scholarly journals Effects of Stretching on Injury Risk Reduction and Balance

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 106-116
Author(s):  
David G. Behm ◽  
Anthony D. Kay ◽  
Gabriel S. Trajano ◽  
Shahab Alizadeh ◽  
Anthony J. Blazevich

ABSTRACT Evidence for the effectiveness of acute and chronic stretching for improving range of motion is extensive. Improved flexibility can positively impact performances in activities of daily living and both physical and mental health. However, less is known about the effects of stretching on other aspects of health such as injury incidence and balance. The objective of this review is to examine the existing literature in these areas. The review highlights that both pre-exercise and chronic stretching can reduce musculotendinous injury incidence, particularly in running-based sports, which may be related to the increased force available at longer muscle lengths (altered force-length relationship) or reduced active musculotendinous stiffness, among other factors. Evidence regarding the acute effects of stretching on balance is equivocal. Longer-term stretch training can improve balance, which may contribute to a decreased incidence of falls and associated injuries and may thus be recommended as an important exercise modality in those with balance deficits. Hence, both acute and chronic stretching seem to have positive effects on injury incidence and balance, but optimum training plans are yet to be defined.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeedeh Fehresti ◽  
Elham Monaghesh

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 outbreak has affected the elderly's physical and mental health. The application of information and communication technology, such as mobile health (m-health), can play a significant role in combating this pandemic by changing the behavior and lifestyle of the elderly during this time of crisis. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed to synthesize m-health capabilities in providing health services to the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify the factors associated with the success of these tools. METHODS To find the relevant studies, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria were: studies in English that used m-health intervention in all aspects of elderly healthcare during the COVID-19 outbreak, published in peer-reviewed journals from 31 December 2019, and had any research design and methodology. Two authors independently took all the steps of this review, and finally performed narrative synthesis to report the findings. RESULTS Our initial search identified 421 studies, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria. The data analysis showed that all the m-health interventions had positive effects on the health of the elderly. The m-health services for the elderly during the current pandemic were used for therapy, information provision, self-help, monitoring, and mental health consultation purposes. The results also indicated that various factors affected the elderly's use of m-health tools. CONCLUSIONS The application of m-health keeps the elderly and healthcare providers safe, accelerates health service provision, reduces the costs of service delivery, and decreases the risk of morbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 outbreak. The successful use of m-health tools for the elderly in health programs during the current crisis greatly depends on supporting the elderly and overcoming the barriers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 232596712097399
Author(s):  
Markus Geßlein ◽  
Johannes Rüther ◽  
Michael Millrose ◽  
Hermann Josef Bail ◽  
Robin Martin ◽  
...  

Background: Hand and wrist injuries are a common but underestimated issue in taekwondo. Detailed data on injury risk, patterns, and mechanism are missing. Purpose: To evaluate (1) the fight time exposure-adjusted injury incidence rate (IIR) and clinical incidence and (2) injury site, type, sport-specific mechanism, and time loss in taekwondo. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Athletes from a single national Olympic taekwondo training center were investigated prospectively for hand and wrist injuries during training and competition over 5 years. The Orchard Sports Injury Classification System Version 10 was used to classify injury type, and analysis of the anatomic injury site was performed. The mechanism of injury was classified as due to either striking or blocking techniques. Results: From a total of 107 athletes, 79 athletes (73.8%) with a total exposure time of 8495 hours were included in the final data set. During the study period, 75 injuries of the hand and wrist region were recorded despite the athletes using protective hand gear. The IIR was 13.9 (95% CI, 10.5-17.5) and was significantly higher during competition. The clinical incidence as an indicator for risk of injury was 60.7% (95% CI, 50.9-70.5). Finger rays were the most affected location (68%), and fractures (43%) and joint ligament injuries (35%) were the most common type of injury. Significantly more injuries were found on the dominant hand side ( P < .001). Comparison of injury mechanisms demonstrated significantly more injuries at the finger rays deriving from blocking techniques ( P = .0104). The mean time loss for all hand and wrist injuries was 15.7 ± 13.5 days (range, 3-45 days) and was highest for distal radial fractures, with a mean of 39.7 ± 4.8 days (range, 32-45 days). Conclusion: There was a significantly higher IIR for acute hand and wrist injuries in elite taekwondo athletes during competition, which resulted in considerable time loss, especially when fractures or dislocations occurred. Significantly more injuries to the finger rays were found during blocking despite the use of protective hand gear. Improvement of tactical skills and blocking techniques during training and improved protective gear appear to be essential for injury prevention.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 723-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie G Dakic ◽  
Belinda Smith ◽  
Cameron M Gosling ◽  
Luke G Perraton

