Infographic: Elite athletes’ anxiety over illness ups risk of injury in competition

Abstract Monitoring seasonal variations in strength performance and the relative risk of injury indicators related to strength of hamstring (H) and quadriceps (Q) in female elite athletes is beneficial for the training process. The aim of this study was to examine and compare the level of muscle strength, the conventional ratio (HCONC/QCONC) as well as two functional and strength ratios reflecting the movement of knee extension (HECC/QCONC) and flexion (HCONC/QECC), and the bilateral percentage strength deficit (BSD) in elite female handball players. The concentric and eccentric isokinetic peak torque was measured at an angular velocity of 60°/s on three occasions (in-season cessation, 4 weeks of rest followed by 4 weeks of individual conditioning and 6 weeks of group conditioning) in eleven female handball players (age: 23.1 ± 3.5 years, body height: 1.73 ± 0.6 m). According to ANOVA results, the BSD of H muscles in the concentric mode decreased between the in-season cessation and the end of the pre-season, and HCONC/QCONC increased at the beginning of the pre-season and at the end of the pre-season in comparison with inseason cessation measurement. The effect size analyses showed that the off-season rest followed by 10 weeks of the conditioning programme increased Q and H strength in comparison with the previous season with a large effect. Coaches should include progressive conditioning in the pre-season phase to decrease the bilateral strength deficit and to support further conditioning development.

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314 Alcohol and the Sleep of Elite Athletes

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.313 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A125-A125

Author(s):

Lindsay Shaw ◽

Yuval Altman ◽

Shuli Eyal ◽

Anda Baharav

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

Training Session ◽

Physiological Effect ◽

Insufficient Sleep ◽

Risk Of Injury ◽

Sleep Parameters ◽

Psychological Influence ◽

And Performance

Abstract Introduction Extensive evidence indicates that alcohol adversely affects athletic performance, increases the chance of injury, impairs aerobic metabolism, and has detrimental psychological influence. Alcohol consumption was also shown to be significant in young adults, with many elite athletes reporting alcohol intake. Sleep is essential to musculoskeletal recovery, acquisition of new skills, and emotional regulation in athletes. As insufficient sleep has detrimental effects on athletic performances and increases the risk of injury, we aimed to analyze the relation between alcohol consumption and sleep parameters among elite athletes. Methods We studied 9,164 nights recorded with the Boost application by 66 adult elite athletes from various sports during October 2019-December 2020. In addition to perceived and measured sleep parameters, nightly data included the previous day reported alcohol consumption and the number of training sessions. For each athlete, the average nightly mean heart rate (HR) in nights with reported alcohol consumption (AY) and without (AN) was calculated, as were the bedtime and the number of training sessions. Results In nights with reported alcohol, mean HR was higher (AY: 56.1±7.8 BPM, mean±SD, AN: 52.9±7.3 BPM, p<.05), while bedtime was later (AY: 23:16±70 minutes, AN: 22:52±55 minutes, p<.05) and fewer training sessions were reported in the following day (AY: 0.88±0.59 sessions, AN: 1.1±0.59 sessions, p<.05). No correlation was found between mean HR and bedtime in nights without alcohol consumption (r=0.3). 24% of Saturday night recordings included alcohol consumption reports, with 16% of Friday nights and 12–13% for each of the remaining weeknights. Conclusion Adult elite athletes report consuming alcohol, especially during weekends when the probability for a training session the following day is lower. Our data support the well documented physiological effect of alcohol via elevated mean HR values throughout the night. Athletes and coaches should be educated about the impacts of alcohol and insufficient sleep on wellbeing and performance. Support (if any):

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Psychological responses of elite young riders to the injury of their horses

Comparative Exercise Physiology ◽

10.3920/cep180007 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 189-198

Author(s):

E. Davies ◽

J. Ennis ◽

R. Collins

Keyword(s):

Thematic Analysis ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Coping Mechanisms ◽

Personal Injury ◽

Psychological Responses ◽

Risk Environment ◽

Risk Of Injury ◽

Equestrian Sport ◽

Show Jumping

Sport is considered a high-risk environment for athletes sustaining injury. Athletes are known to experience negative psychological responses to injury, which can destabilise identity. For athletes, identity is typically constructed around participation in sport, and after injury this identity can be threatened. Within equestrian sport, the addition of a partner athlete also at risk of injury presented a unique circumstance for investigation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the psychological responses of elite young riders (YR) to the injury of their horses. Five riders competing internationally at YR level for dressage, show jumping and eventing were interviewed about their experiences when their horse suffered serious or career-ending injuries. Interview questions explored athletes’ careers, initial reactions to injury, coping mechanisms and return to elite competition. Thematic analysis revealed that riders re-evaluated their identity as elite athletes and experienced a significant sense of loss when their horses became injured. This appraisal of loss led to YR’s experiencing denial and guilt at the onset of injury akin to personal injury in athletes. As riders perceive the horse as part of the ‘athlete’ package, they are at heightened risk of injury-related psychological stress when compared to other individual athletes. Riders reported mixed views on common sources of social support, suggesting a need for pre-emptive coping education in addition to intervention resources within equestrian sport to minimise the psychological impact of injury, particularly at YR level.

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