Impact of Kinanthropometric Differences According to Non-Professional Sports Activity Practiced

Kinanthropometry allows us to analyze variations in physical dimensions and body composition. This study’s objective was to evaluate the kinanthropometric differences based on physical activity performance, depending on whether the lower body or the whole body is more or less potent and the differences with a sedentary population. We analyzed 131 individuals (74 men and 57 women), with an average age of 22.68 ± 2.98 years. We differentiated three populations: sedentary (n = 63), runners (n = 20), and basketball players (n = 48). Measurements and indices were obtained following the international protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). The results show differences between the populations regarding weight, height, wingspan, and certain perimeters, diameters, and morphotypes depending on the predominant training type and the sedentary population. These anthropometric measurements will allow the amateur athlete to compare between seasons or other moments of training, pay attention to their evolution, and assess the possibility of changes in training.

Calcaneal stress fractures in civilian patients

Objective: To conduct a retrospective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis of calcaneal stress fractures and construct an epidemiological profile of these injuries. Methods: Of 258 MRIs analyzed, nine were consistent with calcaneal stress fractures. These were evaluated by two investigators to confirm the diagnosis. The calcaneus was divided into three anatomical regions: anterior calcaneus (delimited by the angle of Gissane), mid-calcaneus (delimited by the angle of Gissane and tuberosity of the posterior facet), and posterior calcaneus (delimited by the tuberosity of the posterior facet). Fractures were classified as low-grade (grade I, when associated with periosteal edema; II, endosteal; III, muscular) or high-grade (grade IV, when there was a visible fracture line on MRI). Results: The average patient with a calcaneal stress fracture was an overweight (66.7%) female (66.7%) amateur athlete (66.7%), with a left-sided (55.6%) grade IV fracture (77.8%) of the posterior portion of the calcaneus (66.7%), sustained while running (77.8%), and took 1 to 2 years to be diagnosed (66.7%). Conclusion: Calcaneal stress fractures are more frequent in women, amateur athletes, middle age, and in those with overweight. Younger patients usually present with grade I, II, or III fractures, while middle-aged patients present most often with grade IV fractures; lesions tend to be more common in the anterior region than in the mid- or posterior calcaneus. Level of Evidence IV; Therapeutic Studies; Case Series.

Raising the Bar: Increasing Protection for Athletes in the Olympic Movement from Sexual Harassment and Abuse

After the Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics scandal surfaced in 2016, the United States enacted a federal act titled “Protecting Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017.” This Act requires immediate mandatory reporting to the U.S. Center for SafeSport for any alleged child abuse of an amateur athlete who is a minor. An increasing amount of legislation is being passed to address sexual harassment and abuse in sports in the United States; however, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which governs the Olympic Movement, is lacking in its sexual harassment and abuse policies. This article will address how the IOC’s sexual harassment and abuse policies are not as robust as they should be. The amount of attention that the Olympics receives worldwide gives the IOC a global platform to be a leader in taking a stance on sexual harassment and abuse policies.

Amateur sport and Union citizenship in the Biffi case: Towards a European sporting citizenship

This essay focuses on the relation between amateur sport and Union citizenship, analysing the recent Biffi ruling of the European Court of Justice. It examines the opinion of the Advocate General and the Judgment of the ECJ, starting from the established case-law according to which sport is subject to EU law insofar as it constitutes an economic activity. Taking into account the possible application of the Treaty in light of the indirect impact on economic activities of the amateur athlete, the study analyses the legal implications of Article 165 TFUE considering the social function of sport. Finally, the paper illustrates to what extent the Biffi case represents a simple clarification of the existing legal relationship, a coherent case-law development, or another seismic ECJ ruling on sport.

