Tobacco-related risk behaviors among amateur rugby players, coaches and referees: targets for prevention

Abstract Background High prevalence of smoking has been documented in France and new patterns of tobacco and nicotine consumption are emerging, especially in some sports. In amateur rugby population, such attitudes could be harmful, but data are scarce as well as their knowledge of the risk. Purpose We analyzed tobacco consumption in French amateur players, coaches and referees. Methods Each amateur players [>12-y/o], coaches and referees licensed in the French Rugby Federation and participating in the Burgundy amateur championship was invited to answer to an electronic anonymous questionnaire during the 2017–2018 sport season. Results 683 [sex ratio M/F = 0.9] answers were obtained and fit for analysis. Among them, 559 (81.8%) were players, 167 (24,5%) were coaches and 74 (10.8%) were referees. 176 subjects (25.8%) were current smokers, 126 (18.4%) daily smokers, 54 (37% of usual smokers) smoked more than 10 cigarettes a day and 97 (14.2%) were ex-smokers. Moreover, 24 referees (32.4%) and 47 coaches (28.2%) were current smokers. Most smoked 2 hours before or after a rugby session (86.4% of smokers), including coaches (89.4%) and referees (89%). Although 109 smokers (61.9%) considered quitting, only 27 (24.8%) considered vaping to aid them. Only 28 subjects (4.1%) usually vaped, of whom 15 daily (1.9%); 21 of them (75%) vaped in the 2 hours before or after a rugby session. Number of cigarettes in the 19 dual users was not different compared with non-vaping smokers. Among the 28 vapers, motivation to vape included lower risk than smoking (13), consider to quit (12), cheaper than smoking (8), festive and socializing (6), avoid to smoke (3), respect the performance (2). Other tobacco or nicotine products were infrequent: waterpipe (7), dry snuff (1) and none used snus. The knowledge about risk was incomplete: 35 (5.1%) subjects do not know that smoking is dangerous for their health and 12 (1.8%) think it is not. 246 (36%) and 195 (28.6%) do not know if smoking is more dangerous in the 2 hours before or after sport; 45 (6.6%) and 18 (2.6%) think it is not. Moreover, 27.5% of coaches were unaware on the risk of smoking before a sport session and 19.2% on the risk after. 244 subjects (35.7%) do not know if vaping is less dangerous than smoking; 272 (39.8%) are not informed of the potential risk of nicotine when vaping. Conclusion Despite information, prevalence of smoking remains high in the French amateur rugby players, coaches and referees. Smokers usually smoke in the 2 hours before or after the sport session. This is dangerous for them and for their peers. The low knowledge about the CV risk is of great concern, especially when considering the coaches and referees considering both their symbolic position and their educational role. Vaping and other patterns of nicotine exposure are infrequent; none of them use snus. Targeted education programs are urgently needed to reduce acute and chronic risk of tobacco consumption in this population. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): CHU Dijon Bourgogne ARS Bourgogne Franche Comté

Download Full-text

Smoking and Vaping in Amateur Rugby Players, Coaches and Referees: Findings from a Regional Survey Might Help to Define Prevention Targets

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115720 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5720

Author(s):

Frédéric Chagué ◽

Emmanuel Reboursière ◽

Jean Israël ◽

Jean-Philippe Hager ◽

Patrice Ngassa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Population Data ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

Gender Ratio ◽

Education Programs ◽

Regional Survey ◽

Anonymous Questionnaire ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Nicotine Consumption ◽

