Pain and athletes: Contact sport participation and performance in pain

ObjectiveTo compare sensory reweighting for upright stance between collegiate collision and non-contact sport athletes.BackgroundThe potentially adverse effects of repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure through routine collision sport participation have become a major public health concerns.Design/MethodsThirty male collegiate athletes were grouped by sport type, including collision (n = 15, 21.2 ± 2 years, 85.9 ± 13.8 kg, 179.7 ± 8.2 cm) and non-contact (n = 15, 20.8 ± 2.1 years, 72.9 ± 4.8 kg, 178.3 ± 4.3 cm) sport athletes. Participants underwent a standing balance assessment; they experienced simultaneous perturbations to visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. The visual stimulus consisted of 500 pyramids displayed on a virtual reality cave and translated in the anterior-posterior direction at 0.2 Hz in a sinusoidal waveform. The vestibular stimulus consisted of binaural-monopolar galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) at 0.36 Hz in a sinusoidal waveform. The somatosensory stimulus consisted of bilateral Achilles’ tendon vibration at 0.28 Hz in a square waveform with equal on/off times. Different frequencies were chosen for each modality so that we could calculate the gain to each stimulus independently. There were four conditions: two conditions of each high amplitude (0.2 m) and low amplitude (0.8 m) visual scene translation and two conditions of each vibration on and vibration off. The leg segment gain to each modality was compared between groups and across conditions using a repeated-measures ANOVA.ResultsThere were no changes in leg segment gain to vision (i.e. group effect; F = 2.624, p = 0.094, η2 = 0.086), gain to GVS (F = 1.341, p = 0.266, η2 = 0.46), or gain to vibration (F = 3.124, p = 0.088, η2 = 0.100). In addition, there were no changes in sensory reweighting for any modality (i.e. condition X group effect; vision, F = 0.074, p = 0.788, η2 = 0.003; GVS, F = 0.547, p = 0.46, η2 = 0.019; vibration, F = 0.734, p = 0.399, η2 = 0.026).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that there are no differences in sensory reweighting between collegiate collision and non-contact sport athletes. Despite concerns that RHI exposure through routine collision sport participation may result in balance disturbances, our results do not support this association.

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Defining the Volume and Intensity of Sport Participation in Adolescent Rugby Union Players

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.3.1.94 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 94-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Timothy B. Hartwig ◽

Geraldine Naughton ◽

John Searl

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Best Practice ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Training Session ◽

Rugby Union ◽

Gps Tracking ◽

Training Adaptations ◽

And Performance ◽

Tracking Devices ◽

And Training

Purpose:Investigating adolescent training loads might help us understand optimal training adaptations. GPS tracking devices and training diaries were used to quantify weekly sport and other physical activity demands placed on adolescent rugby union players and profile typical rugby training sessions.Methods:Participants were 75 males age 14 to 18 y who were recruited from rugby teams representing 3 levels of participation: schoolboy, national representative, and a selective sports school talent squad.Results:Schoolboy players covered a distance of (mean ± SD) 3511 ± 836 m, representative-squad players 3576 ± 956 m, and talent-squad players 2208 ± 637 m per rugby training session. The representative squad recorded the highest weekly duration of sport and physical activity (515 ± 222 min/wk), followed by the talent squad (421 ± 211 min/week) and schoolboy group (370 ± 135 min/wk). Profiles of individual players identified as group outliers showed participation in up to 3 games and up to 11 training sessions per week, with twice the weekly load of the team averages.Conclusion:Optimal participation and performance of adolescent rugby union players might be compromised by many high-load, high-impact training sessions and games and commitments to other sports and physical activities. An improved understanding of monitoring and quantifying load in adolescent athletes is needed to facilitate best-practice advice for player management and training prescription.