Heart Rate Monitor Instead of Ablation? Atrioventricular Nodal Re-Entrant Tachycardia in a Leisure-Time Triathlete: 6-Year Follow-Up

This study describes a triathlete with effort-provoked atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT), diagnosed six years ago, who ineffectively controlled his training load via heart-rate monitors (HRM) to avoid tachyarrhythmia. Of the 1800 workouts recorded for 6 years on HRMs, we found 45 tachyarrhythmias, which forced the athlete to stop exercising. In three of them, AVNRT was simultaneously confirmed by a Holter electrocardiogram (ECG). Tachyarrhythmias occurred in different phases (after the 2nd–131st minutes, median: 29th minute) and frequencies (3–8, average: 6.5 times/year), characterized by different heart rates (HR) (150–227 beats per minute (bpm), median: 187 bpm) and duration (10–186, median: 40 s). Tachyarrhythmia appeared both unexpectedly in the initial stages of training as well as quite predictably during prolonged submaximal exercise—but without rigid rules. Tachyarrhythmias during cycling were more intensive (200 vs. 162 bpm, p = 0.0004) and occurred later (41 vs. 10 min, p = 0.0007) than those during running (only one noticed but not recorded during swimming). We noticed a tendency (p = 0.1748) towards the decreasing duration time of tachycardias (2014–2015: 60 s; 2016–2017: 50 s; 2018–later: 37 s). The amateur athlete tolerated the tachycardic episodes quite well and the ECG test and echocardiography were normal. In the studied case, the HRM was a useful diagnostic tool for detecting symptomatic arrhythmia; however, no change in the amount, phase of training, speed, or duration of exercise-stimulated tachyarrhythmia was observed.

IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION DURING THE ENDURANCE EFFORT

Due to the characteristics of the endurance effort (duration, increased number of active muscle groups, involvement of the important systems and functions of the organism), hydration has a decisive role both during the race (effort) – for obtaining a valuable result -, and during the recovery period! The study consists in the monitoring of some somatic and functional parameters (body weight, heart rate, etc.) of an amateur athlete. The assessment and the control of the training from the point of view of the covered distance, elapsed time, reached speed, heart rate, as well as the difficulty degree of the training field (climbing, descending, altitude) has been performed with the help of a GPS sports watch, Garmin 910xt. This device also has the option to download the information during the training under graphic form. The results of the study have shown the ability of the organism to adapt, as well as the correlation between the water intake and the body weight.

SPORTS INJURIES AMONG AMATEUR ATHLETES AT A BRAZILIAN UNIVERSITY

ABSTRACT Objective: To obtain information on the incidence and nature of sports injuries at a Brazilian university. Method: Data from 396 student amateur athletes (61% male) playing 15 different sports during the 2013 season were retrospectively evaluated. Subjects completed the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System questionnaire at the conclusion of the 2013 sports season. Injuries that resulted in at least one day of time lost were included. Exposure was defined as one student amateur athlete participating in one practice or game and is expressed as an athlete-exposure (A-E). Results: Injury rates were significantly greater in games (13.13 injuries per 1000 A-Es, 95% CI = 10.3-15) than in practices (4.47 injuries per 1000 A-Es, 95% CI = 3.9-5.1). The mechanisms that accounted for the most injuries in games and practices were player contact (52.9%) and non-contact (54.5%), respectively. Ankle ligament sprains were the most common injury (18.2% of all reported injuries). A relatively high incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury was also observed (0.16 injuries per 1000 A-Es). Conclusion: Brazilian student amateur athletes are at great risk of sustaining non-contact injuries such as ankle sprains and anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Level III of Evidence, Study of non consecutive patients; without consistently applied reference ''gold'' standard.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding After High Intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Cortisone and Antibiotic Therapy: A Case Study

Omega-3 fatty acids exert a plethora of physiological actions including triglycerides lowering, reduction of inflammatory indices, immunomodulation, anti- thrombotic effects and possibly promotion of exercise performance. Their use is widespread and for commonly ingested doses their side- effects are minimal. We report a case of a 60y amateur athlete who consumed about 20 g omega-3 fatty acids daily from supplements and natural sources for a year. After the intake of cortisone and antibiotics he presented duodenum ulcer and bleeding although he had no previous history of gastrointestinal problems. Although several animal data support gastro-protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids in the present case they were not able to prevent ulcer generation. The present observation may be explained by (i) the high dose of omega-3 fatty acids and their effect on bleeding, (ii) the fact that cortisone increases their oxidation and may render them proinflammatory, (iii) other antithrombotic microconstituents included in the consumed cod-oil and/or the diet of the subject and (iv) the differences in the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems of well- trained subjects. Further studies are needed to substantiate any possible interaction of cortisone and omega-3 fatty acids in wide ranges of intake.