Rugby Players

A high prevalence of cigarette smoking has been documented in France, and new patterns of tobacco and nicotine consumption are emerging, especially in some sports. In the amateur rugby population, data are scarce on harmful consumption and on the awareness of the risk of smoking. We analyzed the consumption of tobacco and other nicotine products in French amateur players, coaches and referees. Amateur players (>12 years old), coaches and referees participating in the Burgundy amateur championship were invited to answer an electronic, anonymous questionnaire during the 2017–2018 sport season. Among the 683 subjects (gender ratio M/F = 0.9), 176 (25.8%) were current smokers, including 32.4% of the referees and 28.2% of the coaches. The prevalence of smokers was higher in females (37.5%) than in males (24.6%). Most (86.4%) smoked within 2 h before/after a rugby session. Only 28 subjects (4.1%) usually vaped; 21 of them (75%) vaped within 2 h before/after a rugby session. Other tobacco or nicotine products were infrequent. The awareness about the risks of smoking before/after sport was incomplete, including in coaches and referees. The prevalence of cigarette smoking is alarming across the whole spectrum of rugby amateur actors. Education programs are urgently needed to reduce tobacco consumption in this at-risk population.

Download Full-text

Cross-Species Integration of Transcriptomic Effects of Tobacco and Nicotine Exposure Helps to Prioritize Genetic Effects on Human Tobacco Consumption

10.1101/2019.12.23.887083 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rohan H C Palmer ◽

Chelsie E. Benca-Bachman ◽

Jason A. Bubier ◽

John E McGeary ◽

Nikhil Ramgiri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Linear Models ◽

Model Organism ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

European Ancestry ◽

Nicotine Exposure ◽

Mixed Linear Models ◽

Single Nucleotide Variants ◽

Association Analyses ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Nicotine Consumption

ABSTRACTComputational advances have fostered the development of new methods and tools to integrate gene expression and functional evidence into human-genetic association analyses. Integrative functional genomics analysis for altered response to alcohol in mice provided the first evidence that multi-species analysis tools, such as GeneWeaver, can identify or confirm novel alcohol-related loci. The present study describes an integrative framework to investigate how highly-connected genes linked by their association to tobacco-related behaviors, contribute to individual differences in tobacco consumption. Data from individuals of European ancestry in the UKBiobank (N=139,043) were used to examine the relative contribution of orthologs of a set of genes that are transcriptionally co-regulated by tobacco or nicotine exposure in model organism experiments to human tobacco consumption. Multi-component mixed linear models using genotyped and imputed single nucleotide variants indicated that: (1) variation within human orthologs of these genes accounted for 2-5% of the observed heritability (meta h2SNP-Total=0.08 [95% CI: 0.07, 0.09]) of tobacco/nicotine consumption across three independent folds of unrelated individuals (enrichment ranging from 0.85 - 2.98), and (2) variation around (5, 10, 15, 25, and 50 Kb regions) the set of co-transcriptionally regulated genes accounted for 5-36% of the observed SNP-heritability (enrichment ranging from 1.60 – 31.45). Notably, the effects of variants in co-transcriptionally regulated genes were enriched in tobacco GWAS. These findings highlight the advantages of using multiple species evidence to isolate genetic factors to better understand the etiological complexity of tobacco and other nicotine consumption.

Download Full-text

Patterns of Periodontal Destruction among Smokeless Tobacco Users in a Central Indian Population

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9060744 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 744

Author(s):

Pradeep S. Anand ◽

Supriya Mishra ◽

Deepti Nagle ◽

Namitha P. Kamath ◽

Kavitha P. Kamath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smokeless Tobacco ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

Periodontal Health ◽

Clinical Attachment Loss ◽

Periodontal Tissues ◽

Probing Depth ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Periodontal Destruction ◽