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Spirituality & Sport: Consulting the Christian Athlete

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.2013-0123 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 371-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Michael J. Mosley ◽

Desiree’ J. Frierson ◽

Yihan Cheng ◽

Mark W. Aoyagi

Keyword(s):

Sport Psychology ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Practical Relevance ◽

Performance Psychology ◽

Christian Worldview ◽

Interview Guide ◽

And Performance ◽

The Individual ◽

High Level ◽

Practical Implications

The real world practice of sport and performance psychology will inevitably present the practitioner with performers for whom spirituality is the supreme motivator (Balague, 1999). Spirituality and sport, despite its practical relevance, is an underdeveloped and sometimes misunderstood combination (Nesti, 2007). The aim of this study was to reveal the individual experiences of athletes as they integrate spirituality and their sport participation. Five high level athletes (1 female, 4 male), each holding a Christian worldview were interviewed. A strategically designed interview guide illuminated several key themes, which Watson and Nesti (2005) suggested, would contribute much to the existing literature. Out of these themes, practical implications have been considered for the delivery of sport and performance psychology services to Christian athletes. Evidenced by this study, is the reality that some Christian athletes present a unique perspective through which appropriately tailored sport psychology services can readily precipitate personal excellence in sport and life.

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Physiological Considerations to Support Podium Performance in Para-Athletes

Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences ◽

10.3389/fresc.2021.732342 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Cameron M. Gee ◽

Melissa A. Lacroix ◽

Trent Stellingwerff ◽

Erica H. Gavel ◽

Heather M. Logan-Sprenger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sport Participation ◽

Case Reports ◽

Case Series ◽

Daily Practice ◽

First Century ◽

Future Research ◽

Research Gaps ◽

Research And Innovation ◽

And Performance ◽

Physiological Interventions

The twenty-first century has seen an increase in para-sport participation and the number of research publications on para-sport and the para-athlete. Unfortunately, the majority of publications are case reports/case series or study single impairment types in isolation. Indeed, an overview of how each International Paralympic Committee classifiable impairment type impact athlete physiology, health, and performance has not been forthcoming in the literature. This can make it challenging for practitioners to appropriately support para-athletes and implement evidence-based research in their daily practice. Moreover, the lack of a cohesive publication that reviews all classifiable impairment types through a physiological lens can make it challenging for researchers new to the field to gain an understanding of unique physiological challenges facing para-athletes and to appreciate the nuances of how various impairment types differentially impact para-athlete physiology. As such, the purpose of this review is to (1) summarize how International Paralympic Committee classifiable impairments alter the normal physiological responses to exercise; (2) provide an overview of “quick win” physiological interventions targeted toward specific para-athlete populations; (3) discuss unique practical considerations for the para-sport practitioner; (4) discuss research gaps and highlight areas for future research and innovation, and (5) provide suggestions for knowledge translation and knowledge sharing strategies to advance the field of para-sport research and its application by para-sport practitioners.

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Effects of Cumulative Years of Contact/Collision Sports on Neuropsychological Outcomes

Neurology ◽

10.1212/01.wnl.0000801784.82498.14 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 98 (1 Supplement 1) ◽

pp. S6.1-S6

Author(s):