ObjectiveThe physical demands of professional tennis combined with high training/match loads can contribute to musculoskeletal injury. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe the type, location and severity of injuries sustained during a 12-month tennis season in a cohort of professional female tennis players on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour and (2) prospectively investigate associations between training/match loads and injury.Methods52 WTA players competing at the Australian Open (2015) consented to participate. Injuries reported to WTA medical staff were classified using tennis-specific guidelines. Individual match exposure data were collected for all matches played at international level in 2015 and expressed per 1000 hours of WTA competition matchplay (MP) and 1000 match exposures (MEs). Variables associated with the number of injuries in the season and loss of time from competition were identified with regression analysis.ResultsThe injury incidence rate (IR) was 56.6 (95% CI: 49.5 to 64.6) per 1000 hours of MP or 62.7 (95% CI: 54.8 to 71.6) per 1000 MEs, although the IR of injuries resulting in loss of time from competition was lower (12.8 per 1000 hours of MP, 92 injuries/100 players). Lower limb (51%) and muscle/tendon (50%) injuries were the most common site and type of injury. Common specific injury site subcategories were the thigh, shoulder/clavicle, ankle and knee in order of frequency. Various measures of match load were significantly associated with injury.ConclusionThis study prospectively analysed injury profiles, including severity across an entire season of professional tennis, and investigated the relationship between training/match loads and injury. These data may help medical professionals develop injury risk identification and prevention programmes.


2022 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2021-104858
Author(s):  
Carel Viljoen ◽  
Dina C (Christa) Janse van Rensburg ◽  
Willem van Mechelen ◽  
Evert Verhagen ◽  
Bruno Silva ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo review and frequently update the available evidence on injury risk factors and epidemiology of injury in trail running.DesignLiving systematic review. Updated searches will be done every 6 months for a minimum period of 5 years.Data sourcesEight electronic databases were searched from inception to 18 March 2021.Eligibility criteriaStudies that investigated injury risk factors and/or reported the epidemiology of injury in trail running.ResultsNineteen eligible studies were included, of which 10 studies investigated injury risk factors among 2 785 participants. Significant intrinsic factors associated with injury are: more running experience, level A runner and higher total propensity to sports accident questionnaire (PAD-22) score. Previous history of cramping and postrace biomarkers of muscle damage is associated with cramping. Younger age and low skin phototypes are associated with sunburn. Significant extrinsic factors associated with injury are neglecting warm-up, no specialised running plan, training on asphalt, double training sessions per day and physical labour occupations. A slower race finishing time is associated with cramping, while more than 3 hours of training per day, shade as the primary mode of sun protection and being single are associated with sunburn. An injury incidence range 0.7–61.2 injuries/1000 hours of running and prevalence range 1.3% to 90% were reported. The lower limb was the most reported region of injury, specifically involving blisters of the foot/toe.ConclusionLimited studies investigated injury risk factors in trail running. Our review found eight intrinsic and nine extrinsic injury risk factors. This review highlighted areas for future research that may aid in designing injury risk management strategies for safer trail running participation.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42021240832.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Yarnell ◽  
G. Starbuck ◽  
A. Riley ◽  
A. Woodhead