Different Populations ◽

Oral Hygiene Habits

Background: Findings of studies testing the association between smokeless tobacco (SLT) use and periodontal health have shown varying results in different populations. Considering the high prevalence of SLT use in India, the present study was conducted to understand the pattern of periodontal destruction within different areas of the dentition among SLT users. Methods: Age, gender, oral hygiene habits, the frequency and duration of SLT consumption, the type of SLT product used, and the site of retention of the SLT product in the oral cavity were recorded among 90 SLT users. Probing depth (PD), recession (REC), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) at SLT-associated and non SLT-associated teeth of the mandibular arch were compared based on the site of retention of the SLT product, the type of product used, and the duration of the habit. Results: REC and CAL were significantly higher at the SLT-associated zones compared to non SLT-associated zones and at both interproximal and mid-buccal sites of SLT-associated teeth. Among individuals who had the habit for more than 5 years and also among those who had the habit for 5–10 years, PD, REC, and CAL were significantly higher at SLT-associated teeth than at non SLT-associated teeth. Significantly greater periodontal destruction was observed at SLT-associated teeth among khaini users and gutkha users. Conclusions: Smokeless tobacco consumption resulted in greater destruction of periodontal tissues. The severity of periodontal destruction at SLT-associated sites differed depending on the type of smokeless tobacco used, the site of retention of the SLT, and the duration of the habit.

Download Full-text

Anatomical localization and classification of bundle branch blocks using novel CineECG

EP Europace ◽

10.1093/europace/euab116.039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

MJ Boonstra ◽

BN Hilderink ◽

ET Locati ◽

FW Asselbergs ◽

P Loh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Interval ◽

Heart Model ◽

National Budget ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Conduction Disorders ◽

Bundle Branch Blocks ◽

Anatomical Localization ◽

The Mean ◽

Diagnostic Work ◽

Public Grant

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): This work was supported by the Dutch Heart Foundation Background Ventricular conduction disorders can induce arrhythmias and impair cardiac function. Bundle branch blocks are diagnosed by 12-lead ECG, but discrimination between complete bundle branch blocks, incomplete bundle branch blocks and normal tracings can be challenging. CineECG computes the mean temporo-spatial isochrone (mTSI) trajectory of activation waveforms in a 3D-heart model from 12-lead ECGs. This trajectory represents the mean trajectory of the ventricular electrical activation at any time interval directly related to ventricular anatomy. In Brugada patients, CineECG has localized the terminal components of ventricular depolarization to right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT). Also, for the localization of bundle branch blocks, the region of latest activation contains the most information. Using CineECG, subject specific anatomically related information about the location of bundle branch blocks is obtained. Purpose This study aimed at exploring whether CineECG can improve the discrimination between complete left/right bundle branch blocks (LBBB/RBBB), and incomplete RBBB (iRBBB). Methods We utilized 400 12-lead ECGs from the online Physionet-XL-PTB-Diagnostic ECG Database with a certified ECG diagnosis. The mTSI trajectory was calculated and projected into the anatomical 3D-heart model. Five CineECG classes were established: "Normal", "iRBBB", "RBBB", "LBBB" and "Undetermined", to which each tracing was allocated. We determined the accuracy of CineECG classification with the gold standard diagnosis. Results A total of 391 ECGs were analyzed (9 ECGs were excluded for noise) and 240/266 were correctly classified as "normal", 14/17 as "iRBBB", 55/55 as "RBBB", 51/51 as "LBBB" and 31 as "undetermined". Average mTSI trajectories were calculated according to ECG diagnosis (Figure). The terminal mTSI contained most information about the BBB localization, as that part directs to the site of latest activation (Figure, red arrow). Conclusion CineECG provided the anatomical localization of different BBBs and accurately differentiated between normal, LBBB and RBBB, and iRBBB. CineECG may aid clinical diagnostic work-up, potentially also contributing to the difficult discrimination between normal, iRBBB and Brugada patients. Abstract Figure. Average CineECG trajectories

Download Full-text

Rotational activity presence and its impact in persistent atrial fibrillation follow-up

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.0375 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

G R Rios-Munoz ◽

N Soto ◽

P Avila ◽

T Datino ◽

F Atienza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Treatment Success ◽

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

National Budget ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Cycle Lengths ◽