Katie Hunzinger ◽

Charles Buz Swanik ◽

Thomas A. Buckley

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Short Form ◽

Psychological Status ◽

Contact Sport ◽

Sport History ◽

Contact Sports ◽

Patient Reported ◽

Neuropsychological Outcomes

ObjectiveTo determine the relationship between prolonged exposure to repetitive head impacts (RHI) through contact sports, as assessed by cumulative years contact sport participation, and quality of life outcomes in current/former contact sport athletes.BackgroundCumulative lifetime RHI exposure may be a more meaningful measure than age of first exposure to contact sports to assess effects of RHI on neurologic function, however effects on young adults remain mixed.Design/MethodsTwenty-one physically active current/former contact sport athletes (35.0 ± 12.2 years, 66.7% male) completed an online questionnaire. To assess quality of life and psychological status, participants completed the Apathy Evaluation Scale-Self Rated (AES-S), Short Form 12 (SF-12), Satisfaction with Life Survey (SWLS), and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) Symptoms. Participants self-reported years of organized contact sport history (16.9 ± 10.5 years, range: 1–45) along with covariates (sex, LD/ADHD, age, concussion history). Generalized linear models were used to examine the association between cumulative years contact sport and psychological outcomes, while controlling for covariates.ResultsCumulative years contact sports was a significant positive predictor of better apathy ratings (p = 0.038) and SWLS (p = 0.001). For every year increase, there was an associated 1.1% reduction in AES-S and 1.6% improvement in SWLS. Cumulative years was not a significant predictor of SF-12 Mental Component Summary (p = 0.113), SF-12 Physical Component Summary (p = 0.289), or symptoms (p = 0.237).ConclusionsCumulative years of contact sport history was associated with better patient reported outcomes in current/former contact/collision sport athletes. This provides insight into later life effects of prolonged RHI exposure on neuropsychological outcomes in a more diverse subject pool outside of retired football players. Long-term neurologic effects remain to be elucidated, however, in early adulthood collision sports have positive mental health outcomes.

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Psychology of disability sport: Participation and performance.

APA handbook of sport and exercise psychology, volume 1: Sport psychology (Vol. 1). ◽

10.1037/0000123-020 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 385-398

Author(s):

Anthony Papathomas ◽

Brett Smith

Keyword(s):

Sport Participation ◽

Disability Sport ◽

And Performance

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Contact sport participation and chronic traumatic encephalopathy are associated with altered severity and distribution of cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Acta Neuropathologica ◽

10.1007/s00401-019-02031-x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 138 (3) ◽

pp. 401-413 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Oliver J. Standring ◽

Jacob Friedberg ◽

Yorghos Tripodis ◽

Alicia S. Chua ◽

Jonathan D. Cherry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy ◽

Amyloid Angiopathy ◽

Contact Sport ◽

Cerebral Amyloid

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Childhood Physical Fitness and Performance as Predictors of High School Sport Participation

Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science ◽

10.1080/1091367x.2020.1865964 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 43-52 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rebecca A. Battista ◽

Erin D Bouldin ◽

Karin A. Pfeiffer ◽

Christine E. Pacewicz ◽

Shannon R Siegel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Sport Participation ◽

School Sport ◽

High School Sport ◽

And Performance

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Defining Training and Performance Caliber: A Participant Classification Framework

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2021-0451 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Alannah K.A. McKay ◽

Trent Stellingwerff ◽

Ella S. Smith ◽

David T. Martin ◽

Iñigo Mujika ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sports Medicine ◽

Sport Participation ◽

Performance Metrics ◽

National Level ◽

Study Participant ◽

Sport Performance ◽

Classification Framework ◽

Masters Athlete ◽

And Performance ◽

Nationality Differences

Throughout the sport-science and sports-medicine literature, the term “elite” subjects might be one of the most overused and ill-defined terms. Currently, there is no common perspective or terminology to characterize the caliber and training status of an individual or cohort. This paper presents a 6-tiered Participant Classification Framework whereby all individuals across a spectrum of exercise backgrounds and athletic abilities can be classified. The Participant Classification Framework uses training volume and performance metrics to classify a participant to one of the following: Tier 0: Sedentary; Tier 1: Recreationally Active; Tier 2: Trained/Developmental; Tier 3: Highly Trained/National Level; Tier 4: Elite/International Level; or Tier 5: World Class. We suggest the Participant Classification Framework can be used to classify participants both prospectively (as part of study participant recruitment) and retrospectively (during systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses). Discussion around how the Participant Classification Framework can be tailored toward different sports, athletes, and/or events has occurred, and sport-specific examples provided. Additional nuances such as depth of sport participation, nationality differences, and gender parity within a sport are all discussed. Finally, chronological age with reference to the junior and masters athlete, as well as the Paralympic athlete, and their inclusion within the Participant Classification Framework has also been considered. It is our intention that this framework be widely implemented to systematically classify participants in research featuring exercise, sport, performance, health, and/or fitness outcomes going forward, providing the much-needed uniformity to classification practices.

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