations during short-term "normal" and reduced training periods in strength athletes.

Neuromuscular adaptations during a 2-week "normal" strength training period followed by a 1-week reduced training period were investigated in ten strength athletes. No systematic changes were observed in the maximal voluntary neural activation (averaged integrated EMG) of leg extensor muscles, in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the QF muscle or in maximal voluntary isometric force production characteristics of the leg extensor muscles in the whole subject sample over the entire strength training period of 3 weeks. However, significant increases were observed both in the maximal neural activation (p less than 0.05) and maximal force (from 4547 +/- 613 to 4923 +/- 901 N; p less than 0.05) of the muscles at the very end of the 1-week reduced training period in group A which consisted of five best strength athletes within the whole subject group. In group B consisting of five other athletes at a lower level no systematic changes were observed during the reduced training period. The present findings suggest that neuromuscular adaptations in strength athletes are very limited in magnitude at least during short term strength training. Maximal strength performance in highly trained strength athletes may be brought to the peak level not necessarily during "normal" strength training but more likely after some period of time with a reduced volume of training. The present observations support the concept of the periodization of training in highly trained strength athletes and indicate the important role of the nervous system in leading to the peak in their maximal strength.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A nutrition survey of a group of athletes with particular reference to magnesium, zinc and copper intake, and to the relative intra- and extra-cellular levels].

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dietary habits in a group of athletes (footballers) compared with sedentary subjects matched for sex, age and body mass index. All subjects kept a record of food eaten for seven consecutive days using various models for portion sizes. Daily nutrient intake was then computed and was expressed as either total intake, or percent of the recommended daily dietary allowances (LARN). For each subject, a 20-ml blood sample and a 24h urine sample was collected for analysis of magnesium, zinc and copper. The three elements were measured both in plasma and in erythrocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. The athletes eat significantly more sheets than controls (22.5% of total kcal vs 15.2%, p less than 0.01) and significantly less cereals (22.5% vs 31.7%, p less than 0.01). Concerning the nutrient composition, in both groups the lipid intake was higher than that recommended and this trend was more pronounced in the athletes (+ 43.2% vs + 16.1% in the controls). In addition, the diet was particularly rich in animal fats with a mean intake of 21.0% of total kcal in the athletes and 20.9% in the sedentary group (recommended value was 12.5% and 14%, respectively). A parallel reduction in vegetal protein intake was observed in the trained group, and the difference was significant (4.3% of kcal in the athletes and 5.2% in the controls, p less than 0.01). Furthermore, in the athletes the soluble carbohydrate intake was higher than the recommended levels (+ 110%) and significantly higher than that eaten by the controls (21.0% vs 16.4% of kcal, p less than 0.01), with parallel decrease of polysaccharides intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Analysis of the diastolic function of the left ventricle by Doppler echocardiography in athletes engaged in competitive sports activities].

In order to assess left ventricular diastolic function in elite athletes we studied 24 athletes (mean age 21 +/- 5 years) with the echo-Doppler technique. The control group consisted of 14 healthy males (mean age 24 +/- 6 years) and 99 patients (mean age 50 +/- 14 years) with primary or secondary left ventricular hypertrophy. The following variables were calculated: age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, septal and posterior wall thickness, left ventricular volume and dimensions, myocardial mass index and mass/volume ratio, left ventricular end-systolic and peak systolic stress, RR interval, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), early (E) and late (A) peak flow velocity, E/A ratio, time and rate of deceleration of early diastolic flow. Compared with the normal subjects significant differences were observed with regard to systolic blood pressure, left ventricular wall thickness, myocardial mass, mass/volume ratio and peak systolic stress in the athlete group. In spite of a noticeable increase in myocardial mass indexes, all the diastolic function parameters were normal in the athletes. In this group a linear positive correlation between rapid filling indexes, ventricular mass and mass/volume ratio exists. These correlations are not present in the patients group. Moreover a linear negative correlation between RR interval and late diastolic flow velocity was found. In conclusion, the global diastolic ventricular function, evaluated with the echo-Doppler technique, is normal in athletes in spite of an increase in ventricular mass. Th early diastolic flow velocity is in direct proportion with mass increase and may represent one of the physiological mechanisms of the athlete heart adaptations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Drug-related emergencies in athletes.

Drug use among athletes, both amateur and professional, is a problem that will remain with us. Athletes will use the drugs that are considered recreational by the general population as well as some that may help them in their individual sport. Team physicians, coaches, and trainers must be aware of the most frequently used and abused drugs, their side effects, interactions, and emergency management. In addition, they must be aware of their athletes who have a drug-related problem in order to advise them and get appropriate medical help. Remember that an athlete may have a significant drug problem yet continue to function well on the team. Early recognition and intervention may save one or many lives. The following are the responsibilities for coach, trainer, and team physician: (1) know what drugs athletes use and their pharmacology; (2) know one's limitations and how to access community resources; (3) know the laws related to drug/ETOH abuse and treatment; (4) understand the management of acute drug ingestion; and (5) know how to be supportive to the athletes.

Doping in Sports↗
PubMed1988

Menstrual status in female athletes: correlation with reproductive hormones and bone density.

To determine whether the changes induced in serum hormone levels by strenuous exercise are accompanied by changes in bone density, we obtained medical, sports, and dietary histories, trabecular bone density, percentage body fat, and serum hormone concentrations in collegiate athletes for comparison with those of college students not involved in organized strenuous exercise. Several important observations emerged from this study of collegiate athletes. First, the eumenorrheic athletes began sports training earlier than the oligomenorrheic athletes. Second, oligomenorrheic athletes displayed significantly lower serum estradiol concentrations during cycle weeks 2 and 3 but had a rise in this hormone concentration during cycle week 4. Significant differences in serum gonadotropin concentrations during week 4 were found in the oligomenorrheic athletes. Finally, no significant difference in spinal mineral density values was found in the three groups.

Adolescent↗