Public Grant ◽

Af Recurrence

Abstract Introduction Treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains sub-optimal, with low success in pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation procedures in long-standing-persistent AF patients. The maintenance mechanisms of AF are still under debate. Rotational activity (RA) events, also known as rotors, may play a role in perpetuating AF. The characterisation of these drivers during electroanatomical (EA) guided ablation procedures in relationship with follow-up and recurrence ratios in AF patients is necessary to design new ablation strategies to improve the AF treatment success. Purpose We report an AF patient cohort of endocardial mapping and PVI ablation procedures with additional RA events detected during the EA study. We aim to study the presence and distribution of RA in AF patients and its impact on AF recurrence when only PVI ablation is performed. Methods 75 persistent consecutive AF patients (age 60.7±9.8, 74.7% men) underwent EA mapping and RA detection with an automatic algorithm. The presence of RA was annotated on the EA map based on the unipolar electrograms (EGMs) registered with a 20-pole catheter. RA presence was analysed at different left atrial locations (37.2±14.8 sites per patient). AF recurrence was evaluated in follow-up after treatment. Results At follow-up (9±5 months), 50% of the patients presented AF recurrence. Patients with RA had more dilated atria in terms of volumes (p=0.002) and areas (p=0.001). Patients with RA exhibited higher mean voltage EGMs 0.6±0.3 mV vs 0.5±0.2 mV (p=0.036), with shorter cycle lengths 169.1±26.0 ms vs. 188.4±44.2 ms (p=0.044). Finally, patients with RA presented more AF recurrence rates than patients with no RA events (p=0.007). No significant differences were found in terms of comorbidities, e.g., heart failure, hypertension, COPD, stroke, SHD, or diabetes mellitus. Conclusions The results show that patients with more RA events and those with RA outside the PVI ablated regions presented higher AF recurrence episodes than those with no RA or events inside the areas affected by radio-frequency ablation. The study suggests that further ablation treatment of the areas harboring RA might be necessary to reduce the recurrence ratio in AF patients. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Instituto de Salud Carlos III; Sociedad Española de Cardiología

Download Full-text

Pattern of Hypertension in Fayoum Governorate

Asian Journal of Medicine and Health ◽

10.9734/ajmah/2019/v17i130154 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Eman M. Ezzat ◽

Maher A. Al Amir ◽

Abdelrahman A. Ewais

Keyword(s):

Prevalence Rate ◽

Premature Death ◽

Hypertensive Patients ◽

Related Risk ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Study Population ◽

Laboratory Investigations ◽

Low Levels ◽

Fayoum Governorate

Background: Hypertension is a preventable cause of premature death worldwide. Data from the Egyptian National Hypertension Project (NHP) revealed that hypertension is a significant problem among Egyptians. We studied the prevalence of hypertension, related risk factors and its complications in Fayoum governorate. Patients and Methods: This study included 2800 Egyptian participants aged 18 to 60 years old from Fayoum governorate selected randomly from different places in Fayoum governorate. Blood pressure was measured for them. Re-measurement for those with BP measurements ≥ 140/90 was done with a further assessment. Known hypertensive patients were thoroughly evaluated by clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Results: Our survey revealed that the prevalence rate of hypertension in Fayoum governorate was 28.4% (19.3% were aware and 9.1% were first diagnosed and unaware of their hypertension), 11% of the study population were pre-hypertensives. Poorly controlled hypertensive patients were 59.9%. Of all hypertensive patients, 63.4% of them were females, 87.9% of them were overweight and obese, while 26.3% of them had diabetes mellitus. Also, 41% of known hypertensive patients had complications. Conclusion and Recommendations: There is a high prevalence rate of hypertension in Fayoum governorate. More knowledge is required to reveal the reasons behind this high prevalence in addition to the low levels of control and awareness of hypertension, to put the appropriate strategy to improve the rate of control, awareness, and quality of life of hypertensive patients in Egypt.