There is currently limited information available regarding the physical demands of polocrosse and no information on the specific veterinary problems faced by polocrosse ponies in the United Kingdom. Polocrosse requires the ponies that compete to perform rapid acceleration, sharp turns and sudden halts. The study aim was to explore the injury incidence and type of injury, between the three positions played by polocrosse ponies. Injuries that resulted in withdrawal of a pony during outdoor tournaments in the UK over the 2015 and 2016 seasons were recorded. In addition, GPS data and locomotor behaviours were recorded during winter league tournaments in 2017 and compared between the different position ponies. Ponies that played in the defence position were significantly more likely to become injured (P<0.001) with lameness being the most common cause for withdrawal (P<0.001). Ponies playing in the attack position achieved the fastest speeds and covered the furthest distance. Defence ponies performed significantly more abrupt halts (P=0.007), walk to gallop transitions (P=0.017) and sudden changes in direction (P=0.01) than midfield ponies and more of each manoeuvre than attack ponies, although this was not significant. It is important that the physical demands placed upon polocrosse ponies are investigated further; this will allow identification of injury risk factors, inform training programmes and improve the performance and welfare of the horses involved.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Luana Hilario de Meireles Lima ◽  
Diego Santos Fagundes ◽  
Miguel Furtado Menezes ◽  
Maiara Lazaretti Rodrigues Do Prado ◽  
Michele Thais Favero

Os déficits de equilíbrio postural podem levar a limitações nas atividades de vida diária, reduzindo a autonomia e aumentando o risco de quedas dos indivíduos. A fisioterapia dispõe de uma variedade de recursos que podem ser utilizados para a reabilitação do equilíbrio postural, e a realidade virtual é um dos recursos que vem sendo utilizado com este objetivo, pois através de repetição, feedback e motivação, pode proporcionar ao usuário maior controle do equilíbrio postural. Objetivo: Revisar a literatura existente sobre os efeitos das intervenções com jogos de realidade virtual na reabilitação de déficits de equilíbrio postural. Método: Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura utilizando Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DECs), com análise de publicações impressas em livros do acervo da Biblioteca Júlio Bordignon da Faculdade de Educação e Meio Ambiente – FAEMA, e consulta de trabalhos indexados e publicados nas bases de dados LILACS, SCIELO, PubMed e Google Acadêmico. Considerações Finais: Os estudos analisados apontam que a intervenção terapêutica com o uso da realidade virtual como uma ferramenta tecnológica para a reabilitação do equilíbrio postural mostrou ser de grande importância e poderia auxiliar as terapias tradicionais, no entanto, mais estudos serão necessários para entender qual é o mecanismo pelo qual a realidade virtual atua melhorando o equilíbrio postural. ABSTRACT: Postural balance deficits can lead to limitations in activities of daily living, reducing autonomy and increasing the risk of falls of individuals. Physiotherapy has a variety of resources that can be used for the rehabilitation of postural balance, and virtual reality is one of the resources that has been used with this objective, because through repetition, feedback and motivation can provide the user greater control of the postural balance. Aim: To review the existing literature on the effects of interventions with virtual reality games in the rehabilitation of postural balance deficits. Method: A review of the literature was performed with Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DECs) an analysis of publications printed on books from the Júlio Bordignon Library of the Faculdade de Educação e Meio Ambiente - FAEMA, and confer of papers indexed and published in the databases LILACS, SCIELO, PubMed and Google Scholar. Conclusions:  The studies analyzed indicate that therapeutic intervention with the use of virtual reality as a technological tool for the rehabilitation of postural balance has been shown to be of great importance and could help traditional therapies; however, further studies will be necessary to understand the mechanism by which virtual reality works by improving postural balance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongxin Xu ◽  
Chenhao Yang ◽  
Yang Yang ◽  
Xini Zhang ◽  
Shen Zhang ◽  
...  

