scholarly journals Sport Specialization and Fitness and Functional Task Performance Among Youth Competitive Gymnasts

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1095-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley Root ◽  
Ashley N. Marshall ◽  
Anna Thatcher ◽  
Alison R. Snyder Valier ◽  
Tamara C. Valovich McLeod ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Functional Measurement ◽  
Early Specialization ◽  
Functional Task

Context Gymnastics trains fundamental movement skills but has high rates of early sport specialization. Early specialization is associated with increased injury risk. Gymnasts devote time to developing technical skill, but whether specialization status influences performance is unknown. Objective To describe the participation and specialization characteristics of youth club gymnastics participants and determine whether the level of specialization is associated with fitness and functional task performance. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting A single gymnastics facility. Patients or Other Participants Data on youth gymnasts (n = 131; 84 females, 47 males; age = 10.9 ± 2.9 years, height = 142.14 ± 16.23 cm, mass = 38.15 ± 12.93 kg) were reviewed. Main Outcome Measure(s) Specialization was assessed using a 3-tiered classification. Fitness measurements consisted of the Gymnastics Functional Measurement Tool, Men's Gymnastics Functional Measurement Tool, and core strength. Functional tasks evaluated hop performance, dynamic balance, and jump-landing technique. Separate analyses of covariance, covaried by age, hours of training, and years of gymnastics participation, were used to identify differences in fitness and functional performance among specialization groups. Pearson product correlations were calculated to evaluate the relationships between training hours per week and years in gymnastics with fitness and functional performance. Results Most gymnasts were classified as moderately (50.4%, n = 66) or highly (35.1%, n = 46) specialized. Only 14.5% (n = 19) were classified as having a low level of specialization. Weak to moderate correlations were present between years in gymnastics and most fitness tasks. Moderate to strong correlations were noted between training hours per week and most fitness tasks. Low-specialization gymnasts scored lower on right lower extremity Y-balance (P = .004), upper left extremity Y-balance (P = .033), and right hop performance (P = .039) tests. Conclusions Gymnasts reported high proportions of moderate to high specialization, and many exceeded guidelines for hours participating in gymnastics per week. We did not observe clinically meaningful group differences among specialization status and fitness or functional movement tasks, indicating no clear benefit of gymnastics training to the exclusion of other sports for increased performance.

scholarly journals Classification System of the Sagittal Integral Morphotype in Children from the ISQUIOS Programme (Spain)

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Santonja-Medina ◽  
Mónica Collazo-Diéguez ◽  
María Teresa Martínez-Romero ◽  
Olga Rodríguez-Ferrán ◽  
Alba Aparicio-Sarmiento ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Correct Diagnosis ◽  
Standing Position ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Spinal Curvatures ◽  
Normal Ranges ◽  
Forward Bending ◽  
Sagittal Spinal Alignment

The sagittal spinal morphology presents 4 physiological curvatures that increase endurance to axial compression forces and allow adequate postural balance. These curves must remain within normal ranges to achieve a static and dynamic balance, a correct functioning of the muscles and an adequate distribution of the loads, and thus minimize the injury risk. The purpose of this study was to categorize the sagittal spinal alignment according to the different morphotypes obtained for each curve in standing, slump sitting, and trunk forward bending positions in schoolchildren. It was a cross-sectional study. Sagittal spinal curvatures were assessed in 731 students from 16 elementary schools. In the sagittal standing position assessment, 70.45% and 89.06% of schoolchildren presented a “normal” morphotype for both dorsal and lumbar curves, respectively. After the application of the “Sagittal Integral Morphotype” protocol according to the morphotypes obtained in the three positions assessment (standing, slump sitting, and trunk forward bending), it was observed how the frequency of normal morphotypes for the dorsal and lumbar curve decreased considerably (only 32% and 6.6% of children obtained a “normal sagittal integral morphotype” for the thoracic and lumbar curvatures, respectively). These results show how it is necessary to include the slump sitting and trunk forward bending assessment as part of the protocol to define the “integral” sagittal alignment of the spine and establish a correct diagnosis. The use of the diagnostic classification presented in this study will allow early detection of misalignment not identified with the assessment of standing position.

scholarly journals Alterations in glutathione redox homeostasis among adolescents with obesity and anemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalal Alkazemi ◽  
Abdur Rahman ◽  
Banan Habra
Keyword(s):  
Defense Mechanism ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Metabolic Disturbances ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Gpx Activity