Download Full-text

CT-based cardiovascular risk stratification benefits in asymptomatic patients

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1093/ehjci/jeab111.021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

AN Rozhkov ◽

DY Shchekochikhin ◽

PYU Kopylov

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Roc Analysis ◽

Basic Research ◽

Cardiovascular Risks ◽

Diagnostic Significance ◽

National Budget ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Asymptomatic Patients ◽

Outpatient Practice ◽

Public Grant

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Russian Foundation for Basic Research Background Cardiovascular risks (CVR) stratification and assessment of atherosclerotic plaques vulnerability in asymptomatic patients are serious challenges in outpatient practice. The use of modern CT techniques can help to personalize stratification. Methods The study included ambulatory patients with suspected coronary heart disease, who underwent computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA) in 2019-2020. CVR was estimated via Score, ACC/AHA, Framingham, MESA scales, CTA was performed on 640-slice computed tomography station. The patients were divided into two groups: patent arteries and atherosclerotic lesions (30-99%). We analyzed of the estimated CVR distribution, using coronary arteries visualization as the cut-off. Then ROC analysis of the scales, and Agatson Index was performed. Results The study included 60 patients, mean age is 61,5 years (65% female). 36,7% had no atherosclerosis; 56,7% had 30-99% coronary artery stenosis. Our results showed risks overestimation using the SCORE and Framingham scales (+33.33% and +52.38%) and underestimation using ACC/AHA and MESA (-33.33% and -9.52%) in patients without coronary atherosclerosis. The ROC analysis showed that the "standard" scales have no diagnostic significance for zero atherosclerosis (p > 0.05) or for >30% plaques (p > 0.05). Conclusion Our data shows a significant predictive superiority of CTA. Asymptomatic patients with zero or low coronary calcium with low estimated CVR may have a REAL high risk based on morphological plaque criteria.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Smokeless Tobacco Consumption among women of Rural Telangana

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20214041 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Murali Lingala ◽

Sneha Simon ◽

Bhagath . ◽

Kavitha .

Keyword(s):

Smokeless Tobacco ◽

Peer Pressure ◽

Simple Random Sampling ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Second Hand Smoke ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Medical College ◽

The Social ◽

High Prevalence

Background: Tobacco kills approximately 1 million people annually in India and is responsible for almost half of all cancers in men and quarter of all cancers in women. Smokeless tobacco (SLT) is one such form that is culturally and socially acceptable by women especially in rural India. The study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption among women, prevalence of exposure to second hand smoke and to determine the factors associated with it.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was done among 190 women in the rural field practice area of department of community medicine of Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal during the period of October 2019 to December 2019. Data was collected using simple random sampling. A semi structured questionnaire was prepared with the help of global adult tobacco survey proforma. The data was analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) 20.00.Results: Prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption was 57% and the most common form of tobacco being consumed was tobacco with pan (40.3%). The prevalence of exposure to second hand smoke at home was 61%. The most common reason for initiation was peer pressure. High prevalence of consumption of smokeless tobacco was seen in unemployed and illiterate women.Conclusions: The prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption is higher among women in this study and this indicates the lack of awareness and the need for better strategies to reduce the burden.

Download Full-text

Cardiovascular benefit of lowering LDL-C below 1 mmol/L (40 mg/dl)

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.2585 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

N A Marston ◽

R P Giugliano ◽

J G Park ◽

A Ruzza ◽

P S Sever ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Statin Therapy ◽

Clinical Benefit ◽

Recurrent Events ◽

Pcsk9 Inhibitors ◽

National Budget ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Lower Baseline ◽