Snowsport athletes face a high injury risk both during training and in competitions. Reducing injury incidence is crucial for athletes to achieve breakthroughs. This narrative review aimed to summarize and analyze injury data of elite athletes in snowsports and provide references for injury prevention and health security for these athletes and their coaches. A total of 39 studies that investigated snowsport injury were analyzed in the present study. On the basis of injury data of elite athletes in snowsports events, this narrative review focused on four aspects, namely, injury incidence, severity, location and causes. The findings of this review were as follows. (1) The highest injury incidence was recorded in freestyle skiing, followed by alpine skiing and snowboarding, the majority of which were moderate and severe injuries. (2) The proportion of injury in competitions and during training was similar. However, more injuries occurred in official training during the Winter Olympic Games; by contrast, injury proportion was higher in competitions during World Cup/World Championships. (3) The most commonly and severely injured body parts were the knees (29.9%), head and face (12.1%), shoulders and clavicula (10.5%), and lower back (8.9%). The most common injury types were joint and ligament injury (41.5%), fracture and bone stress (24.4%), concussion (11.1%), and muscle/tendon injury (10.7%). (4) The main causes of snowsport injury were collisions, falls, and non-contact injuries. Snowsport injury was also influenced by the skill level of the athletes, gender, course setup and equipment. Future studies should further explore the influence of event characteristics and intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors on snowsport injury. An injury or trauma reconstruction may be developed to predict athletic injuries and provide effective prevention strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Babault ◽  
Ahmad Noureddine ◽  
Nicolas Amiez ◽  
Damien Guillemet ◽  
Carole Cometti

Background:Salvia (sage) supplementation has been shown to improve the cognition function in healthy individuals or patients (e.g., attention, memory). To date, no study has explored its relevancy in the context of sporting performance. The aim of this study was to explore the acute effects of a combination of Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulaefolia on cognitive function in athletes performing a fatiguing cycling task.Methods: Twenty-six volunteers were included in this cross-over, randomized, double-bind vs. placebo trial. Two hours before the two experimental sessions (here called SAGE and PLACEBO), volunteers randomly received a supplementation of sage or placebo. During each experimental session, participants were tested at four occasions while cycling during a warm-up, in the middle and at the end of a fatiguing task and after a short 5-min recovery. Tests included a Stroop task, a simple reaction time task, and a backward digit span memory task. Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were also measured at the beginning of the four test sessions.Results: Heart rate was significantly greater during the fatiguing exercise than during warm-up and recovery (P &lt; 0.001) without any supplementation effect. RPE was greater during the fatiguing exercise than during warm-up and recovery (P &lt; 0.001). Moreover, RPE was significantly lower during the SAGE session as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.002). Reaction time was not altered during the exercise but was significantly shorter with SAGE as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.023). The Stroop task only revealed significantly longer reaction time during warm-up as compared to recovery (P = 0.02) independently of the supplementation. The digit span memory test revealed a significant greater span score with SAGE as compared to PLACEBO (P = 0.044).Conclusion: The combination of Salvia improved the cognitive functions (perceived exertion, working memory, and reaction time). The positive effects were obtained in fresh condition and were maintained with fatigue.


Author(s):  
Eva Sahlin ◽  
Björn Johansson ◽  
Per-Olof Karlsson ◽  
Jenny Loberg ◽  
Mats Niklasson ◽  
...  

Nature-based interventions have been proposed to promote physical and mental health and give stress reduction. Little attention has been given to the potential of zoos for human health and wellbeing. A disadvantaged group in Sweden regarding access to nature are individuals with disabilities who consequently do not have the same access to these health benefits as other groups. To increase awareness and knowledge regarding spending time in nature and with animals, courses directed at caretakers for persons with disabilities and their users were held at Nordens Ark, a zoo in Sweden. To explore if the courses had led to increased nature activities, and if participating in the courses had affected caretakers’ and their users’ health and wellbeing, questionnaires and interviews for evaluating the courses were used. The results showed improved quality in nature visits because of course participation as well as positive effects for the wellbeing, sustainability for the caregivers and users in their working lives, and relationships were positively affected. The conclusion from this study is that nature and animal-based education should be more frequent to provide opportunities for a disadvantaged group to have the positive effects of nature of which most other groups have obvious access to.


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