AbstractThe reduced (GSH)-to-oxidized (GSSG) glutathione ratio represents a dynamic balance between oxidants and antioxidants. However, redox status in adolescents with obesity and anemia has not been investigated. This study investigated the association of erythrocyte GSH redox status (GSH, GSH:GSSG ratio, and glutathione peroxidase [GPx] activity) with anemia and adiposity in adolescents. This case–control study nested in a cross-sectional study enrolled 524 adolescents (268 boys; 256 girls). The prevalence of anemia in overweight and obesity (OWOB) was 5.2% in boys and 11.7% in girls. The GSH:GSSG ratio and GPx activity were significantly higher in girls than in boys (p < 0.001), in anemic than in non-anemic subjects (p < 0.001), and in OWOB than in normal-weight subjects (p < 0.001). Similarly, significantly higher GSH: GSSG level (p < 0.001) and GPx activity (p < 0.001) were found in subjects with 90th percentile waist circumference than in those with < 90th percentile. GPx and GSH:GSSG were positively associated with anemia after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index (adjusted odds ratio, adjOR [95% confidence interval, CI] 2.18 [1.44–3.29]) or tertiles (adjOR [95% CI], T3 = 2.49 [1.03–6.01]). A similar association was noted for GSH and GPx. A compensatory increased redox defense mechanism exists in anemia and obesity among adolescents without metabolic disturbances.

scholarly journals Online or not? A comparison of students’ experiences of an online and an on-campus class

Curationis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tennyson Mgutshini
Keyword(s):  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Student Performance ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Online Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Multiple Data

Educational discourse has long portrayed online, or e-based, learning and all non-campus-based learning options as second best to traditional face-to-face options. Critically much of the research and debate in this area of study has focused on evidence relating to student performance, attrition and retention with little consideration of the total learning experience, which values both the traditional learning outcome measures side-by-side with student-centered factors, such as students’ satisfaction with their learning experience. The objective of this study was to present a synchronous head-to-head comparison between online and campus-based students’ experiences of an undergraduate course. This paper reports on a qualitative comparative cross-sectional study, which used multiple data collection approaches to assess student learning and student satisfaction of 61 students who completed a semester of an undergraduate course. Of the 61 students, 34 were enrolled purely as online students, whilst the remaining 27 students studied the same material entirely through the traditional face-to-face medium. Methods included a standardised student satisfaction survey and an ‘achievement of learning outcomes’ measurement tool. Students on the online cohort performed better in areas where ‘self-direction’ in learning was indicated, for example self-directed problem-based tasks within the course. Online students gave less positive self-assessments of their perceived content mastery than their campus-based counterparts, despite performing just as well in both summative and formative assignments. A multi-factorial comparison shows online students to have comparable educational success and that, in terms of student satisfaction, online learners reported more satisfaction with their learning experience than their campus-based counterparts.

scholarly journals Inter-Rater Reliability of a Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Scale for Home Care: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Vol Volume 13 ◽  
pp. 2031-2041
Author(s):  
Masushi Kohta ◽  
Takehiko Ohura ◽  
Kunio Tsukada ◽  
Yoshinori Nakamura ◽  
Mishiho Sukegawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Injury Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Assessment Scale ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rater Reliability ◽  
Pressure Injury

scholarly journals Professional and Amateur Pitchers’ Perspective on the Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injury Risk

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 232596711985077
Author(s):  
Danica D. Vance ◽  
Frank J. Alexander ◽  
Brian W. Kunkle ◽  
Mark Littlefield ◽  
Christopher S. Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Injury Risk ◽  
Ulnar Collateral Ligament ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Ligament Injury ◽  
Collateral Ligament ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Elbow Injury ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Baseball Pitchers

Background: Medial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury is increasingly prevalent in professional baseball pitchers, and significant research has been devoted to understanding the risk factors and prevention strategies associated with it. To date, no study has investigated what the players themselves believe causes and prevents the injury. Purpose: To evaluate the opinions of UCL injuries among pitchers, including professional athletes. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 214 baseball pitchers (45 high school/college, 169 Major League Baseball [MLB]/Minor League Baseball) completed a 52-item questionnaire designed to evaluate their opinions on the cause of UCL injuries, injury prevention, and Tommy John surgery. Overall, 51 of the 214 pitchers had previously experienced a UCL injury. The frequency of the selection of each answer option was measured. Additionally, chi-square tests were used to compare (1) responses between professional and nonprofessional pitchers and (2) responses between pitchers with and without a previous UCL injury. Results: Only 45% of pitchers thought that UCL injuries are avoidable in MLB. Additionally, 55% of pitchers with a UCL injury had a history of elbow injuries as an adolescent/child, compared with 18% in the uninjured group ( P < .0001). Also, 72% of all surveyed pitchers agreed that fatigue over the course of a season increases the risk of UCL injuries, and the majority of pitchers agreed that inadequate rest from throwing both during the off-season (61%) and the season (59%) increases the risk of UCL injuries. Moreover, 59% of pitchers believed that a 6-man starting rotation would decrease the incidence of UCL injuries. Professional and nonprofessional pitchers significantly differed ( P = .005) in the type of pitch most prone to causing UCL injuries. Conclusion: Pitchers with a previous childhood elbow injury had a significantly higher incidence of UCL injuries during their adult career, suggesting possible predisposition to UCL injury and warranting further research. Fatigue and inadequate rest were of greatest concern among all pitchers for an increased risk of UCL injuries. Understanding and acknowledging the opinions that players have regarding UCL injuries are important to improve UCL education, prevention, and treatment.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document