The Difference ◽

Public Grant

Abstract Background The 2019 ESC/EAS Dyslipidemia Guidelines recommend an LDL-C goal of <1.4 mmol/L (∼55 mg/dl) for patients with very high-risk ASCVD, and <1 mmol/L (∼40 mg/dl) for those with recurrent events within 2 years despite taking maximally tolerated statin therapy. The addition of PCSK9 inhibitors to statin therapy can achieve LDL-C levels well below 1 mmol/L in many patients, yet the clinical benefit of LDL-C lowering beyond this level has recently been questioned. Methods FOURIER was a cardiovascular outcomes trial comparing evolocumab vs. placebo in patients with stable ASCVD on optimized statin therapy with a median follow-up of 2.2 years. We performed an exploratory analysis to determine the consistency of CV risk reduction with LDL-C lowering below ∼1 mmol/L (40 mg/dl) with evolocumab. We modeled the achieved LDL-C at 48 weeks in the two treatment arms as well as the percentage of LDL-C difference between the two arms that was due to LDL-C below ∼1 mmol/L (40 mg/dl) as a function of baseline LDL-C. We then modeled the hazard ratio (HR) for the composite of CV death, MI or stroke (per 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL-C) with evolocumab vs. placebo as a function of baseline LDL-C. Results All 27,564 patients from FOURIER were included in this analysis. Patients with lower baseline LDL-C achieved lower LDL-C levels following evolocumab therapy, with achieved LDL-C typically being below 1 mmol/L (40 mg/dl) once the baseline LDL-C was below 2.4 mmol/L (94 mg/dl) and reaching levels approaching 0.5 mmol/L (∼20 mg/dl). Accordingly, the further baseline LDL-C levels were below 2.4 mmol/L (94 mg/dl), the greater the proportion of the difference in achieved LDL-C between the evolocumab and placebo arms was due to LDL-C levels below ∼1 mmol/L (40 mg/dl), reaching nearly 40% of the difference in LDL-C between treatment arms (Upper Panel). Despite this, the clinical benefit of LDL-C lowering was not attenuated (p=0.78) (and even appeared greater), with robust reductions in risk of CV death, MI or stroke even when LDL-C was lowered to nearly 0.5 mmol/L (∼20 mg/dl) and having close to 40% of the LDL-C difference between treatment arms due to LDL-C lowering below ∼1 mmol/L (40 mg/dl) (Lower Panel). Conclusion PCSK9 inhibitors added to statin therapy can achieve LDL-C well below 1 mmol/L (40 mg/dl). There is no evidence for attenuation of the clinical benefit of lowering LDL-C below this threshold. These data support lowering LDL-C to below 1 mmol/L (40 mg/dl) in patients with ASCVD. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Institute of Health

Download Full-text

The prevalence of clinical signs of ankle instability in club rugby players

South African Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.17159/2078-516x/2013/v25i1a388 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 23

Author(s):

E Mellet ◽

A Stewart

Keyword(s):

Ankle Instability ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Ankle Injuries ◽

Mechanical Instability ◽

Demographic Questionnaire ◽

High Prevalence ◽

History Of ◽

Rugby Players ◽

Balance Error ◽

Ethical Clearance

Background. Ankle injuries are one of the most common injuries in sport and have a high recurrence rate.Aim. To determine the prevalence of clinical signs of ankle injuries in club rugby players in South Gauteng.Methods. Institutional ethical clearance was obtained for the study. Of the 180 players from 9 clubs who were eligible for participation in thestudy, 76% (n=137) were recuited. Informed consent was obtained before players were asked to complete a battery of tests. Each player wasasked to complete a demographic questionnaire and the Olerud and Molander questionnaire to determine the prevalence of clinical signs ofperceived instability. The prevalence of clinical signs of mechanical instability was determined by the anterior drawer test (ADT) and talartilt test (TTT). Balance and proprioception were assessed by the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and this was used to determine theprevalence of clinical signs of functional instability.Results. The prevalence of perceived instability was 44%. The prevalence of clinical signs of mechanical ankle instability was 33%. There was anincreased prevalence of mechanical instability in players who had a history of previous ankle injuries: ADT left (p=0.003); ADT right (p=0.01);TTT left (p=0.001); TTT right (p=0.08), both tests positive left (p=0.001) and both tests positive right (p=0.03). The prevalence of clinical signsof functional ankle instability depended on the surface and visual input, and was greater as the challenge or perturbation increased.Conclusion. There was a high prevalence of clinical signs of ankle instability in club rugby players for perceived, mechanical and functionalinstability. Those with previously injured ankles were more likely to have unstable ankles.

Download Full-text